Attracting Birds to a Hi-Rise Apartment (1 Viewer)

[YouOldBuzzard]

Location: north Manchester, England, UK

I live on the top floor of a hi-rise apartment block at about 145 ft (45 m). My apartment has two balconies: one facing directly north and the other directly east. The area is suburban/urban but with quite a lot of green areas nearby. There is small wooded area directly to the north and north-east of the block with trees about 30 ft tall which attract your all usual city-dwelling birds. There are no other (tall) buildings nearby so the balconies are neither overlooked nor shaded (included by trees).

When I first moved in a pair of pigeons had nested on the north-facing balcony. But while "they" seem to return each year to look around and engage in mating rituals, they have not nested and raised any chicks since.

I would like to attract birds other than pigeons to nest on the balcony. Can someone let me know if this is likely and how best to go about attracting birds to the balcony and hopefully getting them to nest there? Thanks!

 

[paul Robinson]

Swift nest boxes? Would they work under a balcony roof?
Paul

 

[delia todd]

Hi YouOldBuzzard and a warm welcome to you from all the Staff and Moderators.

I'm just wondering if you're really sure you want to do that, it would mean losing access to that balcony all the time the nest is in use. Any disturbance at all and the birds are likely to desert the nest.

Why not try some feeders? It can take a while for new birds to find a new feeding station (about 3 months in my case.... a first floor flat and I have window feeders). But it's pretty busy now.

As for the Swift boxes that Paul suggests, they might go for it, but you may need to get the permission of the property owner to fix anything like that to the walls.

Good luck do let us know what you decide to do and how you get on.

 

[YouOldBuzzard]

Thank you both for your replies and welcome!

You make a good point about not being able to use the balcony if birds are nesting. And the building management wouldn't want any changes to the building with bird boxes. What are window feeders?

 

[delia todd]

Here's a link to the one I bought from the RSPB: https://shopping.rspb.org.uk/window-feeders/

I have the 10.99 one (the others weren't sold then) as it has a clear cut out bit so I can take photos of the birds on it. CJ Wildlife also have some: https://www.birdfood.co.uk/bird-feeders?p=4

They use sucker cups to stick to the windowpane.

EDIT:

Here it is in use: https://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=592890

 

[YouOldBuzzard]

Thank you for telling me about window feeders. Can't wait to order a couple! But more importantly just how long it could take before any birds turn up - good to know!

 

[paul Robinson]

Not sure how many birds you might see on a feeder that high up though.
Paul

 

[delia todd]

Yeah... I guess that is pretty high isn't it LOL. I'm only on the first floor with neighbouring gardens.

But you can only try, can't you!

 

[YouOldBuzzard]

Not sure how many birds you might see on a feeder that high up though.
Paul

Oh... |=(|

 

[jurek]

I suggest - put a box for Sparrows/Great Tits/Starlings. It is possible they will become used to your presence on the balcony. However, a male sparrow chirping loudly at dawn can irritate both you and neighbors. I currently have a small colony near my window and must keep it closed.

Otherside - put a feeder. To make it easier for birds to find it, I tried putting apples or a bag of peanuts on a stick, so they are well visible from afar. You might try also some leafy branches or a little conifer shrub in the pot. The idea is that tits and suchlike would come to inspect the greenery for insects and find the feeder.

In all cases, mind where the sh*t and leftover food is falling - hopefully not on someones head.

About how long it takes for the birds to discover one - if you see nothing in 3 days, worry. I had birds inspecting the feeder within two hours of putting it.

 

[YouOldBuzzard]

Maybe there's hope: one story of birds (house finches) being attracted to a feeder on the 25th floor of a Manhattan high-rise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAm0zjey1T0

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/01/urban-birds-are-evolving-to-be-fed/551120/

 

[Kits]

Welcome!

You are unlikely to attract birds to feeders at the height you are. My son borrowed our window feeder and seed hoping to attract birds to his 5th floor flat in Cambridge which is close to the Botanic Gardens, nothing came.

I would say three days is no time at all to see if birds find a feeder. It can takes weeks for them to realise there's a new feeding station available. However, in your position, I don't hold up much hope despite the videos!

 

[dantheman]

Maybe switch to insects instead?

Put some planters/pots with small shrubs/flowering nectar plants, nightstock etc and see if you can attract any hoverflies, butterflies, random inverts etc. If there is a touch of habitat created ups the chance of birds stopping off too.

 

[YouOldBuzzard]

Do you think it matters north-facing vs east-facing?