islandgun Posted August 31, 2021 Report Share Posted August 31, 2021 email this morning from GWCT also article on BBC, new thoughts on the desirability of feeding songbirds. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/aug/25/feeding-birds-garden-boost-dominant-species Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted August 31, 2021 Report Share Posted August 31, 2021 Gordon Bennet, yes I saw the BBC News piece. When I moved in to this house in 2004 we might see 4 house sparrows at a time. I have fed them and blue and great tits almost exclusively by design. Consequently I now see up to 60 house sparrows at a time sitting in the hedge at the bottom of the garden and taking their turn to take seed from the feeders. Oh I have also discouraged any bloody felines over the years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DUNKS Posted August 31, 2021 Report Share Posted August 31, 2021 I stopped feeding birds this year because of next door cats. I really was feeding them! Just cant discourage them and they are both fit and nimble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted August 31, 2021 Report Share Posted August 31, 2021 Since feeders have been a regular winter source of foods in my local woodland, where I shoot Squirrels, the number and variety of ALL species of Songbirds has increased dramatically, now some of this is down to a reduction in Squirrel numbers but I cannot believe that the food does not encourage all types and ensure the survival of many that would have starved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted August 31, 2021 Report Share Posted August 31, 2021 1 hour ago, DUNKS said: I stopped feeding birds this year because of next door cats. I really was feeding them! Just cant discourage them and they are both fit and nimble. You need a dog or really good water pistol. I feed all year round and happily see a good variety of different species, feeders are positioned to deter lager species and felines, squirrels are shot, birds are thriving 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted August 31, 2021 Report Share Posted August 31, 2021 4 minutes ago, Mice! said: I feed all year round and happily see a good variety of different species, feeders are positioned to deter lager species and felines, squirrels are shot, birds are thriving I'm much the same - except as corrected above. Apart from anything else, I love to watch the birds having their breakfast whilst I am having mine. It isn't really politically viable for me to shoot squirrels where my feeders are! I did shoot a rat that was raiding the feeders - and that was accepted (if slightly reluctantly!), but squirrels a step too far right in the centre of a village. Cats are not a problem as next door has a dog that keeps cats away. Woodpeckers have reared young this year and brought them to the feeders. Green woodpeckers love the ants in the lawn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted August 31, 2021 Report Share Posted August 31, 2021 31 minutes ago, JohnfromUK said: isn't really politically viable for me to shoot squirrels where my feeders are! I did shoot a rat that was raiding the feeders - and that was accepted (if slightly reluctantly!), but squirrels a step too far right in the centre of a village Guess it depends where your village is, oop north it's not politically correct to not shoot grey squirrels 😁 32 minutes ago, JohnfromUK said: Green woodpeckers love the ants in the lawn Not seen a Green woodpecker yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted August 31, 2021 Report Share Posted August 31, 2021 31 minutes ago, Mice! said: Not seen a Green woodpecker yet. We are very lucky; the greater spotted come to the feeder (they love a bit of suet), and the greens feed on the lawn. There are some lesser spotted in woods a mile or so away, but I have only once seen one. They are pretty shy. 33 minutes ago, Mice! said: Guess it depends where your village is, oop north it's not politically correct to not shoot grey squirrels My immediate neighbours are fine (he shoots as well) - but we are a mix of 'old country types' and 'business in town people' with 'homes out in the country' who (it seems to me anyway) don't like country ways and would prefer a town but with a bit more greenery (as long as there are clean pavements to walk the obligatory dog). The chorus of complaints that goes up if anyone has a bonfire (which I do regularly) ........ but they all like their log burners - with wood coming from the local 'kiln dried log' company at about 3 times the price per KW of gas! Sorry, rant over! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted August 31, 2021 Report Share Posted August 31, 2021 1 hour ago, JohnfromUK said: I'm much the same - except as corrected above. Apart from anything else, I love to watch the birds having their breakfast whilst I am having mine. It isn't really politically viable for me to shoot squirrels where my feeders are! I did shoot a rat that was raiding the feeders - and that was accepted (if slightly reluctantly!), but squirrels a step too far right in the centre of a village. Cats are not a problem as next door has a dog that keeps cats away. Woodpeckers have reared young this year and brought them to the feeders. Green woodpeckers love the ants in the lawn. Trap them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted August 31, 2021 Report Share Posted August 31, 2021 I do have a humane (I.e. live) trap, but have not had success. I admit I wasn’t very persistent with it. I ought to try again really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted August 31, 2021 Report Share Posted August 31, 2021 My mum is catching them all the time in her 10m2 garden. I gave her an air rifle but she only managed to hit her shed with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted August 31, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2021 4 hours ago, bruno22rf said: Since feeders have been a regular winter source of foods in my local woodland, where I shoot Squirrels, the number and variety of ALL species of Songbirds has increased dramatically, now some of this is down to a reduction in Squirrel numbers but I cannot believe that the food does not encourage all types and ensure the survival of many that would have starved. This is the thing ! We all believe feeding is a good thing, now according to this article we are causing an imbalance, resulting in less nesting sites for some rarer species. I wonder what the Songbird Survival or RSPB will make of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Windswept Posted August 31, 2021 Report Share Posted August 31, 2021 55 minutes ago, islandgun said: This is the thing ! We all believe feeding is a good thing, now according to this article we are