Bird feeding

A friend of mine gets owls visiting (I think they're barn owls) I don't get them near mine (as S49 says too urban),I couldn't believe it when he told me the droppings were from a owl (similar size to a small dog) :eek:.

As for my garden,after putting the pre-mentioned offerings closer to the fence/tree line and adding some raisins and mealworms,I've had 2 common blackbirds,a crew of sparrows (approx 8) a few yellow tits (3) and I'm sure I seen a robbin but it was too quick on its toes for me to get a proper look :alright:
 
Try some sunflower hearts .The goldfinches and green finches love them. I never saw these birds till I started using the sunflower seeds. The hearts are better because you don't get the black shells under the feeders. They go through so many I am going to put their rent up !!
 
Just a reminder folks,it's that time again when the little cherubs may need a helping hand to bulk up before spring when the immigrants arrive and take over their nest sites and steal all their bugs ;)
 
Our two nuthatches are now regular visitors at front and back of our house, along with blue tits, coal tits,great tits, robins and blackbirds. Max keeps the vermin out (pigeons)
 
Re bird feeding entries. Go cheap [cheep!] to feed your feathered friends. Try melting a little lard in a saucepan then add any old bisciut/cake/bread crumbs, even broken dog biscuits. Mix in any cereal flakes and/or small oatmeal, chopped dried fruit [easier for the little darlings to grab], and don't forget any chopped nuts. Mix well and spoon small portions into bags so as not take too much to the bird table each day. This crumbly mixture prevents greedy feeders [pigeons in my garden] from taking it all. Bon apetit, birdies.
 
Sounds like a nice feast Daisybeth. I find the large bags of birdseed from Home Bargains are very economical and seem to go down well with my visitors. I mix in some of those pellets too . I had a small bird a couple of weeks ago that I have never seen before and had to get my bird book out to identify it. turned out to be a Gold Crest. Lovely little thing. Apparently the smallest bird in Europe. I always thought that was the wren. It was not on the bird table though. He (or She) was popping in and out of a little Box bush infront of the kitchen window looking for insects I suppose. I also had a few long tailed tits the same day. Havent had them for ages. This week I noticed a chaffinch not had one of those before either. I love watching them all.
 
Hi Rowlf, good to hear of your visiting Goldcrest, we had one in the garden last year. Our rarest visitor has been a Blackcap and my most thrilling sight was a Barn owl which swooped low enough [only ten feet away] as we sat on the garden bench at dusk.
 
daisybeth said:
Re bird feeding entries. Go cheap [cheep!] to feed your feathered friends. Try melting a little lard in a saucepan then add any old bisciut/cake/bread crumbs, even broken dog biscuits. Mix in any cereal flakes and/or small oatmeal, chopped dried fruit [easier for the little darlings to grab], and don't forget any chopped nuts. Mix well and spoon small portions into bags so as not take too much to the bird table each day. This crumbly mixture prevents greedy feeders [pigeons in my garden] from taking it all. Bon apetit, birdies.
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Suggest you use vegetable suet rather than lard - melt it stir in the seed and then spoon into a coconut half shell.
 
I agree Barrie, it's a perfect way for containing homemade foodstuff, sadly I have marauding squirrels that take or destroy anything I use to feed my feathered friends. The pigeons also upset my feeders. Another issue is the kestrel. If the birds spend too long in one place feeding [I move my birdtable from time to time] they are fair game for a predators lunch. I used to put out feeders for peanuts etc. but then I would find feathers and such next day as another one bites the dust. We also have a local cat that nabs anything from blue tits to pigeons and, would you believe, a squirrel! I know this for certain as he or she takes them into the open building to eat, leaving me the debris. I'm rather at my wits end as to how I can enjoy my birds these days. All suggestions would be so appreciated. Help! daisybeth.
 
