Red ribbon tied to feeders!!

shiffty · #1 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 07:13 PM

AS A TOTALL NEWBIE TO THIS SITE AND GARDEN BIRD FEEDING...HAS ANY MEMBER READ OR TRIED THE METHOD OF TYING SOMETHING RED CLOSE TO... OR ON THE FEEDERS TO ATTRACT GARDEN BIRDS.......MAYBE IM VERY IMPATIENT OR THE BIRDS JUST DONT LIKE MYSETUP....TABLE HAS BEEN UP FOR AROUND 4 WEEKS NOW ALONG WITH THE FEEDERS AND NOT A SNIFF OF A FEATHERED FRIEND!! SUNFLOWER HEARTS.NYJER SEED . ,PEANUTS . MEALWORMS AND FATBALLS ALL WAITING FOR THE LUCKY CUSTOMERS...LOL

ron1863 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 07:17 PM

There's a Crow on top of that lampost, may'be he will visit. Does your neighbour have cats?, it could be scaring them away.

Kayleigh · #3 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 07:18 PM

Hopefully they will come in time just me patient and they are more likely to come in when the weather tirns colder.
Then they will go and tell their mates..You will get lots looking at all those trees in the background..

Let us know when they come and what you attract..

Picidae · #4 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 07:24 PM

Hi shifty welcome to WAB.

Can't help with the red ribbon idea. However, your feeders appear to be rather inviting so it's hard to know for sure why you have no visitors.

One of the things I see, is that you are very close to woodland/countryside apparently. The relatively mild weather has meant lots of natural food around still so that may be delaying birds coming to feeders. I've only just started getting 'mine' back after the late summer departure.

The other possibility is that there is little natural cover around your feeders. The fencing can make very easy pounce positions for cats and Sparrowhawks, so it would do to keep a good eye out that you have neither hunting in the vicinity - that would certainly keep the birds away.

Birds also seem to like the choice of having both natural and artificial food in the same area but you seem to have very little in the way of natural food provision. Perhaps you could grow some climbing plants up the fencing and think about a diversity of indigenous plants for your garden as well as the yukkas?

PS just a word of caution re: the fat ball in the netting. There's been reports that birds have got their feet caught in the netting resulting in fatalities so it's advisable to take the fat balls out and place them in a feeder container
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/6129/...ake.5716902.jp

Good luck!

wizzo · #5 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 07:28 PM

Hi Shiffty and welcome to the forum. It's not easy to see how close the table is to your fence, and what cover there is on the other side, that could be used by predators, such as cats. You say you've been feeding for the last four weeks. Really this is still very early days. It can take ages for a feeding station to become established. Also as Kay and Pic' have said, it's still early days anyway. I had my first pair of tits come in today. Other than that, I've just had a pair of Collered Doves in since last week. Build the feeding station and they will come! (reminds me of a film) lol

Picidae · #6 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 07:31 PM

duplicate post!

AshLee · #7 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 07:38 PM

The shrubs/trees that you have do not offer perches/cover. If you have space in the corner I'd plant a small tree with suitable branches. This will help connect the woodland to your garden.

shiffty · #8 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 07:38 PM

The table is about 2ft away from the fence....the woods in the backround are around 100ft away ..plenty of small birds in those trees ive seen blue tits bullfinches.and greenfinches.....as i dont have much natural cover in the garden apart from a palm tree..maybe this maybe the cause? I have friends that have no natural cover in there gardens and have birds galore on there feeders......all very strange to me ....hopefully things will change as the weather starts to get a bit colder....fingers crossed..lol