Safe haven for sparrows and blue tits
By Terratoonie
- 14 Oct, 2009
- 33 likes
The rose behind the bird feeders is called Summertime.
Inside the right hand bird feeder, just behind the fat balls is a baby sparrow ~ mouth open ~ being fed by an adult sparrow.
Although these feeders are designed to deter squirrels, I bought them to stop starlings from pushing sparrows away. Only the chubby well-fed adult starlings are excluded. The young starlings can get inside. All year, from dawn till dusk, lots of sparrows feed and frolic here, enjoying the peanuts and fat balls. :o)
The collared doves are fed elsewhere, but they do like to drink from the plastic bird bath in the centre. Other birds in my garden prefer my stone bird baths. The terra cotta apple is full of dog hair combings. The birds like to use the hair as nesting material ~ recycling !
Comments on this photo
i like these Terra may get one myself as the large birds are always trying to get to seed feeders and it ends up everywhere
14 Oct, 2009
Thanks, Toto.
Hi Sandra ~
I hope I've explained it well enough above... If you think not, please tell me, and I'll edit it...
These feeders have solved the problems of little birds being bullied off the feeders all the time....
The bigger birds eat food in other parts of my gardens, so they don't miss out. :o)
14 Oct, 2009
These bigger feeders look like the answer to the bigger bird problem.
14 Oct, 2009
Hello Drc...Yes, and easy to put more food in....
... you just unscrew the top circular black piece.
14 Oct, 2009
I have very similar one Terra which I bought from the RSPB it works really well to protect the litlle birds and try though they will the squirrels just cant get in.
14 Oct, 2009
Hi PansyP ~
Interesting to read your experience that the squirrels can't get through to the food.... only tested on large birds in my garden ! :o)
14 Oct, 2009
Another idea for my Dec. 25 list! No squirrels so far this year but doves and Percy pigeon seem to be getting greedier as the weather gets cooler!
14 Oct, 2009
Santa will deliver you one of these, Gee....
....but have you measured to make sure the chimney is wide enough ? :o)
14 Oct, 2009
Well done TT ..must get some myself..thanks for showing
14 Oct, 2009
Thanks, Deida...
Mostly sparrows in my feeders....
..in your garden you'll have a wide variety of small birds grateful for this type of feeder. :o)
14 Oct, 2009
thanx Terra yes you explain very well thanx :o) sorry late answer, was sleeping lol
14 Oct, 2009
Hi Sandra...
Glad to know you were sleeping...
sleeping = healing...
Hope you feel better soon..xxx
14 Oct, 2009
:o)) x
14 Oct, 2009
My chimney is blocked off, TT, but Santa has a magic key so I will be OK :)
14 Oct, 2009
These are lovely I bought one simular to stop the squirrel taking all the bird food as it eats whats in the dish for it then eats the bird food too.
14 Oct, 2009
I definitely need to get these! The starlings keep mobbing here!
14 Oct, 2009
I don't like starling perhaps they know as I never get them , as they rob all our birds food they are greedy.
14 Oct, 2009
I dont like them either, we have a mob of about a hundred in the area!!
14 Oct, 2009
We do have squirrels so these are ideal , I have had squirrel proof ones in the past that haven't stopped them , they usually chew there way through , these do look stronger , I need to look out for them ......
14 Oct, 2009
~ I llke the squirrel proof ones TT ~ where did you get them~need them to deter the hordes of back rooks which descend daily!
14 Oct, 2009
Added to my xmas list as well,although I have both feeders and tables the pigeons ae more of a nuisance here and although I dont begrudge them a meal, its annoying when they take all the food...........
14 Oct, 2009
I can see the company that makes these should be advertising here! They'd love us!!
15 Oct, 2009
D aft question do the birds actually go inside them to eat?If so I will start off with the ones I saw on line .A re the plastic dome ones any good?I feed them meal worms but the robin and other small birds loose out all the time to the doves and starlings.
