General Chat

and other birds come into my garden. I have bought nuts seeds and those coconut shell things. In fact everything that my next door but one neighbour has in her garden, to attract the birds. So how come despite them having cats, the birds flock to their garden, but not mine? LL

any ornothologists about?

Hi, keep trying ,my friend was saying the same about a year ago,but kept trying with seed and nuts and now has a pair of blackbirds, a robin and last week a jay came down. She is in town, I think the birds just have to spot you and pass the word around, have you got any shrubs with berries? that will help encourage them down. Try black sunflower seeds they seem especially fond of those. Rosexx

Hi LL, try putting a hanging plant bracket on the wall and hang the feeder from that,it might be a bit close to the wall, also get a bird bath,that will encourage them. hope this helps. wendy

Hi Rosemary and Buggs, The gardens are so small more like patios really. But neighbour does have a small tree wich they hang things from. I only have containers, so have hung them from privet and on little nails on wall. Will this help if I give it time? LL

I agree, you need to give them time. I had about 20 bluetits in my garden the other day, The birds are getting through about 12lb of seeds & nuts a week here - they're costing me a fortune! They do say that, once you start feeding them, you shouldn't stop as they rely on you as a food source. Angela

I love sitting and watching them in neighbours garden, but I want them in mine :(

Thanks Wendy. Actually I have been thinking of getting (not a table but) its like something you might hang plants on with two arms but it is for birds seeds etc, you may have seen them in argos catologue? that way cats wont be able to get to birds ...I hope. LL

Hello LL, Yes I am sure the birds will come to feeders hung on the wall. if you can perhaps plant something that attracts insects in one of your containers,Sedum which has pink flowers is good or perhaps a Hebe ,or something that produces berries for autumn/winter..Cotoneaster maybe. If you have a wall,you could put in an ivy which will attract insects and will give the bird some cover also. And if you could manage a small birdbath they might come for that,especially in summer. Rosexx

Hi LL i would love to have some too not fussed on the colour though lol Rosex

Posie....pmsl.........lowering the tone as per!;0))))))))))))))

If you have room LL plant a buddleia(butterfly bush) as your garden is small ask for the small variety at the garden centre,because they can get tall then you will get butterflies as well as birds. I know the hangers you are talking about quite a few people i know have them. ive put up a makeshift bird feeder this afternoon---nailed a piece of wood to the fence that overlooks the field at the back of me and screwed a cup hook into it and hung the feeder from it, because every day i get this wonderful little wren singing its heart out and i throw food around the area she hops about in,trouble is my chickens wander round there and eat the bird seed,so improvised with the wood till i can make something better. you can plant the buddleia in a large container then it wont get too big,prune it every other year,they are indestructable. good luck with your task wendy

Buggs, I have heard once you start you have to keep it up, but you say you only missed a week? and had hardly any comming. How do you go on if your away say on holiday? LL

Buggs we have very nice neighbours, but its a very quiet street where everyone seems to prefer to keep themselves to themselves. I have a grown up son at home (well in his twenties) but you know what they are like at that age. Home from work, tea, then out. lol I would have to make sure they were filled before I went away and hope for best. LL

wendy, Is it wrens that are same size as Blue tits, but same colour as a sparrow? LL

Rose penny just dropped then what you meant, lol. Sorry a bit slow tonight pmslxx LL

I have taken on board all you have said and will leave this thread running for a while longer if thats ok? I will keep refering to it for ideas etc. But will be going to bed soon. Thanks for you input everyone. LL

Yep thats right Buggs thanks for that. Other day I saw something out the corner of my eye in my window planters, the plants were moveing and at first I thought it was a mouse..then I saw it, and thats what it was a wren. That goes in neighbours garden alot too, as do the bluetits, Magpies, pidgeons, you name it and I get none :( LL

ive got wagtails in my garden,and where i work.x

Ll type RSPB Feeding, into the search box and there is a lot of info there. Don't forget if you throw bread out for the birds, to soak it in water first, especially when they are feeding young. Blackbirds love a bit of cheese and I had a pair who loved baked beans! Also apples, you can hang one of those up by threading on string and tying to a tree or bush. Good luck, the hard work is worth it to see all the birds come. Liz