Starlings galor

[Chistine123]

Hi, we enjoy watching the wild birds in the garden and put out various seeds and fat balls etc. We are hoping to attract more finches and smaller birds. Robins like oats and meal worms, but whenever we put these out, the starlings flock down and take over. We have put the food into seed containers which are supposed to inhibit the larger birds, but somehow the starlings get wind of the food and get their long beaks into it. Actually its quite funny seeing them hang on to pots and bend themselves over to get the food. But we do love the various finches, tits and robins as well as sparrows, doves etc. What wont starlings eat that other and smaller birds will?

[Milvus]

It's good to see you have a flock of starlings. Their numbers are down nearly 80% over the past 30 years. Aside from their acrobatics they can be great mimics too, imitating everything from other birdsong to domestic appliances like phones.
The best advice on bird feeding can be found here: http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/fee ding/index.asp

[lankeela]

try niger seed fed from a special niger seed feeder which attracts goldfinches. It has very small holes which their tiny hooked beaks can get into but bigger birds can't. Then watch them start to arrive and tell their goldfinch friends, and they watch them fight over it!

[Chistine123]

Thank you both. The rspb link is very useful. I guess we have most of the starlings in our garden!! Other birds rarely get a look in as they push them away. Never mind.

I will try the niger and special feeder for the finches. I look forward to its results, thank you so much.

[LinL]

You could try this for the robins

http://www.jacobijayne.co.uk/care--safety/cats /ground-feeder-guardian/