Supplementary Feeding for Birds
When providing natural food sources through flowering and fruiting native plants isn't practical, providing supplementary food for birds - particularly over winter is an affordable and appealing way to interact with wildlife.
Unfortunately, feeding out bread and seed attracts grain eating introduced species such as sparrows, starlings and doves. Sugar water serves as an alternative supplementary food for nectar sipping birds such as Tui, Korimako (Bell Bird) and Tauhou (Silver eye).
To keep birds safe:
- Choose commercially available feeders designed for native birds to exclude introduced species. (eg Peka Peka Feeder see link below).
- Clean all structures used in feeding at least twice a week, by scrubbing with hot water to minimise risk of disease.
- Serve over winter when nectar is scarce - about 1 cup of sugar per litre of water.
- Attach the feeder to a tall post to minimise chance of predation.