Gardeners urged to leave cheese on bird tables this spring

Gardeners are being urged to put cheese on their bird tables this spring and summer in a bid to help garden birds find food for their young.

April, May and June represent the most important time of year for birds - breeding and nesting season. It's when birds are raising their chicks and need extra food, both for themselves and their young, to give them the best possible chance of survival - and unbeknownst to many , cheese is one of the things you can leave out for birds.

It's especially important since bird population numbers have dropped in recent decades, with RSPB findings in its Big Garden Bird Watch this year showing birds like starlings in particular having a tough time of it.

The charismatic garden bird dropped from third to fourth place for the most commonly spotted species in the annual birdwatch, with the RSPB warning it has seen an 85% decline in average numbers seen per garden since the scheme began in 1979.

That's why and wildlife experts are always urging people to do what they can to help birds, with feeding being a critical part of it.

As well as the typical food offerings like seeds, mealworms, suet and raisins (all of which are still good ideas), you can use some kitchen scraps to feed birds, including cheese - mild, grated cheddar or other hard cheese is best, but avoid soft cheese like brie.

According to Really Wild Bird Food: " scraps make an excellent addition to your usual choice of bird food. By putting out the right scraps, you are helping to reduce landfill waste, as well as providing the birds with additional essential fats and carbohydrates which are especially important in the Winter and during nesting season."

They added: "Birds love mild, grated cheddar or other hard cheese, but soft cheeses such as brie and blue cheese are not suitable.

"Stale cereal and oats are fine, just as long as they don't have a high sugar or salt content and are not soaked in milk. Cooked oats can harden around a bird's beak, so raw oats are preferred.

"Plain, cooked pasta and rice is a popular choice and a great source of carbohydrates. Just make sure that they are not coated in sauce or cheese."

But they stressed that any uneaten food must be cleared away to avoid the risk of spreading disease, adding: "It is vitally important to clear away any uneaten food. Not only does it attract rats and other vermin, but it can spread bacteria, and birds will not touch food that is off."