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A question for the birdy guys
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Right I got a few shots over the crimbo of robins in the back yard
I went out and purchased a feeding station and food then set it
all up in my front garden so that I could photograph a few more birds butThe wee feckers don’t seem to be eating from the area I set up
A few magpies have been eating at the fatty ball things but nothing seems
to be eating from the seed dispenser and the nuts haven’t been touched either
any tipsI’m sure this post warrant a sarky, low-witted, response, but I’m going to hold back….
Maybe the front garden is a bit busy with lots of people/traffic coming and going.
Move everything to the side or back if possible,
and change the food, it might be past its sell-by date.Or do you have a lot of cats on the prowl in the area? Licking their feather-laden lips?
As Pixelle stated, could be a busy location?
You also need to put out food and feeders that are appropriate for the birds in the area. Some birds will only eat from the ground. Some prefer peanuts. Some prefer insects. Some prefer larger seeds. Some prefer tiny seeds. It really depend on the species. Even then, it can take a little while for birds to find your feeder.
They need a bit of time to find out that there’s a new chip shop opened in the area. Once word gets around, it’ll get busier.
It’s also possible that you just aren’t able to attract the birds like you used to.
Robins are a bit different when it comes to diet – they like anything fatty Cathal… I break up fat balls on a table, occassionally I grate cheese for them. They’re also a bit odd when it comes eating from hanging feeders.
I usually leave out a combo of the following –
Peanuts – Hanging Feeder – Coal Tits, Blue Tits, House Sparrows, Greenfinches & Goldfinches the odd time
Nyger Seeds – Hanging Feeder – Goldfinches, Greenfinches & Sparrows the odd time
Suet – Hanging Feeder – Coal Tits, Blue Tits, Blackbirds, Crows & Robins the odd time just recently
Black Sunflower Seeds – Hanging Feeder – Coal Tits, Blue Tits, Greenfinches, Sparrows
Mixed Seed – Hanging Feeder – Coal Tits, Blue Tits, Greenfinches, Sparrows (House/Tree)
Fat Balls – Bird Table – Robins, Coal Tits, Blue Tits, Magpies, Dunnocks, Crows, Chaffinches
Grated Cheese – Bird Table – Robins
Anything that falls on the ground is usually sweeped up by Dunnocks, Chaffinches, Robins, Blackbirds, Crows, Collard Doves, Yellowhammers etc.
There are other birds that stop by to have a nose around from time to time… Thrushes, Bullfinches, Wood Pigeons & Linnets… but they never eat any of the food I leave out, they prefer to the au natural.
Occassionally I put some corn or wheat on the ground for the Pheasants, Yellowhammers and anyone else that likes to snack on the ground. Beware… it can attract rats and mice too.
I don’t know if you live in a built up area or the shticks but I’ll also second “Traffic/People” in the front garden and a little extra time to find the new chip shop.
This is a useful reference with info on the diet of a lot species –
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/a/index.aspx” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;
And of course if the feeders are hung too near the windows there is the risk of birds flying into the glass
and being stunned,
[and setting off house alarms. (Now how do I know that?) ]Thanks for the help folks
I have it set up in my front garden which is very quiet and very little traffic on the road
The back of my house is driveway right around so not much greenery and the dog is out there also
I will give it a bit of time to see how it gets onCathal
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