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Post by NellyDee on Aug 16, 2018 12:26:05 GMT
For a couple of weeks now I have noticed that the birds and the Red Squirrels seem to have gone into panic mode in eating and caching. I can fill up all the feeders and by mid-day all are empty, they also seem to have taken to try and fighting each other off. Usually by now they are off foraging or flying about ignoring each other and I only have to fill the feeders about twice a week. I am also getting birds that don't normally come near near the feeders. Can't help feeling that they know something is about to happen and are preparing for it. it is beginning to un-nerve me.
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Post by rowanberry on Aug 17, 2018 19:53:15 GMT
Our jays have nearly deserted us, but they usually do this time of year... I'm guessing they are occupied with caching acorns from the nearby woodland.
The garden has been quiet for the past few weeks, but the ones I've noticed behaving a little strangely are the goldfinches- normally they are quite congenial on the feeder, but they've been going through the nyger seeds a lot faster than usual, and squabbling to try and get on the perches. They are acting more like starlings than goldfinches!
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Post by duncan74 on Aug 22, 2018 12:21:53 GMT
At this time of year, most of the birds have finished reading their young an beginning to moult their feathers, this is a vulnerable time for them so they hide themselves away until they have finished the moult
Duncan
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Post by baldie on May 15, 2019 14:36:45 GMT
Our jays have nearly deserted us, but they usually do this time of year... I'm guessing they are occupied with caching acorns from the nearby woodland.
The garden has been quiet for the past few weeks, but the ones I've noticed behaving a little strangely are the goldfinches- normally they are quite congenial on the feeder, but they've been going through the nyger seeds a lot faster than usual, and squabbling to try and get on the perches. They are acting more like starlings than goldfinches!
Lucky you, Rowanberry. I have had nyger seeds ung for a couple of years but the goldfinches which have long been present a few hundred yards away have never come near. |
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Post by rowanberry on May 15, 2019 20:36:04 GMT
I wouldn't give up, Baldie- it was the same here.
For several years I always had nyger seed feeders up, and they were never touched. Every so often I'd tip out the seeds that had started to sprout and put out fresh. Every time a goldfinch strayed into the garden the sparrows would see them off, so I put the nyger feeder as far away from the sparrows' ones as possible... that seemed to make a big difference. Once one discovered the feeder, more and more started coming.
Try moving the feeder about and leave it for a week or so- that might work. They seem to prefer a feeder in a sunny spot, but near to a hedge or shrub.
Also, if given a choice they prefer forward-facing perches... like this one-
I've got two feeders up at the moment, and the one with side-on perches won't be used until the other one is empty.
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Post by NellyDee on May 16, 2019 11:40:30 GMT
As a point of intrest I did have a couple of feeders with nyger seeds, which were never touched by the goldfinches or any other birds for that matter. I chucked those and put up a couple of feeders of sunflower hearts.The goldfinches just love them and fight off other birds, since then they have also started to feed on the husk free seed I put out, and have started fighting off other birds off them. It is hugely funny to watch them as they seem to spend more time shooing off other birds that try to land on the other bars on a particular feeder.
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Post by Tringa on May 17, 2019 16:18:05 GMT
We find sunflower seeds or sunflower hearts are eaten with gusto by all the garden birds that can land on the feeders. Niger seeds are sometimes eaten by the goldfinches but, despite what is often said about goldfinches liking niger seeds, they are definitely not the favourite seed here.
I agree goldfinches generally do not take prisoners, but they are a delightful birds and it is a pleasure to have them visiting the garden.
Dave
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Post by rowanberry on May 17, 2019 19:28:52 GMT
Our garden defender is a robin... he spends more time seeing off the other birds than eating. Especially sparrows- he really does not like sparrows.
He chases them all away from one feeder, only for them to all go onto another one. It keeps him busy. |
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