Bird houses, feeders and food - which ones to buy?

 


Hello fellow bird-lovers!

I have just moved from country Ireland to city England and am really
disappointed by the lack of birds in my new garden. I am thinking about
buying a
bird house/feeder and some food. I visited the local garden
centre and was
overwhelmed by the amount of brands available.

To me, it seems like a choice between buying Tesco cornflakes and
Kelloggs
cornflakes but I'm a newbie to this. Can any of you share your
thoughts on which
brand is best to get and which brand I should avoid.
Can the birds really tell a
difference?

Thanks very much!




--
Char Kenny

 

In reply to Char Kenny (Char.Kenny.183dd26@gardenbanter.co.uk) who wrote
this in Char.Kenny.183dd26@gardenbanter.co.uk, I, Marvo, say :


I buy the sacks from the RSPB because

o they should know what they're doing
o they make some money for themselves selling it
o it is delivered in an enormous bag
o the birds eat a feederful in a day

Careful of storing it. Rats love it.

 


I wouldn't even think about bird feeders that aren't squirrel-proof,
with a good sturdy cage - not only do they eat all the food, they
destroy the bird feeders as well!
We also had one of those long ones where a cover comes down over the
tube when the squirrel tries to get on it. Worked perfectly until the
fox managed somehow to detach the bit with the peanuts in it - we
haven't seen it since. :-((
--
Klara, Gatwick basin

 


I'd wait to see if squirrels are a problem before buying a squirrel
proof feeder.

I use CJ Birdfoods - recommended by  BTO. Theory is that cheaper foods
are bulked out with cheaper ingredients which a) are less energy rich
(and small birds in winter need all they can get) and b) aren't liked by
the birds as much so they just drop them so they heap up beneath the
feeder.

In winter and spring I also use a fat feeder - I use the big cylindrical
blocks that CJ Birdfoods do - my birds don't seem to like the round
balls, or the little square ones that sit in cages. You can get the big
blocks with different additions, eg berries, insects, which is fun for
me but I don't know whether the birds care.

It takes several weeks for birds to get used to a feeder and start
visiting it. And BTO are saying that the biggest influence on your bird
visitors is what's around you rather than what you have in your garden.
So if you're in an urban desert you have to learn to love starlings and
sparrows.


--
Kay

 



Or goldfinches and parakeets in Ardwick, Manchester.
--
http://www.orderonlinepickupinstore.co.uk
Ah fetch it yourself if you can't wait for delivery
http://www.freedeliveryuk.co.uk
Or get it delivered for free