Forum home› Talkback
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Talkback: Why are the birds ignoring their food?

Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
in Talkback
We used to have pigeons perching on the half-door, waiting for food. My mother calls them "flying rats" sometimes.
«13

Posts

  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Same problem. I have a 'new' garden and have been very disappointed at the lack of birds wanting to eat from my feeders. We've been in the house for nearly 8 years now and in the time we've been here I have planted 9 trees and lots of shrubs so I am hoping that as they mature the birds will return to my garden.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I have 3 cats and a dog that run round my garden but it's teeming with hungry birds who eagerly gobble up the peanuts, seed, bread and fruit (sometimes cake if they're very lucky!)that I leave out. I have hung four feeders from a large cotoneaster tree that is further sheltered by a very tall conifer which does give them some protection, I suppose.
    I get some pigeons, but also get several pairs of doves, and they all hoover up what the other birds drop.
    I have a Rill running through the garden which gives them constant, gently running water throughout the year and they drink from this and bathe in it.
    Every year I have blackbirds, sparrows and blue tits who nest in the leylandii and the ivy, stoically ignoring the beautiful nesting boxes I have dotted around the place! There are some tense moments while the fledglings are on the ground due to the pets, but I have plenty of dense shrubs for them to hide in.
    Oh, and my garden (as it is now) is 4 years old :-)
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    My birds (a huge variety including jays, nuthatches, goldfinches, bullfinches, siskins,warblers as well as the usual garden birds) eat everything I put out and I deliver a lot. I have a ground feeder, tree feeders for peanuts, niger seed, fat blocks (which I make myself), a peanut feeder for squirrels and jays (also magpies and crows, both of which are not slow) and a general wild bird feeder. I also put a mixture of seed, crushed peanuts,and raisins on the ground. It all goes! I do have a tree to hang the feeders on but one could buy a stand for this. My garden is not ultra tidy so there is lots of cover. I also have 4 cats which visit and WATCH the birds - I have never seen them chase them! (Just entertainment, I guess!). I also have a fox and badger which visit for home made food goodies at night, so I am blessed with wildlife and I really enjoy watching them all.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    The pigeons in my garden, which nest in the neighbours leylandi trees chase away the other birds. One in particular will eat and eat until its full and then sit on top of the bird table and keep the other birds from getting a look in. I feel like running out and knocking his block off, big bully.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    We always have a good selection of birds feeding and we use sunflower hearts in two feeders on an apple tree. We have hedges each side but the birds just fly straight into the apple tree. We have tried other feeds but nothing is as successful as sunflower hearts.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    What about some artificial wooden structure they can perch on?
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I have several bird feeders hanging in a quince tree, including sunflower hearts, niger seed, wild bird seed, peanuts and fat balls. I cannot keep time with them, no sooner they are filled up the birds are there. Last week I counted 9 collared doves either feeding on the seed or hovering around waiting to get on. We have all the usual birds, sparrows, tits, green and gold finches, robins blackbirds and chaffinches. This week we had a Jay ground feeding. Have not seen one in the garden before. I have lots of big shrubs and several small trees, lots of places for birds to hide in. I love them, and could spend hours watching them.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Have not seen any birds this year, not even our trusty robin. We are getting lots of squirrels though (upto 9 at a time) which is attracting our local cat population. Am enjoying the antics of the squirrels and the chasing (although not very hard) cats and the squirrels are certainly eating me out of house and home. The pigeons and magpies have arrived this week, but am missing the smaller birds.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Yes its funny that. i've put out loads of seeds and peanuts, suet balls etc. and there's very little interest. all i can think is that they're getting better fed elsewhere.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I have two birdd-tables. One big square one for the gulls, magpies and jackdors; then two feeders hung against the hedge for the little birds to feed in peace and from where they can see oncoming cats. Works well.
Sign In or Register to comment.