FOOD FOR BIRDS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3297, 6 August 1943, Page 5

FOOD FOR BIRDS

MONTH OF AUGUST SUITABLE TREES TO PLANT WORK OF GREAT IMPORTANCE In a district so rich in parks and gardens as the Thames Valley, care of bird-life should be of great importance as all birds do a tremendous amount of good for gardens and bush. Every August a day is set aside as Arbor Day in New Zealand. Because of the close association of trees and birds this month has come to be known as bird month. Nature-lovers can show their appreciation of birds by providing them with food at this time when their natural food is at its scarcest.

Any programme of tree-planting should include the trees that provide food for New Zealand’s beautiful honey-eating birds. The trees, all of which do well in the Valley are:—Aristotelia (Wineberry).- Cordyline (Cabbage Tree), Knightia excelsa (honeysuckle), Metrosideros (Rata and Pohutukawa), Pittosporum (varieties), Sophora (Kowhai), Vitex lucens (Puriri), Fuchsia (Kotukutuku). The above are tall-growing trees, but there are three smaller shrubs which should be included: Alseuosmia (Karapapa), Clianthus (Kaka Beak), and Phormium (flax).

A popular introduced shrub, the single-flowered camellia, provides a great store for honey-eating birds during the winter and the- strawberry tree (Cornus), gives food for birds which feast on its rosy berries. The common white lucerne tree is also very popular with tuis. Scraps From The Table

Those whose gardens have none of these plants can provide food for birds this month by putting out scraps of cooked food either in some raised position or in the middle of a large open space where the menace from cats would be greatly reduced. Scraps of fat and meat should be cut into small pieces, stale crusts of bread should, be soaked in water and the hard shells which have been removed from cooked pumpkin should be left pulpy side up for the birds to peck at. The little i silver-eye is particularly fond of anything sweet such as jam skimmings and a pot of fermented jam which many people would throw out will feed dozens of them. When nectar-yielding flowers are scarce, as at this time of the year, the birds may be provided for by hanging small glass jars of manufactured nectar in their favourite trees. Sugar and water, honey and water or treacle and watei’ are excellent substitutes.

In providing a bath for birds the menace of cats should be borne in mind and the bath should be placed, as the food, in the middle of a lawn or raised from the ground. The water should be kept fresh. Any shallow vessel makes a suitable bath.