Perm citizens are encouraged to feed wild birds during winter time

Wild forest animals need additional food sources during cold winter months. Feeding wild birds, people help them to survive through severe Ural winter.

Perm Urban Forestry Administration reminds that it is important that you provide supplementary feeding, not the m

ain one. Having easy food can lead to birds stopping providing for themselves, which can damage their natural habits and ability to survive.

A lot of birds spend winter in Perm forests; among them are wood grouses, blackcocks, sparrows, hazel grouses, woodpeckers, goldfinches, kinglets, nuthatches, eagle-owls, owls and others. A growing number of ducks and white-tailed eagles stay at home every year. Bullfinches, cedar waxwings and thrushes come to the region from the North to spend the winter.

City Department of ecology and natural resources specialists remind that feeding birds you must remember a few rules. Don’t feed birds with black bread and millet. As against switch grass, deprived of shell, millet can accumulate toxins and pathogenic germs. Strong toxins are not less harmful to birds than to people. Bum, old and moldy food can be extremely harmful. Salty, fried and oily food is also out of the question.  The best possible food for birds is seed mix, which is what forestry specialists feed them. Extra food source helps birds to live through the winter till the spring comes and they can hunt for insects.

Ornithologists note that birds are an integral part of urban fauna; they take place in food chain, protect green planting and simply brighten the city with their presence and singing.

More than 200 species of birds reside on the territory of Perm: in parks, forests and alleys. Around 50 different species spend winter in the region. Some of the species, inhabiting the region, are protected and registered with the Red Book.