I'm new to attracting birds. I have feeders with mixed seed, sunflower hearts, peanuts and fat balls. Already I am noticing that some days the birds go for one type of food and sometimes another, although the sunflower hearts are by far the most popular all the time. I suspect to attract a particular species there has to be a population locally.
So far (in around 6 weeks of filling feeders) I have had: House Sparrows, Blackbirds, Goldfinches, Great Tits, Chaffinches, Blue Tits, Robins, Wood Pigeons, Collared Doves and Starlings. I also get Crows and Magpies quite a lot (Magpies have nested in the sycamore for 2 years, looks like they are moving to the pine tree this year) but not on the feeders (except the crows steal the fat balls when they get small enough). I've also been visited by a squirrel (grey unfortunately - annoying so close to several red squirrel areas).
Annoyingly I have a Rhododendron I have meaning to get rid of for a while, but the birds are using it as cover whilst feeding, so I'll need to make a good plan for replacing it if I do get rid of it.
Local cats are a problem for me (all my veg beds now have wire covers to keep them out) but the feeders are far enough away from pouncing positions and the birds have enough cover close by that they don't seem to be causing problems for the birds. Most days the birds can empty a feeder full of sunflower hearts!
When we bought our house last summer we got no birds in the garden, possibly because the previous owners were welcoming what seems like all 9 or 10 cats that live in the close round for food and treats. Cats are now less welcome, and we have a mature cherry tree in the middle of the lawn which has been perfect for hanging feeders. We now get robins, wrens, dunnocks, blue and great tits, a black cap, green and goldfinches, starlings, feral and wood pigeons, the odd crow and jackdaw, chaffinches, blackbirds, magpies. Oh and once in a while gulls! Although we're on an estate we're not far from farmland and open countryside, and lots of lovely hedgerow so I'm assuming that helps.
I think you need to offer different foods, make sure they are regularly available, and provide water. I've all but given up on nyger seed too, none of them seem to touch it. I think between the back and front garden we have seven feeders and I also sometimes sprinkle suet pellets on a patch of lawn away from any cat cover.
We're in the process of sorting the garden and I'm trying to include plants and shrubs that they'll like so hopefully they'll stick around. Just interested to see now if the nestbox we put up gets any attention!
Hi i don't fill my bird feeders i just put in a small amount and keep topping them up. i do this as with all the rain the seed mixes can go mouldy.
Jim your garden is amazing i can see why you have lots of birds you must have plenty of insects as well, how big is your garden it looks huge, i'm so envious!
The greatest barrier to having loadsa birds in the garden, is perhaps my favourite animal. Puddy Tats, felines, slave owners, feline slugabeds and pooh distributors amongst the flower beds where least wanted, needed or desired !
Get rid of the cats, and birdies will profiterole or perhaps proliferate ! This afternoon, oop t'lotty, a NEARLY had a robin land on my knee for some meal worms ! A cat came in through the gate, and when I did a Cesar Millan on it, it departed, without further discussion, negotiation or gun fire !
I have tried to attract many types of birds into my garden, we used to have quite a few popping in and out, and I would love this again.
I live on the back of woodland so I don't see why they would stop coming? I still put feed out but they don't seem too interested. Does anyone know of any good tips or tricks which would attract them?
Dunnocks, hedge spuggies, tree spuggies (VERY uncommon !) gold finches, wrens, long tailed, great, coal and blue tits, greenfinches, blackbirds, chaffinches, robins, collared doves, wood pigeons, starlings, jackdaws, sometimes a bold rook or two visits. Our cup doth runneth over. Our bank balance for feeding the little blighters is draining us. Well worth the expense tho' .Feeders hanging on the apple trees and the lilac. Peanuts, niger seed, mixed seeds, pasty counter and we have thought of a soup kitchen just to provide sustenance for the homeless.
Keep trying a variety of different foods Amy. I hit the jackpot with peanuts (nobody else locally I guess feeds peanuts) and sunflower seeds. It's often a case of providing something that nobody else does to get them coming in. Though I put out the usual seed mix it is rarely touched.
We moved to our house last November. We have a tiny garden, surrounded by a six foot fence, and a scrappy lawn. There was a bird feeder and a table when we moved in,. By Christmas we had had 1 solitary wren!
Since then I have started planting climbers, and we noticed the fat balls have been nibbled. Seeds have also gone from the table. I have seen a couple of blackbirds on the lawn, and today a starling on the fence. I'm presuming it's the lack of plants in the gardens.
