Bird table or bird feeder?

[Outlaw]

One of my bird feeders has got damaged and I'm thinking of replacing it with a table. I've got a couple of blackbird nests in the garden and at the moment need to put food on the ground for them. Will blackbirds feed from a bird table?

At the moment its mainly the sparrows who use the feeders. But there are chaffinches, great tits, a robin and greenfinches who mostly come to the garden to use the bird bath. Will any of these species be more likely to come to a bird table or will some need feeders?

I've also got a group of 7 or 8 blue tits who have recently appeared and use the bird bath. What's the best way of attracting them to feed in the garden?

Thanks in advance

[ChrisR]

In my experience success with bird feeding can be down to a lot of factors - some of which are out of your control

One of the most important things to remember is that the birds must feel safe (so no cats and squirrels) and they like to perch and watch the bird table/feeders from a short distance before flying on and eating from them. Locating the table or feeders about 3-4 meters from a hedge or tree can help. Also having the food out in the open helps because the birds can watch for cats and they know that a cat won't be laying in wait close to the food.

I always use bird feeders in my garden because I don't watch to encourage the blackbirds but the feeders always rain seed onto the ground (especially when the messy Greenfinches come in) and the blackbirds and doves usually come and hoover it up. If I was going to use a bird table I would probably mount it fairly high off the ground to prevent rats getting at it during the night and also provide some protection from pouncing cats.

Another factor will be down to how much other food is available in your area. If you're in a big estate where all your neighbours feed the birds then you are less likely to get birds to your food. Also, I have noticed a massive difference in years when there is plenty of food available in the surrounding countryside. Last winter I hardly got any birds to my feeders until February when the frosts started to bite hard - but in previous years I had been mobbed by November and even had stuff like Bramblings so I know there was nothing wrong with the location or the food

If you want to attract different species then I would recommend different types of food. The finches love sunflower hearts and more 'seedy' mixes, while bluetits like fat-balls and stuff like that. Always provide drinking water close by too and then they'll be able to wash down the food and take a bath at the same time

[Harold Smith]

I have two bird feeders with splill trays from which the Blackbirds regularly feed. I also have a 400mm x 400mm perforated zinc tray raised about 150mm from the ground for the ground feeding birds. However all the birds use it. The other day I saw a Coal Tit feeding from the tray instead of the feeders. A Squirrel regularly visits the garden and feeds from the tray. Most of the birds, particularly the Blackbirds and Robins, are so used to it they feed along side it. I have never seen the squirrel try to attack or be agressive with the birds. They just ignore each other.

My main problem birds are the Collard Doves and Wood Pidgeons. They not only feed from the tray (which I have no objection) but they have worked out how to land on the feeder spill trays and help themselves. They are so good at it there are usually two of them per feeder. Once they get going they empty the feeders quickly. I may remove the spill tray from one of the feeders to give the smaller birds a fighting chance.

Harold.

[Sprout]

on the subject of feeding birds, aldi have lots of bird feeding stuff in their special offers tomorrow in case anyone's interested.

[bornwild]

Hi thanks for the info about aldi's special offer on today went in and bought another feeding station and 2 feeders and the nuts were cheep so got them too lol

so now garden is looking like a wildlife haven within half an hour great tits blue tits and one possibly willow tit very small black and white but not a coal tit
so very happy now! just waiting for the greater spotted woodpecker to show iv'e heard it and seen it fly past a few times amungst the trees behind

bornwild

ps squirrels are still a pain in the neck but funny with it.. seen 3 now in one go