Oops sorry I meant Goldfinches! Yes, nyger seeds. We get three visitors every day now at pretty much the same time of the day. We must be on the food route!
It was interesting reading through the last page or so of posts to see that there isn't a 'one size fits all' solution for attracting Goldfinches. Some folks had success with sunflower seeds, some with nyger seeds and some with other options. I tried pretty much everything but it was only the nyger seeds that brought these colourful birds into our garden.
I have been using nyger seeds for 3 or 4 years now, they were recommended for us to use to attract goldfinches. However, thanks to some suggestions on this site we have now bought sunflower hearts and feeder and have noticed goldfinches, as well as great tits and sparrows eating the sfl hearts. The most popular food are the fat balls with the sparrows pecking at them 3 or 4 birds at a time.
What do wrens eat? We have one or perhaps two just quietly hoping around by our flower border close to the house. They don't bother with all the elaborate feeders, they seem to be unsociable but adorable little birds.
Wrens eat mostly insects and I believe spiders make up much of their diet. I suppose you could try meal worms but they would need to be on the ground as I don't think wrens will visit hanging feeders although I might be wrong on that.
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
Thanks Bob, I guessed with the size of the birds that may be the answer. The wrens are always welcome in our garden, and I think have nested in bushes in past years - I don't know if they migrate but I haven't seen them all winter - only been seeing them this week. If they find insects then that's great, not sure about putting food at ground level we have a sometimes rat/mouse visitor and I don't want to encourage it, although with all the hanging bird feeders and messy pigeons there is plenty for the rodents to "mop" up at the end of the day.
I'd agree with Bob, GD - they're insect eaters and you don't tend to see them out in the open much. They flit around hedges etc. I have one here which I see occasionally out on the fence before it darts back into the hedge or the conifer and shrubs as it goes garden to garden.
I've never seen one on a bird table, let alone feeding on the ground where I put food or where it gets dropped from feeders. Lovely though aren't they?
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Yes, they are lovely little birds Fairy and tend to get overlooked because of their shy habits. If all they eat is insects and the odd mealworm then they are no trouble and a godsend for those who like me have some greenfly on our rose bushes. I do hope they mate up and produce more Wrens this year.
We have another Nuthatch here, the white breasted, which is a bit bigger than the reds. Now I am still waiting for one to hand feed. They are not as trusting as the reds but I notice they are getting more comfortable with me standing closer and closer to the table.
Posts
Oops sorry I meant Goldfinches! Yes, nyger seeds. We get three visitors every day now at pretty much the same time of the day. We must be on the food route!
Dave- did you have a senior moment?
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
They seem to be happening more and more ?
It was interesting reading through the last page or so of posts to see that there isn't a 'one size fits all' solution for attracting Goldfinches. Some folks had success with sunflower seeds, some with nyger seeds and some with other options. I tried pretty much everything but it was only the nyger seeds that brought these colourful birds into our garden.
Perhaps some of them are fussier than others Dave
I seem to be having quite a few of those senior moments too these days...
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I have been using nyger seeds for 3 or 4 years now, they were recommended for us to use to attract goldfinches. However, thanks to some suggestions on this site we have now bought sunflower hearts and feeder and have noticed goldfinches, as well as great tits and sparrows eating the sfl hearts. The most popular food are the fat balls with the sparrows pecking at them 3 or 4 birds at a time.
What do wrens eat? We have one or perhaps two just quietly hoping around by our flower border close to the house. They don't bother with all the elaborate feeders, they seem to be unsociable but adorable little birds.
Wrens eat mostly insects and I believe spiders make up much of their diet. I suppose you could try meal worms but they would need to be on the ground as I don't think wrens will visit hanging feeders although I might be wrong on that.
Thanks Bob, I guessed with the size of the birds that may be the answer. The wrens are always welcome in our garden, and I think have nested in bushes in past years - I don't know if they migrate but I haven't seen them all winter - only been seeing them this week. If they find insects then that's great, not sure about putting food at ground level we have a sometimes rat/mouse visitor and I don't want to encourage it, although with all the hanging bird feeders and messy pigeons there is plenty for the rodents to "mop" up at the end of the day.
I'd agree with Bob, GD - they're insect eaters and you don't tend to see them out in the open much. They flit around hedges etc. I have one here which I see occasionally out on the fence before it darts back into the hedge or the conifer and shrubs as it goes garden to garden.
I've never seen one on a bird table, let alone feeding on the ground where I put food or where it gets dropped from feeders. Lovely though aren't they?
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Yes, they are lovely little birds Fairy and tend to get overlooked because of their shy habits. If all they eat is insects and the odd mealworm then they are no trouble and a godsend for those who like me have some greenfly on our rose bushes. I do hope they mate up and produce more Wrens this year.
We have another Nuthatch here, the white breasted, which is a bit bigger than the reds. Now I am still waiting for one to hand feed. They are not as trusting as the reds but I notice they are getting more comfortable with me standing closer and closer to the table.