When I fill a seed feeder it is swamped within minutes by a flock (about 8) Jackdaws and a further five magpies and emptied within an hour. The seed they drop is hoovered up at the same rate by up to 12 feral pigeons. The tits and greenfinches the seed is intended for have no chance. Any suggestions (apart from not using the seed feeder!) for discouraging the big brutes? The same, incidentally, applies to the fat blocks I put out.
Hello Norman,
What sort of seed feeders do you have? If they have a tray at the bottom for catching seed, I suggest you remove it. I have a lot of jackdaws, but they can't cling to the perches on tube type seed feeders, although they can sit on the trays to eat.
Then I suggest you provide the jackdaws and magpies with their own feeding area - preferably a large flat table, away from the hanging feeders, and encourage them to use it with their own preferred food and fat block. Jackdaws love raisins, mealworms, and fat. I don't get magpies so I don't know about them. My feral pigeons share a bird table with the jackdaws. They only come to the ground when there is nothing better on the table. My table is roofed and is about 7 feet in the air next to a fence.
Make life as difficult as you can for the jackdaws where the hangers are, and easy and tempting somewhere else in the garden.
I know how frustrating it can be as I had the same problem with starlings. I have now given the starlings another area with their favourite food, and removed all hangers that were starling-friendly. It has worked up to now.
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
You could always try using a feeder with a cage round it (the type you get for keeping squirrels out),small birds can get in but not the big ones!
It's not always easy to hug a hedgehog.
But that doesn't mean you shouldn't.
Hi Norman
The RSPB sells a great feeder for keeping off the larger birds - when they land on the perch it lowers and a screen drops down over the ports, so they can't get anything. Small birds don't activate it so they can feed as normal. It's a tad expensive, but there are 2 sizes and I certainly consider mine well worth it!
Jean
Hi Norman,
I agree with Sparrow, if your feeders have trays on them it may be wise to remove them, you do get more of a mess but if I were you I'd live with the mess and have happy small birds :o)
I too have a Starling 'problem' (problem probably not being the right word) - for example as I'm typing this its raining Starlings and there's at least 40 out there!
Like Starlings, Jackdaws and Magpies are clever birds and if there's food to be gotten at they will get it. For this reason I have bought a suet pellet and mealworm guardian so my small birds can get a look in.
The cheaper option is take off trays (if you have them) the more expensive option is change to guardian feeders :o)
Unknown said:For this reason I have bought a suet pellet and mealworm guardian so my small birds can get a look in.
Hi Paul,
Where did you get this from? Can you describe it? Is it like a robin feeder, or is it a cage type?
Susan H said: Hi Paul, Where did you get this from? Can you describe it? Is it like a robin feeder, or is it a cage type?
Hi Sparrow,
here's a photo of it:
Its new in from CJ Wildbird Foods. Here's the link :
http://www.birdfood.co.uk/product_details.php?area_id=2&group_id=4&nav_id=169&prd_id=1805
Thanks Paul. It looks a brilliant idea, but I have just spent a fortune on 4 new feeders including the large goldfinch flocker. I wish I had seen this before I bought my robin feeder last week. I would willingly buy it, but hubby will have something to say!! I will have to have a think as to how to smuggle it in the house!
Oh Sparrow, I saw Paul's reply and I thought, ' Oh, NO, she is going to buy another feeder ! ' I am not sure now but at least you are only thinking about it.
madpenguin said: You could always try using a feeder with a cage round it (the type you get for keeping squirrels out),small birds can get in but not the big ones!
I've done that but my squirrels are cleverer than that - they hook their tail round a branch, stretch out to the edge of the feeder and shake it until the seed comes within reach. The jackdaws just cling to the bars and tilt the feeder until the same thing happens! Bless them...
Hi Paul
Thank you ever so much. I saw one of those in use by someone on a different thread (they were using it as a fat feeder) and have been trying to find it ever since because it looks as though the base clips on and off which makes for really easy cleaning..
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!