I've been feeding the birds since i moved in to my house in March 08. I started to notice regulars among which were a group of 5 sparrows. This group has grown over the past year to a group of 22 sparrows. I read recently that they can breed up to four times a year so i'm guessing the original 5 have been quite busy My neighbour feeds them too and i presume they're all living in the large connifer between mine and her garden as they often all gather to sunbathe on the hedge, they're never far away. I love that they're there, but i've noticed that all the other regulars have gone. I had around 10 different species coming around at one point but now it's just the one. Could the sparrows be scaring everything away? Am i doing the right thing continuing to feed them? Or do birds just come and go? I'm quite new to this so any advice would be much appreciated.
Hi Blackbird and ffroglet... many thanks for the suggestions, I will investigate them all.
Coincidentally, I have recently purchased some robin food which contains (amongst other things) dried mealworms. I put the first lot out last evening and this morning all the mealworms have been taken - but by what I know not. I currently have my chaffinch family (parents + one of each sex youngster and two more I am not currently able to sex) munching away on the peanut granules and sunflower hearts. I have not seen yet, today, my two (!) robin families at the feeder table but they may possibly have been along earlier.
I will try again fresh mealworms if (BIG if) I can find them in a tub. The first lot I purchased arrived in one of those big brown paper bags and when I opened it they were crawling all over the place and escaping from the top. I confess the whole lot went straight out onto the lawn so the birds enjoyed what, to me (cost-wise), was the avian equivalent of a three course meal comprising caviar, caviar and more caviar. A long time ago I did see them for sale in plastic tubs but I haven't a clue, now, where I saw them. Searching required, I think.
p.s. I had a bit of trouble finding this post again - please does anyone know how I mark a post as a favourite?
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
Squirrel, hi - you most certainly ARE able to buy meal worms (live) in a plastic tub. That's how I buy mine and since I've purchased them from at least two pet shops it must be generally, the 'norm.
If you want to find your way back to a particular forum or thread I've found the easiest thing is to Bookmark (Firefox browser) or add to Favourites (Interenet Explorer) and all you need to do is to go up the the very top of your page - I'm using a Firefox browser currently but right at the top is a 'menu' bar. The 'menus' are called:
file edit view history bookmarks (so favourites if you are using Internet Explorer) tools help
in Internet Explorer the 'menus' are called
file edit view history favourites tools help
All you need to do is click on Favourites then click on 'Add to Favourites'
There is a 'Name' bar so type in that something that will be meaningful to you and then click on ADD
Initially the 'favourite ' will probably be placed right at the bottom of your Favourite list but you can either click on it and DRAG it to the top of your list OR do a RIGHT click with your mouse (the RIGHT mouse button) somewhere within Favourits (anywhere will do) and a menu will come up that will allow your to sort by name if you click on that your favourites will appear in alphabetical order.
OK?
Hi again Cirrus... as I mentioned on your page I have made a note of this for future reference. Many thanks for all your efforts in providing the very detailed instructions, it is greatly appreciated.
Squirrel
Squirrel, if you look at the very bottom of this thread, you will see some blue wording which says 'save this topic as a favourite' or something very similar. (I can't see it now, because i'm typing a comment, and I've forgotten the actual wording.) If you click on this, it should save the topic to your 'My Page' under 'favourites'. This is specific to this website and won't show up in your computer favourites, of course!
Smiles, Jan.
Squirrel, if it's of any help my mealworms come in a brown paper bag and I decant them into a fishing bait box to store them. It's a sealed plastic tub but the lid is full of air holes. There's no escape and it's hygienic enought to keep them in my fridge to make them last longer.
During the summer I bought a large quantity on special offer and couldn't get them all in my fridge. They ate their way out of the bags and roamed around my house - I was finding them for weeks and eventually the last ones turned into beetles and were much easier to find :-) I found it very funny, theyre quite resilient creatures.
Wattle15 said: Squirrel, if you look at the very bottom of this thread, you will see some blue wording which says 'save this topic as a favourite' or something very similar. (I can't see it now, because i'm typing a comment, and I've forgotten the actual wording.) If you click on this, it should save the topic to your 'My Page' under 'favourites'. This is specific to this website and won't show up in your computer favourites, of course!
Hi Jan, many thanks for that. I should have looked further... doh!
Hi ffroglet... your experience is exactly what I was afraid of - hence the instant expulsion to the lawn. Still, the birds enjoyed them. I will get a fishing bait box as I noticed on one birdfood site that it said something like "the live mealworms are despatched direct from our suppliers and, depending on stock, may arrive in a tub or a brown paper sack". The latter would mean another instant gourmet meal for every bird in the neighbourhood!
Hi Squirrel
I have to say I feel like you, and I cannot stand the thought of the wiggles. {arrrghhhh}
Keep to the 'Dried Ones' - Mealworms would be my answer. Just make sure that you place in warm water (before you add them to the feeders) for 15 mins so they plump up (but at least they have gone to heaven)
Anyway depending on your 'Wiggles' tolerance level. Go with what you feel comfortable with that is the main thing.
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Squirrel B said: Hi ffroglet... your experience is exactly what I was afraid of - hence the instant expulsion to the lawn. Still, the birds enjoyed them. I will get a fishing bait box as I noticed on one birdfood site that it said something like "the live mealworms are despatched direct from our suppliers and, depending on stock, may arrive in a tub or a brown paper sack". The latter would mean another instant gourmet meal for every bird in the neighbourhood! Squirrel
Since we started feeding the birds a year or two ago, sparrow numbers have been quite high. I think this might be to with the fact that I must confess to not being the most tidy gardener in the world so there's a few shrubs for the birds to enjoy. I also like having hedges as there's something wonderful about seeing these cheeky wee birdies peering out from a privet hedge.
Warning! This post contains atrocious spelling, and terrible grammar. Approach with extreme edginess.
Thankyou for your replies
I'm happy to hear that it's unlikely to be the sparrows keeping other birds at bay.
Since i last posted i have seen a robin, a dunnock, three wood pidgeons and a black bird but i have also unfortunately seen a sparrow hawk, once just leaving the garden (empty clawed/beaked thank god) and once on top of the privits where the sparrows like to hang out. I was alerted to it's presence by the terrified shrieks of the sparrows, poor things. I felt so bad for them. Both these sightings were within an hour of each other and i haven't seen it since but i also haven't seen as many sparrows. I hope they're ok :(