Pepper can help feed the birds and deter squirrels (Image: Alex Evans)
Gardeners are being urged to help feed the birds this winter and try to slow a worrying decline in bird populations.
Many common bird species don’t migrate in the colder months and stay in the UK, fighting for dwindling food supplies.
Estimates say bird numbers have dropped by as much as 16% in the UK in the past 50 years, which is why gardeners are being asked to do their bit to help them out by putting out food for them this February – and protecting it from being gobbled up by squirrels.
The RSPB warns: “There has been a serious decline in the numbers of many birds, including the song thrush, skylark, lapwing and house sparrow. This decline has been gradual. Most of the declining species are farmland birds. Declines may have started in woodland habitat also, with lesser spotted woodpeckers and willow tits now red-listed because of their severe declines.”
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Now, are being asked to leave out food for birds and make it squirrel-proof.
This can be done with anything spicy, like pepper sauce, hot pepper powder, chilli powder and Tabasco.
That’s because birds can’t taste spicy food, but squirrels hate it, so it stops the birds from having their much-needed lunch stolen by a pesky squirrel.
The RSPB says: “Fruit, especially bruised apples and pears, will be popular with thrushes and blackbirds. Household scraps like pastry, cooked rice and breadcrumbs should only be offered in small amounts occasionally.
“Strong chilli powder or pepper sauce (like tabasco) can be shaken onto bird food. Birds aren’t bothered by the chilli, but most squirrels can’t put up with the burning sensation and will leave the food alone.”
Wild Birds Unlimited explains in more detail how this works – and says for best results you can use a really hot pepper.
It adds: “Peppers and birds have a close association that benefits them both, and what benefits them, also discourages mammals.
“Our bird food manufacturers take advantage of this by adding hot pepper to our suet blocks. The pepper bound up in the suet is not free to irritate eyes or other membranes, and when eaten by squirrels is unpleasant and discourages them from eating more.
“Since birds do not experience a hot sensation if they taste pepper they will continue to be attracted to your suet. At WBU stores we now also have seed that has been coated with a very high-capsaicin level of pepper extract.
Squirrels will steal bird food if you don’t protect it (Image: Getty)
“The extract is very hot so we recommend using gloves to protect your skin, even if you don’t think you will touch it. Remember, mammals, like we humans, have the pain receptors but birds do not.
“This seed does cost more because it has to be prepared in a totally separate facility where all of the workers must wear protective clothing, but it will deter squirrels, rats, raccoons, bears and other mammals from eating your bird seed.
“Once they taste it, these mammals will not come back for more. Eventually, you can begin to mix untreated seed to lower your cost and if the mammals stay away, you may be able to abandon the treated seed until you see evidence of them returning.
“The story of pepper and birds is an interesting one and gives us a way to protect our bird food from being eaten by mammals when that is desired – and it’s an all-natural way to control undesired pests without resorting to unnatural chemicals.”