As I understood it, you should only put food out in the winter when natural food is scarce. They'll go to your food first as its easier, but they lose the ability to find natural stuff / come to rely on you.

[–] Finnbot@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Oh fuck, really? But I love watching them :( There were a bunch of starlings with big juveniles that shrieked to be fed, so at least that made life a bit easier for them I guess.

Acht well, I've got a wee bird bath feeder-type thing as well, so I guess filling just the water part will attract enough of them for me to watch.

Edit - had a wee read of the RSPB site which has a good wee section on when and what to feed. It seems that during exceptionally dry periods like this it's ok to put out because they can struggle to find their natural food, like worms etc. The seed I have has mealworms in it so all is well it seems. Crisis averted!

[–] sideone@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

Crisis averted!

Hooray, enjoy the birbs