Feeders For A Multi-Storey Block Of Flats

Hi all! My cherry-popper is a question: I live on the 3rd floor of a high-rise and what is worse, my bedroom window ledge is steeply sloping. I bought a cheap suction feeder to stick on the outside of the window, but the first strong wind and it was gone. Can anyone recommend a Scottish-weather-proof feeder, or a plan B? Thanks in advance.
  • Try this site Peter ...

    www.indestructables.com

    for an idea how to make a windowsill feeder tray!

     

     2013 photos & vids here

    eff37 on Flickr

  • Hello Peter,   the only idea I can come up with is if you have some way of fixing an L-bracket on the outside wall - the type suitable for a hanging basket that you could hang a feeder from as you can get brackets with upturned hooks making it difficult for the wind to blow the feeder off.   My only worry is that it is not placed too near a window in case a bird hits the glass and obviously it would need extreme care lifting the feeder off to clean and refill it at that height as anything falling from 3rd storey could do someone or something serious damage;    a better solution would be if you have a communal area with an area of yard or garden where you could put a small feeding station (obviously with the consent of the other home owners) ?      Sometimes in flats/apartments other owners do not like the seed spillage which inevitably will happen but I do understand you would like to feed the birds.    

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    Regards, Hazel 

  • Thanks Hazy. I may need to leave it as an idea for the future as drilling isn't an option and I don't have a suitable communal area. Pity, but thanks for replying.

  • We live in a small estate of apartments (posh flats LOL) but only 3 high and on a slope so none are very high but we are lucky as ours are surrounded by the very mature garden of an old house that was in place before and this attracts a great variety of bird. We look out onto a great area of communal garden but despite plenty of birds around the only ones using the feeders this winter have been Jackdaws,Wood Pigeons and the dreaded Squirrels,maybe too much natural food around so far this winter.

    Pete

    Birding is for everyone no matter how good or bad we are at it,enjoy it while you can

  • I think I've found the solution.

    I've bought the RSPB window feeder, which I've seen in use on YouTube, at the same height as I am. I keep my curtains closed, so I shouldn't have problems with birds colliding with the window and I'm going to attach a short tether to the window to prevent it smashing.

  • Sounds like a perfect solution Peter and although i mentioned the chance of birds striking the window I have seen feeders at one of the rspb reserves placed right in front of their cafe window so guess it would be ok and you can leave your curtains open so you can see the lovely visitors.    If you have local ponds or parks in the area you can get floating swan/duck food if you want to feed the waterfowl there.    Whenever I go out walking I always seem to have a small container in my pocket with a mix of suet pellets/sunflower hearts to feed the birds !    Enjoy your bird visitors and glad you have seen something suitable :)   good luck.

    _____________________________________

    Regards, Hazel 

  • In many cases birds get used to movement of people in the room,some friends of ours have a couple of window feeders on the kitchen windows their lakeland cottage and after a few days the birds just ignored them and now they have Great Spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch among other birds to entertain them at meal times as well as Red Squirrel on a nearby feeder. Good luck with your feeder hope it is successful.

    Pete

    Birding is for everyone no matter how good or bad we are at it,enjoy it while you can

  • Sounds great, guys. Many thanks for all your advice and tips. I bought a SJ4000 (GoPro clone) to make sure I didn't miss any of the action, so I might just leave my bedroom curtains closed. Safety first! :D Thanks again, guys and gals.