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Feeding birds

ClaireE
08/06/2021 09:54

I recently moved to a new house and discovered my neighbour enjoys feeding the local birds.  My neighbour uses hanging feeders and an open dish on a table with seed.  A week or two after moving in I discovered rats nesting between our gardens, this was promptly dealt with and the area cleared which was overgrown and contained old bricks etc.  I have replaced our fencing and our gardens are separated, my neighbour continues to feed as she always has but I notice that sometimes seed in the open dish is left out overnight.  Is it common for seed to be left out overnight and common for seed to be put out as my neighbour is doing?  I am asking because I feel I have lost some objectivity and fear I am worrying over not much at all.  My neighbour does end up feeding a fair number of pigeons so I think the seed amount going out is a bit excessive although I think my neighbour usually feeds just once a day.  Any comments or  feedback gratefully received.  I have spoken to my neighbour but I am afraid she doesn’t see an issue with the feeding and has said that she has had rats visiting for many years, we are in a rural location. Should I just let things be? 

  • 0 07/07/2021 11:31
    Our feeders are in a quiet corner of the communal grounds of a very small estate of flats so we have to respect what others feel about things. A number of residents have window feeders so there is not a problem with feeding but people do get twitchy at the very thought of rats. As we can see our feeders from the kitchen window we soon notice if we get unwanted visitors and when this happens we just stop feeding and the rats move on to other food sources. Even with dishes under the seed feeders there will always be spillage on the ground which ground feeding birds clean up. In normal years we stop feeding during summer months as there is normally plenty of natural food around and that gives the area under the feeders time to grow back. We have not stopped this year as there seems to be less natural food locally at the moment. I do not think many people take the feeders down at night or at least not the people who we see with feeders but I suppose that would make sense if rats become a problem.

    Pete

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

  • 0 09/07/2021 14:03
    Thanks Pete, I developed a lot of anxiety about what looked to me like excessive feeding - I still think a lot of seed goes out on an open tray but I am trying to move on and not focus too much on it. I just hope my neighbour can manage any further problems to prevent things escalating again.
  • 0 10/07/2021 11:35

    Though we don't have a rat problem, we actively liaise with neighbours to ensure that they don't become a problem by keeping the ground as clear as possible, plus using trailcams to monitor the wildlife in the garden 24/7.

    Mike

    Flickr: Peak Rambler

  • 0 03/09/2021 18:28

    Yeh! My neighbors are also feeding the hummingbirds using the hummingbird feeders.
    But it's little bit disturbing for my lovely dog. He start barking whenever he see the birds
    on feeders. I don't know dogs can have the issues with the dogs. I have talk with
    my breeder as well. But the things not clear to me. Let me know if anyone else facing
    the same issue.