Feeding Wild Birds

Birds are highly adaptable creatures and have taken advantage of the modern-day cityscape. Over the past two decades, the increasing popularity of native gardens has attracted coastal native bird species back to the cities. The Pied Currawong now spends more of its time in the city than in its mountain hideaway. Australian Magpies and Kookaburras are also a dominant feature of urban gardens, taking advantage of the well-groomed lawns and nurtured gardens rich in nutrients and worms. Wattlebirds and noisy minors are often seen and heard in the flowering Grevilleas. The Pee-Wee (Magpie Lark) and Willy Wagtail, favourite and common species of the 1960's, have also returned to our gardens. Even parrots abound in the forests and gullies of our urban national parks. The raucous Sulfur-Crested Cockatoo, gregarious Galahs, larrikin Lorikeets, Eastern and Crimson Rosellas, and even King Parrots, are now common visitors to the cities.

The diversity of bird life enriches our urban environment in many different and subtle ways. The influx of smaller birds, such as the Wattle birds and Pee-Wees, has attracted other bird life. Birds we normally would not encounter in Sydney. The Common Koel or Coo-ee bird is a recent visitor to Sydney suburbs south of the Harbour Bridge. This cuckoo bird lays its eggs in the nests of wattle birds and other small bird. Similarly, the slow meaningful flight of the large Channel-billed Cuckoo, makes its annual pilgrimage from Indonesia each year to lay its eggs in the nests of Australian Magpies, crows or Currawongs. This bird in the past has not ventured as far south as Sydney.

Native bird life is now an integral part of our city landscape. Without our gardens and National Parks, these birds would not be with us. Now and again native birds visit our homes looking for tasty morsels from our breakfast tables. Our immediate response is to offer these birds food, and I think this is a perfect and natural response. Most often these birds visit when they are feeding young when the demand for food is greatest. As well, they may visit us at any time of the year when their natural food supplies are depleted by cold weather, wet or dry spells. It is imperative to their survival that we feed the birds that reach out for our help but the food we supply must be appropriate for each species.

Above all, native birds need energy foods during their breeding season and when their natural food supplies are low. For for seed- and nectar-eating birds like Cockatoos, Lorikeets and Noisy Minors this supplementary diet should be provided in the form of complex carbohydrates, such as porridge or whole meal bread. NV Powder and Energy supplement are then added to provide extra energy, vitamins and minerals. Meat-eaters, such as Magpies and Currawongs, should be fed mince meat rolled in an egg, and supplemented F-vite for minerals and Energy supplement for vitamins and energy. This makes a nice healthy hamburger when rolled together.

The future of urban birds becomes more secure when we feed them the above recipes during their breeding season or when they are short of food during winter. The importance of our interaction with wildlife can never be over-estimated. As city-dwellers, we have little exposure to the natural environment and our urban wildlife often provides our only contact with nature. Children especially learn from their exposure to our native wildlife and

Native birds will visit for food most often during their breeding months between August and January. Occasionally, when it is very cold or after prolonged rain, they may also come to our homes looking for food. We have an opportunity to help the long-term survival of bird species during these times of hardship, as long as we feed them appropriately. The birds may die from starvation during cold winters if we do not feed them, and we can help increase their overall numbers by providing them food when breeding. They will not become dependent upon us as long as we do not feed the juveniles, as they must learn to survive in nature without our help. Feed adult birds only. Boiled eggs are a good supply of protein and vitamins and may be fed at any time to all urban birds.

Dr Rob's Health And Gourmet Food Recipes
These recipes provide a completely balanced diet for seed-eaters (Parrots, Cockatoos, Doves and Pigeons, for example), nectar-eaters (Lorikeets, Wattle birds and honey eaters) and meat-insect eaters (Kookaburras, Butcher birds, Willy Wagtails, Crows, Magpies, Currawongs and Pee-Wees). These recipes must be made fresh and provided to the birds in the morning or late afternoon once a day only. The ingredients have been chosen to provide high quality protein, balanced minerals and vitamins and a potent source of energy. These nutrients are needed when wild birds are feeding young and during the cold of winter.

Place fresh on a dish between 7am and 8am and garnish with parsley. Remove remnants by 9am.

Copyright © 2002 Rob Marshall, All Rights Reserved.