Is my garden too open?

[Michelleatiisis]

Hi there,

please bare with me I know nothing about birds!
Ok, I moved here 7 years ago but because I have cats, have never attempted to feed the birds. This year though, I have decided to give it a go, as my cats are pretty lazy and don't go out much.
My garden is completely open and backs onto fields, but, to the left of my house are a few trees which lead into a hedge border. In these trees are sparrows, various tits, robins, collared doves, pigeons, blackbird and i think thrush. I am also quite sure i have spotted some chaffinch and goldfinch. We used to get a lot of wagtails about but I haven't seen any for a while.

Now, the trees are about 40 feet from the side of my house, and just in front of the trees is a block of stables. I have seen the birds perched on the stables guttering and the nearby post and rails. I have seen Robins on the ground and the sparrows and tits fly from the stables to the trees and then across to the tree in the neighbors house next door on the right..... but I cannot seem to coax the birds into eating anything I put out for them.

I cannot hang anything in my garden, it is too open, but I have hung some fat balls from the back of the stables right up high, and thrown food on the roof - not a sniff.
This morning I saw the Robin perched just nearby but he didn't go to the food. Do you think it's too open? This is the nearest i can get to the trees they love and is only about 15 feet away from the base of the tree, even closer to where the branches over hang.
I have just ordered some feeders and bird seed mix and intend to hang them from the back of the stables but on arm style brackets to they stick out a way from the stables.... will this help? Do I just persevere?

Also, another question, I see all these birds early in the morning when I wake up, but by about 11am there is no sign of them, why is this?

Thanks in advance, sorry for the essay!
Michelle

[Wild-Woman]

Hi Michelle and welcome to WAB. It sounds like you've got some nice countryside near your home. I don't think the openess will make much difference. If you put up a variety of feeders with a variety of bird seeds I think what you need to do is wait. Always if you can, provide water for the birds too as this is a big pull to all species that like a good bathe.
I'm sure your idea of brackets on the stables with feeders will work well too. The stables alone should provide the possibility of nesting sites, nesting material from the hay and straw, insects in the summer months that are attracted by the soiled stable bedding and birds tend to be fairly happy around big animals like horses.
It's good to hear that you will be providing for them.
As with the disappearing act- well my birds feed a couple of hours in the morning with just the odd visitor during the day and then I get another feeding frenzy just before nightfall then they all take off for the roost.
Let us know how things turn out for your birds.

[Cowgirl]

Hi Michelle & welcome to WAB.

Birds often like feeders to be near something for a quick getaway when startled. You garden may be a bit exposed for them especially as they 'know' that your cats are around, no matter how lazy, however as Wild woman says, the stables should be ok & it's just a question of them feeling secure when feeding, give it time they'll soon get used to it. It could be that they are fussy as there is plenty of food to scavenge around the stables anyway. Offer niger seeds & that should attract the goldfinches in, they can't resist em, offer up sunflower hearts & you'll be inundated (although you may have to remortgage ). One note of caution tho, if you're hanging up fat balls make sure you remove the green nets as it can trap their claws & feet .

A bird bath is a good idea as well, my lot don't seem to use my purposely bought bath but prefer the uptuned dustbin lid on the floor

Try & put your feeders where there is a quick escape route. My feeders started off in the middle of the garden, but eventually when I moved them closer to the hedge they soon came flocking.

Good luck

[Michelleatiisis]

Thank you for the replies.

I have been outside and had a good scout about. I am pretty sure that the best place to hang my feeders is on the back of the stables. BUT since they will take a couple of days to arrive, I have been outside and moved the fat ball thingy, I climbed the bank, stood on a bucket and managed to launch some string around one of the lower branches of the oak tree and leaver the ball up quite high. I figure that as this area is more sheltered, they might get used to feeding from there and then make the leap the extra few yards to the feeders I will hang from the back of the stables, once they get a taste for it!
I don't get a good view of this area from my house really, although I can if I am upstairs or looking out of the side window in my lounge.

Yes, the birds love scrapping around near the dung heap and picking up all the hay, straw and feed spills from the horses!
Thanks for your help, I shall update you when I have the feeders established.
Michelle

[rossy]

if you have cats dont attempt to feed the birds ! thats my advice, no matter how lazy you think they are, as the ineviatable will happen, then you will only blame yourself, thery kill more birds per year than anything else, and before anyone disagrees, check it out. sorry if i seem blunt , but its better you have been warned, rossy.

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Michelleatiisis

Also, another question, I see all these birds early in the morning when I wake up, but by about 11am there is no sign of them, why is this?

This is the time of day when bird activity is at its peak, a lot of preening, feeding and singing occurs at this time of day. They usually become less active through the middle of the day, with a slight increase in activity at dusk. A lot does depend on the weather, if its dull and overcast activity tends to last longer than if its bright and sunny.

[Deb London]

Originally Posted by rossy

if you have cats dont attempt to feed the birds ! thats my advice, no matter how lazy you think they are, as the ineviatable will happen, then you will only blame yourself, thery kill more birds per year than anything else, and before anyone disagrees, check it out. sorry if i seem blunt , but its better you have been warned, rossy.

I'm not necessarily disagreeing with the numbers, but a cat owner knows their cat the same as a dog owner does, whether they are unpredictable or not, some cats simply do not show an interest.

[Wild-Woman]

Actually an open area is advantageous for the birds if there are cats around. They can't sneak up on them so easily. The only predator that would take full advantage though would be sparrowhawk but they don't always get what they want!

[nightshade]

You do need patience, birds take time to feel safe about using a new feeding station. They need cover to retreat to within one to two metres or closer and water always helps. Birds here are still taken off the feeders by a Sparrow Hawk despite splitting the feeders up and placing them so there is no clear run in for the Hawk.
Ps. my old one-eyed cat sunbathes on shed and garage roofs in the area, perhaps you cats use the stable roof?

[Michelleatiisis]

Hi, I understand about the cat thing. i did have one cat that lived in the stables but my friend has taken her to be a barn cat alongside her cat, after her cats friend died.

The cats don't ventured around near the stables, for two reasons, they are jumpy and one sign of a horse and they leg it, and the main reason is that I am home all day because I have two small babies, so i am in and out all day on the yard and in the house. I have two dogs who are great with and live in harmony with the cats, however, my German Shorthaired Pointer will chase the life out of any cat once we are outside the house... so my cats tend not to risk going out much, and if they do, they don't tend to ventured further than running distance to the cat flap!

I am deffo going to try the sunflower hearts.

I haven't seen any sparrowhawks around here (I am in North East Essex) - I have seen Barn Owl, but he never flew close enough to the house to get a good look at him.