Keeping big birds off bird feeders

Brexiteer

The trouble with these diy wire contraptions is that if and when a sparrowhawk attacks it stops the small bird from a quick escape 

Fairygirl

pugslovesun said:

And you’ve put tray underneath rather than wire &  let it drop on ground?

I've got a tray in that one [oven trays are good]  and some very fine mesh in the new one.Means I can clean it, and the goldies chuck stuff everywhere, so it helps to avoid lots of mess on the path and in the bed below. The dunnocks sit on the floor so it acts like a ground feeder for them 

Fire

I have a feeding cage but the birds are too nervous to go in - no quick escape.

Fairygirl

@pugslovesun- I based mine on these RSPB 'feeding sanctuary' ones 
https://shopping.rspb.org.uk/feeders-for-small-birds/

The biggest threat to birds is the endless supply of cats - out 24 hours a day round here. 

pugslovesun

Great thanks. my chicken wire was too small gauge.

Fairygirl

I'd agree @pugslovesun. Most chicken wire is a fraction smaller, so it would deter anything bigger than a blue tit! 
I reckon those RSPB grills are about the same size as the shelves. If it's good enough for the RSPB, it's good enough for me
Good, nearby cover is available for all the birds too. That's also quite important, especially for coal tits if you have them, although they often sit quite happily to feed in the cages.
The starlings occasionally have a go at getting in, but they don't like it, and the squirrels can't get in either. They have plenty of other food sources though. I have other feeders, which hang nearer the shed, and the starlings use those, but I mainly put fat balls in those. That keeps them happy.
I feed on the ground too, but mainly in winter. I made another raised ground feeder to help keep it off the ground and all the bigger birds use that. There's an abundance of food sources here as we're quite near farmland. The blackbirds etc come in when it's colder. Loads of berries for them. 

Fairygirl

I just took a quick pic - not great as it's from inside, but you get the idea. The perches at the front are well used too.
The batten at the back will be removed as it was just to get it level, and I haven't got round to doing the adjustments 

pugslovesun

Thanks fairy girl, Ive got a bird table and have managed to quickly do this today in between showers. I added the perches because they didn’t seem to be able to get in. Will keep an eye on it as not sure who is able to access it.
I had bought a cheap feeder with its own cage round ( from my favourite shop in the North East -Boyes- when I visit family) the goldfinches are at that, chucking sunflower seeds around for every bird on the ground 😆 👍
I have my feeders hanging on a pole but may have to change to your set up. Yours looks like it’s up against a wall but there lot of cats round here so bit worried about that.
Sorry for long post, will ponder for a bit whilst watching birds. At least the small birds do seem to be back. Thanks. ☺️

B3

I have one of those spring loaded squirrel/ big bird proof jobs and I hang it on the middle of washing line well out of hedge leaping distance. . It's worked so far but it remains to be seen whether squirrels will work something out when they're hungry in the winter.

Fairygirl

Mine is/are on my back fence, and I've gone to great lengths to keep cats away - water scarecrow, chicken wire along the fence etc. Shouldn't have to do it, but the birds are grateful 
The conifer and pine at the back [just out of sight in that pic]  give them good cover so they're all pretty happy most of the time. My garden isn't very big, so it's difficult to site feeders where I can see the birds, and also give them privacy. They get used to me bumbling about though.
Glad your wee birds are coming back. That's a result, and they'll soon learn to use the perches etc.