Feeding garden birds - Spring 2017 onwards

Misslayed

Quizzical_Squirrel wrote: »

I started to put nesting material out for the birds today.

I got the hint yesterday when I was sat outside at the table and one little bird kept jumping about on my shoulders and trying to grab my hair! Okay I get it, buzz off!

Also, the hummingbirds will be in my area in the next fortnight so I've unpacked the feeders and bought sugar; all ready for them now.

I'm putting water trays up for the bees this year too.

Hummingbirds? I'm really jealous:D Where do you live? I live on the Jurassic Coast, but we once had an African bee eater in the garden. I couldn't believe my eyes, but it was reported in our local oater the following day.

firebird082

Ha! We visited friends in Kansas a couple of years ago, and were super excited to see hummingbirds in their garden - talk about exotic! Mind you, I also got quite excited when we had our first visit from a couple of goldfinches (after the nesting material I put out) recently. I could spend all day watching the birds. Even the Jackdaws are fascinating

Misslayed

firebird082 wrote: »

Ha! We visited friends in Kansas a couple of years ago, and were super excited to see hummingbirds in their garden - talk about exotic! Mind you, I also got quite excited when we had our first visit from a couple of goldfinches (after the nesting material I put out) recently. I could spend all day watching the birds. Even the Jackdaws are fascinating

Did you know a group of goldfinches is called a charm? Eminently suitable. We have about 17 'golden girls' visiting every day.

Gers

The siskins are back! :j

cally6008

Are any shops selling the big 150 fat ball boxes yet ?

sheramber

KxMx wrote: »

I do most of the year yes, doves & wood pigeons love them, Magpie will fly off with them & tits take them (one at a time) to eat in neighbours tree.

Whole peanuts are not recommended while the birds are nesting as the birds feed whole peanuts to their young but the young choke on them.

karenccs67

We have blackbirds nesting in our garden and they're not interested in the seeds in the feeders, they look for bugs/insects in our flowerbeds.
Wood pigeons land on the feeder, rock it on landing then eat the seeds that have fallen on the floor.
We have a pair of blue tits that occasionally have a nibble at the seeds, I was wondering what else we could put out to attract more tits and other birds. We did put mealworms out but 20+ magpies appeared and ate the lot within minutes!

KxMx

sheramber wrote: »

Whole peanuts are not recommended while the birds are nesting as the birds feed whole peanuts to their young but the young choke on them.

Similar to what I said previously in post #9 Also, why I wrote "most of the year", because I do not feed whole peanuts year round.

karenccs67 wrote: »

We have blackbirds nesting in our garden and they're not interested in the seeds in the feeders, they look for bugs/insects in our flowerbeds.
Wood pigeons land on the feeder, rock it on landing then eat the seeds that have fallen on the floor.
We have a pair of blue tits that occasionally have a nibble at the seeds, I was wondering what else we could put out to attract more tits and other birds. We did put mealworms out but 20+ magpies appeared and ate the lot within minutes!

Try suet blocks. If you go for the "dry" ones there is no mess on hands when putting into the feeders.

Linda32

OH feeds the birds every day of the year. He says they prefer meal worms and seed mix, both from Pound Stretchers.

Gers

I put out peanuts all year round in proper feeders. The birds can't get them whole though.

Rather than buy suet balls I stick out a slab of lard or a tub of dripping which attracts every bird from blackbirds to woodpeckers. Apples are gobbled down very quickly too as are other types of soft fruit. Raisins, soaked overnight, are another favourite in my garden.

Sunflower hearts are the biggest attraction for birds, my guess is that the parenting birds catch insects etc for their babies and get their own energy from the fast food available in my garden!