Top Ten bird foods or favourite mixes

[nightshade]

so what do you feed the birds,do not forget the drinking water,does anyone actually use wild berries?my rowan berries seem to be left on the ground this year

[John]

Originally Posted by nightshade

so what do you feed the birds,do not forget the drinking water,does anyone actually use wild berries?my rowan berries seem to be left on the ground this year

I have three feeding stations with various types of food. The most popular is the Sunflower Hearts. The Greenfinches can't get enough of them but all manner of birds will come and have a peck from time to time.

I have found a very good farm in Kings Bromley, near Rugely, that has an excellent selection of foods and they have a mixed wild bird food that goes almost as good as the hearts. The peanuts have slowed down a bit at the moment but perhaps will pick up again when the cold weather is back again.

I top these foods up with a mixture of dried insect mix, lard sticks (with fruit added) and all manner of various types of small mixes. Finally I have a variety of small fat balls at each station plus 1 large fat ball also at each station plus at each station a caged square piece of fat mixed with a variety of mixtures from fruit through to insect mix.

Regarding your Rowan fruit. Keep your fingers crossed that we have another Waxwing invasion this year and they come and visit your garden. They love Rowans. The first two Waxwings of this winter have just been reported today on the Fair Isle in Shetland so hopefully they are on their way.

[Boddie]

Great Thread

I revert back to my old bird feeder, which still remains untouched

see http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/ga...hp?i=2512&c=21
It would be great to know what to put in it to see some activity.

p.s. It is so placed as to deter squirrels whom I place nuts out for

[henrya]

I feed standard RSPB wild bird mix (from my local branch, not from Sandy) in the winter. Peanuts all year round, which have been going like hot cakes recently. I add millet, niger seed and rape seed to the wildbird mix from time to time, and put some rape and niger on the ground for the Chaffinches, and ordinary wheat for the Pheasants (and the Turtle Doves when they come for it in the summer).

Mice eat the fruits (or at least the stones) from the Cherry Laurel, thrushes eat the Sloes (if I haven't picked them for Sloe Gin!). Something eventually eats the Haws (the mice get some of those). Mice also get the stones from the Mirabelles and I guess the Squirrels eat a bit of everything. Muntjac and Rabbits eat the windfall apples and the Fieldfares and other thrushes enjoy them as well.

henrya

[John]

Originally Posted by Boddie

Great Thread

I revert back to my old bird feeder, which still remains untouched

see http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/ga...hp?i=2512&c=21
It would be great to know what to put in it to see some activity.

p.s. It is so placed as to deter squirrels whom I place nuts out for

Try to hang this feeder in the tree or cover area more. Also a couple more feeders with different food mixes will help.

Birds like cover to fly to in case of danger appearing from a predator. If the food source is just that bit too far away they may stay away from it for fear of their lives.

[Boddie]

Originally Posted by John

Try to hang this feeder in the tree or cover area more. Also a couple more feeders with different food mixes will help.

Birds like cover to fly to in case of danger appearing from a predator. If the food source is just that bit too far away they may stay away from it for fear of their lives.

Hi John, tried that - anywhere near a tree and somehow the squirrels get close to it. They jump incredible distances to get to a potential source so any overhanging branches are a definite no no.

[John]

Originally Posted by Boddie

Hi John, tried that - anywhere near a tree and somehow the squirrels get close to it. They jump incredible distances to get to a potential source so any overhanging branches are a definite no no.

Ignore the squirrels for the moment. What sort of interest did you have from the birds. If it was increased interest then the site is right but the feeders are wrong. That is to say you need to purchase squirrel proof feeders. If you still didn't have much interest then you have to experiment on moving your feeder station around a bit. You would be amazed how a re-location can bring the birds in.

I would also go to say get a smaller feeder and more of them. Give them a wider variety of food to choose from and watch what they eat. Don't leave out too much so it can go off. Feed enough to get them through a couple of days and top up often. That way the food stays fresh and the variety brings in differing species.

[Helen]

Sunflower hearts, peanuts, mealworms and dead mice/voles