The next time you’re about to throw away your delicious leftover mash, wildlife experts recommend you should leave it outside for your hungry garden birds instead
As the weather brightens, you’ve probably noticed an increased amount of birds flitting about in your garden. However, before you buy a load of expensive bird feed, gardening experts advise using these kitchen scraps instead.
Feeding your garden birds with scraps comes with a host of benefits. Not only does it save money, it also helps cut down on household waste. In 2021, the NGO WRAP found that UK households threw away more than six million tonnes of food waste in just one year.
Using your food waste to feed birds can therefore be beneficial to the environment. Plus, it can also be a lifesaver for birds who are struggling to access adequate nutrition.
According to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), there has been a sharp decline in bird populations over recent years. Some of the worst affected species include thrushes, skylarks and sparrows.
READ MORE: Gardeners urged to place bird feeders in one place to avoid cats
One of the leading causes of this is the destruction of natural habitats to create farmland. Not only does it rid birds of vital shelter, it also depletes their food resources.
What’s worse is that many of the pesticides used on farming produce can also seriously harm birds as well. This is either by poisoning them directly or by killing the insects that they feed on.
So, what food scraps can you give to hungry birds? While many raw vegetables are off the table, bird experts from Really Wild Bird Food advise that cooked dishes like mashed potatoes can be safely consumed by birds.
This is because raw potatoes can be harmful to birds. Really Wild Bird Food writes: “Many raw vegetables are indigestible to birds, but peas and sweetcorn are fine, and so is leftover mashed potato!”
The reason why spuds are safe once cooked is because the heating process sharply reduces the amount of solanine naturally found in potatoes. Solanine is a bitter-tasting compound which can make birds ill.
Solanine poisoning can cause gastrointestinal upset in birds, resulting in vomiting and diarrhoea. In extreme cases it can lead to neurological issues and even death.
Other common veggies that contain significant amounts of solanine include aubergine, bell peppers and jalapenos. It’s also present in fruits like tomatoes and goji berries.
So, to be on the safe side, it’s best to avoid feeding these leftovers to birds. Gardening experts recommend feeding them other scraps like stale bread, raw pastry and hard cheese.
More unconventional feeding options include giving them dog or cat food – either wet or dry. They even enjoy chowing down on some crushed up egg shells!
