Hello, I live in rural-ish Leicestershire with a small-medium sized garden with a stocked bird feeder. I get lots of different species daily (such as tits, pigeons, thrushes and many more) EXCEPT for finches. I have had the feeder set up in the garden for approx 6 months, and not a single finch wants to visit. Tediously, I have researched lots to get them into my garden but they simply just never appear. I know it sounds like I’m trying a lot, but I see them weekly in the trees on the road surrounding my house, so it’s not like they’re not nearby. I offer: sunflower seeds + hearts, mixed seed, suet balls, peanuts, and NYJER. My garden has 2 large conifer trees and multiple 2m shrubs. Does anyone have any advice specifically regarding how to get them to visit, even though I have everything they love? Any advice or tips (even if it’s super niche or expensive) on how to get them to visit would be super appreciated. Thanks
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Tony
My Flickr Photostream
Thanks very much for the advice, I was wondering whether the feeder was a little in the open actually. My garden is practically a square with tall shrubs lining the back and right fences. The feeder is located towards the back fence so it has a “wall” of shrubs 1ft behind, but other than that the rest of my garden is just open space. I know you can’t visualise my garden, but anywhere you could think it would be best? Funnily enough, I have a forsythia which sparrows especially love to perch in, and I’ve heard bullfinches like to nip the buds in spring so hopefully this may help too. Thanks
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Nige Flickr
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Got so close this morning! A flock of about 20 of them around my housing estate, cheeping away. They then flew into my neighbours trees but left after a crow came bashing around. I think it won’t be long until I get them into my garden. Although the tip about getting up earlier did definitely help.
Thanks, Ellis