EATING ELSE WHERE

ARMANDII · Jan 11, 2014

While I've not been short of feathered friends dropping in to stuff themselves on the Feeders in the garde I've noticed a drop in the more flamboyant coloured birds such as Tits etc over the last month or two. But in the Amateur Gardening Magazine this week there was an article about the subject. Here's an extract of the article.

Readers who are concerned that birds have failed to appear in gardens this Winter should not get in a flap, says the RSPB.
The Charity said the public had been calling their Wildlife Experts "in their droves" as concerns grow about a lack of birds in gardens. In many cases, bird feeders and tables have been left unvisited leaving gardeners to ask why birds are staying away.
However, the RSPB has reassured people that it has been due to mild weather in the run up to Christmas.
RSPB Advisor Richard James said "We have received endless calls from people who are worried about the lack of garden birds. Many can't understand why feeders aren't being visited, despite being full of high energy foods.
The answer is almost certainly down to mild weather. Birds will still have been able to get hold of natural food in the wider countryside so haven't had to call upon Humans for help. The RSPB is advising gardeners to carry on putting out a little bit of food and water to help birds out when cold weather finally arrives.
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I've got several large Feeders out in the garden plus a Fat Ball Feeder and they are getting used. The four balls in the Fat Ball Feeder usually last around 3 days, while the Seed Feeders I have to fill up daily. Also the local Blackbirds love the Sultanas I put around the base of the main Bird Bath so that gets replenished daily. But I am getting mostly the "brown suited" birds with the odd Long Tailed Tit and Great Tit rather than a reasonable number of them.

Phil A · Jan 11, 2014

Poppy bought me a Glodfinch feeder for Christmas. They've not touched it yet, still feeding from the Burdock seed heads out the back.

Fern4 · Jan 11, 2014

There hasn't been any difference in the number of birds visiting my garden really. During prolonged very cold spells with snow I always get more birds and a few different species than normal but I think that's to be expected.

ARMANDII · Jan 11, 2014

Fern4 said: ↑
During prolonged very cold spells with snow
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Snow???, what's that?? I can't remember seeing a decent snowfall around here for years, Fern
When the weather gets hard with really freezing conditions then I do get a showing of Tits etc. During this Spring and Summer I have had a really good selection of birds but when Autumn turned up they thinned out somewhat!!

rustyroots · Jan 11, 2014

My garden seems quite empty of birds this year. Except pigeons, magpies and black bird. However I did have a woodpecker come and visit yesterday.

Rusty

sumbody · Jan 19, 2014

Many years ago our main birds here were Starlings but now we hardly see any - but travelling a few miles last week to Sydenham Sainsbury's - their car park was full of them. Still seeing plenty of tits here - (great and blue - seem to fly and feed together - sometimes accompanied by long-tails) but none are interested in our nesting box - hasn't been used since we replaced it a couple of years ago (the other one had split down the back) Also have a pair of Robins - I have in the past been "bombed" by Robins (as in they fly at my head flicking my hair) - either because I haven't fed them enough mealworms or they don't like the music on my ipod - haven't worked out which yet .

S

strongylodon · Jan 19, 2014

This time last year we had Goldfinches, Siskins, Redpolls and a couple of Song Thrushes as well as the Sparrows, Chaffinches, Doves, Dunnocks, Blackbirds etc.
This Winter just Sparrows, Blackbirds, Dunnocks and a few Starlings and they scarpered pretty quick yesterday when a Sparrow hawk appeared on the greenhouse roof!

pamsdish · Jan 19, 2014

Zigs said: ↑
Poppy bought me a Glodfinch feeder for Christmas. They've not touched it yet, still feeding from the Burdock seed heads out the back.
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I had a niger seed feeder, filled it, and filled it with fresh, again and again, gave up when the packet was empty. When walking Maddie before Christmas in the field behind me, I saw about 10 goldfinches fly up, but they are very seldom seen in my garden.

Fern4 · Jan 19, 2014

ARMANDII said: ↑
Snow???, what's that?? I can't remember seeing a decent snowfall around here for years, Fern
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Yes but I've been feeding the birds for many years and in that time there's been snow and sometimes it's even lasted for longer than a day!!

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EATING ELSE WHERE

ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

Phil A Guest

Fern4 Total Gardener

ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

rustyroots Total Gardener

sumbody Gardener

strongylodon Old Member

pamsdish Total Gardener

Fern4 Total Gardener

Creating a small pond.

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EATING ELSE WHERE

ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

Phil A Guest

Fern4 Total Gardener

ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

rustyroots Total Gardener

sumbody Gardener

strongylodon Old Member

pamsdish Total Gardener

Fern4 Total Gardener

Creating a small pond.

Seating wheelbarrow tyre (easier way?)

Heating my new little greenhouse - electricity?

How do you keep birds from eating your grass seed?

Eating the goodies

Share This Page

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