Gardeners urged to put hot sauce or chilli on bird feeders 'as soon as possible'

Gardeners are being urged to put tabasco or hot sauce on their bird feeders as soon as they can this spring.

That's because spring is the key nesting season for birds in Britain, who are right now foraging food to feed their young, food which is becoming much more scarce and difficult to find.

And birds need a hand with finding food. Thanks to a huge reduction in insect populations, which are down as much as 80 percent in the past 20 years according to studies, birds have far less to eat than they used to, putting them at real risk of starvation.

That's why are being asked to do what they can to make a difference and leave food out for birds.

Birds love all sorts of food left out for them, including custom bird food mixes like mealworms, as well as household items like sultanas, raisins, oats, sunflower seeds and various other nuts and seeds.

The problem with putting food out on bird feeders, though, is that squirrels and even rats will try to steal it.

So, if you have a bird feeder or bird bath, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds suggests that gardeners use something spicy, like Tabasco or chilli powder flakes, to flavour the food.

The RSPB says: "Fruit, especially bruised apples and pears, will be popular with thrushes and blackbirds. Household scraps like pastry, cooked rice and breadcrumbs should only be offered in small amounts occasionally.

"Strong chilli powder or pepper sauce (like Tabasco) can be shaken onto bird food. Birds aren't bothered by the chilli, but most squirrels can't put up with the burning sensation and will leave the food alone."