Who has a house sparrow colony?

Hi Sparrow,

they're not getting too bad but they could be better!  I'm averaging roughly a third of the colony in the garden (about 10), they're starting to use their feeders again as well as eating in a big circle on the seed tray of the feeding station - I suppose its fair as the woodpigeon is eating from their feeders, LOL!

None of the birds that come here eat peanuts, I've given up on them now to be honest - and still have half a bag!

Suet balls are going untouched - even the buggy ones I bought from RSPB Shop.  Suet cakes aren't being touched either.  There was a time where everything would be emptied daily!

I was just curious to know if there was a particular mix that the Sparrows may be bribed back in their hoards for.  I've ordered and recieved today the catalogue for Jacobi Jayne's  (www.livingwithbirds.com) and I'm tempted to try out their Highest Energy Special Mix. which has suet grains in it.  I'm ordering them a new feeder from there anyway so may have that to try them on in it.

Unknown said:

Hi all, 

just a curious question to those who have a House Sparrow colony in their gardens.  What do you feed them and what do they prefer?

I've been feeding mine RSPB No-Mess Sunflower Mix but they seem to have gone off it, I've switched 2 of their 4 feeders to RSPB Feeder Mix Extra and they seem to be liking it.  But what I really want to know is what food do yours go wild for?

I want to keep their loyalty rather than they keep eating bread off the neighbours lol!

Hello

Re your question...we have sparrows in our garden daily and they feed from the fat balls, nut and seeds and scraps from the ground. We now have our first bull finch in the garden.

This is one nest box this morning. A male has been sitting on top advertising his des res for a week or so.There was a pair popping in and out yesterday and some token nesting material is in burt I don't think this is the same pair. They are sitting eyeballing each other and as soon as one moves the other pounces on it.

Hi Dangerous,

What a wonderful photo and story. Thanks for showing this. I hope you keep us up to date with the nuptuals, or war, whichever! I've been watching my colony and am sure they are pairing up.

Thank you for that Dangerous, interesting stuff :o)

I do hope they pair up rather than it turns to all out war, lol!  I want to see the goings on...like a soap opera :o)

Well I'm currently in day 7 of my Sparrow new feeder boycott!  The slight re-juggle seems to upset them somehow - to the extent I've been out and bought two suet ball feeders and put the old hooked pole back up to keep them happy!

They're currently sitting in the conifers and trees chirping their little heads off...but not eating!  I know they didn't come early because I've been up since 7am and they're lazy, lol!

Mine prefer the seed feeder but will eat fat balls and suet blocks. They are well fed here and fat all year round.

I will start a new thread about my sparrow nest box :o)

Hi Sparrow,

just when I thought they were getting back to normal, eh?

I had point-blank refused to fill their one feeder with no-mess sunflower mix in, in the hope that they turned to the new feeder but it didn't work so I gave in and went to top up.  There was a lot of excited chattering when I went out like a "we've won!  He's given in!" kind of way, lol!

Mine aren't big fans of fat, they've been on these suet balls since thursday but unless you went up and looked closely you wouldn't think they'd touched them.

I've just had a thought, the new feeder has those little rings on so the birds can perch easier on them, maybe they don't like them?  I may take them off and see if it changed anything.

I know as a general rule you have to give them a few days to get used to a new feeder etc so maybe that's why they're not taking to the new hanging feeder?

Actually, when I first put up two hanging feeders for these Sparrows, there were no takers as they were used to eating off trays.

Hi Paul and Dangerous,

Looking forward to your new thread Dangerous - and photos!

I do get the odd sparrow on the goldfinch SH feeders, but not for long. The trays are easier for them and they are happier with them. They do have a quick peck at the fat balls, but it is a quickie. They like suet pellets, the berry flavoured ones, which they pick up off the ground after a starling invasion.

Unknown said:

I've just had a thought, the new feeder has those little rings on so the birds can perch easier on them, maybe they don't like them?  I may take them off and see if it changed anything.

None of my birds like those, Paul, and I have taken them off. They prefer to use the ordinary perches. I tried an experiment with them on the multi-port feeders, some with and some without. The goldfinches and other birds used the ordinary perches, and not one used the rings.

I have noticed over the last few days how my males are really coming into their own with their plumage. They all have beautiful white wing bars and look wonderful in flight from above (bedroom window), and all their white bits are gleaming.

Hi Sparrow,

I've been out (followed by Bobby who thought nextdoor's cat was there, but that's a different story!) and removed the rings, bar the two at the bottom, simply because I didn't put a coat on and was froze!

Will now have to wait and see if they change their mind, I'd have thought since there were goodies in this food mix like suet nibbles and things which are perfect for fat in this weather they'd love it.  Maybe they just don't love the feeder!

I know what you mean about the males looking more striking than recently, I noticed too - who'd have thought brown could be so beautiful!  :o)

When I put that nest box up (attached to one of their conifers) I noticed there's a bit of new found confidence with them too as they didn't go far, with some even sitting above me and 4 feet away watching me.