Some Advice!

[Summer]

OOPS! Just posted that first one by mistake! I was going to say Hello and that I'm new to this but I guess I've just given that away with my mistake!!

It was recommended to me that I join this site to get some good advice on all kinds of things. I've read some of the other posts and while I'm not quite as experienced as some members I think it's a really cool site!

I have recently moved to an area that seems to be very heavily populated with crows and magpies. I have put a wide variety of food out in my garden but am only really attracting starlings, blackbirds and the odd sparrow. Could it be that other smaller birds are intimidated by these bigger bullies (the magpies in particular!)? And is there anything I can do?

[StuartDH]

Hi Summer,

Thanks for the compliments about the site, it's all down to the members.

Pigeons are the only large birds that the small birds in my garden seem to be able to get on with. As soon as the magpies and crows come looking for food, the rest head for the bushes.

I tend to put out small pieces of food, like grain, so the most of the larger birds don't bother visiting. Big bits of food scraps are a favourite with the gulls and no-one else gets a look-in when they're around, so I stopped putting it out on table long ago.

I've also got a table with a low roof that stops the large birds from being able to feed on it and protects the small birds from the occasional sparrowhawk

[Helen]

Originally Posted by Summer

I have recently moved to an area that seems to be very heavily populated with crows and magpies. I have put a wide variety of food out in my garden but am only really attracting starlings, blackbirds and the odd sparrow. Could it be that other smaller birds are intimidated by these bigger bullies (the magpies in particular!)? And is there anything I can do?

Hi Summer and welcome to the forum.

Regarding feeding birds, the one thing you must have above everything else, is patience!

What you need to do, is provide a range of foods in different ways, so as to attract different species.

Blackbirds, etc are mainly ground feeders. Provide a feeder that hangs from a pole or tree branch, and put some sunflower hearts in it. I can guarantee you this will attract blue/great tits, various finches etc.

Rather than seeing the larger birds as bullies, try to think of them as birds that also have to eat. The one thing that is difficult to do when feeding birds, is to decide which birds you will feed!

Instead, try to work with them, and provice scraps etc on the ground for the magpies/starlings etc.

As I already mentioned, sunflower hearts is a number one choice for ALL types of birds.

Throw out sultanas/apples etc for the blackbirds. Hang up some suet/fat balls. Place peanuts in a feeder, and place the sunflower hearts in another feeder.

Hope this helps!

[nightshade]

Put a little food in and around cover for the smaller birds (not too much or you may attract mice and larger, although I love my woodmice) and of course use feeders to restrict access to the smaller birds
I do like the corvids and have regular visits from magpie,crow,jackdaws,jays and the occasional rook.These I feed away from the main feeding station,and place food early in the morning and remove after a couple of hours so that they come into the garden early and know there is no more after the allocated time

[Summer]

I don't mind the magpies and I don't mind feeding them but I just want to make sure all the smaller birds get a chance too!

I have suet cakes out and quite enjoy watching the starlings squabble over it and who gets to eat first! In fact they seem to be the only ones who aren't afraid of the magpies...they're bolshy little things!

I don't have a table yet but Thanks for the suggestion of getting one with a roof! Sounds like a good idea! I do have hangers with lots of different seeds and nuts and put apples and potatoes out for the ground feeders. I sprinkled some seed under the bushes last night so hopefully that will help. I have seen a couple of wrens around there and I would like to encourage them back.

I understand that patience is important so fingers crossed. The most annoying thing is not getting to see what goes on in my garden most of the time! I leave for work in the dark and get home in the dark!

I did kind of wonder if there just simply are no finches, blue tits etc in my area? Does this ever happen? Do certain birds avoid certain areas?

[Helen]

What area are you in Summer?

There is also the possibility that other people feed the birds close to you, so the birds "spread themselves about"!

I wouldn't worry too much about the lack of finches/tits etc, they may well turn up when least expected. As you say though, you are not there to see what birds come and go during the day, you may well have the odd visit from the birds without you even knowing. As I said, try the sunflower hearts they will attract all kinds of birds.

Let us know if you see any other birds in the garden. Good luck!

[Summer]

Luckily I got to leave the house a bit later this morning and it was starting to get light. There were quite a few sleepy sparrows hanging around and a couple of blackbirds but what was really an unexpected (and nice) surprise was a kestrel hunting over the fields at the back of my house! I didn't get to watch for long unfortunately... but it was a good start to the day!

