Birds of Exminster

Birds of Exminster - Hard Times

Articles - Birds of Exminster

Written by Adam Drake Wednesday, 11 February 2009 00:00

The unusually cold weather, part of a colder than average winter, has serious repercussions for the wildlife in and around our village, especially the birds.?

A layer of snow can prevent them from feeding on the ground and sharp frosts render the ground too hard for beaks to penetrate as well as freezing much needed sources of water. People can of course do a great deal to assist by providing additional food and water on a regular basis.?

The best time of day to put out the food is probably in the morning ? leaving it until well into the afternoon may mean that food is left lying on the ground overnight, possibly encouraging rodents.? Putting food where cats cannot easily creep up on the birds is important too.

There are many types of bird food available including mixed seed, sunflower seeds, Nyjer seed (a magnet for Goldfinches) and peanuts which, as our photo shows, prove attractive to Nuthatches. Fat balls prove attractive to many small birds and an apple or pear cut in half can prove attractive to Blackbirds and Starlings. Click to visit the RSPB Website.

Placing food where birds can be observed can be very rewarding, especially at the moment. There?s always a chance that an unusual bird may suddenly appear in the garden. The very cold weather has encouraged many birds to seek food in village gardens this winter including some that are less frequently seen such as Reed Buntings (more usually found on Exminster Marshes), colourful Siskins, continental Blackcaps and others.

Have you seen any interesting birds in your garden recently? Write to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and send us your photos.