Feeding birds during the winter is a common practice in many Portuguese gardens, especially when the cold and lack of food make survival more difficult. However, experts warn that this help could have an undesirable effect: attracting rats in the garden, if some simple precautions are not taken.
During the colder months, the lack of natural insects and seeds leads many birds to rely on artificial feeders. The problem is that these feeding points can also become an easy source of food for rodents, which take advantage of the remains that fall on the ground, according to the British newspaper The Mirror.
Alert from bird feeding experts
Lucy Taylor, bird feeding specialist at Vine House Farm Bird Foods, explains that choosing the wrong seeds is one of the main reasons for mice in gardens.
According to the expert, cheaper seed mixtures, composed of ingredients with low nutritional value, tend to be rejected by birds. “Economic seed mixes can be one of the main causes of attracting rats to your garden and, in addition, they end up being a waste of money, because many birds do not consume them”, he says.
Food that ends up on the floor
According to Lucy Taylor, ingredients such as wheat and pulses are often included in low-cost feeds, but end up being discarded by birds. “These components are not eaten by most birds and end up being thrown out of the feeders, falling to the ground”, he explains.
Once on the floor, the remains become easy to locate for rats, which quickly begin to visit the space regularly, according to the same source.
Less waste, fewer mice in the garden
To reduce this risk, the expert recommends using higher quality seed mixtures or choosing unique ingredients, such as sunflower seed kernels. This type of food is almost entirely consumed by birds, significantly reducing the amount of waste on the ground. In addition to benefiting birds, this approach helps keep the garden cleaner and less attractive to rodents.
Importance of the feeder structure
Another determining factor is the way the feeder is installed. Lucy Taylor advises using smooth metal poles to suspend feeders. “Although rats can climb, they will have much more difficulty climbing a smooth metal pole than a tree trunk or fence,” he says.
As an additional measure, the expert suggests placing a plastic deflector on the post. These accessories are often used to keep out squirrels, but they also work as a barrier for mice.
Remove the trays overnight
The last recommendation is to remove food trays at floor level at night. These are especially attractive to birds such as blackbirds and robins during the day, but become an open invitation to rodents after dark.
“If the tray is collected and stored in a garage or other safe place overnight, and placed back in the garden in the morning, the risk is eliminated”, explains Lucy Taylor, quoted by .
A balance between helping and preventing problems
Feeding birds in winter continues to be a beneficial practice, as long as it is done judiciously. The appropriate choice of seeds, the correct installation of feeders and the adoption of simple routines can make the difference between a bird-friendly garden and an attractive space for unwanted pests.
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