Birdfeeder competition (1 Viewer)

senatore

Well-known member

• Feb 22, 2005

• #1

I have been disappointed this year with the amount of visitors to my 3 birdfeeders which is a lot down compared to last year.

Puzzelling over this problem as I looked at my feeders from a bedroom window I noticed with surprise that my neighbour on the right had 5 feeder stations.I then did an aeial survey of the gardens I could see and found that my neighbour on the left had several feeders and of the other 5 gardens I could get a partial view of I could see at least 3 feeders.

No wonder the visits to my feeders is down.Too much competition!!!

MAX>

 

H

helenol

Well-known member

• Feb 22, 2005

• #2

Max, yes but look at is this way, at least the birds are well provided for in your area!

 

D

dampflippers

Well-known member

• Feb 22, 2005

• #3

What are you feeding in your feeders? Do you have a table as well? Do you put water out? Have you got nest boxes? Do you have berrying shrubs or trees? Do you have any climbers? or trees? or bushes for nesting? Or a pond?
....There may be other ways than feeders to attract and help birds.

 

D

dampflippers

Well-known member

• Feb 22, 2005

• #4

Oh, I forgot fat balls/bird cake!

 

Richard W

Well-known member

• Feb 22, 2005

• #5

water is a great way to tempt some birds back, since I've put a birdbath next to my table early last year I've notoced a difference, and it's great watching how one decides to have a bath and rest seem compelled to join in o

 

pauco

Старлин&

• Feb 22, 2005

• #6

And the need for fresh water is even greater this time of year, the need to bathe to keep feathers in good condition, so as to maintain their body heat these cold frosty nights, and for drinking.

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Feb 22, 2005

• #7

There's been a bumper seed crop on all sorts of plants last autumn, so there's masses more natural food around than normal. So birds are not needing to visit feeders as much as they usually do

It'll likely be very different next winter - expect your feeders to be in heavy demand.

 

Ruby

Well-known member

• Feb 22, 2005

• #8

Hmmm...

During a particularly unproductive bird-walk through the woods the other week, a pal and I were wondering whether there are so many bird feeders around these days that they actually form a significant poportion of good food habitat for garden birds - maybe at the expense of natural habitat....

Anyway (not to our great surprise!) we dipped completely on birds that we'd hoped to see (Crossbill, Siskin, Brambling, Redpoll etc) and the only decent number of birds that we saw was a good bunch of mixed Tits and Finches, when we happened to walk past the boundary of a garden with a bunch of feeders in it!!

As rgds out-feedering the neighbours.... Sunflowers hearts is the food of choice around these parts....


Rgds.... Ruby

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Feb 23, 2005

• #9

Hi Ruby,

If you want Crossbill, Siskin, Redpoll, you need to head into the upland spruce plantations - they're all up there. Plenty of them in Kielder Forest, because of the good cone crop. They just haven't needed to migrate south at all this winter.

The Bramblings have all gone to Slovenia . . . remember the thread about the flock of 3 million there? The few that have come here are in beech shelterbelts in the uplands too. Presumably the upland woods are safer for them (fewer Sparrowhawks) if there is food in them (which there is this winter)

 

Ruby

Well-known member

• Feb 23, 2005

• #10

Hi Pete,

Thanks, that's useful info....

The place that we went to has traditionally been a good place for the aforementioned species, but we didn't have high hopes, since there have been few reports this year (for the reasons that you give, I imagine)

I had thought that I heard some Crossbills the other week, so we went for another look, but couldn't find them...wishful thinking on my part, I reckon!!

I haven't heard of any Crossbills or Bramblings down this neck of the woods at all, and very few Siskins and Redpolls...

 

senatore

Well-known member

• Feb 23, 2005

• #11

Thanks for all the comments everyone.

I have now paid a visit to my neighbour who is attracting more birds than me and no wonder , she is a "professional" compared to me.She has several types of feeder including tables and has a "package" of birdfood delivered every fortnight from a specialist which includes several types of seed and live worms etc.

I am being outclassed but I am sure all her efforts are bringing birds into the area.

MAX.

 

S

songbird6666

Registered User

• Feb 23, 2005

• #12

I wish some of my neighbours would start feeding, it could take some of the pressure and expense off me. I live in a smallish village with about 100 houses, and when out and about with the dog, I doubt if I have seen more than 4 or 5 with a peanut feeder or any other type. I know I can't see all of the back gardens, but a good percentage of same. I dread to think what it's costing me each week, but it's certainly well over £20.

 

L

Lady19thC

Well-known member

• Feb 23, 2005

• #13

The trick is to offer the birds something no one else is offering. Various flavours of suet, fruit, peanuts and other nuts, a bath with a mister or a drip, or one of both, sugar water, put some houses up-various sizes, offer mealworms, plant fruit trees/bushes or something that no one else has. Get those birds back!