I do miss my bird table

sandymere · #1 (**permalink**) 23-02-2009, 07:28 PM

About a year ago we lived in an end terrace house on a new estate in a small village in Devon. Next to our garden was a large park, between our house and the park used to be a devonshire hedge which was destroyed by the developers and with the help of a neighbour we restored. Due to our garden being a blank canvas when we moved in we planted it up to encourage all sorts of wildlife.
within the garden we had a small bird table which was always full

particually with Goldfinchs (my faviourate garden birds)

we moved about 12 months ago just up the road in the same village but now we have a small garden, mostly paved and decked and i'm struggling to encourage the birds to the table.
We've had one or two goldfinches visit and an occassional Robin, lots of sparrows, which nest in a building next to the garden, but very few birds compared to the old table.
I have sunflower hearts and niger seeds hanging and a honeysuckle growing nearby to encourage insects.

Has anyone got any suggestion how i can make my table more attractive

Sandymere

alisonclair · #2 (**permalink**) 23-02-2009, 07:34 PM

I'm no expert. Can you replace some of the decking/paving with grass. Do you have any shrubs? Birds like somewhere to sit and watch your feeders - a safe escape if you like. Just an idea - like I say, I'm not an expert.

tameblackbirds · #3 (**permalink**) 23-02-2009, 07:35 PM

variety is the spice of life and time with birds. perhaps once you get this new garden more established with plants they will begin to visit more. It maybe a little too open an aspect at the moment. fingers crossed.

Pippa · #4 (**permalink**) 23-02-2009, 07:51 PM

Oh please sandymere,you will be fine.I too, moved back in March and came from a large mature garden to a small garden.I also had to make it easy to maintain.I had so many birds visit back home and didn't have to worry about neighbours either.It was fab but i did not have the Goldfinches.

These feeding stations are quite reasonable in price but worth their weight in gold.

Now i have a small garden facing a busy B road but have well over 20 Goldies come in to my feeding station.

Sunflower hearts are my main feed.I do use a variety of different foods and fruit from time to time too.

Patience is a virtue and soon you will reap the rewards