Originally Posted by
Tilter
Read this thread with interest because I was going to start a thread about my birdfeeding problems but this one's on topic.
Every year I put out feeders with fat balls or nuts. They sit there untouched until they go black and mouldy or the wind blows them away (I attach them to trees at other end of garden).
We're surrounded by fields (some crops, some set-aside, some hay/sileage/grazing), with both a pine forest and deciduous woodland within 5 minutes walking distance. We have two resident blackbird couples, robins and wrens actually in the garden. Outside the garden in hedges etc. I see goldfinch, coal and blue tits, chaffinch etc. There's also owls and raptors about. We have a cat but he never bothers birds and the resident birds are totally used to him. We've no close neighbours feeding birds.
OH does birdfeeding sometimes. For him this consists of making lard sandwiches from old bread which he puts in an old roasting pan on top of the coal bunker. (!!!) I have to admit that our residents come to this but never get a look in before crows and the odd scorrie come and take off with the lot. Crows have to live but they're not endangered and I don't want to spend money on them.
I'm about to give up. What am I doing wrong? Why won't birds come to the feeders in the dead of winter when presumably there's little food around.
The birds need to feel safe. Make sure your feeders are near trees of bushes where they can dart to safety should the need arise. Also, since you have a cat, make sure that there is nowhere the cact an hide below the feeders. Would you sit at a table for lunch knowing that there were lions and Pterodactyls about if there was nowhere to quickly take cover?
"Step sideways, pause and study those around you. You will learn a great deal."
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