Wild Birds Aren't Taking My Bird Feed

[jimmytheone]

Is there cover nearby?
I've had more success with bird feeders when they're hung near (3-6ft) trees / bushes that give them a staging post, so if the feeder is busy they can wait in a nearby tree, or if there is a threat then its somewhere to retreat to.

Also, B&M do a 12.5kg bag of peanuts for £20 though i am told you shouldn't feed birds peanuts in spring/early summer as baby birds can choke on nuts, better to give them seed at that time of year.

[A993LAD]

I think if you leave the food out they will come eventually.

We have five bird feeders just outside our back door and the constant feeding means I have to refill all of them twice a day.

We get through about 20 kilograms of bird food a week it costs me a fortune.

I have counted 33 species at the feeders which is great but the big disappointment is in five years we have never seen a house sparrow here. At our last house we had a lovely colony of house sparrows that would hang around the feeders all day and nest under the tiles in the roof. I don't know what more I can do to attract house sparrows to our current house there just don't seem to be any in the area. Any tips grapefully received.

Edited by A993LAD on Friday 16th February 17:13

Edited by A993LAD on Sunday 18th February 10:26

[Smint]

Same here, the amount of food they get through in winter is astonishing, some days they'll clear both large sunflower seed feeders sometimes the same amount can last 3 days.
We buy 20kg bags of sunflower hearts and peanuts and umpteen fat balls, lately they've been taking more fat ball and peanuts than seed.

Will cut down on the feeding as warm weather approaches so they don't become too reliant, hopefully we'll have blue tits breeding in the bird houses again as we get most years, what a pleasure that is to see the parents dashing in and out.

Our feeders are in two sites, all products available around our cobnut tree (many interwoven branches and twigs so not easy for a sparrowhawk or other predator to get a free run at them), another sunflower heart feeder in our magnolia tree, again lots of cover so they can dodge in grab what they want and be back in cover in seconds.
We have trees and hedges all around close by so again lots of tight cover near the feeders, if feeders are too exposed i don't think they feel so safe.

Used to feed normal mixed seed (wheat free) but the tits and literally dozens of sparrows we've adopted spilled too much on the ground, nowhere near as much mess or waste with the sunflower seed.

edit, regarding the sparrows, i love them too, they flit around in large family groups chirruping away ten to the dozen.
They seem to like being in the thickest of the hedges and the holly tree, then they'll all come and feed at the same time.
We had a bird bath quite close to the cobnut tree, often there would be half a dozen sparrows in and out of the water washing and drinking, it sprung a leak and i haven't replaced it yet, must get on and do so.

Edited by Smint on Sunday 18th February 10:26

[Alickadoo]

They are much happier with a mixed diet. The meal worms seem to do the trick. Trouble is, the birds go through them at such a rate.

[sherman]

Peckish extra goodness fat balls seem to be going down very well just now in my garden. The birds are going through 4 whole balks every day just now.
They are about £12-£15 a box and are more yelow than nornal fat balls

https://www.littlepeckers.co.uk/products/peckish-e...