Feeding SMALL birds

Not to boast but there were also 12 blackbirds, 8 long tailed tits, various other small birds of finch and tit variety and a lonely field fare - costs a fortune to feed them!

Forgot the woodpecker

Oh!!
Well, bang goes my theory (well, it's not just mine)

Counted 7 robins eating the porridge this morning 🐣🐣

AreWeThereYet

Callistemon Do you not have any goldfinches? I think they were the only birds to bother with the nyger seed when we put it out. I think it was in special feeders though that other birds couldn't access so that may be why.

We had several until a couple of years ago, they used to come and eat the lavender seeds from the bushes but I've only seen one lonely goldfinch this year.

Zoejory I seem to spend more time preparing the food for the birds than for us

Yes! By the time the water's deiced, the feeders are cleaned and filled and scraps are prepared I'm ready for a piece of toast and a hot drink!
With the bird flu around at the moment we are taking extra care with the cleaning of the feeders,

I remember one year making popcorn garlands to decorate the garden - took ages!
But watching the antics is fun so all worth it in the end.

Callistemon Do you not have any goldfinches? I think they were the only birds to bother with the nyger seed when we put it out. I think it was in special feeders though that other birds couldn't access so that may be why.

Noola

Fascinating and helpful replies. Thank you.

When I was a child we regulalrly put out kitchen scraps for the birds. Is that not a good idea? I did hear there was some discussion about whether it was a good idea or not.

Some people say it can encourage rats, Noola I think.

However I always put some bits and pieces out. Very fond of bacon rind and cheese. Cut up rind and grated cheese.

I seem to spend more time preparing the food for the birds than for us

I watched a programme on Robins years ago. Quite ferocious little birds but something very special about them.

tickingbird

I know Callistemon but I meant that, maybe, other birds might notice and follow suit. I love watching them. I haven’t noticed Mr Robin since though. 🙁

Ah, misunderstood.

Still no takers for the Nyjer seeds but the Tesco basic seed mix goes down rapidly.

A regular robin has brought me great joy too tttickingbird!
I likethe way you say 'hepeful' 'hope' !!

For me the robin is a sign of hope for my new house!

I know Callistemon but I meant that, maybe, other birds might notice and follow suit. I love watching them. I haven’t noticed Mr Robin since though. 🙁

I was so fed up with the bigger magpies, pigeons and crows scoffing all the food and bought 3 new feeders. A normal plastic food tube that is covered with a dome of metal bars which only small birds can access. A good few robins live in a hedge in the back garden. Tiny gaps show where they live and the hedge is beginning to resemble a block of flats. Below this, our resident fox, Stumpy has the ground floor flat. Isn’t nature wonderful?
I bring the feeders in overnight when it is frosty then, rehang them out in the morning to ensure they have food.

We have various tits, inc. often a family of long tailed tits, endlessly on a fat ball feeder. Dh refills it about every other day. The great spotted woodpeckers manage to get to the fat balls (long stabby beaks) but no other bigger birds.,
The wee ones are equally keen on a sunflower heart feeder.

As usual, Dh will be getting a Christmas card from his little feathery friends. 🎄🐦

They're very territorial, tickingbird
Although he may bring a wife along in the early spring 🙂

Finally. a Robin on the feeder pecking away at the fatballs. I was inordinately pleased and just hope that he’ll now return regularly and, hopefully, bring a few more.

We bought some Nyjer seed at great expense to attract small blue tits, great tits etc and finches.
So far all the birds are ignoring it.

Fascinating and helpful replies. Thank you.

When I was a child we regulalrly put out kitchen scraps for the birds. Is that not a good idea? I did hear there was some discussion about whether it was a good idea or not.

We get a jackdaw to our feeder, scaring off the small birds. Also we now have a male blackbird guarding the feeder and chasing off any small birds that come along. He spends the whole day doing it, rarely eating anything but keeping the others away. I tap on the window and he flies up to the fence but he's soon back again.

Noola The feeder in the second picture that I posted works for mealworms.

I usually buy them from Pets At Home as they are the cheapest I've found.

I just checked Pets at Home to see if they were cheaper than the ones we buy at Wilko but they are more expensive. BUT I think Wilko only sell the large 12 Kg bags and PaH sell 6 Kg bags.

We just mix mealworms in with the seeds and suet pellets. I'm pretty sure that's why the robins learnt to use the feeders 😄

Woderful replies and ideas, thank you.

What is the best way to put mealworms out so the big birds don't get them?

Ours here like sunflower hearts best. I usually buy them from Pets At Home as they are the cheapest I've found.

Peanuts just go mouldy in the feeder. I have splashed out on nyjer seed before as goldfinches are supposed to like it, but they prefer the sunflower seeds too.

I did save the heads of the sunflowers that grew in the garden this year and the birds like these hung from a shrub.

Ours prefer the Tesco seed to anything else.

I bought seed at 3 times the price but they ignored that.

The choice of seed can make a difference too. We bought some bags recommended by a TV channel and our birds wouldn't touch them. Changed back to the normal Wilko sunflower hearts and they all came back. No idea why.

We had no starlings until about 5 years ago. Our new neighbour mentioned that he was used to seeing loads and lo and behold the following year we saw the first few. I think they followed him and now there are masses of them.