Gardeners urged to leave red or white grapes on bird tables

Gardeners are being urged to leave grapes on their bird tables in order to provide a quick, easy and healthy source of nutrition for birds this summer. Many gardeners, especially those on a budget or with a small outdoor space, avoid leaving food out for birds, assuming that they need expensive bird feed from specialist garden centres, or huge bird feeders that won't attract much in urban areas anyway.

In fact, even in cities, hungry birds are numerous, and they can be fed very easily and cheaply without any specialist food or equipment. According to garden bird feeding experts, one such type of food that can be left out on bird tables in the summer is grapes.

Whether red, white or black grapes, these juicy fruits can help feed hungry birds, moulting birds in summer and their young fledglings, not long out of their nest and in need of nutrition.

Another upside of grapes is that they contain vital moisture, which is important for thirsty wildlife on hot summer days when rain and drinking water can be scarce.

BirdWatch Ireland recommends several types of fruit that can be left out for birds. It also recommends foods like apples, figs, pears and dried grapes like raisins.

It says: "Thrush species, including Blackbird, will enjoy chopped apples, pears, figs, grapes, currents, raisins, sultanas etc.

"Blackcaps famously enjoy halved apples stuck onto a tree branch or other spike. Cut up any larger fruits into smaller pieces so that they can be eaten with ease. As with everything, never put out anything mouldy for the birds!"

It also stresses that water should be left out for birds in summer, adding: "Water is often forgotten, but it's hugely important for birds to drink and wash themselves in. During cold weather, other water sources in the countryside might get frozen over, so providing water in your garden is extra important. Be sure to provide it in a shallow dish, or if it's deep bowl put a rock in it that smaller birds can perch on - they want to stand in shallow water, not completely submerge themselves!"