Red ribbon tied to feeders!!

[Kayleigh]

As it looks as you have a small garden looks like cover is not an option the others meant the bird table is a bit close to the fence as this could allow cats to jump on and ambush them,
The birds will also require a "queuing post" as also been mentioned and as I did in the pm you sent.
a washing line or something where they can land and wait their turn..

[richnfamous]

They probably can't find the food that easily.

I'd suggest putting some food around and about where they can see it. They're opportunists and once they find your table, they'll get the idea.

I'd agree that there are not many 'waiting rooms', and also fencing that they can't see through. Small birds live in constant wariness of predators - cats and sparrowhawks etc - and a hawk could pop over the green fence and take them by surprise. 'Waiting Rooms' like bushes or perches of some sort help as the birds who aren't feeding will also sound the alarm for those who've got their beaks in the trough. They'll also allow the birds to see if more dominant/aggressive birds are feeding. Nuthatches, for example, won't often share the table with others.

Good luck with your efforts. I can sit for hours watching the way the birds interact around feeders/tables - it's real life, unlike Eastenders and they're better singers than on X Factor!

[richnfamous]

Originally Posted by Tracey.A

I'm very fond of Coal tits and this one had the heart of a lion!

They're spirited birds all right! When lived in the woods, there was one coal tit who decided to challenge one particular (male) nuthatch. He just kept on flying up to the other end of the table, and (after more than a week) the nuthatch eventually got tired of chasing him off, only to have him come back soon afterwards, that he just gave up and left him alone.

[shiffty]

as im getting lots of crows and magpies ,landing on the grass by the bird table,hopefully the little guys will cotton on and take a peep on what all the commotion is about........(im chucking seed and bread scraps out on the grass by the bird table)...fingers crossed...

[metalfish]

Originally Posted by shiffty

as im getting lots of crows and magpies ,landing on the grass by the bird table,hopefully the little guys will cotton on and take a peep on what all the commotion is about........(im chucking seed and bread scraps out on the grass by the bird table)...fingers crossed...

Aah maybe this is your answer... it's probably the crows and magpies putting the littluns off, they both predate small birds and if there's no cover to hide in they wont come near.
I'd stop chucking bread and food on the ground to put off the crows and magpies and then just wait. Alternativly just go for encouraging your corvids (crows, magpies, rooks, ravens, jays), they are our most intelligent birds and could be just as entertaining as the little ones to watch, it all depends on what you like
Bet you thought 'put food out and the birds will come', complicated little things aren't they

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by metalfish

Aah maybe this is your answer... it's probably the crows and magpies putting the littluns off, they both predate small birds and if there's no cover to hide in they wont come near.

This is rather an amplified view of the risk I think! Corvids do predate chicks and eggs during the breeding season, but rather more unusually, adults. Far greater risk of cat/Sparrowhawk predation, especially if there is food on the ground. The Crows/Magpies could be putting the small birds off by intimidating them but not enough to keep them away from the feeders altogether, especially during the winter months. At the moment, it's the abundance of autumn berries around because the mild weather has meant insects have still been a main food source. Once the berries start getting low, the birds will come. All the advice on this thread is valid, especially the need for fence cover/natural plants/natural perches, in the garden, but it's not what's keeping the birds away at the moment.

[dickybird]

hi shiffty

im finding that apart from the tits regularly using the hanging feeders and the odd blackbird or magpie taking some catfood, many of the other birds are still feeding 'naturally'-as has been said, theres still quite a good supply of insects,spiders and fruit about.
i daresay once it gets colder and this food source is depleted, you'll get visitors. from my experience cats,hawks,magpies etc rarely scare the other birds away for long--maybe only a day or two.

[shiffty]

thanx for the reply dicky,,,i went out today to a local garden centre and bought a nice apple tree to plant near the bird table..its around 4ft with a few branches sprouting out....i know it will take a few years to grow, but hopefully it will add a bit of cover for future birds..

[lucy78green]

I did a wee experiment in my garden as the birds seemed to have a preference for a seed feeder with a red hole, and wouldn't eat out of the other green plastic one. I put red electrical tape around the hole, I have also repainted my green metal peanut feeder red with enamel paint, and I painted all my fatball feeders red, orange and yellow. The birds do seem to be more attracted to the feeders now, but their position on the tree is also a factor. Some birds prefer those feeders higher up the tree, others like the ones nearest the hedge. The starlings prefer the ones next to a handy branch so they can perch there and feed instead of hanging onto the feeders. Despite having a nyjer feeder for over a year I had hardly any interest until I changed branches, and now I have 1 pair of goldfinches who come nearly every day.

[shiffty]

thats a very interesting little story there...i have also painted the tops of the feeders red...as yet no interest..but will keep posted of any changes!!!