Firstly Im new to this site so hello to all. Ive been feeding the birds on a daily basis throughout the Winter with a mixture off bird feed and love to watch the birds feed. Today for the first time a lovely song thrush was feeding away and also chasing away any other birds it seemed to perch on our apple tree 10ft away and as soon as our regulars arrived down it came puffed it self up and stayed for a bit then back to apple tree this went on for hours . Is this behavour normal I wouldnt like to think the others will get hungry or maybe I will have to introduce another feeding point . Can anyone advise? Our regulars include Robins , Sparrows , Blue tits . Wood pigeons , Finches etc .
Hi Kerry welcome to the forum.
It is quite common for a particular bird to be dominant over feeding stations Robins, Dunnocks, Blackbirds and thrushes can be very aggresive towards others who appear to be taken all the food.
The suggestions about spreading the feeding sites round the garden is definitely a good idea. After all, however much it tries, it is not going to be able to defend every site all the time, which does give other birds a chance to feed.
Also try putting different types of feed down near to bushes, shrubs etc so the ground feeding birds have a better chance of food.
Thrushes eat earthworms, slugs, caterpillars, other invertebrates and fruit and berries in the winter, so again put fruit and raisins in one area to attract the thrush.
Hope this helps
Regards Buzzard
Nature Is Amazing - Let Us Keep It That Way
Hi Kerry
Don't need to answer your question as Buzzard has done it with his usual finesse and knowledge but just wanted to say hello and welcome to the forum. Hope you enjoy it here.
A bit jealous too that you had a Song Thrush - haven't got any in my garden and would really love to.
Lovely name by the way!!
Regards
Kerry
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kezmo6310/
Hi Kerry and welcome from me also. I had a couple of song thrushes visiting back in the summer but I haven't seen them for a while now. I do hope yours will stay around for you as they are delightful birds.
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!
Hi Buzzard
First of all Kerry welcome to the RSPB Froum and enjoy your time here.
Excellent answer
I have to say in my last garden I divided my bird feeling into blocks if that makes sense {smile}
At the beginning of the day I would fill the Window Feeder. Drop some 'food' under the window feeders. Place 'food' under the bushes (Privet Hedge) where the Sparrows like to be in their community (do that in my front garden now so birds remain in group as they prefer to be)
Add some more food under all bushes for birds like Dunnock, as they like to feed undercover.
IMHO, I would put the Song Thrushes and Mistle Thrushes in the same category as Dunnocks. They like to be away from other birds, and feeding on their own terms - undercover. They do not mingle very well with other birds using ground feeders. So it is better to keep them apart. I also think they are shy in their own way.
Next thing I do is fill up the Hanging Feeders, and the Ground Feeders, making sure that extra food is scattered by both set of feeders for birds like the Wood Pigeons, Magpies. It is a controlled feeding of the larger birds, and all type of bird species.
Just military precision here LOL.
Kathy and Dave
Welcome to the forum Kerry!
"All weeds are flowers, once you get to know them" (Eeyore)
My photos on Flickr
Welcome from me as well.
I had a couple of song thrushes some time ago, but they haven't been back since. I hope yours stays. I'm sure the other birds will defend their bits of territory eventually.
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
Yippee - One of my song thrushes returned yesterday.
Squirrel, so happy for you. We still haven't seen any kind of thrush since last summer. If I do, I will be as thrilled as you are. LT Tits returned yesterday.
Hi and Welcome
We have a Blackbird which does this, Its hilarious. Only really noticed it over the festive hols since we've been off. The regulars don;t put up with it for long and soon all is calm and pecking order resumes
The first day I noticed it ,he chased starling from feeders to bird table onto fence and onto birdbath, incessantly. It was really funny. He is so tame, he;ll come and take mealworms from about a foot away but on boxing day took some turkey from OHs fingers. I've never had him so close but will persist.
Squirrel B said: Yippee - One of my song thrushes returned yesterday.
Hi Squirrel
Well done to you - hope it stays. Are you putting fruit out or did it just turn up in the hope there was fruit out?