I'm definately going to get some sunflower hearts this weekend!!

I'll keep you upto date with any more news!

[pheonix]

what sort of garden do you have?

i was just thinking that if you have a large open garden without alot of cover some smaller may not feel safe to come and feed there?

[Summer]

My garden is not particularly big and has some well established bushes. When I moved in there were no trees at all so I've planted a cherry and a rowen, obviously they are still quite young but hopefully they will provide some shelter (and food). There are large open fields behind my house though, do you think this is off putting for smaller birds?

[pheonix]

are there many other houses or gardens around?

the only reason im asking is you have to think of the main habitat around you and the types of bird that frequent those types of habits. i live in a village with lots of gardens with people feeding birds, surounded by woodland and farmland, so we get alot of 'garden' birds and and a good mix of others too.

but then saying that if passing birds find a good place to feed you can almost guarantee that they will come back!

[Summer]

There are a lot of houses surrounding me and I'm sure some will put out the odd feeder but it's very 'urban' and is more likely to have broken down cars and motorbikes in the gardens than bird tables!

I'm starting to think my area is pretty unpopular for garden birds...but hopefully the word will spread!

[Tursiops]

Hallo Summer, and a belated welcome to the forum from me.

From what you say, it does sound as though the birdlife in your area may be relatively poor, but don't be discouraged! If you are the only local person putting out food on a regular basis, then everything in the area will come to you, particularly if we get some hard weather over the winter. It's also very important to provide a source of fresh water; a pond if you have room, or just a birdbath if you haven't. Turn your garden into an oasis in an urban desert and you'll be amazed at what turns up.

ATB
Tursiops

[allerleirauh]

Hello Summer ,
don`t be sad, i am sure the birds will come.. They have first to learn to know your feeding place. And if you offer them a variety of different food.. you can be sure they will come and then also return. It takes just a little bit patience.. :-) . i do not think that crow or magpies are a problem.. mostly the real problem are cats. So, birds are of course very careful in the first time.
By the way, I offer "my" birds also oat-flakes, fried in oil, most of the gardenbirds love them. I do not give any vegetable or fruits, it is freezing and then not anymore to eat for birds. IN the cold months they mainly need fat and proteins.
The open fields should not be a bigger problem, in my opinion. Here a lot of birds are coming down from the mountains and also from the forrests, when it is getting too cold and they fly often far distances over open land
so...just wait and see, the winter just started :-)

[pheonix]

im all up for the idea of an urban oasis! in some areas they are very important as there arnt any other habitats sutable for wildlife for miles around. and you may be presently suprised alot of rare and vagrant birds turn up in london, and ive found reptile colonies where you wouldnt believe (even in central reservations on main A roads!).

dont give up

[nightshade]

Summer,I live between two main roads but since altering my style of gardening I am amazed at just what does turn up.Oasis or breathing-space whatever you call it each wildlife friendly patch gives them a chance
Stick at it, the wildlife will beat a path to your door, just keep the welcome mat out!

[Diane]

If you've only just moved there, it may take a while before the local birds realise there's a new feeding station in town. We moved into a brand new house last year, and steadily built up the feeders and designed the garden to be bird-friendly. So far we are up to 19 species, including a Sparrowhawk who took one of the Goldfinches. We put out sunflower hearts and peanuts, as well as niger seed, which the Goldfinches love.

We live in a village, but it's quite a busy area, although there are fields nearby. We have quite a few Goldfinches, Greenfinches and the usual House Sparrows, Blackbirds and Starlings. A Robin visits occasionally and we saw the Wren again the other day. He/she hasn't visited for some time, or at least we haven't seen it. Occasionally a Chaffinch appears, but we don't see many Blue and Great Tits. We did put some nest boxes up and had a Blue Tit nest in one, but I think the single youngster was quite weak and we fear it did not survive. The Dunnocks love to forage in the borders, where we have planted a native hedgerow.

I'm sure you'll have more birds in the future. Just be patient and keep doing what you're doing.

[Summer]

Thanks to everyone for all your replies and support!

I have put out the sunflower hearts and also some robin mix that has small worms and insects in it which I'm sure if I were a bird would look very appetising!