Hi we have just moved into our new home and noticed there are. No common sparrows plenty of magpies and wondered what the problem was it as took us 6months to attract the smaller birds we seem to have plenty of wood pigeons and magpies and was wondering if they were keeping the smaller birds away
We have plenty of Magpies, Wood Pigeons and Crows in our garden in London. We also have lots of Sparrows, Goldfinches and other smaller birds. No problem therefore in attracting other species because of the larger birds. Perhaps there is another reason why you are not getting the smaller birds into your garden.
Small birds need cover to hide in - either scruffy buildings with nooks and crannies under the tiles etc, or thick thorny hedges etc to chatter away in and hide from the marauding sparrowhawks etc. Airy trees and elegant shrubberies won't do.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
My neighbours have a thick leylandii hedge so I would guess they would use that. But sadly no sparrows, though we have a regular green woodpecker who visits. He was here yesterday inspecting our lawn!
I have a hawthorn hedge along one side of my garden which now has about 50 sparrows nesting in it (they don't seem to nest anywhere else) and I also feed all the year round. Numbers seem to have recovered from when they were at their lowest about 4 years ago, when they were down to 2 or 3 pairs. There are two 4-bird feeders and a bird table (which has vertical wires around the sides to prevent wood pigeons landing and scoffing the lot!) The sparrows have to queue on nearby fence tops and shrubs etc to take their turn at a feeder, but I wouldn't say it's at all an orderly queue - it's such fun watching them squabbling! Somehow a few blue tits, coal tits, great tits and greenfinches manage to get in there too. Since the rise in sparrow population here, I've had no serious aphid or other insect pest problems, so I count the money spent on birdfood as rather good value.
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
BobTheGardener, you have described exactly what goes on in my garden, a very healthy sparrow population and yes, its fantastic seeing the other species taking full advantage of the feeders. Something I've learned over the years is when they are frantically feeding, as is happening today, it usually means we are in for some nasty weather conditions.
We have sparrows in our garden they share our feeders with the ring doves starlings occasional robin and of course not forgetting Walter pigeon. I think sparrows are amazing to think how they can hold their own at the feeding tables yesterday a passing robin left with a flea in the ear our little resident sparrows saw to that now that's spirit, though the robin did return when the coast was clear. Great to watch better than telly!!!!!!!
I wonder the ones that have sparrows what area are you in I am in the midlands redditch Worcestershire and still not seen any sparrows in or around were I live
Rural, central Belgium surrounded by pasture and arable crops with woodland nearby. We've planted up former cow pasture to include trees, shrubs, hedges and plenty of bulbs, perennials and grasses plus soft fruit and vegetables. Plenty of shelter and planty of ssed heads, berries and insects for food.
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)."
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We have plenty of Magpies, Wood Pigeons and Crows in our garden in London. We also have lots of Sparrows, Goldfinches and other smaller birds. No problem therefore in attracting other species because of the larger birds. Perhaps there is another reason why you are not getting the smaller birds into your garden.
Small birds need cover to hide in - either scruffy buildings with nooks and crannies under the tiles etc, or thick thorny hedges etc to chatter away in and hide from the marauding sparrowhawks etc. Airy trees and elegant shrubberies won't do.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
My neighbours have a thick leylandii hedge so I would guess they would use that. But sadly no sparrows, though we have a regular green woodpecker who visits. He was here yesterday inspecting our lawn!
He should keep your lawn ant-free!
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I have a hawthorn hedge along one side of my garden which now has about 50 sparrows nesting in it (they don't seem to nest anywhere else) and I also feed all the year round. Numbers seem to have recovered from when they were at their lowest about 4 years ago, when they were down to 2 or 3 pairs. There are two 4-bird feeders and a bird table (which has vertical wires around the sides to prevent wood pigeons landing and scoffing the lot!) The sparrows have to queue on nearby fence tops and shrubs etc to take their turn at a feeder, but I wouldn't say it's at all an orderly queue - it's such fun watching them squabbling! Somehow a few blue tits, coal tits, great tits and greenfinches manage to get in there too. Since the rise in sparrow population here, I've had no serious aphid or other insect pest problems, so I count the money spent on birdfood as rather good value.
BobTheGardener, you have described exactly what goes on in my garden, a very healthy sparrow population and yes, its fantastic seeing the other species taking full advantage of the feeders. Something I've learned over the years is when they are frantically feeding, as is happening today, it usually means we are in for some nasty weather conditions.
Rural, central Belgium surrounded by pasture and arable crops with woodland nearby. We've planted up former cow pasture to include trees, shrubs, hedges and plenty of bulbs, perennials and grasses plus soft fruit and vegetables. Plenty of shelter and planty of ssed heads, berries and insects for food.