It is now known that if the weather turns cold or wet during spring or summer, severe shortage of insect food can occur, and if the weather is exceptionally dry, earthworms will be unavailable to ground feeding birds because of the hard soil. In order to help with this, buggy nibbles and mealworms can be provided during these times to prevent starvation. Birds time their breeding period to exploit the availability of natural foods: earthworms in the case of blackbirds and song thrushes, and caterpillars in the case of tits and chaffinches.Temporary food shortage can occur at almost any time of the year, and if this happens during the breeding season, extra food on your bird table can make a big difference to the survival of young.Commercially produced fat bars are suitable for summer feeding but discard any remains after three weeks. Home-made fat balls can go soft and rancid in warm summer weather, and should be avoided.If you feel you must put out peanuts, only do so in suitable mesh feeders that will not allow sizeable pieces of peanuts to be taken, reducing the choking risk to chicks. Avoid using peanuts, fat and bread at this time, since these can be harmful if adult birds feed them to their nestlings.
Some people use soaked dog or cat food and tinned pet foods, but these may attract magpies, crows and cats.Soft apples and pears cut in half, bananas and grapes are also good. RSPB food bars and summer seed mixture are all good foods to provide.Black sunflower seeds, pinhead oatmeal, soaked sultanas, raisins and currants, mild grated cheese, mealworms, waxworms, mixes for insectivorous birds, good seed mixtures without loose peanuts,.Only feed selected foods at this time of year. During the summer months, birds require high protein foods, especially while they are moulting.
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