Garden Bird Hierarchy

[EcclesCake]

We've recently been inundated with siskins, to the extent that many other birds stopped visiting. Suddenly the siskins disappeared and we were left with a silent garden and empty bird feeders for a couple of days.

Now we are being visited by birds we haven't seen in the garden for a couple of years, e.g. bull finches. It is so nice to see a wide variety of birds, especially the bramblings which I am rather fond of.

Is it likely that the siskins were 'bullying' the other birds into staying away?

[ladybirder]

Bullfinches how wonderful. Used to get them when I lived backing onto farmland but alas not now living in town. And haven't seen a brambling since living here either. I do think Siskins are rather aggressive and try to dominate a feeders. I should think a flock of Siskins is quite scary if you're a little Bluetit for instance but Greenfinches or Goldfinches would not be so easily intimidated. And its said they are not as easily spooked as other birds so would not vacate the feeder at the first sign of a human as would some of the other species.

[EcclesCake]

Even the greenfinches were intimidated into staying away! Although they are back now, along with a smattering of goldfinches.

We also have a very noisy wren making a nest by the living room window, I just hope Mrs Wren likes it and they move in.

[redman41]

One or two Siskin would not cause problems at a Bird Table, but any large flock of Birds would dominate proceedings for a short period.
A mixed variety of Birds will quite happily feed together but I suppose there is a pecking order. The bigger the Bird the more authority it has.