Mistle Thrush

[Angelika]

I have a aggresive one and he wont let anyone else in the garden,he is guarding a firethorn bush full of berries,i have a small garden and only started planting 18months ago,he sits on the roof outside and darts at any birds that come near my back garden,i have loads of starlings i have fed for over a year and he chased about 20 of them off this morning,i dont want scare the thrush its on the amber list just need some ideas cause the food i put out is not being touched.

[Picidae]

Well you can't move the bush so I guess the only possibility is moving the feeders. If your garden really is that small, is there anyway you could hang some fat feeders at the front of the property or perhaps put some food mix on a bird table nearer the house?

My problem is reversed, I have an aggressive Blackbird that keeps chasing off the Thrush!

[Angelika]

I haven't got much room at the front and holly bush and firethorn bush at the front are not big enough yet,i have a window ledge at the front and put a tray of food on there,i have feeders on trees and hanging baskets spread around the back yard and an urban feeder from lidl on the wall,the mistle thrush has control of all the back yard,the starlings keep trying but the thrush darts at them and the pigeons,the only bird he will let feed is a wagtail on the ground at the side of my house as i live on a corner,i dont know what to do cause all the food is wasted and i put tons out,i feel really sorry for my regular starlings,in spring they even brought there babies feed in the yard,how long will the thrush hang around for,he is a lovely bird but the others arnt getting a look in.

[tigger]

He's probably going to stay until all the berries are gone from your tree.

I'd stop feeding the other birds until he leaves (that way you should be able to store it until you can use it again) - shouldn't be long until he moves on, especially if he's a greedy bird!

In the meantime, I agree with the previous post. Put some food out the front if you can and make sure that there is water somewhere for them to drink.

My birds were queuing up for a drink/bath after I put warm water in the birdbath this morning. This probably doesn't help... but not much you can do until he moves on I'm afraid.

Jane

[galanthophile]

Do enjoy your thrush while he is there. I haven't seen a thrush in my garden for years but I have loads of starlings...

[Angelika]

Just five mins down the road at the funeral directors there is a holly bush full of berries and sure enough on the roof i spotted a mistle thrush guarding it,there must be loads round here im in stoke on trent,he was guarding my yard quite late till dusk today.