15 Oct, 2009
Hello Gee.....
I love the idea of Santa having a magic key.... looks like you'll find a gift-wrapped bird-feeder under the Christmas tree...Don't forget to leave a mince pie for Father Christmas. :o)
Yes, Morgana and Madperth ...
These feeders are very good to deter the adult starlings. A few years ago my gardens had nothing but starlings, and, although they are comical to watch, for instance when all bathing together in a bird bath, I wanted to give the sparrows and other smaller birds a chance.
Hi Arlene and Amy...
Not sure if I can advertise on here...Lol. Take the first four letters of garden and the last three letters of Flower Pot Man.... and you'll have the well-known manufacturer...:o)
Hello Lincslass...
These feeders definitely stop the pigeons from eating everything.
In my garden, the Collared Doves peck up food on the ground, which the little birds knock out of the feeders.
Morning Mavis ...
Yes, you can see in the right globe, the sparrows are actually inside the outer grid, feeding from the "inner tube mesh" in which I've put the fat balls. Many small birds will go in.... robins, sparrows, blue tits, great tits, long tailed tits, finches...
Some of the globes are available with clear plastic inner tubes. These can be filled with the smaller seeds and nuts... and attract the more unusual small birds.
15 Oct, 2009
I shall have to get some of these Terra, I have lots of squirrels and they destroy a lot of things. I haven't seen a Sparrow in my garden for years now, we are mobbed by Crows, Magpies and now Jackdaws, the smaller birds don't stand much of a chance. Luckily there are little Dunnocks pottering about, but I miss the Thrushes and smaller birds :o(
15 Oct, 2009
Hello Pam ~
It's understandable you miss the thrushes and smaller birds.
Last year thrushes nested in my garden for the very first time.... I'm sure they were attracted to my garden because there are now few larger birds around, apart from a few Blackbirds and Collared Doves.
As I write this comment, I'm looking out at the feeders in the picture. There are two sparrows in one feeder and one sparrow in the other... During the summer, when there were fledglings around... the parent sparrows brought all their baby sparrows into the globes for feeding.. You can just see one baby with open mouth in my pic... My feeders have sparrows in them most of the day, and I reckon next year more sparrows will be nesting in my garden... :o)
15 Oct, 2009
definately on the lookout for a few of these thanks terra
15 Oct, 2009
Hi Joanella..
I hope you find some of these feeders. :o)
16 Oct, 2009
Nice to see the feedeers in your garden TT.....i used to use the squirrel proof ones but donrt get any here by the sea now.........so use the normal ones......usually put out fat balls into the feeders in the winter..........
17 Oct, 2009
Glad you like these, Holly.
They give the little birds a better chance of survival...
Since putting these feeders up, the sparrow population has increased in my gardens. :o)
17 Oct, 2009
Thats good, we dont seem to have so many around now do we...........
17 Oct, 2009
In Australia the sparrow is an introduced pest , but I like them , they cannot help iy if they were brought into this country. The introduced European starling is another pest. I LOVE YOUR BIRD FEEDERS.
17 Oct, 2009
Hi Pitta... pleased you like my bird feeders. :o)
That's interesting to read the sparrow and starling are both introduced in Australia. Are they spread over most parts, or are some regions too hot and dry ?
17 Oct, 2009
Nice bird feeders. I've tried one or two smaller feeders but the seed just cakes up inside them after it rains. Perhaps I'll have another look at them. I must admit that at this moment outside in the garden there are 10 collared doves and they eat the bird food and the mealworms so the little birds don't really get a look in
17 Oct, 2009
Good luck with these feeders, Linda...
The Collared Doves don't miss out because they eat up all the bits of food which the little birds drop below...
I don't dislike Starlings, but sometimes they drive all other birds away... at least with these feeders, as I said above, the young starlings can get in the feeders, and then they move on after a few weeks...
