I just realised the gaps on that basket are as wide as the ones on the baskets I used for a hanging feeder like Ndumpling did, but the starlings never seemed to come near the ground one.
unless they kept watch.... and waited till I went out....
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I use an old dog crate to put food in for the little birds. The holes are big enough for sparrows, robins etc, but too small for starlings and anything bigger. I have a seed feeder hanging inside the crate and put food on the ground inside the crate too.
I have one of those pole feeding stations to hang feeders on, but as soon as the starlings and jackdaws notice it, the feeders are emptied within hours and the smaller birds don't get a chance to have any.
I do have to put some food out in the open for the blackbirds and thrushes and hope they get some before the jackdaws and starlings eat everything.
I love my birds and put a niger feeder for the finches. it gets well used but the downside is the fallen seed then seeds in my lawn creating a mat of short dense shoots which seem to kill the lawn, any ideas how to overcome this. I don't want to stop feeding this as there have been goldfinches this year. Appreciate any advice please.
Hello Suziepo, I have the same problem...well not a problem at all really. As long as the grass is kept cut the niger seedlings will not grow any taller than the grass. So enjoy your goldfinches, carry on and keep mowing.
Hi ND - sorry I missed your previous posts re the starlings. The ones here invade the squirrel proof feeder I have but I think it's the design of the one I've got that's the problem. They can reach the feeder holes by just sticking their heads in - the cage isn't as big as some I've seen. The hanging feeders seem to be more attractive to them than the ground one for some reason. It's ok - I won't charge you for using the idea
We seem to be on the flight path of a flock which nests in a resident's roof () so I found if I hung a sacrificial feeder on another fence they attacked that and left other feeders which lets the other birds get a chance. Perhaps that does mean they're a bit stupid!
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Hi Kate, I have moved house and at the back of it is a farm about 10 mins walk away I have always had feeding stations love the birds but I am worried it will encourage rats? What do u think,
Posts
Didn't say, but the upside down basket on the flower pot saucer is for the ground feeders! Obvious really, but just in case....
I tried that too Ndumpling but the starlings still got inside and ate everything!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks for these ideas FG and ND.
Hi FG,
perhaps the starlings are fatter here in Norfolk, or maybe they are just too stupid to realise they could get through if they pushed hard enough.
I'll use it while it works, but if the starlings catch on I'll copy yours. (Am I allowed to, or do you have the copyright?)
I just realised the gaps on that basket are as wide as the ones on the baskets I used for a hanging feeder like Ndumpling did, but the starlings never seemed to come near the ground one.
unless they kept watch.... and waited till I went out....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I use an old dog crate to put food in for the little birds. The holes are big enough for sparrows, robins etc, but too small for starlings and anything bigger. I have a seed feeder hanging inside the crate and put food on the ground inside the crate too.
I have one of those pole feeding stations to hang feeders on, but as soon as the starlings and jackdaws notice it, the feeders are emptied within hours and the smaller birds don't get a chance to have any.
I do have to put some food out in the open for the blackbirds and thrushes and hope they get some before the jackdaws and starlings eat everything.
I love my birds and put a niger feeder for the finches. it gets well used but the downside is the fallen seed then seeds in my lawn creating a mat of short dense shoots which seem to kill the lawn, any ideas how to overcome this. I don't want to stop feeding this as there have been goldfinches this year. Appreciate any advice please.
Hello Suziepo, I have the same problem...well not a problem at all really. As long as the grass is kept cut the niger seedlings will not grow any taller than the grass. So enjoy your goldfinches, carry on and keep mowing.
Hi ND - sorry I missed your previous posts re the starlings. The ones here invade the squirrel proof feeder I have but I think it's the design of the one I've got that's the problem. They can reach the feeder holes by just sticking their heads in - the cage isn't as big as some I've seen. The hanging feeders seem to be more attractive to them than the ground one for some reason. It's ok - I won't charge you for using the idea
We seem to be on the flight path of a flock which nests in a resident's roof (
) so I found if I hung a sacrificial feeder on another fence they attacked that and left other feeders which lets the other birds get a chance. Perhaps that does mean they're a bit stupid! 
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Jill