Deserted bird table

[snapdragon]

Hi,

We've just moved into East Devon and I have noticed a distinct lack of birds in our garden - whilst there are always plenty in trees around the field at the back of the house (including a few buzzards and plenty of pigeons), the bird table in the garden is barren, despite me keeping a fresh supply of seeds on it. I know the previous residents had cats, but surely we should be attracting more than a very-occassional robin?

Any ideas much appreciated.

[Paul mabbott]

I think you just need to be patient - I've only just started putting food out after several weeks without and the birds are pretty slow returning. They've forgotten that the garden is a decent larder and they're probably quite happy with the food they have in the wild. Give them a few weeks and colder weather and they'll come flocking back!

Originally Posted by snapdragon

Hi,

We've just moved into East Devon and I have noticed a distinct lack of birds in our garden - whilst there are always plenty in trees around the field at the back of the house (including a few buzzards and plenty of pigeons), the bird table in the garden is barren, despite me keeping a fresh supply of seeds on it. I know the previous residents had cats, but surely we should be attracting more than a very-occassional robin?

Any ideas much appreciated.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by snapdragon

Hi,

We've just moved into East Devon and I have noticed a distinct lack of birds in our garden - whilst there are always plenty in trees around the field at the back of the house (including a few buzzards and plenty of pigeons), the bird table in the garden is barren, despite me keeping a fresh supply of seeds on it. I know the previous residents had cats, but surely we should be attracting more than a very-occassional robin?

Any ideas much appreciated.

Tricky time of year I suppose, especially with the bumper harvests of blackberries, haws and plum type fruit, still lots of flies about too, I'm sure they willl turn up when times are harder...

[Dogghound]

Im finding the same, afew weeks ago the feeders where packed with birds, now nothing spare the odd blue tit, but i have noticed the local woodlnd and farmland is packed with birds of all shapes and sizes, once the natural food runs out as it gets colder they will return, well in theory.

[paulchandler6]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Tricky time of year I suppose, especially with the bumper harvests of blackberries, haws and plum type fruit, still lots of flies about too, I'm sure they willl turn up when times are harder...

Exactly that, my tables a bit deserted at the moment. Went for a walk this morning and the hedgerows are crammed with Finches, Starlings, Blackbirds etc all feeding on berries,haws and insects. They'll be back.

[snapdragon]

Thanks everyone, you've at least convinced me to carry on putting the food out through this winter. If they're still being choosy after that, then I guess I'll just have to get some decent binoculars to enjoy seeing them

[stephen p]

I had the same thing happen to me.
My partners mum has a place in cornwall and we always get a wide variety of birds in the garden, but lately there had been none!
I cut out some of the dead bushes and just gave the area a bit of tidy up and put some new feeders up in the trees and on the table and the next day they had all come back and even the Rabbits were back!
I put out different seed aswell, not the mixed bag and iv been reading that can help.
Im waiting for the Woodpecker to arrive now

[juliejam]

Ive noticed a lack of birds over the last week ...even with Two cats i do get my fair share of birds...All i can put it down to is the abundance of insects and other foodstuff that are still available ...

Julie