Catering for garden birds in West Midlands...

[dc2009]

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to cater for the birds found in my county during 2009's big garden birdwatch, as I figure these are the ones I'm most likely to have success in attracting.

In the West Mids last year the top ten most seen garden birds were:
house sparrow
wood pigeon (I have several already visiting the garden regularly)
blackbird (one has started visiting recently)
starling
blue tit
magpie (have two regulars)
robin (one recent arrival appears to be becoming a regular)
great tit
long-tailed tit
dunnock

I have a station feeder (Kingfisher brand), small ground tray and rspb table that attaches to fence in the garden. I've planted to encourage wildlife also. Any tips on favourite foods or treats to attract the elusive other species on this list?

Thanks

[relayer901]

I don't know about the West Midlands specifically, but a good starter would be sunflower seeds. If you put sunflower seeds or hearts into one of your feeders you will surely bring in the punters! You may even attract some goldfinches if they are in the area!

[squishy]

Niger seed attracts finches. I've seen siskins on mine (if you look at my location, you'll see I'm also in the WM). sunflower hearts are good all round feeder seeds as well .

[dc2009]

Thanks for the replies peeps. Am quite happy as since today we now have: a robin, a blackbird, a couple of magpies, a group of wood pigeons and a large group of starlings visiting the garden. That's half of the birds likely to be found in my area so a good result in my eye!

[dc2009]

Currently have regularly visiting the garden bird table, ground tray and feeding station:

Wood pigeons,
Magpies,
Starlings,
Robin,
Blackbirds and
Squirrels ;-)

Looking to try and attract the other 5 birds likely to be in my area next:
Blue tits,
Great tits,
Long-tailed tit,
Dunnock and
House Sparrow

Any suggestions on how these birds prefer to feed or favourite foods etc?

Thanks :-)

[relayer901]

You could try a hanging feeder that only the smaller birds can use easily - such as a clingers feeder. If you have room try to situate it away from the other hanging feeders to give the smaller birds their own space.

I had a similar problems when I first started to feed the birds. I initially got a few sparrows, the obligatory cheeky robin, plus starlings, blackbirds, etc. The starlings hogged the hanging feeders and I never saw blue tits, great tits, greenfinches, etc in my garden - I saw them in next door's garden all the time, so I knew they were around!

I tried the clingers feeder away from the other feeders (and my garden isn't big) and I gradually started to get blue tits, great tits, greenfinches and goldfinches!

[thebeard]

dunnocks will happily feed on the ground, not so much on the feeders. if theres plenty of places for them to hide this would help too, they're shy little birds. a little dunnock is the only bird i ever see in my garden!

[dc2009]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Still have all the regulars, and as of this morning have noticed some blue tits have begun visiting also :-)

[dc2009]

along with a song thrush...

[Bouncytigger]

Its amazing What you can attract to your garden even in built up suburbia
I live in Birmingham and i thought i would never see a Greenfinch or a Goldfinch but i have been totally wrong! If you have the right types of food in the right places and plenty of trees and shrubs you will be plesently surprised!

I had my first sighting of a Sparrowhawk last August and I'm still recovering from the shock even now!

Good Luck