Lack of songbirds
We have tried to attract song birds to our garden to no avail. Firstly, a few years back we dug up a large area of concrete (nearly half the garden) and put it down to grass and borders. Recently we placed several bird feeders around the garden to try and attract the birds to feed but all that we get is Magpies, Pigeons and the occasional Blackbird feeding on the lawn. Admittedly our garden is quite open with not many trees around us but whatever we put out in the way of seeds etc remain uneaten. Anyone out there who can point us in the right direction?
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Birds won't feed if they feel threatened so you need some bushes near the feeders to provide a bolt hole where they return to after visiting the feeders. Either that or move the feeders nearer to safety. We have a Cotoneaster and a Berberis that provide a launching pad and safety perch for birds to get onto the feeders plus a Forsythia bush at the bottom of the garden.
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Persevere and continue providing food but consider the positioning of feeders. Escape routes are important as are bushes to bolt to if raptors are around. But don't place feeders close to fences or bushes cats can climb and wait in ambush.
However, even the Sparrow Hawks have young to feed, as do magpies etc., so promoting that healthy food chain isn't such a bad thing, it could even help song bird populations some suggest!
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I have a,similar problem to Flyingfox, and we do have conifers by a couple of bird feeders. All I've seen in the garden since coming home over 3 weeks ago is a Rook and Wood Pigeon, even the Robin that used to visit has disappeared. I did hear a Blackbird early this morning but no sign of it during the day.
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The above advice is all good. If you are still struggling to entice the birds, then I would be inclined to think of the food I'm putting out.
I'm not going to suggest changing your supplier but try the RS P B & Haith's websites -- you can get advice / suggestions on them about what eats / prefers which and the best places to put it out.
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Yes, the type of feed and also the feeder itself can determine the birds that visit. Song birds tend to be ground feeders but will frequent 'tables'. We have several blackbirds, a couple of song thrushes and quite a few robins visit ours. The latter will attempt the occasional impression of a humming bird in order to get to the suet balls hung out for the GSWs. Lots of sparrows, B&G tits, the occasional LT tits. Also Goldfinch, Siskin and rarely greenfinch now and again. Greenfinches suffered from a virus a few years back which decimated their numbers and still is of some concern! (Some parallels here) so keep cleaning and sterilising your feeders regularly.
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I think it is definitely cover you are lacking, they need safety. Quick fix that might help is some large pot planters with shrubs. If you have fencing rather than any hedges, consider covering them in non invasive climbers, honeysuckle, clematis Etc..... If you really want to be bird friendly, consider planting a hedge. Quick fix garden programmes like bl**dy Groundforce are possibly as much to blame for lack of birds in some gardens as anything else!☹️
They need shelter and safety, a mix of feeds, regularly clean feeders.....and water! We have three small ponds and another four upside down dustbin lids scattered around our garden, all in constant use by birds. They will be constantly on the watch for predators from above (sparrowhawks, Etc.....) and from cats.
Check out RSPB website, they will have some top tips for making garden more bird friendly. The other thing is don’t use ground feeders at the moment. Pigeons can’t hover, neither can Magpies. Blackbirds will have a go, but a hanging feed station will be best, even if it’s only from a pole.
Good luck, and let us know how you get on😁
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Thanks for the advice. I have a feeding pole, with a water container, and a feeder hanging from a branch by the conifers. There is also a rather wild clematis which should also provide shelter. I think that my biggest problem is cats!!
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Cats 😱 I actually like cats, but do not want them in my garden.
I have a brilliant Super Soaker water pistol thing. Our local cats aren’t daft, they only have to see me armed with the gadget and they slope off pretty quickly, as only cats can!
I would have loved to have had one of these Super Soakers when I was a kid, but had to make do with a left over plastic lemon juice squeezie thing my mother bought for Pancake Tuesday!
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Gold /Fire Crests love conifers, keep an eye out for them. I think the birds do get used to regular places to feed as well, so in your case Nellie, as you are away quite a bit (😂)it could be that the feeders aren’t replenished as they empty. Our little feathered friends tend to let us know when stocks are low! We always leave fully filled feeders, and who ever is looking after house for us, restocks them.
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could those G / finches be ' socially distancing ' themselves, Micky ?? 
