You're absolutely right Oldtyke - in order for the birds to feel safe (from cats and sparrowhawks etc) they need shrubs and climbers to hide in - then they can pop onto the feeders and back again. Pyracantha is good cover as is berberis.
Also we're getting a lot more birds in the garden now that we've got some plants providing cover on the ground for them to creep around in
“I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh
Put up a bird box and sunflower hearts that will bring them in. Whatever you do dont put down bread or you will get rats then you won't get rid of them. Sunflower hearts can be expensive go to wilkos very cheap also put down freeze dried meal worms blackbirds and robins love them about ??1.50 a tub
Don't put out whole peanuts at this time of year as the baby birds can choke on them. Use the finely chopped ones. I've just ordered a batch of live mealworms for this time of year
“I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh
Sunflower hearts did seem to be popular but I wasnt sure where to find them! everywhere I tried were either too expensive or out of stock. Wilkos sounds like a great shout. Thanks
Dove as far as I know that is a myth about whole peanuts. Adult birds are not nearly silly enough to feed their chicks something that is too big for them. They do however benefit from the high energy food themselves whilst they collect suitable food for the chicks.
I think it has been shown with the increase in bird box cams that whole peanuts are not a risk to the chicks, though if there is evidence to the contrary then fair enough.
I just found Garden Wildlife Direct and they have the best prices I've found on sunflower hearts with free delivery for 12.5 kg and over. Before that I was doing "subscribe and save" on Amazon which also gives free delivery.
Remember, everyone to clean your bird feeders/baths weekly to prevent diseases. I've seen some greenfinches with trichomonas(?) and it was pretty horrible. It's spread through the birds' saliva. Not cleaning your feeders is worse than not putting any out because you are encouraging birds to congregate and therefore they are more likely to spread diseases.
i have a wall on my side with a thick bush (don't know what it is as its the neighbours) but its deciduous and has russian ivy running through it so is very densy but is always full of sparrows and on the edge of it above my wall i have my bird feeders hanging,
up the road is also a dense russian ivy and that is also full of sparrows, a neighbour up the road has a privet type hedge and she fas her bird feeders near it and there always tons of sparrows in her bush
i have premium wild bird seed in a caged feeder as otherwise the starlings empty it in one mass raid per day,
i have sunflower seeds (blue tits like them)
peanuts (i always roast them first to remove the possible toxins harmful to birds) and the starlings love those
the top of the wall is for the seeds that are dropped for the doves, mouse (who also lives in the dense bush) and starlings etc
I have a bird bath and the ring neck doves like this and the starlings love a splash about the sparrows drink from it
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You're absolutely right Oldtyke - in order for the birds to feel safe (from cats and sparrowhawks etc) they need shrubs and climbers to hide in - then they can pop onto the feeders and back again. Pyracantha is good cover as is berberis.
Also we're getting a lot more birds in the garden now that we've got some plants providing cover on the ground for them to creep around in
Peanuts is a great idea GemmaJF! I did try sunflower seeds once too but there wasn't too much interest.
I will start trying a combination of many different varieties. Also, Someone else recommended planting climbers, I may try more plants too.
Thanks everyone
Don't put out whole peanuts at this time of year as the baby birds can choke on them. Use the finely chopped ones. I've just ordered a batch of live mealworms for this time of year
Sunflower hearts did seem to be popular but I wasnt sure where to find them! everywhere I tried were either too expensive or out of stock. Wilkos sounds like a great shout. Thanks
Dove as far as I know that is a myth about whole peanuts. Adult birds are not nearly silly enough to feed their chicks something that is too big for them. They do however benefit from the high energy food themselves whilst they collect suitable food for the chicks.
I think it has been shown with the increase in bird box cams that whole peanuts are not a risk to the chicks, though if there is evidence to the contrary then fair enough.
I just found Garden Wildlife Direct and they have the best prices I've found on sunflower hearts with free delivery for 12.5 kg and over. Before that I was doing "subscribe and save" on Amazon which also gives free delivery.
Remember, everyone to clean your bird feeders/baths weekly to prevent diseases. I've seen some greenfinches with trichomonas(?) and it was pretty horrible. It's spread through the birds' saliva. Not cleaning your feeders is worse than not putting any out because you are encouraging birds to congregate and therefore they are more likely to spread diseases.
i have a wall on my side with a thick bush (don't know what it is as its the neighbours) but its deciduous and has russian ivy running through it so is very densy but is always full of sparrows and on the edge of it above my wall i have my bird feeders hanging,
up the road is also a dense russian ivy and that is also full of sparrows, a neighbour up the road has a privet type hedge and she fas her bird feeders near it and there always tons of sparrows in her bush
i have premium wild bird seed in a caged feeder as otherwise the starlings empty it in one mass raid per day,
i have sunflower seeds (blue tits like them)
peanuts (i always roast them first to remove the possible toxins harmful to birds) and the starlings love those
the top of the wall is for the seeds that are dropped for the doves, mouse (who also lives in the dense bush) and starlings etc
I have a bird bath and the ring neck doves like this and the starlings love a splash about the sparrows drink from it
i'm in east sussex right by the sea
That sounds lovely
all that dense cover is so good for the smaller birds 