Читать книгу The Times A Year in Nature Notes - Derwent May - Страница 52

NOW THAT THE ground is frozen again, blackbirds, song thrushes and robins are finding it hard to get the earthworms that they feed on. This is an important time to put food out for them. A robin will come to a bird table, but the other two species prefer to feed on the ground, and the song thrush will not venture far from the shelter of a hedge or bush. Bread, cheese or any scraps will help them but it is also possible to buy mealworms from bird-food firms and in some garden centres, and these will be particularly appreciated by these birds.

In February and March it is also important to keep on providing nuts and seeds for the mainly seed-eating birds, such as greenfinches. Although spring is slowly coming on, last autumn’s wild seeds are running out by now, and there is greater food shortage among birds than there was in midwinter. The new season’s insects will help to remedy matters as it becomes warmer.

In the woods dog’s mercury is coming up everywhere through the leaf litter in spite of the return of cold weather, and the dry woodland floor is starting to look greener. Some dog’s mercury plants already have little green flowers.