MCracknell
Member
I recently bought a Nyjer feeder to see if I could attract some Goldfinches into the garden. Virtually an instant success - had up to 15 at any one time within a week, they were literally queuing up waiting their turn. So I bought another feeder and in fact a third as well. This has continued to attract ever more Goldfinches, growing numbers of Greenfinches and last weekend a lone Siskin (first for the garden).
Cutting to the chase - I have noticed that the finches seem to grab a beak full of the seed each time, dropping the majority of it on the floor. I'm a little concerned that my garden will soon be covered in thistle seedlings but having got through several kilos of seed, looking for a way to slowdown how quickly I was getting through the seed especially as it seemed they were probably wasting up to 75pct of it. I thought it was asking a bit much to expect them to tidy up their eating habits so I bought the seed trays that attach to the bottom of the tube with the intention of collecting the waste and filling the tubes back up. Trouble is I hadn't counted on the finches' own natural waste in the form of their droppings which is also collected by these trays. I now have a big container full of uneaten but dropping soiled Nyjer which I obviously can't re-use.
Has anyone got any bright ideas? Also am I correct in thinking that I will soon be treated to thistle seedlings popping up everywhere?
Cutting to the chase - I have noticed that the finches seem to grab a beak full of the seed each time, dropping the majority of it on the floor. I'm a little concerned that my garden will soon be covered in thistle seedlings but having got through several kilos of seed, looking for a way to slowdown how quickly I was getting through the seed especially as it seemed they were probably wasting up to 75pct of it. I thought it was asking a bit much to expect them to tidy up their eating habits so I bought the seed trays that attach to the bottom of the tube with the intention of collecting the waste and filling the tubes back up. Trouble is I hadn't counted on the finches' own natural waste in the form of their droppings which is also collected by these trays. I now have a big container full of uneaten but dropping soiled Nyjer which I obviously can't re-use.
Has anyone got any bright ideas? Also am I correct in thinking that I will soon be treated to thistle seedlings popping up everywhere?