What surface to put under a bird feeder

dangermousie · February 2023

Hello all, (side bar, could you share the link to how to rotate photos?)
I use this olive to hold bird feeders. The surface underneath gets pooped on and trampled by the wood pigeons. Would a patch of grass do well? I could just roll out a circle of turf. But would it also end up worn through by little feet, and killed of by guano?
Thanks

Fairygirl · February 2023

I'd just move the feeder

if you can't do that, some suitable ground cover might be better- there are plenty of things that will grow in semi shade ajuga etc, once established. That will hide it.
The photo problem has been going on for years. If you crop or resize your pic it'll upload the right way. If you keep them at around 1MB or less that's usually fine.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/89/rkysda1i5fzf.jpg

dangermousie · February 2023

Thanks for the photo advice.
There's a trampled Ajuga there, I've put a mini cliche shape bit of chicken wire over it to give it a chance. Fingers crossed! There's nowhere better for the feeder. Maybe it will have to be a bit of bark chips then if the grass won't work...

WonkyWomble · February 2023

I understand this problem...I have an issue with pigeons turning the end of my garden into a Glastonbury mosh pit while collecting spilt seed from hanging feeders. I use bark chips, nothing living survives under such determined feet!

Fairygirl · February 2023

Yes - a mulch of bark or similar might be easier. My feeders are mostly on gravel or above planted borders so it's not such a problem

You could occasionally rake the surface, add some soil and sow grass seed, but it's unlikely to thrive very well due to the olive, and it's likely to be dry too.

Dovefromabove · February 2023

I find the pigeons hoover up the feed that’s discarded by the goldfinches. If the pigeons didn’t do it we’d get rats.

B3 · February 2023

I find that in my garden, daisies manage to survive the trampling pigeons. Some even manage to flower VERY close to the ground. No tree shade though.

bédé · February 2023

Do the pigeons trample that heavily? I think it is more likely human feet. Especially if you trample after a frost. Moving the feeders to different places from time to time will help.

I chase the pigeons away. It works with pigeons but not with bushy tailed tree rats.

Also, try to use non-pigeon friendly food. I feed peanuts, and nigjer seed (whoops, typo, sorry). I tried a mixed seed (mostly cereal and broken maize) it was not popular with my target birds but was, on the floor, with pigeons. I now don't buy that.

My feeders hang from a maple. About the same size as your olive. Under it and the feeders I have a weeping maple. Under that I have ajuga, snowdrops and muget. Seems to work.

Joyce Goldenlily · February 2023

I have weeds.

dangermousie · February 2023

No human feet go under the tree, it's definitely the birds. We enjoy our two wood pigeons; Mrs Fletch has a new boyfriend called Oz ( because his markings look like a map of Australia). They can be very funny sometimes. A small patch of bark will be fine, not even visible when the perennials are back. The blue & great tits, nuthatches, and robins feed the pigeons, collared doves and blackbirds. Seems like a good system.

dangermousie · February 2023

Joyce Goldenlily said:

I have weeds.

Lol, excellent

What surface to put under a bird feeder

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