Bird Feeder

[sherrardk]

I bought two bird feeders for the garden and the birds seem to have taken to them. However, there are seeds all over the ground - is this because the feeders are a rubbish design or are the birds doing this on purpose for some reason? Thanks

[samuelcat1]

Probably a bit of both. Try fixing a foil food tray on the bottom to catch the spill.

[Meg]

The finches seem to eat a bit of the food and spit a lot out. I've found the nicer the bird the more mess they make. I do have a lot of pigeons, wood and feral and they clear the ground unfortunately so do the vermin.

[sherrardk]

Hadn't thought of that - the garden is only small and it is all paved and I am a bit worried about encouraging rats (there is a gnawing noise in the corner of the garden in the night that sounds a bit ratty!). Thanks for your suggestion.

[sherrardk]

Hi Miss Meg - only the blue tits have tried the feeders so far (everytime they appear, one of the kids rushes up to the window to have a look and they all fly off).

[looobylooo]

we hardly get any birds into our garden any more :o(
weve got feeders a couple of bird tables and boxes and a bird bath,
but nope, we hardly get any attall now ... except for a little robin who pays us a visit each evening.

its a shame really cus we had loads come to visit once upon a time,
they even used to queue up on the fence to take their turn in the bird bath, and then would lay out on next doors shed roof to dry off in the sun! lol

weve even got a bird box up in the trees with a camera installed in it, in the hope of capturing a bit of activity, but nope, nowt!! ... tut ...

[boxtops]

The bird population has been dropping though, Nature Watch etc has been concerned about it in recent years, not so many small birds anyway - different farming methods, less hedges etc. (more magpies...)

[rowanwitch]

always quiet in early autumn as most of the small birds move out to the countryside as it gets colder they should be back
We have a fair sized garden but it is in a city we get loads of birds including woodpeckers, nuthatches, tits, finches and starlings....but then at last count we had 13 feeders of various types three bird baths and two ponds as well as a lawn and beds full of plants chosen for their wildlife value
Paved garden...get some big pots and plant berrying bushes, cotoneasters are good...they will also provide safe perches for birds to move too and from the feeders

[waterboatman]

Birds do not have Table manners! They eat all they can as quickly as they can. You will find that sparrows, wagtails and other small ground feeders will hoover up most of the food.