Feeding Garden Visitors Feeding small birds

Feeding small birds

Shelley S 12/06/2019 18:39

Hi,

I currently feed the birds, but as soon as I put food out the starlings, wood pigeons and wild pigeons eat everything in sight leaving nothing for the small birds.

I've been thinking about trying to come up with some kind of feeder that only the small birds such as sparrows, blue tits etc can get to.

Does anyone have any ideas of how I can make a starling/ pigeon proof feeder? I thought about turning a hanging basket frame upside down, but I imagine the starlings will still fit through the bars.

If anyone has managed to make something could you please share photos? Or can you recommend a feeder?

I still intend to put food out for the starlings, but I want to give the little birds a chance.

Thank you

0 Nigel O 12/06/2019 19:15

Try having a look in the Shop section. I have no experience of them so can't make recommendations.
shopping.rspb.org.uk/.../

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Nige Flickr
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0 Mr. B 12/06/2019 20:37

Hi Shelley, are you using any kind of feeder at the minute or just putting food out on the ground? The standard tubular type seed feeders will certainly stop the pigeons getting at the seed, and starlings just don't seem to like them. Finches and tits much prefer these type of feeders, they generally avoid feeding on the ground as it makes them vulnerable to predators.
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0 Shelley S 12/06/2019 22:25

Hi, thanks for the replies. I have a few tubular feeders, and I scatter food on the ground and in pots. The wood pigeon has worked out how to get the food from the tubular feeders by siting on the seed tray! I will certainly take a look in the link provided.
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0 GMayers 23/06/2019 15:50

Hi, i had the same problem! Unfortunately the big birds (crows, wood pigeons, magpies, rooks and jackdaws) all used to swoop in and steal the dried mealworms from the feeders. I have tried a few things and the best seems to be the feeders designed to keep out bigger birds.
I have bought a ‘i love robins’ pearl feeder from amazon. It has an adjustable top so you can lower it to stop bigger birds getting to it but keep it wide enough for small birds, ideal to keep dried mealworms safe from big birds.
For fine seed i bought a Peckish small birds feeder, this attracts the blue tits. (www.amazon.co.uk/.../
Hope this helps somehow
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0 Boothy99 22/11/2019 09:37

Hi Shelley S,
You could try making cages from your hanging baskets. It'll keep out the pigeons (& any squirrels). Depending on how close the wires are on your baskets - starlings may or may not get in. The ones I made are here ...

https://community.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/f/feeding-garden-visitors/206053/diy-bird-feeder-cages-using-hanging-baskets-squirrel-pigeon-proof

Good luck
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0 Karin Wainwright 16/12/2019 10:21

There is this great solution that someone posted in another thread,
community.rspb.org.uk/.../diy-bird-feeder-cages-using-hanging-baskets-squirrel-pigeon-proof
I'm going to try it for sure! I have ringed pigeons coming from someone's house that are eating all my seeds within an hour! No small bird can come near.
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