The constant squabbling of the starlings and the sheer size of the pigeons could be the reason some of the smaller birds are reluctant to use my main pole feeding station, notably the tits, so I decided enough is enough and my starlings and pigeons must be moved. I have a large bird table with plenty of room for these larger birds, so I was determined they should be made to use it.
Last night, after dark, I removed the flat trays and all the goodies the starlings like from the feeding station, and put plenty of seed for the pigeons and goodies for the starlings on the bird table. I just left 3 hanging feeders for the time being - nyjer seed, sunflower hearts and my new safflower seed, plus a few nut granules, to see what would happen.
This morning, the starlings came to perch on the pinnacle and arms of the feeding station, as they always do, having a gossip, preening, and looking content. Then they looked down in total disgust at the disappearance of their trays, and I could also hear the pigeons stamping and clog dancing on the roof above me. One bright spark noticed the goodies on the table, told the others, and success!! They all went to have a good feed and were joined by the pigeons. That is all except one starling. He stayed put, looked around, then perched on the nyjer feeder and started to tuck in. He was there for ages!!!
I am determined to win this one. I will not allow the starlings to beat me!!
Cheers, Linda.
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Hi Buzzard
I must admit that I would also have had to retire injured in the wallet department by now at such a high refill rate.
Best wishes Chris
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Hi Chris, I thought that's what I implied - injured in the arm and leg department (ie. cost an arm and a leg??!!)
Must be a lousy joke if no-one gets it!! (except MarJus)
I got it, Sparrow!! and have been having a good laugh on reading the whole of this thread, today. I've had similar problems with the starlings etc. so was interested to see how you solved it. My only solution has been to put out stuff in several different areas of garden, (hoping that perhaps the greedier large birds would prefer one large bird table I have), but like you, have a dog who will hoover up anything near to the ground, so ground feeding is out & also anything that drops! Good Luck!
Susan H said: Hi Chris, I thought that's what I implied - injured in the arm and leg department (ie. cost an arm and a leg??!!) Must be a lousy joke if no-one gets it!! (except MarJus)
I got it as well Sparrow so you are not the only person on that wavelength!!!
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!
Hi Sparrow,
Oh yes I got it, maybe I just didn't say I got it.:-) I've edited my post.
Susan H said:I can't put mesh tray feeders on the ground due to hound-dog, so I have them attached to the fences which seems to work, providing you can fix them so they are removable for cleaning.
Hi Sparrow
Is your fence a strong closeboard type or just ordinary lap panels? How did you fix the feeders that you can remove for cleaning?
I have a $10 cedar frame feeder with mesh in the bottom that I had made in the US and sent to me while I was there on holiday (you would be amazed at all of the things I buy in the US to have delivered to a US hotel before I arrive) but it has no feet, so the lawn goes mouldy if I leave it in one place on the grass. Attaching it to a fence would be a good idea.
Getting the starlings to feed from it would be even better!
Hi Woodpecker,
Ooooooo this is a hard one for me! The fences are ordinary lap types. Hubby put a small, fairly flat metal bracket on the side of the feeder and a "thing" in the fence. I can only call it a "thing" because it is something he cobbled together himself. The feeder then hooks over the "thing". It is quite stable and accommodates the starling bun fights and the jackdaws and collared doves. It should be easier for you as your feeder is wooden. Mine is metal.
Oh Sparrow, this thread has really made me laugh - what a carry on! How are things going?
I know all to well that larger birds and Starlings can be off putting for plenty of birds. Especially when they seem to crash land in next to the small birds!
I too try to scatter things around the garden, on the off chance the Starlings leave the feeders alone for the smaller birds. Since the Starlings have a built in radar for suet and mealworms (and very little interest in seed) its simple enough to hang a suet ball feeder up somewhere; and since they tend to follow eachother because I've found them not to be very good at sharing they all go there, fight and eat! If they're at one end of the garden the smaller birds come in with relative ease and eat in peace.
Hi Paul,
I said earlier "Oh ye of little faith"!!!!! I have succeded in moving the starlings from the pole feeding station to the fence mounted trays and the bird table. It is the suet pellets that attract them, although they do eat the seed when all else has gone. I am being hard and not replenishing these trays after 2pm. This way it is seed and nut granules or nothing! They still have a suet filled coconut if they want it.
Sparrow 1 Starlings 0
One of the trays is so successful I have just seen 9 starlings on it. There is only room for 3, maybe 4 at a push. The others were standing ontop of each other, 2 or 3 deep!!!! I may have to consider a larger tray!
They still perch on the arms of the pole as it is a good waiting area and look out post.
That's good news! There's one thing has to be said for Starlings, if you want to move them to their own corner out the other birds' way its easy as they all follow eachother :o)