Bird feeding

[Accyexplorer]

First things first HAPPY NEW YEAR

It's that time of year when we may have left over food and instead of just binning it I want to encourage folk to feed it our wild birds.The little cherubs will have a go at most things from Yorkshire puds to bacon rinds

I usually leave breadcrumbs and a few mixed bird seed with a small container of water but this year I made some hanging fatballs too,though my bird visitors tend to consist of mainly magpies or pigeons and not the robins, tits, finches etc that I would prefer.

Does anyone else feed the birds and what sorts do you get visiting your garden?

 

[Sunflower49]

I do. I have a very cheap and cheerful bird feeder shaped like an orange

http://angelhousenewport.co.uk/medi...d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/b/i/bird-orangefeeder.jpg

Similar to this. I put all sorts in it. Have a robin (I am sure It's the same one) visit regularly and in the summer a lot of songbirds.

Squirrels seem to like it too, though.

 

[Greeny]

I put out raisins ( these get eaten first ) , suet , seeds and nuts a get a few blackbirds and either starlings or wrens not sure . But then cheeky pigeons come along.

 

[maxthecollie]

We put out mixed seed, pastry, bread, sunflower hearts and fat balls. We tend to get all varieties of tits, hundreds of house sparrows, a robin and very rarely long tailed tits. The sparrows all lin up for a bath at the same time every day.

 

[maxthecollie]

I do. I have a very cheap and cheerful bird feeder shaped like an orange

http://angelhousenewport.co.uk/medi...d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/b/i/bird-orangefeeder.jpg

Similar to this. I put all sorts in it. Have a robin (I am sure It's the same one) visit regularly and in the summer a lot of songbirds.

Squirrels seem to like it too, though.

We have the apple variety of this feeder. The birds haven't got used to it yet.

 

[Rowlf]

I have a two bird tables and a couple of seed containers which I put sunflower hearts in.
There are robins usually two at a time, up to 6 gold finches at a time, green finch, blue tits,great tits, sparrows, starlings or heavy gang as I call them, occasionally a wren and about 4 times this last year a sparrow hawk has swooped down took a pigeon. Two collared doves come regularly too. So not bad really to say I live in a town. I have a bird bath too which they love both for drinking water and bathing. I buy mixed seed and the sunflower hearts and also put brown bread,suet and dried fruit out too.

 

[Turtle]

I'm ashamed to say I haven't put my feeder out this year - yet. Next grocery shopping I will stock up on seed and suet cakes for sure! I normally see Bluejays, cardinals, juncos and chickadees just to name a few of the Southern Ontario birds from around here

 

[Accyexplorer]

I do. I have a very cheap and cheerful bird feeder shaped like an orange

http://angelhousenewport.co.uk/medi...d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/b/i/bird-orangefeeder.jpg

Similar to this. I put all sorts in it. Have a robin (I am sure It's the same one) visit regularly and in the summer a lot of songbirds.

Squirrels seem to like it too, though.

I'd encourage the squirrels,I enjoy watching them work out ways of getting the nuts from feeders etc.
Our peg bought a (very similar) bird feeder but the birds just don't seem interested (maybe the odd wood pigeon),saying that my homemade fat balls have been up for days now and as far as I can tell they look relatively untouched too.
I'm wondering if it is too close for the birds to feel comfy I placed the feeder approximately 10 feet from the backdoor as I wanted to take a few photo's of them feeding/bathing.
It may be worth moving it nearer the hedge growth were they'll feel safer or maybe the fussy blighters just aren't interested in my offerings

I put out raisins ( these get eaten first ) , suet , seeds and nuts a get a few blackbirds and either starlings or wrens not sure . But then cheeky pigeons come along.

I never thought of putting raisins out for the little blighters.....i'll definitely be trying them.
If they are getting eaten first there must be something about them that they really like.

We put out mixed seed, pastry, bread, sunflower hearts and fat balls. We tend to get all varieties of tits, hundreds of house sparrows, a robin and very rarely long tailed tits. The sparrows all lin up for a bath at the same time every day.

I've seen your pics Frank......one word.....jealous

I have a two bird tables and a couple of seed containers which I put sunflower hearts in.
There are robins usually two at a time, up to 6 gold finches at a time, green finch, blue tits,great tits, sparrows, starlings or heavy gang as I call them, occasionally a wren and about 4 times this last year a sparrow hawk has swooped down took a pigeon. Two collared doves come regularly too. So not bad really to say I live in a town. I have a bird bath too which they love both for drinking water and bathing. I buy mixed seed and the sunflower hearts and also put brown bread,suet and dried fruit out too.

I've seen a sparrow hawk take a pigeon around the Arden hall area (very impressive to watch).
Like you say, it's not a bad collection for a town garden.
I think, putting a bit of water out is essential too (many folk forget this) I'll be trying raisins and sultanas out in next couple of days.

I'm ashamed to say I haven't put my feeder out this year - yet. Next grocery shopping I will stock up on seed and suet cakes for sure! I normally see Bluejays, cardinals, juncos and chickadees just to name a few of the Southern Ontario birds from around here

That sounds like a nice array of birds you have over there T but are they as aesthetically pleasing as my pigeons and magpies

 

[DaveinGermany]

I've seen a sparrow hawk take a pigeon around the Arden hall area

A feathery guided tour?

