.For now, based on this evidence, Im going to continue feeding local birds and take precautions to minimize the associated risks.This includes, not feeding birds processed foods like bread and regularly cleaning bird feeders to help reduce the risk of spreading avian diseases.I encourage you to do your own research on this subject.Im going to continue researching this subject.Fearing both the environmental and health effects of fracking in their community, Elsipogtog First Nation have protested gas exploration in their territory.In response, the police were sent in with sniper rifles, dogs, tear-gas and rubber bullets.Concerns have since been raised about the use of force, surveillance tactics, and disregard of treaty rights during these events.Despite all of this, the fight against fracking is ongoing in New Brunswick.Last June, Premier Blaine Higgs passed regulatory changes that would allow fracking in the Sussex area.Shes never happier than when walking in, writing about or photographing nature.Feeding birds in your garden is a lovely way to not only feel closer to nature but make a difference to the wildlife on your doorstep.Feeding all year-round means there is always that back-up supply for wild birds, but the things you feed them do need to change with the seasons.Garden birds get very busy during spring, building their nests before raising a ravenous brood of chicks which theyll continue to feed for a few weeks even after they have fledged.Its time to switch up what you put in your feeders.Spring is a time for high energy, moisture-rich and protein-rich bird food that wont harm chicks.Live mealworms are a fantastic source of energy and protein for wild birds and wont choke chicks.You can also put out dried mealworms, but soak them in water first.Black sunflower seeds, mild grated cheese, pinhead oatmeal and peanut-free seed mixes are also great, while foods to avoid include loose peanuts, large chunks of bread and fats.A lot of questions surrounding when to feed garden birds crop up around summertime.While this is traditionally a time of plentiful wild food, garden birds can still do with a helping hand.Leave out smaller quantities of the food you would during spring.The autumn bounty provides a plentiful source of food for birds, so its the time of year where you might notice a drop in the number of birds visiting your feeders.The amount youll need to feed garden birds during autumn is minimal.Test out quantities to see how much food the birds eat and then put out the optimum amount, so nothing goes to waste.A high-quality seed mix is a great option for this time of year, as well as things like black sunflower seeds and sunflower hearts.Here is a quick guide to which birds like sunflower seeds, peanuts and other foods.This is just a selection of garden bird species, but our friends at Vine House Farm have produced a fantastic uide to Who eats what?.While cooking fat is bad for birds, raw lard and beef suet are healthy sources of energy that wont smear onto birds feathers, encourage the growth of bacteria or be too salty.Mild grated cheese is a favourite among robins, wrens and dunnocks, while uncooked porridge oats are taken by a range of species.Dried fruits like raisins, sultanas and currants will be snapped up by blackbirds, song thrushes and robins, and apples and pears are popular with thrushes, tits and starlings.Pastry scraps, cooked or uncooked, are excellent, especially if made with real fats.Letting uneaten food accumulate can spread disease and attract rats.Nijer seeds would simply fall out of a normal feeder, while fat balls need a cage feeder.If the water freezes over during winter, simply remove the ice and top it up.Place bird feeders away from cover where cats could be lurking, but not so far that birds dont have somewhere to hide from predators like sparrowhawks at short notice.Grouping bird feeders together can also offer safety in numbers.This campaign focuses on the mental health benefits of bird feeding.Several studies prove birds help lower stress, anxiety, and depression.With technology becoming more pervasive, and societys concern with mental wellness, we think interacting with birds is a natural remedy.This new resource page features information about where to purchase bird feeding products and educate themselves on the benefits of bird feeding.Logo and Ad Bird Watcher’s Digest.Bird feeding provides enjoyment to millions of North Americans each year.When proper feeding methods are followed, both humans and birds derive benefits from feeders.However, recent research on the impact of bird feeding has shown that feeders can sometimes be a source of disease for the birds visiting them.Dump out any wet clumps of old seed.Rinse and allow feeders to dry before refilling.Rake the old site to remove hulls and to give the grass a chance to recover.Instead, when its wet outside, feed primarily from covered feeders that will keep seed dry, or put out only a handful of seed at a time on platforms.Offer them in a tube or hopper feeder.This lessens the possibility of disease transmission.Report sick birds to your local wildlife officials, many of whom monitor wildlife health.Remove dead birds and discard in the trash.Heat can make suet rancid and unhealthy for birds.Melted suet can stick to birds feathers, making them hard to keep clean and useful.Use rendered suet or heat-resilient suet blocks that are available commercially.If birds regularly strike a particular window place a screen, crop netting, or a series of branches over or in front of the outside glass