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A vague answer is that small-beaked finches (goldfinches and siskins especially) prefer the small seeds of nyger whereas larger ones (blue/great tits) prefer big seeds such as sunflower or peanut. Some 'tits' (I'm thinking of long-tailed tits but maybe cresteds have done the same (not that I've seen one!
))) have taken to eating peanuts, shifting from soft fruity things (such as olives) - this may just be a UK thing but I suspect they'll learn differently elsewhere ....
Keep us informed of any changes ....
Quote:
Originally Posted by tomba  I understand this is "British Birds" but I'm not that far away in the south of France and I can't find a French forum...
Last year I started with fat balls. Blue and Great Tits galore and pairs of (never seen more than two together) Crested Tits and Nuthatches. Just the odd Green Finch and Siskin. The Long-tailed Tits were only interested in my olives!
This year it's fat balls again - same visitors - but after reading what the RSPB site had to say I added three gravity feeders with:
Canary seed
Yellow Millet
Nyger
These feeders are the domain of the finches, but it seems their preference is the Nyger.
I also put out white and striped sunflower seed. The Tits and the Nuthatches really go for them, not the finches.
There are flocks of Gold Finches around but I've not seen one feeding.
Questions:
1. Am I wasting my time (and money...) with canary seed and yellow millet? Should I just stick with the Nyger?
2. What can I do to attract Gold Finches?
3. When should I stop the feeding?
Thanks, Tom |