Birds, Mammals and Wildlife Gardening – Types of feeder

The traditional bird table is suitable for many species and most foods. A simple tray is perfectly adequate, with or without a roof, but the tray area must have a raised rim to retain the food and a gap at each corner of the rim to allow rainwater drain away and give you a way to clean away droppings and uneaten food – the easiest way is to hose down the table regularly. Do not be tempted by elaborate designs that are difficult to clean as this not only makes your life harder, it can spread disease among the bird population and actually kill the creatures you are trying to encourage!

Nut feeders are made of steel mesh, and are the only safe method of offering nuts to wild birds. The mesh size needs to be large enough to prevent beak damage and small enough to prevent large pieces of nut from being removed – about 6 mm is a good compromise. Bear in mind that squirrels are superb thieves from mesh feeders and while they may be amusing to watch, they also scare away many smaller and more cautious bird species. Seed feeders are tubular transparent containers with perforations to allow the birds access to the seed. These are designed for sunflower seeds and seed mixes labelled ‘feeder seed’. They will attract tits, siskins and greenfinches. Make sure all feeders drain easily so the food does not become waterlogged and do not allow the build-up of old food in or under the feeder which has health risks for birds and can attract rats and mice.

Half coconuts filled with fat or bird cake can be hung from your bird table, from a tree or from a bracket on a wall. They will attract greenfinches, house sparrows and tits.

Hammer home a wooden post or a log and fill holes and cracks in the wood with suet or other suitable for birds – this approach appeals to tits, nuthatches, woodpeckers, tree-creepers and even wrens. Thrushes and dunnocks prefer to feed on the ground. For these birds, scatter food on the lawn or use a ground feeding tray or hopper – make sure it is well out in the open to prevent the predations of cats and change the area you scatter the food over every few days. Never put out more than is eaten the same day or you will draw vermin to your garden.

Birds, mammals and wildlife gardening mesh feeder photograph by Aunt Owwee, used under a creative commons attribution licence

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