I dont know what to suggest Daisybeth. I have heard folk say a cat will not kill birds if it is well fed but I think that is rubbish. It is an instinct in them to stalk things so I do not see how that can be stopped. As for the feeders. I have a wooden one with a roof on that is quite open so an occassional squirrel does get in there and they also have made a mess of plastic seed feeders trying to get the sunflower hearts. I also have a plastic type feeder with a roof that is adjustable which is great. We have it very low so nothing but small birds like sparrows and robins can get into the food so the 'heavy gang' i.e. starlings cannot get in. The roof is sloping and it is comical to watch larger birds trying to get at the food and sliding down the roof. I hope you find some way of protecting your feathered friends from harm and can still enjoy watching them.
 
daisybeth said:
I agree Barrie, it's a perfect way for containing homemade foodstuff, sadly I have marauding squirrels that take or destroy anything I use to feed my feathered friends. The pigeons also upset my feeders. Another issue is the kestrel. If the birds spend too long in one place feeding [I move my birdtable from time to time] they are fair game for a predators lunch. I used to put out feeders for peanuts etc. but then I would find feathers and such next day as another one bites the dust. We also have a local cat that nabs anything from blue tits to pigeons and, would you believe, a squirrel! I know this for certain as he or she takes them into the open building to eat, leaving me the debris. I'm rather at my wits end as to how I can enjoy my birds these days. All suggestions would be so appreciated. Help! daisybeth.
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I have set up my feeder so that the pigeons cant perch to get at the tray feeder, the squirrels have to climb a greasy pole, so no real problem anymore - I used molybdenum grease on the pole and cats were the bane of my life. I don;t like them - not just for the predation but their leavings in the flower beds really wound me up. I bought some plants that keep the cats away - can't remember the name but will be getting some more in the next few weeks - i will let you know the name, they are very effective.
 
Barrie Yates said:
I have set up my feeder so that the pigeons cant perch to get at the tray feeder, the squirrels have to climb a greasy pole, so no real problem anymore - I used molybdenum grease on the pole and cats were the bane of my life. I don;t like them - not just for the predation but their leavings in the flower beds really wound me up. I bought some plants that keep the cats away - can't remember the name but will be getting some more in the next few weeks - i will let you know the name, they are very effective.
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Get a dog. Max will happily sit out and keep pigeons and cats away.
 
Good morning Barrie, many thanks for your words of advice. I'd be glad to hear of the cat deterring plant. A slightly relieved daisybeth!
 
maxthecollie said:
Get a dog. Max will happily sit out and keep pigeons and cats away.
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Hi maxthecollie, so glad that your dog sorts out the pigeon problem. My pigeons are very thick skinned. I have four dogs and the pigeons still persist, the dogs chasing around have no effect, in fact a nest is already being built in the conifer close to the house as usual, inspite of we humans trying to deter them also. Sad to say ,I think the cats do better to at 'removing ' the pigeons, and no the cat isn't at all put off by the dogs either. Got the wrong dogs it would seem! daisybeth.
 
Guten morgen? daveingermany. Now the chuckles have subsided, I have to admit that your suggestion was top of my list several years ago. Unfortunately the hubby won't let me use his .22, nor does he like to eat pigeon pie, and my cooking isn't so great anyway. Still, maybe after another year of scooping pigeon poop from the paving he might just relent. I,m pretty fair at target shooting............... daisybeth.
 
daisybeth said:
Guten morgen? daveingermany. Now the chuckles have subsided, I have to admit that your suggestion was top of my list several years ago.
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Great minds & all that! I'd suggest the same for the cats, but you'd need to use Ken Homs Chinky cook book for recipes though, anything that says "Chicken in the ingredients should suit. :s_aim1:
 
daisybeth said:
Guten morgen? daveingermany. Now the chuckles have subsided, I have to admit that your suggestion was top of my list several years ago. Unfortunately the hubby won't let me use his .22, nor does he like to eat pigeon pie, and my cooking isn't so great anyway. Still, maybe after another year of scooping pigeon poop from the paving he might just relent. I,m pretty fair at target shooting............... daisybeth.
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Pigeon stuffed with plums and then roasted is quite nice, but pluck and clean first:)
 
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