Starling and fat.

[WildSam]

My dad put out a some peanut fat. We have loads of starlings so I timed how long it would take for them to eat all the fat. It was all gone in 4 hours and 10 minuets. It was very interesting watching the younger once beg for food and the older and then one of it's parents feeding it. Does any one else find that as soon as you put fat out you have loads of Starlings in your garden?

[smartie]

With us it has not been starlings, recently, but a woodpecker that seems to be able to eat a whole fat block in about three sittings. And a jay that only comes to the bird table if we put out seeds and breadcrumbs that have been soaked with bacon fat. He must be on the watch - if the mixture goes out he arrives very fast.

[almostnormal]

they do go for the fat balls first in our garden. must be to do with the way they metabolise fats. they must all be knackered and out of reserves after all the feeding young they've been doing!

[Madelinew]

I put out a large margarine tub sized block of seed and other stuff I'd melted into some lard. It was all gone by the end of the day. Mainly starlings but the jackdaws did their share. I put it in lard because the blackbirds make such a mess of the bird table kicking the seed everywhere looking for exactly what they want. However, the mess on the decking below from the fat block did not go down too well with my husband who had stripped and coated said decking earlier in the season.

[WildSam]

Originally Posted by smartie

With us it has not been starlings, recently, but a woodpecker that seems to be able to eat a whole fat block in about three sittings. And a jay that only comes to the bird table if we put out seeds and breadcrumbs that have been soaked with bacon fat. He must be on the watch - if the mixture goes out he arrives very fast.

Same here, we have a woodpecker that mainly goes for the peanuts.

[overgrownbramble]

Lard? Do they eat that? Does is have to be anything in particular? My local starlings have been getting through 2-3 half coconut fat things a day, costing me a fortune! So, as it's nearing the end of the month, I bought a couple of lumps of basic supermarket lard, mushed it into a couple of empty coconut shells and smeared a bit on the branches... not a single beak mark in days!

[Kymba]

I use to make my own with Lard and Bird seed, fruit, nuts and meal worms.. I then use to Block the hole on the empty coconut shells.. fill it with the mixture and put one in the Fridge and one in the Freezer ( for extra strength setting) then just hang them outside again...Its amazing how cheap it works out when you make your own

[glsammy]

Our problem is not the Starlings, I like it when they come, but the Wood Pigeons. One in particular is tempting me to try my hand at some culinary skills! (Joking!!) I go out in the morning and top everything up. As soon as he comes, within minutes all the food on the table is gone, plus he then goes and eats our blackbirds apple..It's simply not on!

[overgrownbramble]

I have a sneaking admiration for the woodpigeons in my garden, they've learnt to sit on the nearest branch, which bounces as they land, and swipe a beakful for the seed feeder in the split second they're in reach of it! Very clever, for learnign that I reward them by not moving the feeder just that one more precious inch away

[agrumpycow]

We have a magpie (I presume it's only one) who visits every day to eat the entire concoction my other half has made up from lard, seed and kitchen leftovers. It's really amusing to watch his routine of filling up on what's on offer and then hopping over to the dead tree and wiping clean all the excess on his beak and head on the wood! Obviously one vain bird who likes to look his best!