9:50am Saturday 16th January 2010
Animal charities are urging people in Craven to feed the birds amid fears hundreds may die in freezing weather.
Both the RSPCA and the RSPB are asking people to put out bread for wild birds on bird tables and regularly fill up water bottles.
Pam Laking, branch administrator for the Craven and Upper Wharfedale RSPCA, said: “Hundreds of wild birds might be dead or dying already because there are very few ways they can reach natural food sources in the snow.
“If people have bread or bird food, they should put it on a covered bird table away from other animals and snow. Water bottles also need to be kept replenished.
“People need to take extra care of birds in this weather because they are struggling desperately.”
Finding food and ensuring they eat enough of it to build – and maintain – adequate fat supplies is the greatest test for wild birds in winter, says the RSPB.
Natural food is covered in snow and ice and impossible to get to. Water birds may be forced to leave iced-over lakes and rivers. The ground becomes too hard for birds like thrushes and lapwings to probe and natural food like berries, acorns and seeds is buried.
During cold snaps, birds are more likely to come into gardens to seek sanctuary. People can help improve their chances of survival by providing food like meal worms, fatballs, crushed peanuts, dried fruit and seeds and grain.
They could also put out leftovers like grated cheese, porridge oats, soft fruit, unsalted bacon, cooked rice and pasta and the insides of cooked potatoes.
Bird baths can be kept from freezing over using small floating items like twigs or ping-pong balls.
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