... and the starlings enjoy bathing and drinking in the many bird baths around my gardens..
Definitely more sparrows in my neighbourhood since using these feeders, and the blue tits are also starting to return. Even had long tailed tits on these feeders last winter. :o)
Feeding inside the globes, the small birds are also safer from the increasing number of sparrowhawks frequenting gardens...
17 Oct, 2009
My cat doesn't bother with the birds but another fluffy cat comes into the garden and it's a menace. Perhaps a feeder like this would protect the little birds from the cats as well
17 Oct, 2009
Yes, a neighbour's cat visits the end of my garden.. an area which is inaccessible for my dogs... but the cat can't get at the feeders.
17 Oct, 2009
what a lovely place we like seeing the birds and the dog sees to the cats without hurting them of cours she'not fast enough amongst other things and i teally do like your bird freiendly arealots of luck with it.
19 Oct, 2009
Thanks, Kev.
There were sparrows and blue tits in these feeders today.
It's useful that your dog can remind the cats.. gently..not to be too near to the little birds. :o)
19 Oct, 2009
Gerry has just ordered one through the internet......let's hope that the little birds return.
19 Oct, 2009
Let's hope your feeders get lots of sparrows, blue tits and finches :o)
19 Oct, 2009
We hope so too Terratoonie it's nice that you put a photo on the site to give us the idea. Saw a sparrowhawk dive on to the starlings yesterday.
20 Oct, 2009
Hi Linda...
Last week, my neighbour showed me where he had seen a hawk take a Collared Dove in my front garden, soon after dawn... Lots of feathers and blood on my drive..
He was not sure about the type of hawk, but these days, birds of prey are spotted much more often in villages and towns....I'm sure the reason is the increase in the number of Collared Doves in suburban gardens... easy targets..:o(
20 Oct, 2009
Could have been a pereguin falcon they are getting about nowadays and are more likely to take the pigeon sized birds.
21 Oct, 2009
Great pic Tt, I really must get one of these, that'll fox the wood pigeons:-)
21 Oct, 2009
Beautiful picture, easy on the eyes... thanks for the instruction on the dog hair, too. Never would have thought of that one. Brilliant!
21 Oct, 2009
Hi Bornagain ~
I'm sure you'll find this type of feeder useful..
Hello Hmhb ~
Thanks for looking in on my photos.
Yes, I like to think of the baby birds snuggled up in their nests lined with cosy dog hair. Lol.
21 Oct, 2009
im gonna get some of those feeders theyre a better idea than hangin fat balls on the shed. ive put loads up and seeds and wot do the birds do? fight over one fat ball. i dont know x
21 Oct, 2009
Hello Peeps ~
Yes, these feeders solve lots of problems.
Before I put the fat balls in the tube, I take off the plastic green mesh which covers them. I find they are better in the feeder like that, and you'll see the sparrows, blue tits and other birds enjoying them. x
21 Oct, 2009
Sorry late to this TT....must have had a senior moment ! Great collection of feeders,and what fantastic use of the spare hair !
27 Oct, 2009
Hi BB/Jane ~
Not a problem.... I sometimes find pics. months later and wonder.... how did I miss that ? Lol.
I still have some of Bonsai the Welsh Terrier's stripped hair.... I like to think of the baby birds cosy is nests lined with his hair... :o)
27 Oct, 2009
What a lovely thought ..........
27 Oct, 2009
Great bird feeders I agree with Linda good protection from the cats
29 Oct, 2009
Hi Rkalyan ~
These feeders are definitely a safe haven for the little birds.... protection from Sparrow Hawks, and any other larger creature..:o)
29 Oct, 2009
hehe, Tt! I see what you mean now re the dog hair!!!!!!! :-))
14 Nov, 2009
Hi David...
Yes, as with the West Highland White Terrier hair from Hughie...
... this is Welsh Terrier hair from dear old Bonsai. :o)
14 Nov, 2009
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14 Oct, 2009