 

[ossy kid]

Love to feed the birds problem is we have a stream running through the complex and a large feed store across the road so if we put food out for the birds it also attracts the rats.

 

[south aussie]

After 47 degrees yesterday our local parrots were happy to drink and splash around in the dish of water we put out in the garden for them.
Cool change today,only 38 degrees forecast.

 

[Accyexplorer]

Love to feed the birds problem is we have a stream running through the complex and a large feed store across the road so if we put food out for the birds it also attracts the rats.

I guess even rats are wildlife,admittedly,not as pleasing though

After 47 degrees yesterday our local parrots were happy to drink and splash around in the dish of water we put out in the garden for them.
Cool change today,only 38 degrees forecast.

With them temps,I'm surprised it wasn't the Emu trying to splash about in your dish of water.

Parrots are Beautiful (very photogenic) not to mention intelligent and resourceful, I bet it's great seeing them in their natural habitat.....jealous

 

[jelly baby]

We get blue tits, long tailed tits, coal tits, robins, thrushes, blackbirds and a pair of blue jays have been around for the last couple of weeks, and of course, the ubiquitous magpies and pigeons.
Jb x

 

[Eric]

We have Snowy Owls in spades ... one on my garage roof yesterday ... (maybe I should keep my camera a little more handy) ... gorgeous birds, and they take care of their own feeding. Lots of nervous squirrels around.

Snowy owl 'epidemic' sweeps across Ontario - Windsor - CBC News

 

[south aussie]

I guess even rats are wildlife,admittedly,not as pleasing though




With them temps,I'm surprised it wasn't the Emu trying to splash about in your dish of water.

Parrots are Beautiful (very photogenic) not to mention intelligent and resourceful, I bet it's great seeing them in their natural habitat.....jealous

Maybe a little less natural habitat now,after the catastrophic bushfire raging through the Adelaide Hills.
No lives lost yet,but the fire is still burning after 3 days and no sign of it
being under control.

 

[Accyexplorer]

Maybe a little less natural habitat now,after the catastrophic bushfire raging through the Adelaide Hills.
No lives lost yet,but the fire is still burning after 3 days and no sign of it
being under control.

I heard 2elderly folk are missing (hopefully just taking refuge),12+ homes have been destroyed and quite a number of Dogs and cats have been killed as the fire ripped through boarding kennels an that's not mentioning the other poor animals caught up in the blaze.....So sad

 

[kestrelx]

We have Snowy Owls in spades ... one on my garage roof yesterday ... (maybe I should keep my camera a little more handy) ... gorgeous birds, and they take care of their own feeding. Lots of nervous squirrels around.

Snowy owl 'epidemic' sweeps across Ontario - Windsor - CBC News

They used to breed on Orkney but I don't think they do anymore as there is no longer enough snow for long enough (Global Warming! Inspite of Harry Potter) Last time was in 1975 apparently...

 

[Eric]

They used to breed on Orkney but I don't think they do anymore as there is no longer enough snow for long enough (Global Warming! Inspite of Harry Potter) Last time was in 1975 apparently...

Pity. They are absolutely beautiful ... and I'm a big fan of owls ... my favorite bird. We have decent snow cover now (after a snow free Christmas) and temps on the cool side (into the -20s at nite ... -40s on the Prairies); so they probably feel at home here. We don't have lemmings; but, no doubt, they enjoy a good feed of squirrel.

 

[Sunflower49]

We have the apple variety of this feeder. The birds haven't got used to it yet.

I looked at the apple one when buying the orange, It seemed to be a bit too much like hard work the orange one's just open and you can chuck whatever you like into it, which pleases my lazy nature.

I have also hung up a more traditional bird feeder with seeds inside a container, now. Mr Sunflower thinks I'm crackers because I will go into the kitchen to do something supposedly useful and get distracted by the birds because I like watching them so much.

I'd encourage the squirrels,I enjoy watching them work out ways of getting the nuts from feeders etc.

Oh I don't mind them at all. Any wildlife is welcome by me and they're very cute.
I've heard recently some things like we shouldn't feed birds certain things but I'm not sure I buy it, I'll put more or less any scraps out for them.

We have Snowy Owls in spades ... one on my garage roof yesterday ... (maybe I should keep my camera a little more handy) ... gorgeous birds, and they take care of their own feeding. Lots of nervous squirrels around.

My parents get owls too . I am jealous!Bit too urban where I live.

I must buy a bird bath and a bird house before spring hits. I miss where I used to live sometimes because it had a flat roof on the extension which also served as somewhere to sit out at night. I used to like sitting out there and bat-watching. Not seen one around here.

 

[Eric]

I used to like sitting out there and bat-watching. Not seen one around here.

I got me a bat house on my garage ... bats are great for keeping the skeeters at bay ... and I usually have Purple Martins around in Summer. They, too, like feeding on the skeeters ... they are the day shift, and the bats, the nite.