Encouraging Song Birds

[StuJohnson]

Hi all,
I live in one of a group of houses that has a large pond behind with trees and fields beyond. This treats us to a resident population of ducks, squirrells, blue tits, sparrows, crows, magpies, jackdaws, blackbirds, hedgehogs, frogs etc., and so we consider ourselves very lucky. My concern is that the corvids seem to be muscling the song birds out somewhat with only the tits and blackbirds hanging on. There are many other song birds in the wider neighbourhood such as chiffchaffs and goldfinches but they stay clear of the area behind our group of houses despite it being an ideal habitat. I have a feeding station with nuts, fatballs and mixed seeds that encourages the tits for an hour or so in the morning, but is then emptied for the rest of the day by the big fellas.

Does anyone have any advice on if it is possible to set up two stations, one to satisfy the corvids and one for the songbirds? Would positioning, type of feeder or type of food have any effect, or will the songbirds simply stay away whilst the corvids are in residence?

Any advice would be appreciated. Many thanks.

[rossy]

Originally Posted by StuJohnson

Hi all,
I live in one of a group of houses that has a large pond behind with trees and fields beyond. This treats us to a resident population of ducks, squirrells, blue tits, sparrows, crows, magpies, jackdaws, blackbirds, hedgehogs, frogs etc., and so we consider ourselves very lucky. My concern is that the corvids seem to be muscling the song birds out somewhat with only the tits and blackbirds hanging on. There are many other song birds in the wider neighbourhood such as chiffchaffs and goldfinches but they stay clear of the area behind our group of houses despite it being an ideal habitat. I have a feeding station with nuts, fatballs and mixed seeds that encourages the tits for an hour or so in the morning, but is then emptied for the rest of the day by the big fellas.

Does anyone have any advice on if it is possible to set up two stations, one to satisfy the corvids and one for the songbirds? Would positioning, type of feeder or type of food have any effect, or will the songbirds simply stay away whilst the corvids are in residence?

Any advice would be appreciated. Many thanks.

welcome stu, first stop putting nuts out as at this time of the year its not a good idea, as chicks will choke, if you can buy 2 suet block holders with the suet in 2 for £3 at bms, also niger seed feeders £1.29 at wilkinsons, place them on your washing line, ive got 7 seed feeders on my line for the little fellas tits, sparrows, also have a feeding station with fat balls , seeds , water, at the moment ive got a solitary crow coming in, funny watching him chip away at the fat balls, but the goldfinches stay at the niger, and the rest , sparrows, starlings, tits, collard doves, wood pigeons,blackbirds,dunnocks dont budge, magpies also come in, worth a try, rossy.