I have been feeding the birds ever since we moved in here two years ago. I have a premium feeder station and a bird table (roofed). After much experimenting I found guards and screen mesh to prevent the pigeons, doves, jays and crows form decimating the food and scaring smaller birds away.
I have hung peanuts in the recommended feeder, none of them touch it. Same result with suet balls, no takers. Sunflower hearts used to be popular and I've tried the regular and the no-mess varieties and now the feeders stay full for days at a time. I did try coconuts and with some cunning strings stopped the crows from stealing them but the starlings can eat one in a day so nothing else gets a look in.
Then I tried the table mix extra, nothing likes it, table stays full after the pigeons and crows have eaten the bits they can reach.
There is one success - Favourites Blend - like putting manna out, starlings love it but so do the other and smaller birds; it works in the hanging feeders and the table with great success.
So now I have a 5kg bag of no-mess sunflower mix, 5kg bag of Table Mix Extra which are likely to last a while. Any hints or suggestions bout what I.m doing right or wrong would be gratefully received.
I'm also considering resiting my bird table and I want to plant a tree there. Should the table be in the open or closer to a fence and plants? The picture shows my basic set up, the table is about 6 feet from the house but has no bushes or trees close.
Thanks for listening
David
Here are two photos showing the existing table location and a proposed location, plus a second proposed location. The second (near the greenhouse) has the benefit if being visible from inside the house.