I've recently installed some bird feeders on my apartment balcony, one with suet balls and the other containing a seed mix.The feeders both seem to be going down well with the locals, but the seed mix seems to be a little too popular with the local sparrows, with them increasing in number by the day, camping outside my flat and bullying the other species.They are going through an entire feeder worth of seed in less than a day, but picking the seeds out and throwing quite a lot of it on the floor.Should I consider a different mix of seed or perhaps stop putting the seed out entirely and just use the suet? I'm happy to have the sparrows but would like some of the other local species to get a look-in, and the guy in the flat downstairs is probably going to become annoyed by the pile of seed appearing outside his balcony!
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
Thanks Wendy, I'll try the sunflower hearts. Attaching a tray is a good idea I'll see if I can do that. It would have the added benefit of allowing me to put some mealworms in the tray for my local Robin as he/she doesn't seem to like using the perch on the feeder.
Richard B