devon.birder
Well-known member
I have seen evidence of dormice in my garden for several years now but it was only 2 years ago that I actually saw one. It had climbed up a tree and then down a wire and was feeding at one of my nut feeders. I saw it a couple more times that year much to my delight.
Last year the wind blew down one of my seed feeders and cracked the top tube which resulted in the two tubes fitting together so that a gap of about 1 inch was at the top. The top two feeding holes were blocked and birds could only use the 2 bottom holes to take seed.
Imagine my surprise when I went one morning to top of the feeder with seed to find a dormouse sitting on a 4 inch pile of seed inside the feeder. I immediately released it into cover but it obviously did not learn any lessons because I had to release it a further twice in the following weeks.
In Autumn I decided to cut some new growth from the trunk of an Ash tree to which a nesting box was attached. A head poked out of the box and it was a Dormouse.
This year I have only had to release the Dormouse once from my seed feeder as I try and keep the level up so that it can get out. I know it uses the feeder on a regular basis because of the amount of sunflower husks that are left inside. The seed feeder is fixed to a cherry tree which is covered in ivy so it has plenty of cover.
I have registered the site with the Devon Wildlife Trust.
Last year the wind blew down one of my seed feeders and cracked the top tube which resulted in the two tubes fitting together so that a gap of about 1 inch was at the top. The top two feeding holes were blocked and birds could only use the 2 bottom holes to take seed.
Imagine my surprise when I went one morning to top of the feeder with seed to find a dormouse sitting on a 4 inch pile of seed inside the feeder. I immediately released it into cover but it obviously did not learn any lessons because I had to release it a further twice in the following weeks.
In Autumn I decided to cut some new growth from the trunk of an Ash tree to which a nesting box was attached. A head poked out of the box and it was a Dormouse.
This year I have only had to release the Dormouse once from my seed feeder as I try and keep the level up so that it can get out. I know it uses the feeder on a regular basis because of the amount of sunflower husks that are left inside. The seed feeder is fixed to a cherry tree which is covered in ivy so it has plenty of cover.
I have registered the site with the Devon Wildlife Trust.