Didn't know John had taken phone pics. birds weclambering over the feeder within 10mins. I am delighted :)
OOPS sorry wrong pic, try again :)
well any takers yet?
:D That looks super Lorna, now where are they pesky birds about.... patience is all you need. I am sure they will find this marvellous feeding station soon, goldfinches, siskens, greenfinches, blue tits and the rest all swooping on Lornas new feeding station. You even have a nearby hedge for them to sit in. Yours lads have made a good job of it. well done.
:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
Early days, no finches, blue tits yet but was amazed how quickly sparrows went straight on to it.(10mins). John, Donna and I stood in the kitchen watching. It was just put there as John carried it in. The blackbirds have nested in my conifers for about three years now. I was going to cut them down by a couple of feet before nesting time but due to COLD weather (and sciatica) have not got round to it.
Hi Lorna, there's an article in the wiki about bird feeders which you might find useful.
So Lorna's all-day Luncheonette well and truly OPEN!!
It is FAB Lorna!
;D ;D ;D Lishka x
Thanks MikeB Will go and have a look.
Lish. Thanks for your remarks. I guess folk may be getting a little bored with my ramblings about feeder and trying to get birds but heyho I am one happy bunny ;D
Lorna, we won't get bored as we are all eagerly awaiting your elusive visitors. It looks a good set up there with the hedge and grass and your feeders are probably further away from the house now. We all have our fingers crossed for you. ;D
Pauline7 Thanks!! Feeder is just as near bungalow, John just plonked it there but I think I am going to move it further away to try and entice the shy ones :)
Mikeb. Thanks for pointing me in the direction of wiki. Ashamed to say I haven't visited before but have just spent some time having a look. Some real interesting articles on wiki., will certainly be visiting again!!
Lorna, that bird table you've got? A lady whose garden I do has a variegated ivy planted round the base. It's now grown up the post and all over the table and its roof - the birds just LOVE it - looks really good, too.
:)
it'll be full of juicy spiders AM~yum ;D
Lish. No No!! ;D I have got ivy growing over the arch and along the wrought iron fence at the side of the bungalow. Some had taken over the 20ft side of the garage. I have tried to get rid of that as I want to put clematis there. Have also got ivy climbing up part of the front wall. Have to keep that under control as it spreads across to Lorna's wall.. Mind you the birds had a hay day when I pulled loads down, I bet there were 30 snails clinging to garage wall.
any action this am L ?
GW. Elsa got me up at 6.30am guess where my first port of call was? I don't normally rise until 7.30am I have a habit of reading until after midnight!!
No new little friends but already lots of action.
I'm amazed at the time it can take for birds to accept anything new. I put out a new fat block a few days ago, & no one's been near it.
My biggest disappointment was the all-singing all-dancing global 'hotel' that I got for them. It appeared the ultimate of logic & clever design. In 6 months, I think it had 3 visitors. So I binned it.
Tim. Thank goodness there is lots of activity on the new station, especially after my sons efforts to make it..It is just that the finches and blue tits haven't found it yet. I am hoping but even if I only get the present visitors I am having great fun.
Definitely won't by buying them a hotel then ;D
Lorna, it took about a week for the birds to really get going on my feeder stand, it is only about 10feet from my lounge window which is a large one but they are quite happy to feed close to the house now. It is the sunflower hearts they like best by a long way.
Lorna, my blue tits have a preference for the half coconut shells that are filled with fat and have nuts in them (see picture). They are available in most DIY stores, Pet shops and Garden Centres. The problem if you get one will be to site it on your feeder stand where it is not so accessible to the starlings. The starlings don't go on mine as much as they do the fat slab which is in a cage and can be gripped more easily by them.
The other thing that definitely attracts birds to gardens is water. Do you have a bird bath or pond that they can drink from or splash around in? With your new interest in birds, a bird bath may be an idea for a Birthday or Christmas present if you haven't already got one! ;D ;D ;D
Pauline Sausages (saves me swearing ::)) I went to the pet shop and got plenty more seed. I meant to get the half coconut shell as I remembered seeing it on your feeder!! Will get it on Monday. I think I will put it in same position as you have it.
Yes I do have a bird bath which Charlie bought several years ago as I have always liked watching the birds having their bath. I keep it clean and filled with clean water. It is placed quite near the feeder.
We will get there in the end ;D Many thanks
Lorna.
How could the birds resist such a smart diner?! ;D Btw, I take lots of my bird photos through the window, just rest the lens directly on the glass, and that seems to lessen the glare. Best of luck Lorna! :)
Hello Lorna, what a fabulous feeding station. I rarely get anything but sparrows on mine (not as grand as yours) I see the odd blue tit, which is infuriating because I can hear them in neighbouring gardens. We did have a blackbird nest in the hedge last year but a magpie attacked it. They are starting to collect nesting material already again this year.
