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UK households urged to sprinkle their gardens with chilli powder this month

Yahoo

18 hours ago

General
Yahoo

UK households urged to sprinkle their gardens with chilli powder this month

Bird populations in the UK continue to decline, with their numbers dwindling due to the ongoing decline in available food sources. Now, households in the UK are being encouraged to sprinkle chilli powder across their gardens this August to help the birds out. Yes, you read that correctly. Get that lawn well seasoned. It may seem strange, but chilli powder is an effective deterrent to prevent food left out for birds from being snatched by other creatures such as squirrels. According to bird feed company Peckish, despite August being a relatively quiet month for garden birds, gardeners must continue providing food and water, which can be scarce during this period. "August is well known as a quiet month for garden birds. Many birds are done with breeding for the year and the abundance of wild food in the form of seeds, fruits, and insects means our garden feeders are in less demand," the experts explain. "Common birds, such as Robin and Blackbirds, will also begin to moult at this time of year. Moulting allows birds to get rid of the worn feathers from a busy breeding season and prepare for migration and the cooler months ahead. "Like us, they prefer to change their outfits in a private and safe space, so they slink about in the undergrowth as their ability to fly is reduced. "Water is the most valuable commodity for birds in summer. Be sure to leave shallow trays of water out for birds, particularly during dry spells. Even better are ponds, which won't need to be topped up as often, and will also provide insects for birds to eat." Recommended reading: Adrian Dunbar issues fresh Line of Duty series 7 update on This Morning The Telegraph slams 'cursed' new series of MasterChef and 'doomed' presenters The little-known Ryanair departure gate rule that bans travellers from flying However, one issue with putting bird food out is that other creatures will attempt to pinch it. This is where the chilli powder proves to be useful. If you have a birdbath or bird table, or something on which you place bird food for the birds, then you can put out a mixture of chopped peanuts, seeds, mealworms and slices of fruit like apples for birds to consume, soaked in water so birds have essential water to drink as well. This works because birds remain completely unaffected by the fiery taste of chilli, whilst squirrels and foxes absolutely 'detest it.'