New bird table. No birds!

[Garvey]

I was lucky enough to receive a fantastic wooden bird table for Christmas. Its 4ft high with a rather smart slate roof. The trouble is that since placing the new table in the garden I haven't seen any birds. Could the new table be scaring them off?

[binley100]

they will be watching from afar and sussing it out ......put some mealworms out and a robin will probably be the first visitor ......

[Nicos]

Yeh.....what ^^^^^^ says!

....it can take a few weeks for them to be tempted away from a regular source of food.

Just make sure that once you have them loyal to you that you keep your supply regularly fulfilled!

[greenishfing]

If your birds are anything like ours they hate new things and can take a few weeks to get used to them. Have you always fed the birds in the area where your bird table is, if so put some food out as before and keep putting a small amount on the new table until they get used to it.

[Nicos]

Remember- some birds will be passing through ...and if your feeder wasn't there last year , they may not spot it..... unless they are starving and need to find an alternative feeding post from last year.

Give 'em time!

[Piggle]

Yup agree withall the above, careful what you wish for though as soon they'll be eating you out of house and home.
Have you tried putting suet pellets out ? Irresistible to birds!

Does your bird table have a roof?

[Potstubsdustbins]

Garvey with reference to your other post if your garden has lots of Jackdaws the songbirds will keep away. Jackdaws are a great threat to songbirds and their young.

Potty

[Garvey]

Thank you everyone for your great suggestions. I'll let you know how I get on. No birds today.

[kentishgal]

Im having the same problem and was thinking of posting a similar thread! Ive got one of those shepards hook bird feeders with extra trays and currently have peanuts, mixed seed, sunflower hearts, water and dried mealworms out but no birds! Very frustrating when you can hear them chirping away but cant see them!!

[rustylady]

To add to what the others have said, birds don't like being too exposed. If your bird feeders are in the middle of a big open space they will be very wary. Best situation for feeders is fairly close to large bushes or trees where the birds have some cover.

My busiest ones are hung in the lower branches of a huge old apple tree.

[Aileen35]

Patience, it pays off in the end...Once they start to use it, make sure you keep feeding or they will simply find somewhere else

[Thelma Sanders]

They finally found mine after about a month

[kentishgal]

hurrah!! had some visitors this morning..2 little blue tits eating the sunflower hearts.
Time to buy some fatballs and mealworms now I know someone is going to eat them!

[The Large One]

was it the film "Field of dreams" if you build it they will come.....
took ours a good few weeks to find the feeders, now it costs me a bloomin fortune every week, my own fault as have quite a few feeders hanging up in an old twisted willow tree in the garden

[dogsbody]

For buying purposes try and find you nearest seed merchant or country store - you will save a fortune vs garden centre / pet shop / supermarket prices. Although having said that the best place I have found for dried mealworms is Homes & Bargains at 99p per 100g.

Now I'm not certain whether I am still working for me or in order to feed the hordes.....