As several of us have mentioned our House Sparrows are particularly difficult to please and will shun a feeder for no apparent reason. I originally bought the cheapest plastic feeders and because I was getting a lot of sparrows I merrily went off and bought some smarter and more hard wearing seed feeders to accommodate them.
Well they were not accommodated because they would not use them. Where they had been feeding for long periods of time and lining up along the fence to have ago: I was getting one or two at a time and they barely stayed for a few seconds.
Well after reading in my new book (I won't bore you further, I have mentioned it in two other posts) It said that sparrows liked to feed together and very close to shelter. So off I went and bought two of the favoured plastic four port seed feeders and placed them in the back of my Diabolo shrub near the conifer. INSTANT success!!!
They came in large numbers, stayed all afternoon and chatted to the starlings and had a drink too. Will it last I wonder. Here are a few pics. The drawback being you cannot see them on the feeders!
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bramble67/
Great photos Sarah and just goes to show smartest is not always best. - practical wins
Of all creatures, man is the most detestable, he is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport, knowing it to be pain. ~ Mark Twain
Ooooh Bramble, well done for finding a way to please your sparrows. They can be such hard work at times. Lovely pictures of my favourite birds.
What on earth is that one doing, 5th picture down? He looks like he is bungee jumping upside down!!!!
I have known for a long time that mine will only willingly use feeders that are literally touching the conifer bush, so they hop on and off from the branches. Either that, or on the ground - and funnily enough when they are on the ground they don't mind at all being out in the open. However, all mine were very happy all last summer and autumn, down to Christmas. Then they boycotted their special corner completely and moved across the garden to a different conifer. I have had to make them a new sparrows corner and pass the old one over to the starlings! I have also noticed they like starlings and the colony tends to arrive and leave when they do. I do wonder if the sparrows use the starlings as paratroopers - sending them out in advance to see if all is clear and safe!
Brilliant, Bramble.
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
Oh Sarah you've hit the nail on the head with them being hard to please! My colony are still part boycotting me so tomorrow I may move their feeder closer still to the fence and their conifer and tree - especially since next to Sparrows, Sparrowhawks seem to be just as regular here at the moment!
I admire your hard work to make sure your Sparrows are happy and well catered for - even when that meant sacrificing being able to see them :o)
Oh and lovely photos by the way!
I've yet to read what your new book is, so I'm going to go have a look for it in other threads lol.
Thanks for your comments.
Sparrow, the one in the 5th picture seemed to be hanging upside down to pick something off the tree. They seem to eat the seeds off this particular conifer.
Paul I got the book free when i registered for BTO Garden Bird watch and is an exclusive to them edition. It is called Garden Birds and wildlife and has great pictures and information on all the most common garden birds.
Sarah
Thanks Sarah, I'm going to take a look on their site now :o)
I've seen my Sparrows doing the same on our conifers, they also disappear in them too. Wasn't sure what they were doing until now!
Sarah, you certainly seem to have a very happy group of sparrows and starlings. Thanks for your lovely photographs.
Unknown said: Sarah, you certainly seem to have a very happy group of sparrows and starlings. Thanks for your lovely photographs.
Thank you. The Starlings are always first to arrive, but not sure if it was the sun or the new feeder arrangement that had both starlings and sparrows spending the afternoon in and out of the conifer to the feeders. The sparrows actually live in two very large conifers that are in a garden backing on to mine.
I did watch the male magpie go into these conifers today and all the sparrows shot out to rest on the outside branches. Is it too early for the sparrows to have eggs?
Yes Sarah, it is too early for the sparrows to have laid eggs. I think early May is about the right time.
Fabulous photos Sarah and I am so pleased that your sparrows have returned. If you get too many, do feel free to send a few my way please!
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
You can never have too many Sparrow! Can you?
Thanks for your comments