Hi all - just starting out!!

trickytree · #1 (**permalink**) 12-01-2008, 11:38 PM

Hi all

I have recently got into birds again for the first time since I was a little kid, and have set up a bird table and several feeders containing Nijer, black sunflower seeds, and general 'table and ground feed'.

Only thing I have had on the table is a squirrel, but a blackbird has been visiting the garden and having a go at seeds and bread on the floor, so i quartered an apple and gave him that too.

I am so pleased there is something new to look at in the garden after being here for 4 years!!

The blackbird (male by the way) sits in roughly the middle of the garden, looking constantly, as if he is checking out his new playground, wondering why he's the only one there!!

I used to have a cat, and my neigbours had 2, but they have all gone now - maybe the birds can still detect their presence or scent?? Totally guessing ...

Anyway, I went out and bought some suet today and I am big into recycling so i thought rather than line some companys pocket id make my own suet feeders using recycles pop bottles or marg tubs - any sugestions??

Thanks for having me!!

Wild-Woman · #2 (**permalink**) 13-01-2008, 12:29 AM

Hello Trickytree. Nice to have you with us. Sounds like you've set up a nice feeding station. Give it a bit of time and I'm certain you'll be rewarded for your efforts. Be prepared to get hooked on the birds and all wildlife!
The birds won't 'smell' cats that have been around so don't worry about that.
Once the shout is out from the scout birds, they'll come thick and fast. It's good to make your own feeding equipment,if you're able to. Very green.
Keep us up with what arrives in your garden,we'd love to hear about them.

Jules.

Goatboy · #3 (**permalink**) 13-01-2008, 08:19 AM

Hi Trickytree. Nice to hear from you. Good luck with attracting birds to your garden, I'm sure given a bit of time there will be plenty to see.

The following website has some ideas for making your own bird feeders.

Bird Watcher's Digest: How To: Build Your Own

juliejam · #4 (**permalink**) 13-01-2008, 08:56 AM

Hello ther Trickytree...Welcome aboard...Looking forward to seeing you around the forum...

If you have a bird table dont forget to put out leftovers of rice or pasta even greated cheese the starlings love this...Or mixed oats with a little milk/water with wild bird seed goes down a treat..In no time at all your be getting different types of birds visiting you....and done forget some water...With all the rain we had on friday still caught of a blackbird taking a bath....

Have fun & enjoy..

Julie

aestarte · #5 (**permalink**) 13-01-2008, 09:09 AM

Welcome to the family Trickytree, patience is the key word to birds (cant believe me of all people said that

patient? me?) they'll get the word that there is free food on the offing and just watch, especially this time of year. Fi. X X X X

Elizabeth B · #6 (**permalink**) 13-01-2008, 09:47 AM

Hi trickytree, and welcome.

I'm impressed by your recycling plans, and here's a challenge for you!

Could you somehow fashion a squirrel baffle from old materials, to stop squirrels from getting on your bird table, and also from destroying your suet feeders. One of my (bought) baffles can be seen here:

Sunflower hearts are the favourite food here - fortunately there is an animal foods warehouse not far away, where I can buy a 25kg sack at a price much lower that any bird supplies company. There's lots of info about bird feeding here: The RSPB: Advice

NB - the previous owner of our house had a cat, but the birds soon arrived when I started offering a variety of food.

ron1863 · #7 (**permalink**) 13-01-2008, 10:12 AM

Hi Tricktyree and welcome to WAB. Don't worry about the lack of birds, they will appear and if you get wood pigeons you won't get rid of them

tigger · #8 (**permalink**) 13-01-2008, 10:32 AM

Hi. Yes, I'd try sunflower heart... out birds love it. Once they hear about the food they will start coming. I made a squirrel baffle out of an upturned ceramic pot... works wonders (except the squirrels are now trying to jump onto the post from "above". Keep with it.. I'm sure they will come back.

JeffH · #9 (**permalink**) 13-01-2008, 10:58 AM

Welcome to WAB trickytree

As others have said - don't worry, the birds will soon find your feeders and, as Wild-Woman says, you'll soon be as obsessive about watching/feeding them as many of us on this site.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elizabeth B

......Could you somehow fashion a squirrel baffle from old materials, to stop squirrels from getting on your bird table, and also from destroying your suet feeders....

As for home-made squirrel baffles, some time ago I made one from the conical shaped top of a large plastic soft drinks bottle with large inverted 'V' shaped cut-outs to create a pointed/toothed effect all around the edge.

Soon after I put it onto the round pole holding several of our feeders we observed one of our local squirrels carefully studying the device before making several failed attempts to climb and jump around it. Success I thought

, but no - a little later the squirrel came back and we watched as it climbed the pole to the point at which I'd attached the baffle and proceeded to chew off 3 adjacent 'teeth'. It then went back to the ground, quickly ran up the pole and jumped around the baffle at the toothless section it had just made. Squirrel 1 - Jeff 0

Not being prepared to be out-witted by this creature, I then made another one of the same design but out of some thin aluminium sheeting I had in the garage - so far this has worked wonderfully and I'm so proud of my success in out-witting.... a squirrel!

Jeff