3 4 PET TRADE WORLD OCTOBER 2009www. pettradeworld. com Bird Food Focus Fine Feathered Food Winter can be a diffi cult time for birds as the foods they normally eat don't tend to be as readily available and may even be covered in snow! Wild birds have a relatively high metabolic rate that requires food on a regular and consistent basis. Many birds die during the winter, also during droughts, cold spells, prolonged rains, and any other conditions that reduce the availability of forage - leading to stress, weakness, reduced resistance to disease and parasites and starvation. Feeding wild birds can help sustain populations when natural food supplies are hard to fi nd. To the vast majority of people, feeding wild birds is primarily a part time activity involving off ering the birds treats and enjoying the benefi ts of having the birds visit their gardens. These types of people generally buy on impulse when something catches their eye and their knowledge about birds' nutritional needs is usually limited - but that doesn't mean to say that they're not willing to learn! In general, wild birds can be grouped together by the types of feed they eat. This does not necessarily mean that granivores ( seed- eaters), for example, eat only seed. Granivores prefer seed to other foods and specifi c types of seed to others. Since it is rare in nature to fi nd a food that is readily and always available, it is important to remember that most birds select food in order of their preferences. Birds can also be classed as Frugivores ( fruit feeders), Insectivores ( insect feeders) and Nectarivores ( nectar feeders). Many birds will happily fall into many diff erent categories depending on the type of food available. In addition to the importance of their feeding preferences when feeding wild birds, feeding behaviours of wild birds should be considered when selecting feeders. Some wild birds including robins and doves, forage on the ground. Others like woodpeckers and nuthatches, forage on the bark of trees. Goldfi nches and other granivores forage on the seed heads of grasses. Seed mixes are viewed - by some experts - as little more than ' bird candy'. Apparently birds are like children and they'll happily eat what they like, rather than what is nutritionally best for them. Seeds can though, provide the birds with much needed energy boosts during the winter. By keeping a high quality stock of specialist wild bird seeds, retailers can encourage customers from going to supermarkets where cheaper own brand mixed seeds tend to contain higher amounts of ' fi ller' seeds ( for example corn, milo, oats, wheat) which the majority of birds fi nd unpalatable and then tend to end up on the ground under the feeding station. I know of some communities that have tried to ban bird feeding because of the seed accumulation under the bird feeder and the pests that they attract. To avoid wastage - and attracting pests - here are some examples of birds' favourite seeds 1. Black sunfl ower seeds or black oil sunfl ower seeds will attract a wide range of birds. These look like a sunfl ower seed but they're smaller and totally black. They have a higher oil content and are softer and easier to open. 2. Saffl ower is a white seed and one of the few seeds that squirrels don't like. These seeds might attract Cardinals. The great thing is these can be left in a platform feeder and the squirrels won't even bother! 3. Nyger is a tiny black seed and is excellent for attracting goldfi nches. It can be costly compared to others but a great attraction if placed in the right type of feeder ( hanging with small holes). 4. White Millet can also be a little costly but is great for ground feeding and can scattered on the ground even in the snow to let the birds have a nice meal. Fat is a great source of energy and wild bird suet products are available in a variety of shapes and formulations. The shapes typically include the standard cake, plugs, balls or " berries" and bells. In addition to plain suet, formulations can consist of suet incorporating small amounts of attractants like berries, fruit, insects, nuts, and seeds to appeal to diff erent wild bird species. The primary nutritional component in wild bird suet products is beef fat. Wild birds are attracted to fat because of its high energy content. However it is in their best interests to consume fats that

www. pettradeworld. comPET TRADE WORLD OCTOBER 2009 35 contain the least amount of saturated fats and triglycerides. Birds must expend energy, not only to access and consume fats, but to digest them. The melting temperature of a fat is directly related to its degree of saturation so therefore the higher the saturation, the higher the melting temperature and the more energy needed to digest it. Many ornithologists would suggest that responsible wild bird feeding involves [ at a minimum] feeding wild birds nutritionally complete wild bird feed on a year round basis. Also, maintaining a source of clean fresh water, using properly designed feeders and keeping feeders and feeding sites clean. Nutritionally complete wild bird feed products do indeed take feeding the wild birds to a new level. These products are complete, processed diets formulated to provide birds with all their nutritional needs and undoubtedly provide a nutritional safety net for wild birds during periods of poor forage availability. Wild birds with unrestricted access to nutritionally complete, processed, wild bird diets will not experience the nutritional slump associated with winter or other periods of inclement weather that interferes with food availability. As a result, adult birds will fare better over- winter and initiate nesting activities earlier in the season. They will also nest more frequently during the season, lay more eggs per nesting, fl edge more off spring, and nest later into the season. Surely this can only be good for our wild bird populations? Here are some ideas of feeders and food for retailers to stock in order to encourage people to feed the birds this winter. ¦ Bird Food Focus CJ Wildlife . Oil- rich, Afl atoxin- free peanuts. Whole peanuts can be a choking hazard for birds, so we recommend cross selling with a wire mesh feeder. . Energy packed sunfl ower seeds. The 30, 24 & 15Ltr bags are great value per Litre and allow customers to bulk buy their bird food. . Nutritious peanut cakes. Peanut cakes are enormously popular with garden birds. ¦ Zolux Atlantic Wooden Bird Feeding Range Atlantic, a line with a " seaside" atmosphere, corresponds to the current tendency of " In and Out" furniture ( furniture that can be used inside and outside). Made from pine and weather treated. The range includes a suspended feeding dish matching bird table and a six sided suspended feeding dish and matching bird table. Cereal Stick for Garden Birds Exclusive, unique and 100% biodegradable, these cereal sticks contain diff erent seeds adapted to all types of birds. Wide protective roof against bad weather and wide perches made from craft paper. Seed Sticks for Garden Birds This range of seed sticks comes in 3 " fl avours" - Peanut & Sunfl ower which contain diff erent seeds suitable for all types of birds and a seed stick for Insectivores. This is made from millet, corn, shrimp, daphnia and beetle larvae to attract and feed garden birds.