Bird Feeder problem

[hartleyhen]

I'm sure this is a common problem and apologies if it has been raised before but can anyone offer any solution/suggestions please.
I have several feeding tables plus a tall wrought iron freestanding feeder with hanging feeders for fat balls and seed containers.
It is the seed containers that are causing the problem. The starlings empty them on the ground within about 5 minutes of me filling them.
They only appear to eat a few seeds but seem to love the game of swinging on them and swishing the seeds that fall through into the little tray out onto ground. I make up lots of food for them so there is no obvious need to do this as on the tables there is bread soaked in lard with seeds added .

Apart from the annoyance (and the resulting weeds that spring up in the soil below) it deprives the smaller birds who also love the seeds but don't like ground feeding like the tits.
I've looked at other feeders but wonder if there exists a feeder that the starlings will leave alone :-(

[Littlesparrow]

I haven't had this problem with our starlings,but then they only seem to come to our garden when it is very cold weather. I have one heavy wooden feeder which I don't think would swing about, it wouldn't be squirrel proof though.

[hartleyhen]

Just got back from the shops and bird feeder emptied again with all the seeds on the ground! We have dozens of starlings every day - they descend in a great rush first thing in the morning and devour everything I put out - along with collar doves, wood pigeons and magpies. I feel so sorry for the other birds as they really struggle to get a look in. We have the usual assortment of thrushes, blackbirds, sparrows, tits, and often have the black cap and his missus but they are severely outnumbered by the starlings.

[artdemole]

Fat balls near a perch may attract the Squabblers instead of going for seed.Corvids may also play havoc with the seed feeders given a chance.If it is Squirrels then a different approach may be needed but some will like the visits as I do...

[Tringa]

Is there any way of fixing the feeders to the top of the feeder stand? We too have a iron free standing feeder on which we can hang feeders, but also fix feeders rigidly on top. We have a couple of plastic devices that screw into the bottom of the feeders and then sit in holes on top of the feeders.

Also as Ardemole has suggested attract them away from the seeds with fat. In our garden the square fat cakes seem to work best.

Dave

[Madmills]

I suggest hanging the seed feeders from tree or shrub branches because this means that the smaller 'clinging' birds can access them a lot easier than the rest can.

By hanging feeders in such covered areas it also means that the feeding birds can dart easily into the cover if predators come around.

I'd definately look into the relocation of the feeders.

Also, set the specific feeders apart, don't put the clingers food/feeders near fatballs and bird tables ..... feed the specific species in different parts of the garden.

[Shrike]

Definately try these other suggestions , i know they love the suet blocks thats been suggested . I get them through in smash 'n'grab raids myself of about 40-50 and they cant all fit on my fat feeder so i tend to ground feed them scraps (avoid white bread) .Or be careful of this if you have any sort of a cat problem.