garden nuthatches?

[vinnychameleon]

Hi all. I had a nuthatch in my garden about 2 months ago and as far as i know it hasnt returned. I was wondering if you need to have mature trees in your garden to attract them or whether semi-mature trees would be as succesful. Also i was wondering what their favourite food type is and basically anything that will attract him back to the garden. Thanks guys .

[jennyb]

I don't know about the trees, but my nuthatch likes both peanuts and sunflower hearts from my feeders.

Jenny

[smartie]

The one that visited my garden a few times in the winter seemed to be happy to eat sunflower seeds or peanuts, but it hasn't become a regular visitor. They eat invertebrates from the bark of trees as well as seeds and nuts.

[zharca]

Hi, we've have regular nuthatch visitors ever since the squirrels wrecked the peanut feeder.

The nuthatches love to extract a whole peanut through the holes the suirrels have made, which they'll take into the tree to break into pieces, or fly off with it back to the woods.

Annoyingly, they'll thow away three or four perfectly good peanuts until they find just the right one!

They don't like to feed on the flat or from tables, rather they like to be able to hang off a feeder.

Lovely birds and a real thrill to have them visiting.

[Adam Cheeseman]

My aunt and uncle don't have any trees in their garden but have a nuthatch that visits regularly. The surrounding area is mainly fields with very old hedge boundaries including some pretty large oaks where they nest.

Cheers,

Adam

[Barbara]

Oh I would love to have nuthatches visit my garden, I have only seen them when I've been out and about. I think they are beautiful little birds...........well they all are aren't they

[Elizabeth B]

We get nuthatch visits regularly - we have a mature hornbeam in the back garden, and there are various other trees along one of our boundaries (in a neighbour's garden). The nuthatch takes sunflower hearts from a hanging feeder, and often visits the suet block caged feeder as well as the bird table for the fat mixture there.

[zharca]

Huh!
I forgot to mention that the ungrateful little swine who has been stuffing his beak all winter on my peanuts has just nested in my neighbour's garden, not fifty feet away.

There's gratitude for you!

[rolf]

I am lucky enough to have a pair visiting every day, they did go for nearly a year without visiting, but are now back regularly. This one is unusually taking seed from the bird table.

[vinnychameleon]

You guys will never believe this I didnt at first . I looked out this morning and noticed a strange bird on the peanut feeder. And what was it. Yep A NUTHATCH !!!!!! . I couldnt believe my eyes. I grabbed the camera and manged a few shots of him . I am sooooo thrilled. Im hoping he will be a regular visitor as he returned an hour later to the feeder . Thanks for your help guys but he came before i did any of these things .

[vinnychameleon]

Do you think i have a good chance of him returning .

[aeshna5]

Fairly good odds- especially if he's coming to your feeder. Birds often have a routine, so may visit a similar time. Still as with all wildlife- no guarentees!!

[vinnychameleon]

He came back again today and stayed for over half an hour . He decided to try every feeder i have hanging up and even used the ground feeder. He entertained me by running upside down along a branch and decided to jump straight on to the peanut feeder knocking the greenfinches out of the way . He likes to take chunks of the peanuts and take them up the birch to smash them up in crevices so he can eat the pulp. I am so glad to have him as he is both beautiful and entertaining . Hes on the fat ball in the birch tree as i write this. Looks like he will be a regular visitor .