too many feeders ?

mrbright · #1 (**permalink**) 09-09-2010, 05:48 PM

being a relative novice at feeding birds, can you have too many feeders in a small garden ? i love my common or garden birds so keep buying feeders to try to satisfy all my visitors.
i'm now spending as much on my birds as my family.(birds more enjoyable though)

Susie · #2 (**permalink**) 09-09-2010, 05:51 PM

I don't see that it is a problem. You may get to see a sparrowhawk too.

mrbright · #3 (**permalink**) 09-09-2010, 05:59 PM

in that case , it will be another addition to my garden birds, but alas, probably at the expense of several of my visitors.
oh what a conundrum.
am i doing right? god only knows.

Dogghound · #4 (**permalink**) 09-09-2010, 06:03 PM

Its not a problem as long as you keep them clean and ensure there is not to much seed going on the floor otherwise you will end up with loads of rats and mice.

shenk1 · #5 (**permalink**) 09-09-2010, 06:25 PM

The missus

is always buying new feeders (at least its not clothes or shoes

). She says they like the variety

,still...it keeps her quiet

At the minute we have 2x4 port sunflower feeders,1 peanut,1 niger,half a coconut filled with suet,a suet block and a table on the floor and our garden is quite small.

Come winter thats when the big guns come out with the giant Jagunda and larger versions of the other feeders plus more fat blocks hanging from the tree and fence - it saves trimming up for christmas

.

And yes the birds love it - theres always something in the garden (odd rat included,sweep up best you can) including at tea-time the previously mentioned Sparrowhawk ,but thats the first time its been seen this summer.

If I ask for a fiver for the pub though guess what the answer is

shenk1

Susie · #6 (**permalink**) 09-09-2010, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrbright

oh what a conundrum.
am i doing right? god only knows.

The older I get the more I think there is no such thing as right; what is good for one species can be bad for another. Even dirty bird feeders are good for viral infections and bacteria!

So, just ask yourself does it make you happy. If it does and it's not illegal then go for it.

Dogghound · #7 (**permalink**) 09-09-2010, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Susie

So, just ask yourself does it make you happy. If it does and it's not illegal then go for it.

Uwwww

im not sure about that.

Susie · #8 (**permalink**) 09-09-2010, 06:49 PM

Ok, Dogghound, if it is illegal just make sure you don't get caught.

mrbright · #9 (**permalink**) 09-09-2010, 06:52 PM

In my first year i have already discovered that by having my first pair of nesting birds in my garden (blue tits) it has come at a price of my annual common green shield bugs.
Amazing such a slight change in a little garden can have such a massive effect on another species.
Decisions , decisions.

Susie · #10 (**permalink**) 09-09-2010, 07:00 PM

Indeed.

That's why I don't have feeders in the garden in the summer time. I positively encourage insects in the garden and obviously will loose a lot to natural predation from birds but I don't want to loose a larger number than necessary due to an over population of birds in the area visiting my feeders.

House sparrows are remarkably acrobatic and after watching one pursuing and plucking a hummingbird hawk moth out of the air I had a new respect for their agility.