causing an imbalance, resulting in less nesting sites for some rarer species. I wonder what the Songbird Survival or RSPB will make of it. I hardly ever feed the birds around here but concentrate on allowing natural food sources to flourish, for example allowing thistles and dandelions to go to seed. (I don't have any near neighbours to annoy). At this time of year there's hundreds of finches about the place. When I read the article I thought it was about time someone questioned the amount of feeding of wilds birds and the imbalances it makes. I also wonder what damage is done to the environment with all the land taken up growing bird seed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerCat Posted August 31, 2021 Report Share Posted August 31, 2021 I feed the birds all year and the garden is rammed of them. From tree and house sparrows to various tits and wood peckers and all manner in between. My cat does sit and watch, he has no chance catching the birds on the feeder and that's by design. Its too high and they can perch way out of reach What he's after is the mice that like the spilt feed. Last week he had his second squirrel, an adult and fully grown. I can't really shoot the squirrels as the wife and children would go on about it for months (at least if they know). If you feed them they get quite tame and often are just 3 feet from me when enjoying a coffee in the garden, carefree of our presence. Not seen a greenfinch for years though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted August 31, 2021 Report Share Posted August 31, 2021 7 hours ago, bruno22rf said: Since feeders have been a regular winter source of foods in my local woodland, where I shoot Squirrels, the number and variety of ALL species of Songbirds has increased dramatically, now some of this is down to a reduction in Squirrel numbers but I cannot believe that the food does not encourage all types and ensure the survival of many that would have starved. I agree. The seven flip top feeders I have out at the moment for squirrel control are constantly visited by all sorts of small birds and in my own wood I have put purpose built tables which I keep fed with a good mix of small bird feed along with peanuts. I am pleased to say, as mentioned above a big increase in small bird numbers, particularly finches this year with a fantastic number of bullfinches being born and coming to not only the tables but also to our house feeders as well. I have not bothered to read the article. I know what is happening in my own back yard because I spend many hours a week observing and protecting. Definitely the control of squirrels and magpies and jays makes a big difference to the succesful breeding of songbirds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted September 1, 2021 Report Share Posted September 1, 2021 11 hours ago, Windswept said: When I read the article I thought it was about time someone questioned the amount of feeding of wilds birds and the imbalances it makes. I also wonder what damage is done to the environment with all the land taken up growing bird seed. Do you really think the prime grain is used in bird food? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisheruk Posted September 1, 2021 Report Share Posted September 1, 2021 (edited) I feed the birds in my garden all year round and we all enjoy seeing them. The numbers are huge at times. I use flip top squirrel feeders in the woods but scatter feed about around them so that birds show interest and it seems to give the squirrels confidence. I have a live trap on the fence under a Hawthorne tree which I set when a grey squirrel happens to pay a visit and a small flip top feeder which only gets topped up when squirrels are about. Seems a pretty good balance to me. As for the eco wisdom of feeding birds it’s providing employment and income for many. Blooming so called academics need to get a real job, if they can’t find anything better to use their talent. Edited September 1, 2021 by Fisheruk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Windswept Posted September 1, 2021 Report Share Posted September 1, 2021 1 hour ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: Do you really think the prime grain is used in bird food? Of course not, but what about the sunflower seeds, niger seeds, peanuts etc etc, are you claiming they are all completely waste products, not even fit for biofuel? There are also other problems with feeding, many people don't clean bird feeders regularly which spreads disease. I gather this is one possible reason for the demise of greenfinches? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratlegs Posted September 1, 2021 Report Share Posted September 1, 2021 Ive been told a lot of bird seed is grown in Africa and flown here along with roses Cant see why they dont grow food for themselves if they are hungry like the begging adverts would have us belive save food miles and aircraft pollution Folks near us have fat balls out the neighbours get the rats passing through Townies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted September 3, 2021 Report Share Posted September 3, 2021 On a slight tangent, when we were away in Anglesey the other week there was a full field of sunflowers, next to a pick your own fruit place, signs went up saying there was a walk through the field, bit different to a maize maze, the field looked great, just a shame they weren't all in full bloom. Talking to a lady who had been taking some photos she said it wasn't a commercial thing, more to get people in, I'm sure the field will be chock full of birds in a few weeks time. There is also something on about sunflowers, but I'll have to find out when, given I buy a lot of sunflower seeds it caught my attention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted September 3, 2021 Report Share Posted September 3, 2021 Food Unwrapped channel 4, Monday 8pm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earsom Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 Last winter, I made homemade fat balls for birds to feed the birds in the garden. It's a very fun and cheap thing to do to encourage more birds to visit my garden. But instead of using lard as the main source of fat, I used peanut butter and suet instead. The birds seem to like it. It is also a great food for birds all year round and especially in winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 I think you have to be careful to avoid peanut butter with added salt - or so I have read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old man Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 Come, come, not the done thing now apparently as it alters behaviour patterns? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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