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We have sparrows nest in the ivy at the front of the house, don't trust them though, they mostly go to the neighbour's feeders
I'm new to attracting birds. I have feeders with mixed seed, sunflower hearts, peanuts and fat balls. Already I am noticing that some days the birds go for one type of food and sometimes another, although the sunflower hearts are by far the most popular all the time. I suspect to attract a particular species there has to be a population locally.
So far (in around 6 weeks of filling feeders) I have had: House Sparrows, Blackbirds, Goldfinches, Great Tits, Chaffinches, Blue Tits, Robins, Wood Pigeons, Collared Doves and Starlings. I also get Crows and Magpies quite a lot (Magpies have nested in the sycamore for 2 years, looks like they are moving to the pine tree this year) but not on the feeders (except the crows steal the fat balls when they get small enough). I've also been visited by a squirrel (grey unfortunately - annoying so close to several red squirrel areas).
Annoyingly I have a Rhododendron I have meaning to get rid of for a while, but the birds are using it as cover whilst feeding, so I'll need to make a good plan for replacing it if I do get rid of it.
Local cats are a problem for me (all my veg beds now have wire covers to keep them out) but the feeders are far enough away from pouncing positions and the birds have enough cover close by that they don't seem to be causing problems for the birds. Most days the birds can empty a feeder full of sunflower hearts!
When we bought our house last summer we got no birds in the garden, possibly because the previous owners were welcoming what seems like all 9 or 10 cats that live in the close round for food and treats. Cats are now less welcome, and we have a mature cherry tree in the middle of the lawn which has been perfect for hanging feeders. We now get robins, wrens, dunnocks, blue and great tits, a black cap, green and goldfinches, starlings, feral and wood pigeons, the odd crow and jackdaw, chaffinches, blackbirds, magpies. Oh and once in a while gulls! Although we're on an estate we're not far from farmland and open countryside, and lots of lovely hedgerow so I'm assuming that helps.
I think you need to offer different foods, make sure they are regularly available, and provide water. I've all but given up on nyger seed too, none of them seem to touch it. I think between the back and front garden we have seven feeders and I also sometimes sprinkle suet pellets on a patch of lawn away from any cat cover.
We're in the process of sorting the garden and I'm trying to include plants and shrubs that they'll like so hopefully they'll stick around. Just interested to see now if the nestbox we put up gets any attention!
Interesting that nobody has asked Josh where the garden is!
Town, City, Coastal, Moors. How far south, north, east or west.
Is the garden already sheltered or exposed, wet or dry.
How big is it?
What wildlife, birds, mammals and butterflies are nearby already.
Hi i don't fill my bird feeders i just put in a small amount and keep topping them up. i do this as with all the rain the seed mixes can go mouldy.
Jim your garden is amazing i can see why you have lots of birds you must have plenty of insects as well, how big is your garden it looks huge, i'm so envious!
The greatest barrier to having loadsa birds in the garden, is perhaps my favourite animal. Puddy Tats, felines, slave owners, feline slugabeds and pooh distributors amongst the flower beds where least wanted, needed or desired !
Get rid of the cats, and birdies will profiterole or perhaps proliferate ! This afternoon, oop t'lotty, a NEARLY had a robin land on my knee for some meal worms ! A cat came in through the gate, and when I did a Cesar Millan on it, it departed, without further discussion, negotiation or gun fire !
I have tried to attract many types of birds into my garden, we used to have quite a few popping in and out, and I would love this again.
I live on the back of woodland so I don't see why they would stop coming? I still put feed out but they don't seem too interested. Does anyone know of any good tips or tricks which would attract them?
Dunnocks, hedge spuggies, tree spuggies (VERY uncommon !) gold finches, wrens, long tailed, great, coal and blue tits, greenfinches, blackbirds, chaffinches, robins, collared doves, wood pigeons, starlings, jackdaws, sometimes a bold rook or two visits. Our cup doth runneth over. Our bank balance for feeding the little blighters is draining us. Well worth the expense tho' .Feeders hanging on the apple trees and the lilac. Peanuts, niger seed, mixed seeds, pasty counter and we have thought of a soup kitchen just to provide sustenance for the homeless.
Keep trying a variety of different foods Amy. I hit the jackpot with peanuts (nobody else locally I guess feeds peanuts) and sunflower seeds. It's often a case of providing something that nobody else does to get them coming in. Though I put out the usual seed mix it is rarely touched.
We moved to our house last November. We have a tiny garden, surrounded by a six foot fence, and a scrappy lawn. There was a bird feeder and a table when we moved in,. By Christmas we had had 1 solitary wren!
Since then I have started planting climbers, and we noticed the fat balls have been nibbled. Seeds have also gone from the table. I have seen a couple of blackbirds on the lawn, and today a starling on the fence. I'm presuming it's the lack of plants in the gardens.