Bird Table Wars

Becles

I bought a bird table and I've been putting out scraps on the tray, then it has hanging feeders with peanuts and seeds, and some fat balls. Plenty of food to go around for lots of birds.

We've got a pair of nasty blackbirds who have taken ownership of the bird table. They eat, and they they sit on the fence and attack any other birds that come to visit.

I've got a mixture of sparrows, robins, tits and finches all sitting in next doors tree looking longingly at the bird table, but every time they come down for food, the blackbirds chase them away.

Does anyone else have this problem and how did you solve it?

ljonski

Im afraid that food for birds is scarce , so the blackbirds are doing what they think is nescessary to survive. you could try and put food in diverse but promininent places , so that it can't all be guarded.

On a similar note can i urge everybody to think of the birds and try and get unfrozen food out to them on a daily basis. This weather is disasterous for them in particular and we are already looking at a severe loss in numbers this year. What would our gardens , countryside be without the songs and calls from our feathered friends ?

Froglet

Blackbirds are very defensive of a food source.They attack most other birds,even bigger ones.But they can't be everywhere at once! The smaller birds will learn this in time.Try putting a tray of just their favourite food well away from the bird table,on the ground,as most blackbirds prefer to eat from ground level.

My mum at the moment has a robin who does the same,on his own he attacks virtually anything else,he is a real terror.She has overcome this by putting all the hangers,floor tables etc in many different places.

EmptyPockets

I think you will always get this problem if you only put food out in one place.

When I put out bird food, I always put it in 3 or 4 different spots around the garden, some on tables, and some on the ground for the likes of ground-feeders like blackbirds... That way the bigger birds can stay out of each others' way and just get on with the important business of feeding. There are also two bird baths in our garden, plus an extra shallow tray of water further away.

You just need to give them plenty of options so that the more timid ones can avoid the more aggressive, and this normally stops any naughty squabbling

prosaver

I put my fat balls hanging on diferent branches all around the garden
and some are hooked on a nail on the shed..
the black birds dont touch them hardly..and leaves the small birds in peace
however starlins sometime come over and try and nibble my balls so then I just throw a snow ball at them and non has returned ...

Froglet

Don't starlings count then? They have as much right to the food as any other.

ljonski

although Starlings have the reputation as a gang of chavs. there has been a serious decline in their numbers and each autumn provide us with amazing aerial choreography !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DKtj4E_iss

Becles

Thanks - will try putting things in other places and see if that helps.

chez22

You can buy mesh guards for feeders which stop larger birds hogging all the food, something like these http://www.birdfood.co.uk/products.php?area_id=2&nav_id=147

I'm sure there are cheaper versions of these or you could make your own with some mesh garden fencing.

puppypants

I had a pair of blackbirds in my garden at my last house. They were the busiest of birds as they raised 2 clutches of chicks a year, If I was digging, the male would follow me around the garden as I would throw him any juicy worms that I came across. I was well rewarded with beautiful birdsong from him.

Mealworms are a special treat too. I agree with other posters about putting food out in lots of different places, then everyone gets a feed. Unfortunately, if I fed the birds where I now live it would be just seagulls taking advantage and I dont want those in the garden!

ljonski

apparently blackbirds that were with us in the spring have moved to warmer climes. The ones we see now are probably recent arrivals from
Scandanavia.