Any keen bird feeders out there?

TravellingAbuela

We have just had 5 days at our caravan on a woodland site in Nidderdale (first stay of the season) and as usual set up our feeders. It didn't take the birdies long to find them and in less than a day we had blue, coal and great tits, robins, nuthatch, chaffinch, blackbirds, thrush, woodpigeons and woodpeckers visiting. We watched a little wren building a nest in the undergrowth by our van, two starlings utilising last year's woodpecker hole at the top of a tall conifer trunk and some bluetits already nesting in two of our bird boxes. The pheasants, which almost ate seed from our hands last year, remembered us and ran to us expecting seed every time they saw us!

They cost us a fortune in seeds, nuts and fat squares but we get so much pleasure from watching them. What we don't like is the constant battle we have with the squirrels ransacking the feeders - even the allegedly squirrel proof ones!!

Gers

What a lovely time you had TA. Sounds perfect, almost.

I bought a new feeder which has a removable bottom to make washing it out easier.

Birds are drinking more I noticed. Eating less and fighting more! I sat outside the front of the house watching sparrows enjoying dust baths and occasional fisty-cuffs over particularly useful pieces of twig or soft material. There are at least three sets making nests in the eaves of the house.

There's also a new mealworms holder with a little dome. I've filled it twice and it's twice been emptied but I haven't seen any birds in it.

SG27

I have a robins nest and blue tits nest in my garden. The male robin which I think has been around for a while so fairly used to me now takes food out of my hand!

TravellingAbuela

We have had a sad event in our garden this week. The nesting blackbirds in the ivy hatched their babies and were constantly in and out with little worms and grubs. On Wednesday morning there was a dead chick on the ground below the nest - I was so upset. The parents were still in and out of the nest regardless so we knew there were more in there. Then yesterday there was no activity at all, so Mr TA peeped into the nest and there was just one dead chick in there. The parents were finally seen at teatime in the garden but they didn't go near the nest. It's a mystery what happened but I am bereft as I was anticipating watching the babies fledge.

renegade

I love feeding the birds, any birds.

However, my neighbour has 3 cats that roam around my garden hiding in the tall trees, my little dog chases them off with barking..I had 3 feeders which all eventually fall on the floor, I think I have squirrel that hides in the trees and wants to share the bird food.

The nut feeders are the first to go, but the nuts are not eaten or taken away?

I feel sad that the birds are coming and singing, but are very wary about using the seeders because of the threat from the cats.

I really love to hear and see the Blackbirds, their birdsong is so uplifting and beautiful.

Just wish I had a secure place where they could feed in comfort.

Don't get me wrong, I do like cats, just not in my garden:D

Gers

TravellingAbuela wrote: »

We have had a sad event in our garden this week. The nesting blackbirds in the ivy hatched their babies and were constantly in and out with little worms and grubs. On Wednesday morning there was a dead chick on the ground below the nest - I was so upset. The parents were still in and out of the nest regardless so we knew there were more in there. Then yesterday there was no activity at all, so Mr TA peeped into the nest and there was just one dead chick in there. The parents were finally seen at teatime in the garden but they didn't go near the nest. It's a mystery what happened but I am bereft as I was anticipating watching the babies fledge.

That's so sad TA, sorry to hear about it.

There aren't any birds nests in our garden, the new boxes are still empty but I believe that that's normal for new boxes. I'm hoping that the swallows come back to their old nest in the back garden barn so I've covered everything up with plastic sheeting to catch the poop!

Blooming cuckoo in the woods won't shut up, was still at it at 10p.m. last night.

REEN

I retired this year and during this fine weather I've been taking a book and a cuppa out into the garden. I have a little arbour out there, and it seems to be a very efficient hide! The birds just don't register that I'm out there unless I make a sudden move. Today a wood pigeon walked right past my feet! Sparrows, blue tits and blackbirds all come close. It's been fun watching them gather nest material.

The arbour has a solid back and sides, but I reckon that anything that breaks up your outline like a trellis would work too.

andrewf75

Gers wrote: »

Blooming cuckoo in the woods won't shut up, was still at it at 10p.m. last night.

Lucky you, haven't heard one yet this year and they are getting very rare

TravellingAbuela

andrewf75 wrote: »

Lucky you, haven't heard one yet this year and they are getting very rare

Nor have we sad to say. We usually hear our first on or around St George's day but not this year (so far). Mind you the woodpigeons make that much racket with their coo-cooing maybe they drown them out!

TravellingAbuela

Our bereaved blackbird pair appear to be nesting again!! We watched the female yesterday gathering thin twigs, dead grass etc non-stop and taking it into next door's conifers. Unfortunately at the other side to us so can't keep track of the progress. Hopefully this time they will successfully produce babies and we get to see them fledge. A couple of years ago it was lovely to watch a pair sitting on top of the fence coaxing their babes to fly.