Where have the Blue Tits gone?

[pussnboots]

We recently put up a bird table, lots of goodies for the birds, nuts, seeds, fat balls but the Starlings seem to have taken over and I haven't seen any Tits now for a couple of weeks, any clues?

[boxtops]

Starlings tend to come in numbers, the smaller birds get scared off. We have a pair of bluetits, they eat the greenfly on our climbing rose every morning, but then we have no starlings...

[starone]

I get a couple of collared doves, lots of sparrows and an occasional robin, plus blackbirds and those awful magpies and woodpigeons. I put out wild bird food for them and make sure there is a water bowl full. I would like to attract more but I suppose it is limited in a city.

[ladybirder]

I get a couple of Blue Tits paying a few visits each day to my sunflower hearts. But didn't they have a bad breeding season recently? Can't remember whether it was this year or last. Not so many around here as there used to be. Pity.
They'll come in the winter puss.

[boxtops]

Since our neighbours lawned their garden, we have a pair of blackbirds and some sparrows, and the blue tits, every morning. They keep their heads down, avoiding the collared dove and the damned seagulls, and the family of magpies...

[pussnboots]

The Sparrows dont't seem phased by the Starlings they still come. I have noticed that the Starlings come about 8-10 at a time and do a lot of bickering between themselves but seem to leave the Sparrows alone.

[LoftyLottie]

I think they are all in my garden!! We have absolutely loads. I have never seen so many!!

(I am serious!)

[mrs.chappie]

I get loads of everything in my garden. Lots of tits too. I put out a deluxe seed mix which I make myself....think my garden is the most popular in the area.

(Btw, I'm not boasting or owt). :o)

[LoftyLottie]

Me too Mrs Chappie. Loads of everything, but no seagulls!!

Tree sparrows are now feeding their second broods this year.

I spend a fortune on blooming' bird food!!!!

[boxtops]

I don't put out bird food, it's too much like dinner on a stick for the catz...

[carlton23]

I put out Sunflower Hearts and wild bird seed plus bits of bacon rind and get at least 12 Goldfinches, several pairs of blue tits, a pair of robins, sparrows, green-finches, even a spotted woodpecker, and of coarse Magpies and pigeons. I hang six bird feeders from a line and am always sure the bird bath has water in it. I watch them bathing and feeding nearly all day.

[ELVIS68]

I have blue tits nesting every year in my bird box, also had 3 starlings this year to date fly into my patio doors, whilst shut :o(

[starone]

Is it cheaper to make your own seed mix Mrs C? Like lotty I spend a fortune on bird seed. If so, can we have your recipe? The sparrows bring their young down to show them where the food is. They still flutter their wings and beg for food although they look fully grown. It is so cute!!

[mrs.chappie]

I spend a fortune too, Lottie. I do love watching the wildlife though. I once had a very tame blackbird that used to come into my porch and sit on the mealworm tub, waiting to be fed. He was so lovely.

One day I saw him taken by a sparrowhawk. It was horrible. I know it's nature's way, but I felt so bad about it.

[pussnboots]

Funny things Seagulls, I live about 4 miles from the coast and love the sound of them but the blighters come to the pond here and try to get the little ducklings.

[pussnboots]

I alao spend on wild bird food, don't mind coz I like them, I tend to get the bags from B & M 89p but go through 3 or 4 a week.

[mrs.chappie]

Starbo, I don't think it's any cheaper tbh, but I've always done it.

I buy 10 kilos of mealworms a time off eBay, five kilos of sunflower hearts, a bit of parrot mix from my parrots' barrels, 20 kilos 50/50 budgie mix, 5 kilos groats, 5 kilos insect suet pellets, and mix it all in 25-kilo plastic barrels in my garage (apart from the mealworms - I soak them every day to plump them up, my hedgehogs get first pick at night, then the birds clear them up the following morning).

My garden is so busy, you wouldn't believe. I've always loved wildlife though, and I'm happy to spend the money on them.

[swotty]

Hello
Going back to your original question, Blue Tits did suffer somewhat due to the bad winters of late in some areas.
If where you live wasn’t that affected by the bad weather, then I say carry on putting the food out, if it was they’ll be back for sure.
Why? I started and continue to put Nuts, Fat Balls, Fat Cakes, Mixed Seeds etc out a few years ago now and have seen many species increase year on year in my garden, its great! I can’t claim the whole success for myself as many neighbours are doing the same thing.
So do what you are doing and I’m sure the Blue Tits and everything feathered will arrive more often. (Niger, Nyger or Nyjer seed, PC spelling evidently. Black Thistle Seed basically will bring Goldfinches in like crazy once they find it)
To keep Starlings from taking the lions share may I suggest you push the fat balls into a Nut Feeders, use cheap one and put them in less open areas and yes scare um’ off.
Put food on the ground under a piece on aviary wire pegged down with a couple of tent pegs – Put Wholemeal Bread, fruit (Halved Apples & Pears) etc. This will stop the snatch & grab scenario & ducks – It also means you get to see birds that usually pull stuff into the flower beds or carry it off feed (Blackbirds, Coots or whatever)
Bird Tables are a free for all – Nice but often over too quickly sometimes.
Buy bulk feed; the more the cheaper; check online but, the chances are somebody close has it cheaper than the various firms that sell online including the RSPB when you weigh
up the P&P or courier.
Pet Warehouses are worth a try – I have found for years that Poundstretcher are cheapest for Fatballs, Bird Boxes & Cheap Feeders.
I’ve gone on a bit here – Hope it’s helpful


Best of luck and take care - swotty

[pussnboots]

Blimey swotty, loads of info there, thanks.

[rowanwitch]

quite simply a) they are out in the open countryside and will be back in numbers when the food supply is used up...

usually goes quiet on the bird table from between mid july and early october especially in towns... however if you put out a nyger feeder there should be loads of goldfinches around and dried mealworms will bring in the robins, blackbirds and thrushes as will some cheap red appples hung up in trees good way is open up a wire coat hanger and tread a few apples onto the wire and twist it back together and use the hook to hang it