The squirrel isn't aggressive - its just a greedy little thing. If you are made squeamish by the sunflower then cut it off but I would just leave it. Some seeds may ripen and then birds like goldfinches will swarm in to wreak even more havoc. I think that pigeons would find it difficult to do that damage as they need to perch to eat.
Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
Even these photos are making me squeamish. But okay I will leave it for now. Maybe if I keep looking at it I will get desensitised.
I would love it if they ripen and small birds arrive again. I used to get all sorts of tits, sparrows, robins etc..I even thought I saw a wren the other day. I did see a mistle thrush the other day but it left within a few minutes and hasn't come back. I haven't seen the small birds for quite a few weeks :-(
Yes I agree the pigeon wouldn't be able to perch anywhere to do this.
The squirrel will scare the little birds away. Wrens are the most common British birds. I have a lot around my garden and size for size they make the loudest song of them all. They like to creep on the ground - bit mouse like - so I put suet down for them when I think they are about.
Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
I put suet balls out sometimes Ladybird but the squirrels have those too lol.
How can I increase small bird numbers? Actually that's why one reason I grew loads of sunflowers this year - they're easy and it's my first year gardening but also to attract wildlife. I just never knew until today that squirrels ate unripe sunflower heads lol. Now I know. I think maybe they might be back later when the seeds are mature....I will leave it for him/her lol.
Thanks Nutcutlet, I am fine now and I will not cut off the head.
Wakeshine, little birds want all sorts of stuff, so hanging up fat balls, oops, pc, suet balls, is good, plus the fine nijer seed. Suet blocks now have a range of 'flavours', insect, berry, etc and old apples and pears, cut in half, will attract the blackbirds and some bigger birds. Be aware, though, if there's too much left out overnight you might attract rats, so either tidy up or be careful with the quantities. I always clear up any food on trays.
I would get a dedicated bird feeding station and buy containers for mixed seed, nyjer seed and peanuts and the smaller birds will soon arrive. My birds will not eat suet balls but relish the rectangular ones - weird or what?
Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
Ladybird I do have a dedicated bird feeding station! I use various different seed mixes and sunflower hearts bought from garden birds website. The problem is that the squirrel keeps going on to the the feeding station and so do the pigeons! And I now see hardly any small birds. When I first got the feeding station I had lots of small birds.
You need squirrel-proof feeders - they are much more expensive than the standard ones, but they will save you money in the long run as squirrels are very greedy and hoover up the expensive food you put out for small birds. The pigeons will also be unable to get food from the squirrel-proof feeders
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
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The squirrel isn't aggressive - its just a greedy little thing. If you are made squeamish by the sunflower then cut it off but I would just leave it. Some seeds may ripen and then birds like goldfinches will swarm in to wreak even more havoc. I think that pigeons would find it difficult to do that damage as they need to perch to eat.
Even these photos are making me squeamish. But okay I will leave it for now. Maybe if I keep looking at it I will get desensitised.
I would love it if they ripen and small birds arrive again. I used to get all sorts of tits, sparrows, robins etc..I even thought I saw a wren the other day. I did see a mistle thrush the other day but it left within a few minutes and hasn't come back. I haven't seen the small birds for quite a few weeks :-(
Yes I agree the pigeon wouldn't be able to perch anywhere to do this.
The squirrel will scare the little birds away. Wrens are the most common British birds. I have a lot around my garden and size for size they make the loudest song of them all. They like to creep on the ground - bit mouse like - so I put suet down for them when I think they are about.
I'd leave that there and de-sensitise yourself wakeshine. It's just a sunflower with a bit missing. what remains will make seed for the birds
In the sticks near Peterborough
I put suet balls out sometimes Ladybird but the squirrels have those too lol.
How can I increase small bird numbers? Actually that's why one reason I grew loads of sunflowers this year - they're easy and it's my first year gardening but also to attract wildlife. I just never knew until today that squirrels ate unripe sunflower heads lol. Now I know. I think maybe they might be back later when the seeds are mature....I will leave it for him/her lol.
Thanks Nutcutlet, I am fine now and I will not cut off the head.
Wakeshine, little birds want all sorts of stuff, so hanging up fat balls, oops, pc, suet balls, is good, plus the fine nijer seed. Suet blocks now have a range of 'flavours', insect, berry, etc and old apples and pears, cut in half, will attract the blackbirds and some bigger birds. Be aware, though, if there's too much left out overnight you might attract rats, so either tidy up or be careful with the quantities. I always clear up any food on trays.
H-C.
I would get a dedicated bird feeding station and buy containers for mixed seed, nyjer seed and peanuts and the smaller birds will soon arrive. My birds will not eat suet balls but relish the rectangular ones - weird or what?
Ladybird I do have a dedicated bird feeding station! I use various different seed mixes and sunflower hearts bought from garden birds website. The problem is that the squirrel keeps going on to the the feeding station and so do the pigeons! And I now see hardly any small birds. When I first got the feeding station I had lots of small birds.
You need squirrel-proof feeders - they are much more expensive than the standard ones, but they will save you money in the long run as squirrels are very greedy and hoover up the expensive food you put out for small birds. The pigeons will also be unable to get food from the squirrel-proof feeders
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Can you please recommend a squirrel proof feeder to me? I am getting a bit overwhelmed all the different ones I've seen online.