Bird Feeder - Am I being impatient?

squizza

squizza

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Hi guys,

I put up 2 bird feeders about a week and half ago, because there are large conifers at the bottom of the back garden with robins, tits, sparrows etc... nesting there. Except none have come to the bird feeders....even though they're quite close to the trees.

What can I do to get them to notice them?

Kind regards

Sarah
 
How close to the threes are they?
What do you have in them?

I got birds on my feeders within about 2 weeks but I did put a suet block in a holder and a suet cake out to start with. They like this more than seed and nuts even now.
 
Patience is a virtue Sarah :) Dont worry too much but it will happen. I live on the end of a rank of 25 cottages and have a woodland right on the side of our garden. There are Pine trees, Oak, Spruce etc growing there. There are at least about eight people on the rank that care for the birds as well as a lot of people that have gardens containing all kinds of wierd and wonderful plants that provide natural food for birds. Not surprisingly I have noticed certain species just frequenting certain gardens. New feeders are either taken to straight away or it might take a little longer, as mentioned in another post there is a lot of natural food about at the moment and even I have noticed a slight drop in the birds using my feeders. You have to understand that they usually will have a routine flying around their favourite feeding places, I could set my watch by the time they leave my garden and return again :lol: Be prepared though cos once they are happy with your feeders all hell will break loose :D Just a thought how close do you have the feeders from the trees etc, I think they like to be in close range of protected cover if they get spooked.
 
Be patient. My feeders have been around for 3 years, but at this time of year, as insects start so slow down as winter approaches and the trees are rich with berries, etc, there is an abundance of natural food around, so the birds will visit feeders less than most other times. This applies to well established feeders, never mind new ones, so just be very patient. Dont leave too much food out at once, save on wastage, and clear and clean old food regularly. It can take as long as a year for a feeding station to become well established, so as with all wildlife, patience is the key. :thumbs:



edit: :bonk: NOTE TO SELF - always read previous post properly then you dont just repeat what has already been said :rules:
 
I have mixed seeds and nuts in one of the holders, and the balls of food in the other. They are about a metre and half away from the trees :)
 
squizza said:
Hi guys,

I put up 2 bird feeders about a week and half ago, because there are large conifers at the bottom of the back garden with robins, tits, sparrows etc... nesting there. Except none have come to the bird feeders....even though they're quite close to the trees.

What can I do to get them to notice them?

Kind regards

Sarah
Click to expand...

They have noticed them, but have chosen not to use then ..... yet.
There is still quite a lot of natural food about because it has been mild.

One the weather gets colder they will use them.
Keep an eye on the feeders to make sure the contents don't turn mouldy.
 
I've never seen a bird at my feeder - mainly because within about 2 days of filling it, the squirrels have emptied it, so the birds don't even get chance to spot it!

I think I need to get a squirrel resitant one... unless anyone has any other ideas?
 
giantwolf said:
I've never seen a bird at my feeder - mainly because within about 2 days of filling it, the squirrels have emptied it, so the birds don't even get chance to spot it!

I think I need to get a squirrel resitant one... unless anyone has any other ideas?
Click to expand...

Grays use a shot gun. Reds feed them. otherwise move the feeder.
 
giantwolf said:
...

I think I need to get a squirrel resitant one... unless anyone has any other ideas?
Click to expand...

A gun? :lol:

It can be frustrating when you have the food and equipment but no sodding birds!!!

It's like that at home too, not many birds - next door have one tiny feeder and they all flock there.

I also find the birds will stay when I'm just watching them but as soon as I get the camera out - "quick lads, it's one of those big cameras, fly or he'll post our pictures on a forum", "you know trevor, I read in the mail that it's illegal to do that".
:D
 
Yes you need much patience! I just put peanuts in my mums grinder birds love them. I tend to scatter all over nice old logs perches etc. Mind you we've been feeding the birds for 15 yrs, so they're pretty used to it by now!
 
BellyBoy said:
A gun? :lol:

It can be frustrating when you have the food and equipment but no sodding birds!!!

It's like that at home too, not many birds - next door have one tiny feeder and they all flock there.

I also find the birds will stay when I'm just watching them but as soon as I get the camera out - "quick lads, it's one of those big cameras, fly or he'll post our pictures on a forum", "you know trevor, I read in the mail that it's illegal to do that".
:D
Click to expand...

Yip, that's how it is.
I had suet balls and bags of seeds and nuts out for weeks. Not a bird came near them. The seeds were sprouting, the nuts and suet balls mouldy. I took them down an hour ago and have not put fresh food up yet. Just had a Great Tit perched on the feeder support and a Robin sit on the bucket that collects spillage.
 
I've got a peanut feeder and a seed feeder on my 6th floor balcony. The birds won't leave them alone. I can barely afford to keep them filled up. :D The jackdaws are the worst, bless 'em. Noisy sods. :bonk:

I guess the height must be a temptation for them. No chance of predators up there. Nice to watch through the window, when they're only a few feet away.
 
