Window Feeder

[Gem]

hi all,
Hope everyone is well.

I have just purchased a window feeder a bit like this one:

http://www.roceco.co.uk/images/bird/window%20feeder.jpg

We have loaded it with seed, but the problem I have is that there aren't many birds around the front of our building. I know birds take a while to get used to a new feeder, but what I really need to do is find a way of attracting them to it in the first place?

We are on the second floor and overlook a wildlife reserve gorge.. so there is plenty of wildlife around they're just mostly over the cliff edge closer to the water. I also hear great tits out the back but they don't come into the carpark.
Outside there's just some grass then the metal railings and then the cliff.. so it's nice and remote.. but almost too remote!!

No cats around, just the occasional fox.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks so much

[The_Doctor]

As you said it just takes time, a few days or a week at most.
And with the feeders on the window any movement within you're house/apartment can put the birds off and make them nervous. But the basis is just patience

[Ladywell]

We bought one of these for my Mum who was getting frail - she could sit in her chair and watch the birds' reflection through a strategically placed mirror on her kitchen worktop. Took about 2 weeks for them to get used to it and after that she had very regular visitors - as others have said it is a matter of patience and letting the birds get used to the fact that it is a food source and not a threat. Good luck!

[Mitty]

I've got a window feeder (on ground floor window) and it took nealy 3 weeks for anything to land on it. The birds like to take cover in bush about 2m away first, then dart onto the feeder.

The feeder sounds more busy when the curtain is half closed and covering up the feeder, so maybe try that for a bit. Or throw some seed out onto the floor below (if it won't upset anyone) to encourage robins etc. to come closer.

I put fat balls on my feeder and sometimes magpies, crows and even a jay come and steal them whole!

[Gem]

Thanks very much everyone.. appreciate the replies.

Yes I guess patience is the key, I had read people had put tin foil around theirs to reflect the light and attract the attention of the birds.

The only problem I have is that the birds aren't really active near our building, though i did see a big group of long tailed tits fly over yesterday. I shall sit and wait and hope for the best.

Have thrown a few seeds down on the grass too.

fingers crossed they come.
thank you again

[C J Smallman]

Just puts into perspective how lucky some of us are to have a garden.

Here's to your first inquisitive Bluetit in the not to distant future

Chris.

[actionfinch]

have a garden but i think im getting greedy , as i have just got a window feeder ..
I hope the robin will come down for a nibble, but i have a week in which to see if anything turns up...

[tiggerbabe]

I used one of the acrylic feeder arms to hang a feeder from my window and birds arrived within days - blue tits mainly, as they are amazingly nosey!

They were bold as brass, so I wouldn't be too disheartened, they will come!

Also, I once lived on the 3rd floor of a tenement building in Glasgow, and I had Blue Tits, Robins, Dunnocks and even a grey squirrel who found their way to my window - it still amazes me to this day how they know there's food there! I never even had the acrylic arm in that flat, just hung the feeder out of the kitchen window using a bit of old shoelace attached to the feeder!

Easy pickings for the squirrel though lol

[Gem]

ah ha, thanks tiggerbabe this is encouraging.. maybe we will get an arm feeder too so it sticks out to attract their attention.

aww i don't mind the squirrels too much though again we don't have many around, mostly rabbits and foxes.

i shall report back as soon as the first little tit lands

thanks

Originally Posted by tiggerbabe

I used one of the acrylic feeder arms to hang a feeder from my window and birds arrived within days - blue tits mainly, as they are amazingly nosey!

They were bold as brass, so I wouldn't be too disheartened, they will come!

Also, I once lived on the 3rd floor of a tenement building in Glasgow, and I had Blue Tits, Robins, Dunnocks and even a grey squirrel who found their way to my window - it still amazes me to this day how they know there's food there! I never even had the acrylic arm in that flat, just hung the feeder out of the kitchen window using a bit of old shoelace attached to the feeder!

Easy pickings for the squirrel though lol

[Gem]

hi again all,
still no visitors sadly.

Here's the feeder and what we overlook... do you think it's worth getting a fatball on an arm that sticks out to attract attention?

I'm not surprised they don't see it I guess it's not that visible?!

thanks again guys
xGem