startling lack of birds in my garden

[wildsusy]

Hi everyone, I was wondering what your thoughts are about this..

I have a range of bird food out at the back of my garden in a small tree..However, I only ever see the odd blue tit visiting to feed once in a blue moon.. I will admit, there are a LOT of cats around, both sides of the garden, and of course they are always coming into it, so this may be a problem.. I live in a very suburban area, but I've gotta say, there are quite a few different birds OUTSIDE the garden, despite said cats.. There is a green in front of my house with a few trees, where I see house sparrows, pied wagtails, robins, bluetits, starlings, chaffinches, goldfinches, jackdaws, carrion crows, woodpigeons and collared doves.. and the same out the back of the house adjoining the garden.. out the back there is a fair bit of green space with trees.. where there are lots of green woodpeckers, blackcaps in summer,bluetits, great tits, and all the same as out the front..Plus in the local park a few yards away I've seen sparrowhawks, kestrels, great spotted woodpeckers, various thrushes, jays, little egrets, herons, long tailed tits and many more.. so, basically the area isn't short of birdlife.. they just arent coming into my garden, despite the availability of food... Why is this? Is there anything I could do to change this? Is it all basically down to the cats?

Many thanks

Susy

[htcdude]

Can't really answer that I'm afraid as I have a similar problem! I have a variety fly over and around the garden, but last week the Blackbird that stopped in was the 8th species I've had IN the garden since moving in in July!

I've started leaving seed or crushed fatballs on the ground and that always seems to go,probably just the Pigeons though

Sharing in your heartbreak,

Nige

[angelika611]

When you go out walking look in peoples gardens and you will be surprised how many people feed the birds,i would say average one in 5 gardens in the uk feed them and they are spoilt for choice,i have hanging feeders up fat blocks and fat balls in my trees they just peck on them,they seem to like scones,tea cakes,with crushed fatballs on the bird table then anything else i put out they eat all that,the ground feeders eat whats fell and once the birds go at night i clean it all up,but if cats are about specially the ground feeders they wont feel safe,i have 2 cats but there house cats i dont let them out.

[werry]

I have two cats that are around it does not seem to deter the birds although this year i have noticed a reduction in numbers of birds.My area has from a little investigation a least eight properties with feeders out... Both cats are well belled and the feeders are placed in a way that the cats cannot cause problems.

[markturner]

keep putting the food out suzy the birds will come i remember when we started feeding the birds we had no visiters for about 3/4 mouths and this was in the winter when food is scarce we have a few cats in the area where we live plus we have 2 ourselves it just needs some bold species like a house sparrow or robin to come and have a look and when they start to feed you will start to see more arrivals
what started the birds feeding in our garden was a pair of collared doves

[Tursiops2]

How long have you been putting out food for? If you've only started recently, I wouldn't worry, it can take birds a while to find a new food source, particularly if your neighbours are also feeding them.

Also, what is the rest of your garden like? Birds will be more readily attracted to a garden with plenty of vegetation and cover, than to a bare plot with just one or two trees.
T2

[rossy]

hello wildsusy, dont give up on putting food out for the birds, but if possible you could put more plants or a few bushes if possible, only half fill your feeders that way , you have less waste if the birds dont come, but you have to be patient ! cats are a massive problem, but when i first started to feed the birds , they eventually came, and today it was raining birds so to speak, at least 100 starlings, 40 house sparrows, 20 collard doves, 2 robins, 4 blue tits, 2 coal tits, 2 great tits, 2 dunnocks, 2 blackbirds, 2 wood pigeons, 1 jay, 1 song thrush, 1 mistle thrush, hope they come in for you, and good luck, rossy.

[C J Smallman]

I can collect a bucket full of cat poo from my front garden on a weekly basis so I know we have cats around here

But woe-be-tied any that enter the back garden where the wild birds are fed.

We do have some well established shrubs around the back Im sure that helps in getting them into the garden.

Got to admit I only started feeding last winter just to help them through what was then a grim time and fed (dont shout at me) Rich Tea Biscuits crushed up and it attracted a number of birds.

Now they get peanuts fat balls seed mixes and grated cheese and yes the biscuits are still offered and scoffed in fact its the biscuits and cheese that goes first even before the fat balls are touched.

It sounds like you have a wonderful selection of birds around you I hope your luck changes and some spy what you have put out for them

Chris.

[werry]

Found my self checking the birds in the garden this morning after last nights frost and definitely an increase in numbers.greenfinches,blackbirds,collared doves , wood pigeons,robin,chaffinch,blue tit,great tit,dunnock.The heron popped in to see if i had left the net cover of the pond! plus a little bonus a kestrel ...Enjoyed the goings on this morning.

[wildsusy]

Actually, tursiops2 has a point.. my garden is very sparse..no coverage, pretty much,.. anyone have any suggestions for things I could plant?? I've had the food out for a year or so..