NABU warns: Plastic nets are a deadly trap for birds – this is how to feed them correctly!

NABU warns: Plastic nets are a deadly trap for birds – this is how to feed them correctly!

More and more garden owners in Cologne are thinking: Using store-bought suet balls in plastic nets could have fatal consequences for local birds. This is what he warns NABU. The nets commonly used to store suet balls pose a danger not only to birds who can become entangled in them, but also to the soil and the environment. Inexperienced young birds in particular often suffer from this captivating danger, which can lead to their death.

The problem becomes even more complicated: large birds such as magpies are able to steal entire suet balls and their nets and thus carry rubbish into nature. These plastic nets remain in the garden for decades but slowly decompose into microplastic particles, further exacerbating the situation. The consequences are devastating: according to the WWF It is estimated that over 11 million tons of plastic end up in the world's oceans every year, with voracious seabirds often mistaking the plastic for food and are therefore seriously endangered.

Environmentally friendly alternatives

A way out of this misery is the option of making homemade suet balls, which also do not require plastic nets. The instructions are simple and only require a few ingredients such as suet or coconut oil, sunflower seeds, oatmeal and chopped peanuts. An old cup can also serve as a creative feeding station - simply pour the mixture into it and hang it up, and your feathered friends can enjoy a feast.

NABU also recommends using feeding stations and special spirals for hanging loose dumplings. If you want to be particularly imaginative, you can use old whisks as wire containers for the birds. It's time to take responsibility and choose high-quality products when buying bird food. Purchased suet balls with plastic nets should urgently be removed from the garden and disposed of with residual waste.

Take action together

But it's not just in your own garden that you need to pay attention to the use of plastic. The environment suffers from the consequences of plastic waste in all areas. These garbage particles, particularly through wind and rain, end up in rivers and ultimately in the oceans, where they endanger the food chain. At sea, not only do birds get tangled up in old fishing nets, but they can also suffer serious harm from ingesting microplastics. As an albatross shows, over 90% of bird species observed in the North Sea already have plastic in their stomachs. It is an alarming picture that shows us how urgently action is needed.

That's why gardeners and nature lovers should not only make their gardens more environmentally friendly, but also raise awareness about plastic waste. Measures to combat the flood of plastic are diverse: from reducing single-use plastic to initiatives to remove waste on beaches and committed cleanup campaigns.

It's up to us to take action and create a better future for our feathered friends and the environment. Every little piece counts!