Winter food advice needed.

[mamma-p]

Hi from snow covered North East Scotland.

I'm going away in a few days for 3 weeks and want to give my birdy friends the best chance of survival while I'm gone. The biggest problem I have at the moment is starlings, they are hogging the feeders and not letting the finches, tits etc anywhere near . I have coconuts, peanuts, mealworms, fatballs, apples and various seeds out and they are going down very very quickly. At this rate I'll need a whole shop full of food to put out before I go!

I will ask my daughter to feed them but know from past experience she won't be around long enough to feed herself let alone the birds. .

How can I make sure the starlings can't eat everything? Any ideas gratefully recieved. I did once make up a 'cage' from 2 hanging baskets but they even got in there!

[mamma-p]

Sorry, I just read that back and it looks like I'm anti-starling! I want them to be able to eat too, it's just as hard for them as the smaller birds, just thought I'd better clear that up .

[Picidae]

Difficult one! Water is likely to be a severe problem in your area at the moment too - if you can rig up a solar heated water supply that would be good, otherwise your bird bath will be frozen solid for 3 weeks.

I assume you probably get a few Siskin and perhaps if you're lucky, Redpoll, Twite and Goldfinch in the garden, so a Niger seed feeder might be an idea - Starlings tend not to eat Niger.

Also leave lots of apples lying around on the ground - under a tree if possible to prevent being covered in snow - this will keep any thrush species happy and the Starlings. (cut them in half first, leaving seeds in)

As far as I'm aware, Starlings don't go for the black sunflower seeds, but this will help the finches and tits - the hearts will disappear more quickly of course, so get the ones that need to be cracked from their shells by the birds.

Peanuts tend to last a long time in cold weather as smaller birds prefer food they can grab and run - Tits get too cold on hanging peanut feeders, so there probably won't be too much competition there if you put several sunflower seeds up too.

The most constructive suggestion would be to make sure you do not have a single 'feeding station' this time of year, but that different feeders are placed at some distance from each other all around the garden - front and back if you have both. This prevents too much competition by one species and also helps reduce the risk of spread of infection as there is less waste in one area and not such a tight knot of feeding birds.

Tbh - I wouldn't worry about leaving out ground food if you are not going to be around for some time to clean it each day - other than the apples - as it may get covered in snow very quickly and go rotten underneath the snow potentially producing dangerous toxins and mould as it does so. Too much ground food left out will also attract rats.

[actionfinch]

welcome to the site...
sounds like your daughter is the best bet, she could pop round every couple of days to check and top up, or what about the neigbours, could you not ask them ?, especially if they can get round to your garden from the back....
I had this situation in mind but i was away fro 3 days so no comparison really , i just topped all the feeders up. not much was eaten by the time i got back.but like i say 3 days is nothing.
good luck .

[mamma-p]

Thank you for your replies, you've given me food for thought.

Since the tatties were harvested I haven't had many birds as they've been able to find food in the fields so I didn't worry too much about the birds when I decided to go away and chose to go now because we don't get snow so early in December do we? Mmmmmmm right, shouldn't have even thought that thought, lol . I can spread food around no problem, I have feeders and tables front and back. I'll try and hang some in the tree too. Last winter I put food under the upturned wheelbarrow to keep snow off and that worked a treat but as you say it could attract rats. I live in the country and rent a farm cottage, there is plenty of livestock around, sheep, pigs and cows so water hopefully won't be too big a problem hopefully. How would I rig up a solar thingy? That sounds really interesting and useful, will definitely have a go at making one of those. I have black sunflower seeds and will buy some Niger seed too, I've never heard of those but they'll probably have tham at the pet shop in town.

This snow has really caught me out, I thought I would be back before the really bad weather came!

Thanks again for the suggestions .

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by mamma-p

Thank you for your replies, you've given me food for thought.

How would I rig up a solar thingy? That sounds really interesting and useful, will definitely have a go at making one of those. I have black sunflower seeds and will buy some Niger seed too, I've never heard of those but they'll probably have tham at the pet shop in town.

Should find a few ideas if you have a google

a version here: How to Make a Solar Bird Bath Heater | eHow.co.uk

If you're really into DIY, then adding solar powered pump to keep the water moving (and thus more hygenic) there's one here: Making A Solar Powered Pump Birdbath

Re. the Niger - it's tiny seed, so you will need a niger feeder which they will have in the pet shop - they may also be able to help re: solar heated BBs too.

Or, given your location, perhaps invent something yourself that can be heated with compost/manure! How to Heat a Greenhouse With Compost | eHow.com - and placing a bird bath on top

[SheffieldLass]

If we keep getting snow then the birds won't go thirsty. They're pretty good at eating snow. It is when there is severe frost and no snow that the water problem arises. They also snow bathe, in the loose snow in the bushes. I was watching them do that last year - I had plenty of opportunity as there was snow on the ground for 2.5 months here.

I hope we're not getting another winter like that .... I've got 6 tetrads to do for the BTO atlas, all on high ground, ones I couldn't do last year because of the snow .

[mamma-p]

Thank you for the links Picidae, I will be having a go at making one of those, never thought of that but makes lots of sense. In summer the water from the hose is hot with the sun so it follows that it can be utilised in winter too. Unfortunately I don't have time to do it before I go but will do when I get back .

I hope the snow doesn't get as bad as last winter so you achieve all you need to Sheffieldlass, last winter seemed to go on forever and it feels like such a short time since the last snow, which was May here!!