Corvid food?

[JayLexT]

This week there has been a young Jackdaw calling down my chimney. Its so cute and I want to know what food to put out so he will stick around?

There is also a (very shy) Rook couple in the area I woudnt mind attracting as they are my favourite birds. Iv had some success with porridge oats.

Anything else they like?

There is also a Gull that has claimed my shed roof (where I feed the birds from, as I dont have a garden) as his own, he makes speeches from there a few times a day. So thats a bit annoying, as he scoffs everything that isn't seed/oat like. When its windy I used to make water/oat balls, as the oats would just blow away otherwise. But cant now as the Gulls just scoffs them all.

So how do I get round this also?

[artdemole]

Chips,potato,bread,rice,pasta after they are cooked.The left overs are gone in no time.

[Dogghound]

Corvids like jackdaws will feed on virtually anything from food scraps, to seeds, invertebrates, meat, vegetable matter, bread etc. Young are usually fed on invertebrates, small nestlings etc. In the long run though its unlikely to stick around once it fledges it will disperse and group up with other jackdaws over farmland, grassland etc. Their diet is so varied and they are such successful birds I would not worry about providing it with additional food. The best way to get around the gull is to hang seed feeders from the shed these will be inaccessible for it but will still be used by smaller birds like finches, tits, sparrows etc.

[JayLexT]

Originally Posted by artdemole

Chips,potato,bread,rice,pasta after they are cooked.The left overs are gone in no time.

Carb junkies then?

Will Thrushes and Blackbirds feed from seed feeders aswell?

Btw, saw that Gull tapping its bill quite hard along the side of a car today? Could it really be trying to break in to get possible food inside???

[bobbarber]

Originally Posted by JayLexT

Carb junkies then?

Will Thrushes and Blackbirds feed from seed feeders aswell?

Btw, saw that Gull tapping its bill quite hard along the side of a car today? Could it really be trying to break in to get possible food inside???

Thrushes and Blackbirds prefer to feed on the ground. As you have no garden would it be possible to rig up a bird table somewhere?
The Gull was probably attacking its own reflection in the side of the car...Bob

[JayLexT]

It was a black car and I could see its reflection, that did cross my mind.

At the moment, Thrushes and Blackbirds are feeding quite happily from the shed roofs, where I put all food. Im asking about alternatives to make the food Gull proof.

I guess I could put a bird table in the corner of my yard. I have dogs so cant use the floor.

[artdemole]

The blackbirds will visit the table.Being in the corner of a yard the table might not be visited by gull if it has an awkward flight path to it.Making a wire cage to fit may deter the larger birds.

[JayLexT]

Ok thanks