Why wont the birds come?

TraceyB_2

Have been trying my hardest to tempt birds into our garden as my 4 year old DD wants to start bird watching!

However, having bought fat balls, fat blocks, seed mixes, bird feeders and a tray - nothing seems to be happening!

The bird feeders and fat blocks are hanging from trees, I have a seed tray on the grass and bread also on the grass.

There are plenty of birds about - we even had 2 robins sitting on our fence looking at the bread on the grass the other day - but nothing has been eaten!

Have been doing this for a week which I know isnt long but am I doing something wrong or am I just not patient enough?

A neighbour a couple of doors down puts bread on her garage roof every day and she is swamped with birds - but nothing in our garden :sad:

My only success was putting some cake out on a seed tray - next doors cat ate it:eek::mad:

Thanks in advance

foxgloves

It does sound a bit unusual, but I should give it another week, as they are not used to coming into your garden for their food so are probably going to gardens they feel safe visiting. Blackbirds, thrushes, robins & dunnocks are groundfeeders, so they like their food on the ground, but sparrows, starlings & other birds will also feed from the ground. We always have loads of birds feeding in our garden, but even so, we've noticed that if we move the birdpole with all the hanging feeders on, they are often wary about coming back until they have got used to seeing it in its new position. Keep trying! It's great watching them once they start coming and a lovely interest for your daughter.

esuhl

We got a seed feeder and it probably took two weeks before birds started coming regularly. Later we got a nyjer seed feeder and it took about a month before that got used! But we regularly have a variety of finches and tits, and the odd robin or blackbird now.

Maybe the cat next door is making them cautious, but I'm sure they will come soon!

Optimisticpair

We inherited a small bird population when we moved here. We have twice as many house sparrows now after feeding regularly. Birds get used to where there is a regular supply and head off there to fill up so give it a month and they will put you on the feathered friends cafe list 2010 edition.

TraceyB_2

Thanks for the replies - guess I just need to be a bit more patient.

Thanks again

mi_jardin

In a word: Water

Make sure they have a source of water preferably off the ground so they feel safe from cats.

Mortal

Have you tried Mealworms? The birds around here can't get enough of them. They're quite cheap in Wilko's, and if you pop a few into a pot of hot water, they soon rehydrate, and those little robins will love you forever.
Suet sticks work well too. The birds here prefer those to the fatballs and blocks, and the shyer birds can grab one and fly off again instead of hanging around where they're not sure of. Raisins are a favourite too. The blackbirds like bits of chopped apple, and as they're ground feeders, I just pop them on the wall. what else...oooh yes, sunflower hearts. Again cheaper at Wilko's

irishwexford

When we had all the snow and ice I had feeders and fat balls hanging but birds did not use them. Blackbirds came calling each day for their dried fruit and feeders on allotment were emptied daily. Well now that the snow has gone and birds can get on garden they are eating the hanging seed and fatballs. Strange. I do agree about water, we have a small wildlife pond for the frogs and I had to clear the ice daily for the birds to get their drink and have a bath.

TraceyB_2

I HAVE BIRDS IN MY GARDEN:j:j:j:j:j

Put my usual bread and water out this morning along with some left over cake and some apple - within about 15 minutes, had a blackbird, robin, wood pigeon and about 8 starlings! Then the very bossy blackbird tried to take them all on!

I can only assume they were all female - the cake has nearly all gone but there is still some apple left!!

The only disappointing part of all this is that my DD stayed at her Grandads last night so has missed all the excitement!

Thanks for all your help and advice - will go with a little bit of everything to see what is popular and what isnt.

Thanks again

Wookey

TraceyB wrote: »

seed tray - next doors cat ate it:eek::mad:

Thanks in advance

Thats probably got something to do with it

Lorian

The robins will be a mating pair. They are quite territorial and don't speak to each other much until spring. "My two" only eat bread if nothing else is on offer. They like worms of course, but of the things I give them they like meal worms, sultanas and pine kernels. These dissappear very fast.