Let us know how it goes and who else visits.
Good luck. :)
Nippie. Thanks for comments. I couldn't really afford a manufactured one at present, (saving for holiday.) However, metal was in my garage and son is quite a handy chappie so Hey presto he set to and made itThe blackbirds do nest in my conifers and I love them,especially the one in my kitche this morning.(see Demise of my pumpkin seedling ;)
Lorna
Sorry Lorna had to answer phone, my son was eager to tell me of the murder mystery evening he went to last night. :o
What a clever chappie your son is as you say, it looks great and I'm sure it will be very successful given time.
Whats this about pumpkin seeds then?!!
Nippie have a look under edible forum.. headed Demise of my pumpkin seedling. ;D ;D
Aaaw what a shame, never mind it might recover. Mind I would have laughed too ;D
Hiya Lorna, i like your feeding station and the birds will arrive slowly at first, mine is almost the same got it from a garden centre, as Tim says it takes a while for them to decide to use it but my one is very busy everyday, when i hung the coconut fat holder up it must have been 10 days before they touched it, i used to have a bird table in the hedge and hung the cocnuts in there so it wasen`t as if they diden`t know what was there, they just like to case ;D ;D the joint.
you will get plenty very soon,good luck and keep watching. Mary.
Hi Lorna! I have to say I think your bird feeding station is brilliant! Really nice ,like it lots.
I am over the moon...I've had a song thrush visit the garden twice. Actually it only sat on the fence but fingers crossed! Haven't seen a thrush for about 4 years.
Lorna, how are the birds taking to your new feeding station? Any bluetits yet and did you get the ½ coconut? :D
Hi Pauline. My usual visitors took about 10mins to use the new feeder. No new ones yet. No I didn't get the coconut yet, completely forgot when I was out shopping in town. I only go in to town once a week as we have a new Co/Op super market in the next road. Anyhow I am going in to town tomorrow so had better make a list. John made daughter-in-law a smaller version and she has already had a robin and finch on hers. Mind you they do live a bit out of town with a large area of grass and numerous trees outside their front gate..There is also a bridle path leading to more "country" areas. I could spit!!!!!!!!!!
Fingers crossed for you then Lorna. ;D ;D
Hi Lorna,
Hope the feeder is attracting attention!
Was wondering if you put anything on the ground (patio?) for the
ground-feeding birds.
I like to see the antics of the birds in the garden and they are well fed by me,
so much so, I'm sure the blackbird waits for me to put out his breakfast each day ;D
Good luck with yours.
Debs
Hi Debs. Yes I put the fruit on the patio and some seed, sunflower hearts etc. As the starlings are so greedy I am inclined to put that food out either early morning or late afternoon. Then my lovely pair (I think they are a pair, there is a him and a her :)) of blackbirds enjoy feeding when the starlings are not around so much.
I wasn't very keen on starlings but I must say their squabbling keeps me amused and I have got quite fond of them.
Quote from: lorna on March 25, 2006, 20:11:39
I wasn't very keen on starlings but I must say their squabbling keeps me amused and I have got quite fond of them.
they're a scream.......the neds of the bird world ;D
Lorna its wonderful to see your fantastic new feeder now all set up in your garden.
Ive been following your story with delight, right from you first mentioning encouraging more birds to being inspired by other bird feeders to create your own, which i now have my beady eye on ;)
My OH is very creative with metal too and as ive been watching Johns creation come together ive been wondering how to approach OH with my new "must have"...lol
It will cause a bit of eye rolling i am sure, his eyes, suffice to say, not mine ;D
I really hope that you get new varieties of garden birds visiting you as i know the birds give you great pleasure.I bet your hubby is chuckling away from above watching you as you keep so busy and get up to your antics :) ;D
Well done Lorna, i am chuffed to pieces for you and thank you so much for such an enjoyable tale that ive thoroughly enjoyed reading over the weeks. :)
Thanks honeybee. Still waiting for new arrivals but I am content to watch the birds that are visiting. Any newcomers will be more than welcome.
I think poor John sometimes wishes he had a brother instead of three sisters..Today he came for a cuppa with his wife My first question was "Can you sort my printer, it has stopped!!"Afraid the printer has had it. Second request was "Can you please fit these bracket things in my porch (the strips of metal with slots in so that you can fit the inserts anywhere to hold shelves). Yes Mum, have you got rawplugs,, screws, drill etc.?" Yes dear!! I am actually quite good (for an old 'un) with a drill but never get things straight.)
Last request I wanted him to show me how to do something on the computer. He said "OK you make another cup of tea first" That was the fourth one. So endeth his visit ;D ;D