Sanctuary
By Goldfinch
Fat treats are a popular supplementary food for wild birds in winter, but high-quality commercial treats are often expensive, so many people prefer to make their own at home for a fraction of the price. However, the choices of ingredients can make this a rather baffling task for the beginner bird-feeder. So where do you start?
First you will need a mould. Clean, empty coconut shells are ideal, with the added bonus of not having to remove the treat from the mould. Plastic yoghurt pots or similar are also good. Go for long and thin as opposed to short and fat. You will then need about 3 parts peanut flour (you can make this yourself by removing the skins from the peanuts and grinding them finely in a coffee grinder) to every 1 part of melted fat. Now which type of fat do you use? Beef and lamb suet are the traditional types, but there are people who, due to vegetarianism or religious restrictions, wish to avoid handling animal fats. Yet at the same time there is the notion that vegetable fats are harmful; but if you read the RSPB's warning carefully, you will see the restriction is not on vegetable fat, per se, but on polyunsaturated fats. Most suet is in fact made from palm oil, which in its raw state is 45% saturated fat, and low in polyunsaturates. In suet form it is less than 10% polyunsaturated, and as long as other ingredients (i.e. the peanut flour, seeds, etc) are used then there should be no harm in using it. Check the fat proportions on the label and go for the brands with the highest saturated fat content. Personally I have been using palm oil-based suet treats for a couple of years now and I'm glad to say the birds are still alive and healthy - meanwhile, the debate rages on...
Whichever form of suet you use, melt it over a gentle heat (you can use the double-boiler method) and when completely melted, mix in your peanut flour (you might need to vary the amount to obtain the correct consistency). Once just cooled down enough to touch, place a length of thick string (not thread) or wire into the centre of the mould (this is so you can hang it up), then pour the flour-fat mixture in. When further cooled, pop it into the fridge to harden, et voilà, one fat treat at your service! To remove the fat treat from the mould, simply dunk the mould into a bowl of hot water for 1-2 seconds. Then turn upside down and tap the base.
You can vary the recipe to suit the preference of the species you wish to feed. Replace 1/3 of the peanut flour with raisins for blackbirds and thrushes; sunflower seeds and peanuts for tits; or fresh chopped berries for fruit-eaters, which will give the fat cake a lovely pink colour. Adding dried mealworms appeals to insectivores like blackcaps and robins. You can also mix in table scraps, like grated cheese, bread and cake crumbs, etc. For small birds, hang up the treat (in a caged feeder if magpies, pigeons and starlings are a problem); for ground-feeders, try chopping or crumbling the treat and scattering on the lawn or ground-table. They can also be successfully frozen for use later on in the year.
One word of warning though: no matter how much time and money you expend on making all those high-energy fat treats for the birds... they always seem to prefer bread!
Ask Goldfinch
What is a mulch and what does it do?
Anon
A mulch is a layer of a substance placed on top of the soil in order to preserve water and suppress weeds. They are especially useful for container plants which are more likely to dry out in hot weather. There are two types or mulches: organic and inorganic. Organic, as the name suggests, refers to those mulches which are derived from once-living organisms and includes bark chippings, leaf mould, farmyard manure and cocoa shells. Inorganic mulches include gravel, grit and pebbles, and black plastic sheeting. Each type has its advantages.
Inorganic mulches are much better suited where weed suppression is a priority. Organic mulches are useful where the soil needs conditioning as they will eventually be broken down and improve soil fertility. However, for this reason they may help, rather than hinder, weed growth. Black sheeting is the most effective for both water conservation and weed suppression, but can be unattractive. Many people who use this mulch will usually put a decorative layer of bark chippings over it.
Whichever type of mulch you use, thoroughly weed the area first and only apply when the soil is warm and moist, or you could aggravate any soil problems. The layer of mulch needs to be at least 7cm thick to be effective. Also, leave the stems of your plants 'breathing space' as letting the mulch accumulate around the stem could lead to damp conditions and therefore fungal infections.
Your Wildlife Garden
Ivy
(Hedera spp.)
Ivy comes into its own in winter, being for many insects the only source of nectar at this time of year, plus the dark berries are enjoyed by many birds. The four most common species are Hedera helix (the common or English ivy), H. hibernica (Irish ivy), H. canariensis (Canary Island Ivy) and H. colchica (Persian ivy). A myriad of cultivars for each species is available, of which any will be a valuable addition to your wildlife garden. Do read labels carefully however, as some cultivars (such as H. helix 'Glacier') neither flower nor fruit. Plus, Canary Island ivy (above) is of borderline hardiness, and though it quickly recovers from frost damage, you will lose a significant amount in severe winters unless you provide protection.
The Robin
(Erithacus rubecula)
Robins are unusual songbirds in that both sexes will sing all year round. The song itself is a sweet, clear warbling which is often heard at night where street-lights are present (and is optimistically mistaken for a nightingale's by many!). The year round song is due to the bird's preoccupation with holding a territory. Male robins will fiercely defend their territories against other robins, and will even fight to the death in a dispute, although the weaker bird will usually give in before then. However, with humans they can be very friendly - even hand-tame - especially if offered mealworms. Fat cakes, raisins, sultanas, bread, pinhead oats and sunflower hearts are also well-liked.