Fat balls are no good for ground feeders but are a very good source of food for tits and sparrows and, in my garden, one family of woodpeckers. At the pet and garden store I can buy loose, cracked seeds which don't germinate and th ebirds like them.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Brumbull, I have the same problem as you but this year I've invested in a squirrel feeder and once they've sussed that out I'll be putting squirrel-guarded bird feeders out! (my plan is that if they know where their food is, they'll leave the birds food alone!)
Was watching the garden this morning and it's a hive of activity with lots of blue tits, robins and blackbirds picking at berries and bugs and dancing in the shrubs!
I do use fat balls in another feeder attached to the bird table. I find them very messy too as the Starlings peck and bits go everywhere, especiall down on the ground around the feeder. Still I keep it up, I also put suet pellets mealy worms and the odd bit of cake or cheese onto the table but they're gone first thing and very quickly.
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Dovefromabove, I've tried putting a tray underneath but it still turns into a disgusting mess.
No real answer I think, still whatever the mess it's worth it to see the Goldfinch every day.
Fat balls are no good for ground feeders but are a very good source of food for tits and sparrows and, in my garden, one family of woodpeckers. At the pet and garden store I can buy loose, cracked seeds which don't germinate and th ebirds like them.
Brumbull, I have the same problem as you but this year I've invested in a squirrel feeder and once they've sussed that out I'll be putting squirrel-guarded bird feeders out! (my plan is that if they know where their food is, they'll leave the birds food alone!)
Was watching the garden this morning and it's a hive of activity with lots of blue tits, robins and blackbirds picking at berries and bugs and dancing in the shrubs!
I do use fat balls in another feeder attached to the bird table. I find them very messy too as the Starlings peck and bits go everywhere, especiall down on the ground around the feeder. Still I keep it up, I also put suet pellets mealy worms and the odd bit of cake or cheese onto the table but they're gone first thing and very quickly.