Having trouble attracting the birds..

[cptncrackoff]

We have always had a few blackbirds and the occassional robin in our back garden, over the winter they slowly disappeared.
We dont have many cats round here, one or two seem to visit our garden but they are quite old.

Around six weeks ago i bought a bird table, its from B&Q but quite nice.

I have moved it twice in six weeks, filling it with seeds, nuts, mealworm and hanging fatballs on the pegs, so far its totally untouched by all birds.

Is there anything i can do to attract them a bit more??

[Jeanied]

Now that is a thread title to conjure with!
I found that it took a good while to attract the birds to my little garden - the first ones to arrive were the pigeons. Once one lot of birds come to feed, it seems to encourage the others.
The most popular feeders are my column feeders with little perches - and they have to be filled with sunflower hearts - goldfinches galore, followed by greenfinches. The blackbirds, thrushes and chaffinches prefer a flat surface with no roof on.

[Pumpkin Becki]

Give them time, they'll soon find your food. If you've got trees or shrubs in the garden, you could try hanging feeders in them too, just to give the local bird population the idea that your garden is a great place to visit. This will help them find your birdtable.

[wellie]

Put the big 17lb. Fish away now? ... it could be scaring the birds, DOH!

No, to be honest, it takes our feathered friends a little while to tell each other that, afterall, there IS such a thing as 'A Free Lunch', so just be a little bit more patient. After a while, it'll cost you a fortune, and you'll wish that they hadn't told all their mates. I do, every time.....

[ginger ninger]

I find fat balls are good for attracting most birds into the garden. Even the most shy of birds can't resist them for long. There not all that hard to make ether and much more rewarding than bought ones. Monkey nuts threaded on string work with the Blue tit's where I live.

[bigt1888]

i put three bird feeders (from aldi) in the garden in september and i dont think they have been touched.... i have a small corner garden and loads of birds in the area.

[binley100]

Your birds mush be too posh for Aldi, Bigt ........

[bigt1888]

Your birds mush be too posh for Aldi, Bigt ........

i must admit that the local birds have never been choosy before (in my experience)

[frantic furball]

We have lots of visitors to the bird feeders apart from one. It has the same seed, is the same type and has been in different positions but it's always ignored. I have even swapped position with one of the others but they still didn't go to it (shrugs)
It did take several weeks for the birds to find the feeders though.

[ginger ninger]

i must admit that the local birds have never been choosy before (in my experience)

But cptncrackoff's birds don't wear white stilettos and drink pints BigT . xx

[Two_Sheds]

Blackbirds do disappear over the winter (well mine do). They're back now though and scrapping with each other. Their favourite food is soaked raisins thrown on the ground (they're ground feeders).

They will also peck at suet balls which are hung in their favourite perching shrubs

I have a female sparrow who took up residence in my back garden over the winter, I don't know what she survives on. I throw a little seed out for her but that attracts gulls, woodpigeons and starlings which I don't want

[Kristen]

We've only put up bird feeders in the last month or so. Very little activity. I have read that I need to be patient.

We are in the country, I have a feeling that in villages / towns the birds will be less wary of humans. I do notice that when the pigeons manage the kamikaze landing on the feeder I only have to get out of my chair with the intention of banging on the window to frighten them off, so they are a lot more aware of "us indoors" than I would have expected. I'm thinking of moving the feeder further from the house - I have a pair of binoculars on my desk anyway, another 20 feet won't make any difference.

Strangely, given we are in the country, we do seem to only see rather humdrum birds, so it would be nice if we can encourage some others.

[wellie]

Your patience will eventually pay off, I'm sure of it. We've currently got A Greater Spotted Woodpecker and A Nuthatch just joined the throngs of The Tit and Sparrow brigade, who are far less nervous of me pottering about in the conservatory sowing seeds.

Since the freezing cold snowy weather, I have mastered the art of calling the greedy-feeders in to feed by a series of 'tongue clicking' noises. The Robins and I are virtually on first-name-terms now?

[pauco]

Just be patient, it takes a bit of time for birds to get used to and trust a new feeding ground. Also as the temps are changing there is more of their natural food around, and they will take that first! But they will come to your garden in time. Try some sultanas for
the Blackbirds, they love em, and so do Robins.

paul.

[Pies]

Grow some cabbages,you'll soon have the pigeon population round