Published on:
23
October 2003
The UK's first RSPB Feed The Birds Day will take place on Saturday 25 October 2003.
As part of the Clackmannanshire Biodiversity Action Plan process, we'll be encouraging people to start feeding the birds in their garden as the clocks go back and the autumn nights draw in - but why? Birds are an important part or our local biodiversity, or total variety of life, including goldfinches, house sparrows and song thrushes - just some of the birds highlighted in the Clackmannanshire Biodiversity Action Plan launched in July.
You can helpEveryone can help the birds on their doorstep by getting out in the fresh autumn air, cleaning their bird tables, filling their feeders and putting out water to help our wild birds through the winter ahead.
The perfect time to startSadly, many once-common birds such as house sparrows, starlings and song thrushes have faced steep declines in numbers over the last 30 years and gardens are now increasingly important for these and other birds, especially as winter approaches.
Simple recipesYou don't have to use specific food for birds, why not try some of Ainsley Harriott's easy recipes:Cereals on a String: Thread string through ring-shaped breakfast cereal and tie it to your window ledge.Peanut Butter Cracks: Spread peanut butter into cracks in walls, fences or trees for wrens, treecreepers and dunnocks.Rind Hangers: Tie the raw fat and rind from bacon to a string and hand it up or just put it on the ground.
Chance to win free bird foodIf you can answer the following question correctly you have a chance to win some free bird food, kindly donated by Brian Devlin Butchers in Dollar and The Klondyke Garden Centre in Edinburgh or bird feeders from the Muckhart Heritage Society and Clackmannanshire Council.
Q: True or False: Using peat for composting and burning is destroying threatened habitats.
Also, if you go to the Boll Tea Room in Alva over this weekend, free bird seed will be available to all customers who ask. These businesses and groups are all helping the Clackmannanshire Biodiversity Partnership to promote and enhance our local biodiversity.
Please send your answer to Lynn Campbell, Biodiversity Co-ordinator, Clackmannanshire Council, Lime Tree House, Alloa, FK10 1EX or email lynncampbell@clacks.gov.uk by 30th October 2003.