How can I get more birds in my garden.

[lizwizz]

I only get the really common birds in my garden. I put out fat cake and nuts, but if I put different kinds of seed out, would I see a bigger variety?

[nfn]

I'm no ornithologist but my neighbours are and they put out a specialist mix from a pet shop. They keep their bird feeders up high and have a fascinating array of finches, tits (hope that doesn't get starred out) etc. A couple of green finches are there all year round. BUT they're never mobbed by seagulls like the rest of us. I think it must be the mix. They're not sure what's in it, just whatever the pet shop guy recommends.

[gen2]

It will depend upon many factors.

1) Location. If you are in the middle of a town, it will be far less likely that any uncommon birds will visit you whatever you put out as food. They just aren't there to spot the food in the first place.

2) Weather. An extremely cold winter can make natural foods difficult to obtain in the countryside and the country birds may be driven into towns to survive. This year has been very mild and birds seem to be finding lots to eat by themselves.

3) Food types/birds. Different birds eat different foods. Some like fruit (put out apples and pears for blackbirds). Raisins can also be popular. Some are insect eaters and will not necessarily be attracted by seeds. Some people put out mealworms but it works out expensive. Robins like them. Some birds will only feed from berries on trees. Holly berrys attracted redwings to my garden - they hung around for three days until all the berries were gone. Rowan berries are also popular and particularly if other gardens around also have them, you might get waxwings in a waxwing winter like last year.

In summary, put out a variety of foods and if the birds are passing through, they may stop. If the food's not there, there will be no chance of seeing more birds.

[logman]

It depends a lot on the type of habitat or environment that surrounds your garden, ie if you have no woodland near-by, you are unlikely to get woodpeckers or nuthatches.

You seem to be doing the right thing by offering plenty of variety, but please remember to that you need to keep up the feeding and dont allow every thing to run out all at once, otherwise they will fly off to where they can find regular food

You can also attract a wider variety by plants that are attractive to birds, like berrying shrubs ie cottoneaster, pyracantha, rowan etc or those that have seeds and nut, hazel, birch, a pond will bring the birds in too or bird bath at least. You can also buy fat-cakes with dried insects for the insect feeders (important in winter)

Check out the RSPB website for more ideas

[mindimplode]

Have you also thought of buying a bird bath? It is a necessity for birds to bathe as well!

[brachiopod]

gen2, (serious question),

So can I help live food / grub eating / insectiverous birds by putting up, say, a container of undyed maggots of the type obtained from a tackle (bait) shop or something from an aquarist / vivaporist?

(Note I say up, The robins love it when I dig over the garden, but being fairly small (the garden that is), the cats in the neighbourhood can easily lie in wait, and I have (in the past) cried when I've seen the same stiff, dead robin that I had been feeding earlier that day.)