Feeding birds and cat predators

[violetblue]

I have a nut thingy to feed the birds in our garden, but since I put it there, neighbouring cats keep stalking them. By putting the food out, will I help or hinder the birds, give or take one blue tit or other? Will the nesting birds breed more than they lose, on balance?

Also, anyone know why the cats keep leaving fieldmice on the path always with their heads bitten off? Thanks.

[Lonnie]

Its always a good thing to feed the birds, about the best you can do, is put your nut thingy (love that), high enough so the cats can't reach, every so often a Kestral takes one of the birds from the feeder in my garden, the ground feeders will just have to take their chance. can't help you with the mice bit though, sorry.

[birdwoman]

I have several bird feeders in my garden. My cat generally leaves the birds alone but they got a bit too cocky the other day and she did catch one. It's personally very rewarding watching the birds come to your garden and there's great excitement in our house when we spot a new type of bird (get a life - i know!!) and I definitely think that we are helping the birds by feeding them seeing as they lose so much of their natural habitat to all the new building etc that is going on around us. Keep up the good work. Also my cat is a pretty good mouser but doesn't tend to eat them - I have become quite good at catching live mice in my bedroom at 3am!

[Cetti]

The more people that put out feeders the better, because as birdwoman rightly says some species are almost dependant on kind folk like yourself for their food as some habitats are fast disappearing. You might want to add a seed feeder in another part of your garden to encourage still more birds,not forgetting fresh water daily summer and winter. Water is vital, not only to drink but to keep feathers in perfect flying order.

July and the beginning of August is generally known as the quiet period in the birdy world as parents are busy making sure the youngsters can look after themselves before leaving home and there is also an abundant supply of bugs and other natural food, so they may not come to feeders quite so often.

Will the nesting birds breed more than they lose? Yes, especially Blue Tits and their cousins, Great and Coal. They have between 7- 16 eggs, so they still thrive allowing for heat, cats, rats the occasional woodpecker and any other predator. It's great fun watching them - have fun:-)

[sue11]

I have two cats and I feed the birds in my garden from feeders hanging above a bird table that we also put nuts and seeds etc on oh yes I also put sultanas out as the starlings and blackbirds seem to like them.
My cats when they were younger did try to catch birds and managed to catch a few, but now they have given up and just watch them! And yes it is very rewarding to see the birds all come in to your garden. We have seen green and gold finches, bull finches and a woodpecker as well as the more usual sparrows and tits etc. We even had a badger come into the garden one year to clear up dropped food under the table!
As far as the mice question goes, my cats have left various bits of mice for me to find that they don't really fancy eating! The worst one was a mice face left for me on the kitchen floor, lovely!

[violetblue]

Thanks everyone for your answers!