Larger birds eating all food from bird table (1 Viewer)

[Sjh76]

Hello,

Can anyone advise me on how you prevent pigeons and jackdaws eating all the food from the bird table in my garden?
I don’t think there’s a solution to this problem other than buying a smaller table, that appears to be this smallest table that’s available.
So I was thinking, maybe there is a way of feeding smaller birds in a way that lots of birds can’t access the usual hanging feeders which are already in the garden
I particularly want to accommodate the blackbirds and robins and have looked into ground feeders. Does anyone have any advice tips or recommendations for appropriate feeders?
Thanks

 

[Kits]

Caged ground feeders? Caged hanging feeders?

 

[Euan Buchan]

Think you can get bird tables with smaller roofs so only small birds can get in.

 

[Harry Stottle]

I wrap plastic garden netting with a hole size of approx. 5cm around the bird table, stapled to the roof and floor. Leave one end unattached to act as a door with small cup hooks to close the door. All small birds easily get in and out. If you cut off one strand of netting to make a hole approx. 5x10cm, G.S. woodpeckers can get in.

On another table I do the same, but leave a larger hole approx 15x15cm on two of the sides for blackbirds to enter and exit. Unfortunately, starlings and collared doves can also get in. I do not have a problem with jackdaws. You could experiment with reducing the hole to keep them out but still let blackbirds in.
I find some small birds e.g. Siskins select only sunflower seed chips to eat from hanging feeders and throw all the intact seeds to the ground, so I only put sunflower chips in hanging feeders now. The seed on the ground attracts unwanted woodpigeons which are expensive to feed and any seed remaining attracts other vermin.

 

[Sjh76]

I wrap plastic garden netting with a hole size of approx. 5cm around the bird table, stapled to the roof and floor. Leave one end unattached to act as a door with small cup hooks to close the door. All small birds easily get in and out. If you cut off one strand of netting to make a hole approx. 5x10cm, G.S. woodpeckers can get in.

On another table I do the same, but leave a larger hole approx 15x15cm on two of the sides for blackbirds to enter and exit. Unfortunately, starlings and collared doves can also get in. I do not have a problem with jackdaws. You could experiment with reducing the hole to keep them out but still let blackbirds in.
I find some small birds e.g. Siskins select only sunflower seed chips to eat from hanging feeders and throw all the intact seeds to the ground, so I only put sunflower chips in hanging feeders now. The seed on the ground attracts unwanted woodpigeons which are expensive to feed and any seed remaining attracts other vermin.

Thank you for taking the time to give some great advice! Much appreciated 😊👍

 

[Sjh76]

Think you can get bird tables with smaller roofs so only small birds can get in.

I don’t think there is a smaller bird table on the market than the one we already have lol. Appreciate your reppy

 

[Sjh76]

Caged ground feeders? Caged hanging feeders?

Yes, I’ve got some already but need to investigate caged ground feeders for robins and blackbirds. Thanks

 

[paranoid numanoid]

An upside down hanging basket does the trick over a pile of sunflower hearts (or other seeds) on a table-top (or over a slab or suet-cake on a slate on the ground!). Starlings and blackbirds can just about access the edges. Hang up fat-balls for starlings and apples on the ground for blackbirds and thrushes. Homebase-type shops sell fruit-baskets with narrower holes which can be placed over sunflower hearts or assorted nuts, allowing only finches and titmice to access. These can be stapled down. Of course the more expensive and effective caged hanging feeders are perfect, they're squirrel-proof and big birds can't get in. Don't forget to feed the big birds with chicken carcases, fat-balls, apples, and lots of seeds on the ground. They are a community, a culture around your area and they are mutually dependent. The more eyes on cats and sparrowhawks the better, especially the sentinel magpies and jackdaws. These big birds also keep mice and rats down.