Garden Birds

Hi Dawnsaunt, probably no need for them to feed on birdtables this time of year, plenty of berries to eat, grubs and the like. Most important time of year to feed birds I believe is Dec to April when food is scarce.

Hi Dawn, That's interesting, we seem to have the same problem. We do have cats who wander around nearby but last year we had loads of birds feeding.
I don't think your problem is the feeder being too close, ours is really close to our dining room window. Last year we had Robins, Greenfinches, House sparrows and a couple of particularly interesting Chaffinches who used to sit on our dining room door handle and tap on the glass door, I don't expect too many birds during the summer but last year I seemed to spend all summer filling the bird feeder up. This year I haven't filled it for months and it is still full. We miss our little visitors.
Maybe there is still plenty out there for them to eat.

Thanks Andy, I'll leave things as they are then so they get used to where the food is and then I'll give them fresh nuts etc. next month when they are running out of natural foods.
DocBob - Like you, last year we had lots of birds visiting and thanks for reassuring me that I am not scaring them away from my window - although I can look quite scarey first thing in the morning! Let's hope your lovely Chaffinches return. Its a good thing there is plenty of food out there for them that nature intended. Dawn

Keep at it, Dawn. You will have to clear away uneaten food as it can turn mouldy and kill birds. However, it can take a while for them to get used to a new feeding place. Mine is quite close to our window and they come readily.

The one comment on its position that I would say is that it needs to have an evergreen shrub, hedge or tree closeby so that the birds have a refuge and somewhere to watch from.

I read this somewhere recently and hope it helps you to find the right place for your bird feeders. Latest advice is to keep feeding them all the year round, as natural food is scarce.

Hi Spritzhenry, yes I will keep at it because I love to see them. I think your advice about the evergreen shrub, hedge or tree being close by would make good sense, I'll move the bird table and feeders closer to a refuge/hide for them.

Good luck - let us know how you get on.

Dawnsaunt.
Sometimes figuring out what will attract birds is not easy, but usually over time more and more birds will find your food. If you have birds coming but they suddenly quit, it is usually a predator or spoiled food. If a predator, they will tell you about it, by making a lot of racket. Check your seed for freshness and molds. It could be that. I have fed all year around and even if natural food is plentiful they will still come.

When I arrived at my new home ten years ago there was not a sound to be heard. Very eerie I can tell you to hear nothing. I then found thousands and thousands of bright orange clays in boxes. The previous owners must have shot everything crossing the garden for years ......

Today it's very different and we are inundated with feathered visitors from Jenny wren, nuthatches, woodpeckers and even barn owls! But the most numerous nut feeders are the blue tits - dozens of them.

You have to look at things from their perspective. Think hawks. If I was a bird I'd feel pretty exposed eating from those feeders, wouldn't you?

I've found they do prefer to feed in communities to ensure that 'somebody' is always watching out. This means several feeders, but not too close to cause too much squabbling and nervousness. They love large shrubs which they can flee to in a moment or pick off their chosen nut in comparative isolation under the protective umbrella a shrub provides.

If you plant some Fuchsia magallenica shrub varieties between those trees they will provide lots of summer colour, protection for all your nut feeders and you will have the bonus pleasure of watching mother blackbird popping ripe Fuchsia fruit directly into the mouths of her young. Fantastic!

the birds like to have nearby bushes or trees to fly from and to, they feel safer that way. Sometimes they take a while to get used to the feeder, they can't recognise it straight away like we do. I moved mine recently and it was only 5 feet away from the original site but they took 3 weeks to return in the same numbers! Keep trying and make sure the food isn't wet or rotting in this weather.

Hi Dawn could be several issues .Do those feeders at the start of your drive adjoin the main road ?

Our feeders are all in back garden but noisy traffic sounds see the birds take off - there is also little cover for them as acer has lost all its leaves now so rather exposed .

I would suggest you move them to a more secluded spot if you have one nearer the house so you can see it .
People have even stuck feeders to windows to watch them feed so will come real close if position provides them with
a sense of security while feeding.

You've all been great with your advice, thank you.
I will make sure the food is fresh and replace if mouldy etc.
I'll gradually move the feed closer to evergreen shrubs to give the birds cover so they are not as exposed.
BB, no this drive is at the rear of our house so quiet, but I will place feeders and table in a more secluded spot.
MuddyWellies: So pleased you've restored the birds confidence and what a lovely variety you have visiting.
Thanks again and I'll let you know how I get on.

Hi Dawn.
One last comment?, great photo at the top.

Aww, thanks Dr Bob. By the way everyone, I've moved the bird feeders away from the the two acers at the start of the drive and I've moved them to the right hand side of the photo a couple of yards from the shrubs. Today a greater spotted woodpecker was on the fat balls then he was scared away by another woodpecker! and he fed for some time. So hopefully this is the start of better things.

YESSS! Well done, Dawn! The first of many visiting birds, I hope.

Lets hope SpritzH. I binned the peanuts and replaced them with fresh ones as they had gone mouldy in just a couple of weeks. I have the binoculars at the ready, so I hope to see more and more.

Thats great Dawn as they are pretty selective so to have two , wonderful. Perhaps you could train them to knock some sense into the woodentops at the council ?

Nice one BonkersB, they certainly wouldnt find any brains in the council workers heads! (Sorry, Building Control Enforcement Officers). Do you think I should apply for planning permission for encouraging the birds into the garden, lol. One year we had green woodpeckers nesting nearby and the parent brought her 3 babies down onto the drive to eat ants that were nested under the stones, it was amazing but was worried a cat may appear as they were on the ground.

Congrats Dawnsaunt,
It can be so exciting to get a uncommon or rare variety of bird come to your feeders. Here in our home we have binoculars, one at the front windows and one at the kitchen windows. Have managed to see quite a few different species of birds, right here in our yard. It is something my whole family watchs for.
Good Luck and keep watching!

Thanks Wohlibuli, I think Wildlife is a part of gardening!! My binoculars are at the ready, waiting in hope. Dawn

Hi Everyone, thought I would give you an update. After I moved the bird feeders from the trees (as per the pic) to the right hand side of the garden, next to the shrubs, the birds have been plentiful. Thank you all so much for your advice. The other day I had 10 green finches on the bird table, all at once. I suppose the natural foods are dwingling a bit now so they need the seeds, nuts etc. but your theory has worked. I'm so pleased. Thanks again, Dawn

Great news Dawn,
We also have had birds back, our beautiful Robin has returned, plus a great pair of blue tits. No sign of the chaffinches yet, but still hoping. We didn't move anything, just let the cold weather do it's work.
Enjoy your birds.

Great news, Dawn.
Glad you are enjoying all the new visitors.
The fall migration has ended here and we are now starting to get some of the birds that summer in Canada and winter here in the southern US. The tiny little ruby crowned kinglets have been especially plentiful this year. It is so great to see them again!

Hi Doctorbob, pleased your feathered friends are back too! Probably the chaffinches will follows soon.
Wohlibuli: I must look ruby crowned kinglets on google images, they sound fabulous!