Sizzling, hot summer days are already with us and wildlife really does need your help in these dry weather conditions. In summer the emphasis is definitely on keeping animals hydrated although there are other matters you can concentrate on as well. Here are just a few things to help wildlife through the summer months...

GARDEN BIRDS...

Please ensure that you provide fresh water at least once a day for your garden birds.

  • Your bird bath provides water for the birds to drink and also a method of cooling down as they flutter away happily in the water. This also maintains their feathers in tip top condition.
  • Please keep the water fresh, clean and topped up every day as in hot weather you will amazed at how much water simply evaporates. The bathing birds also liberally sprinkle the water around as they enjoy themselves splishing and splashing. You will tend to see the birds bathing first thing in the morning and just before dusk - so have your camera at the ready!
  • Always keep the bird baths clean by rinsing them each day and allowing them to dry before re filling. Bird droppings in the water cause disease and can kill. As usual, please make sure that your bird bath is fully cat proof like ours...

You should carry on feeding your garden birds daily throughout the whole year - including summmer.

  • The type of food changes from the high fat, high energy type to peanuts and seeds.
  • Please use a metal or plastic feeder for the nuts and seeds and not those netted, ready to use hangers as birds often break their legs in them as they become stuck and try to frantically free themselves.

All feeding areas should be kept free of bird droppings and mouldy or old food as these can, and do, spread disease.

  • Clean by scraping off all droppings and then use a 5% disinfectant solution to kill any bacteria. Again all feeding areas should be cat proof...
  • Grow native plants and shrubs in your garden for birds to enjoy such as wild roses like the good old fashioned Briar. These plants and shrubs will not only create welcome foraging areas for the birds, as insects are attracted to the area and birds will feed on them, but also look and smell stunning!

At this time of year we always get a plethora of calls from people concerned about fledglings that are just sitting on the ground or hopping around. This behavouir is normmal - don't panic!

  • Any baby birds, fledglings, that have fallen from their nests should be left alone whenever possible as handling could kill them. Unless they are in danger from a predator, or on a busy road/footpath, leave well alone otherwise pop back into the nest or place the fledgling as close by as possible and where mum can clearly see it. You will probably see mum around the bird checking to see that it's alright before settling it back in the nest. Fledglings are fully feathered before they can fly and need to spend a couple of days on the ground for their flight feathers to fully develop. The protective parents are probably hiding away and sneakily watching the young bird from a safe vantage point ensuring that it's alright. It's a steep learning curve for the youngsters and it's best we humans don't interfere.
  • Never attempt to hand feed water into a birds mouth because you could drown the poor bird by inadvertently dropping the water into the lungs instead of the stomach. Contact a carer for help and advice. The RSPB are excellent and their website is a good source of helpful and useful tips on all aspects of birds. 

A useful website for general bird care is www.rspb.co.uk

PONDS...

The water level in your pond will soon drop in hot weather due to evaporation. It's important to keep the level topped up to prevent any animal, such as a hedgehog or kitten, that may fall in to more easily climb out.

  • Check the water level daily. Try and use water collected from garden rain water butts rather than tap water as the latter encourages the formation of un welcome algae.

HEDGEHOGS...

  • Remember to feed hedghogs with either cat/dog, not fish varieties, each evening once the flies have gone to bed for the night. To make sure that it's your hedgehog that eats the food, not the neighbourhood cat, simply cover the plate of food with a plastic container of some kind with a hole in the side just large enough for the hedgie! We have used an old plastic cat bed...
  • Always leave a shallow dish of fresh water each evening for the hedgehog to drink.

If you see a hedgehog in distress please go to our hedgehog page in our wildlife section on this website for details of how to help.

An excellent site for everything hedgehog is www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk which is the official website for The Hedgehog Preservation Society. To contact them telephone 01584 890810 or e mail info@britishhedgehogs.org.uk

Another very useful website is www.voluntaryrescuecentre.org.uk/hedgehogs.htm

  • Again please check before turning/forking over compost heaps, lighting fires, strimming and mowing as all these activities can mutilate and kill hedgehogs.
  • Do not use slug pellets in your garden unless they are wildlife freindly. 

YOUR GARDEN...

  • Plant and encourage wildlife freindly plants, flowers and shrubs to encourge beneficial insects, birds and bats into your garden.
  • Allow at least one part of your garden to go wild and keep a patch of nettles on the go by snipping off the tops of a few regularly ensuring a continual and plentiful supply of soft, fresh new shoots for the insects and butterflies. 
  • Please avoid planting oriental lillies as they are poisonous to many animals - they may have a wonderful fragrance but they are not worth the risk! Grow sweet peas, honeysuckle or jasmine instead.

An excellent source of information as well as organic seeds is www.OrganicCatalogue.com and for native trees and shrubs visit Buckingham Nurseries at www.hedging.co.uk. or Hopes Grove Nurseries at www.hopesgrovenurseries.co.uk.

 

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