Whether you should feed birds at all in the summer is a contentious issue for both hobby gardeners and experts.
In the past few weeks, concerns have also been raised as to whether the animals will find enough food in the current drought.
In general, there hasn't been much singing outside the window lately.
But the worries are unfounded, says Sybille Winkelhaus from the Nature Conservation Union (NABU) Hessen.
The dry year does not have to have any impact on feeding.
Only in the case of fat-containing feed preparations such as suet balls should you make sure to replace them more frequently, as the fat does not tolerate the heat and becomes rancid.
The reason why there are currently fewer birds than a few weeks ago is not a lack of food, according to NABU.
There is simply less reason to sing.
The courtship season is over and many young have fledged.
So no territories would have to be marked, since the nests no longer have to be defended.
Now singing would only attract predators.
water instead of food
Feeding all year round is always an option, says Winkelhaus.
But there is no more need for it this year than usual. During the breeding season, you should make sure that the seeds in the feed are not too big.
Because birds normally feed their young animals with insects: if they don't catch enough of them, then the food from birdhouses and feed dispensers has to be used.
Larger chunks of peanuts, such as those found in many feed mixes, are not a problem for adult animals, says Winkelhaus.
Such a piece can get stuck in the neck of a young animal.
In the heat, it is also much more important to offer the animals water.
Stefan Stübing from the Hessian Society for Ornithology and Nature Conservation also emphasizes how important a bird bath is.
The same advice applies here as for bird feeding: "Keep the waterer clean to prevent the spread of disease and away from structures that provide cover, such as bushes, so enemies cannot stalk unseen or wait for the birds." A necessity but he does not see for earlier feeding either.
Less and less food for birds
Lars Wichmann from the bird sanctuary in Gießen is of the same opinion.
Feeding year-round is generally “almost a philosophical thing”.
There is a real camp formation between supporters and opponents.
It should be noted, however, that birds generally find less and less food in nature.
In the past, more crop residues remained on the fields.
"It's simply the result of improving crop management." The landscape as a whole is "more and more tidied up", and therefore less can be found in the wild.
From Wichmann's point of view, green strips are also more of an emergency measure, as these are often only created for one year.
Some species, like the honey bee, benefited, but not all.
They would have to be created for several years, and even then they would not be a substitute for species-rich meadows.