GrittyShaker said:
I've got a peanut feeder and a seed feeder on my 6th floor balcony. The birds won't leave them alone. I can barely afford to keep them filled up. :D The jackdaws are the worst, bless 'em. Noisy sods. :bonk:

We had similar problem. Last year we got a massive 20 port niger feeder for goldfinches, greenfinches and siskins. Holds 2 kg of Niger seed (about a fiver!!:eek:) and once they discovered it it would empty in 3 days. Must say, it was a sight with some 30 finches in addition to the normal birds. Soon stopped, just couldn't afford it, back to crushed peanuts! :thumbs:
Click to expand...
 
put spliff in the feeder then when the birds do eat it they will make for better pictures.....
 
giantwolf said:
I've never seen a bird at my feeder - mainly because within about 2 days of filling it, the squirrels have emptied it, so the birds don't even get chance to spot it!

I think I need to get a squirrel resitant one... unless anyone has any other ideas?
Click to expand...

If you have a fairly large tree, simply hang about a metres worth of hooks from the branch about a metre away from the main trunk. Hang the feeder on the end and should be no problem :thumbs:
 
Once they get used to it don't forget to keep it topped up as they will rely on it in the winter months.
But as said,when natural food is about the stuff you put out is just used as top up.
They where eating three fat-balls a day in April,but just lately the balls last at least 4 days.
 
I'm surprised you're not getting birds on the feeders if they're close to where they're nesting/roosting. Birds tend to love feeders close to cover for a quick getaway from predators.

Perhaps a pic or two of your setup might help to see where you might improve things.
 
CT said:
I'm surprised you're not getting birds on the feeders if they're close to where they're nesting/roosting. Birds tend to love feeders close to cover for a quick getaway from predators.

Perhaps a pic or two of your setup might help to see where you might improve things.
Click to expand...

Will post one tomorrow :)
 
It can a while for birds to get used to the new food source, particularly if there's enough natural food around and/or the neighbours are feeding them. Prowling cats can put them off too.

My neighbour has a bird table next to a lean to in his garden. The food was always disappearing but we didn't see many birds, then we spotted a rat jumping from the lean to onto the table. Problem solved. We started putting out food for the rat on the ground!
 
I found that different species of birds have varied tastes and habits.

Finches like sunflower kernels and turn their beaks up at the cheaper mixes. When they have found the feeder they form disorderly queues in nearby trees and bushes and can empty it in less than 2 days.

Tits, sparrows and robins are less fussy and tend to grab one kernel at a time, so it takes them a lot longer to empty the feeder.

As has already been said, the feeder becomes much more popular in winter and spring, so you don't need to be too patient.
 
What's all this feeders lasting 2 days :suspect: I have a large mixed seed feeder, 8 fat ball feeder, big peanut ball, plus ground trays for crushed mealworm, nuts etc. and they get emptied daily :eek::D
 
i had to wait 3 months before the goldies started to use my nyjger feeder
 
Hi guys - sorry about the delay

Here's a pic of the 'set up' In the background are the huge trees where plenty of birds nest. I hear them every morning its lovely

:)
4099970523_fb77b5247d.jpg


Sorry about picture quality. Its from my camera phone.

Kind regards

sarah
 
Well it looks like you're in a good environment there with those surrounding trees so I reckon you should have no problem getting the birds.

I'd be inclined to move your feeders off the shed and out into the open so they're more visible. Most garden centres stock the pole type feeders which raise the feeders well in the air. The birds love these as they feel safe from predators, especially if there's cover to bolt to nearby which they seem to have here.
 
CT said:
Well it looks like you're in a good environment there with those surrounding trees so I reckon you should have no problem getting the birds.

I'd be inclined to move your feeders off the shed and out into the open so they're more visible. Most garden centres stock the pole type feeders which raise the feeders well in the air. The birds love these as they feel safe from predators, especially if there's cover to bolt to nearby which they seem to have here.
Click to expand...

I've seen those!
Thankyou very much :)
 
We have 4 feeders set up and whilst they all get plenty of activity the pole feeder is by far the busiest and most popular. Within 2 days of it being placed, we had Gt Spotted Woodpeckers visiting and they've been daily visitors ever since. If you have Grey Squirrels about then you'll definitely need to fork out for the 'upside down bowl attachment' under the feeder. This has defeated all efforts by the squidgers to get to the feeder.

You could use a large plastic bowl or plastic bucket mounted upside down on the pole to achieve the same thing - just need a hole in the bottom and a couple of jubilee clips to keep it in place.
 
CT said:
We have 4 feeders set up and whilst they all get plenty of activity the pole feeder is by far the busiest and most popular. Within 2 days of it being placed, we had Gt Spotted Woodpeckers visiting and they've been daily visitors ever since. If you have Grey Squirrels about then you'll definitely need to fork out for the 'upside down bowl attachment' under the feeder. This has defeated all efforts by the squidgers to get to the feeder.

You could use a large plastic bowl or plastic bucket mounted upside down on the pole to achieve the same thing - just need a hole in the bottom and a couple of jubilee clips to keep it in place.
Click to expand...

I find that a HK 77 does the trick......:D
 
IMO with feeders you need place them near to what I will approach perches i.e. the birds need to feel comfortable where they can "look the area over" before they land on the feeders. These can be a fence, small trees/shrubs even bamboo poles stuck in the ground (at an angle) within say 6 feet of the feeder. This also helps with the tits as many will dive in quick to peck off a bit of peanut or sunflower seed and take it to a perch to feed on it.

Best of luck and you have reminded me to ensure our winter feeding should start now! We do not feed all year round.
 
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