Feeding Scheme

Clive says:  “We have tested many different types of bird food.  Mixed seed is wasted because much is thrown down by the birds as they search for their ‘favourite’.  The cost of feed is also an issue. During summer months we have slightly reduced feeding as the cost was proving to be prohibitive.”
                      
We use:
Peanuts - chopped in a food processor
Sunflower Hearts mixed with Ground Feed Mixture
Nijer
Small Fat Balls
Sultanas (soaked in water over-night) + other food scraps such as apple

Both Blackbird and Crow have been seen taking Tadpoles and Heron have also landed to survey the pond - watch out fish!

Feeder 00103

4 Hole Feeder
£4 + £1p&p

                 Supplier:
Anne Kennedy Pet Supplies
http://www.wildbirdfood.uk.com/

Fat Balls are 12p each from Bridgnorth Market - a bargain when bought in bulk!


                   Who Likes What?
Sparrow: Sunflower Hearts/Peanuts/Fat Balls
Starling:  Fat Balls and Peanuts
Collared Dove/Woodpigeon:  Sunflower H’ts/Ground feed
Greenfinch: Sunflower Hearts/Peanuts
Siskin & Goldfinch: Nijer
Blackbirds like Sultanas
Bullfinch: Sunflower Hearts

All species are attracted to the pond and bird baths including Magpie, Crow and Heron!

Feeders:
After nearly twenty years of experimenting with commercial feeders and making my own, the best I have found are these simple polythene feeder.  They screw onto an empty drinks bottle after firstly drilling two holes for the hanging loop.

Two designs are available.
On left is an ideal feeder for sparrows and although it is sold as a nijer or thistle seed feeder, I have found it ideal for mixed feed. (I still use multi hole commercial feeders from garden centres etc for feeding goldfinch their nijer - see my photos in ‘Species Recorded’)
On the right is a more open type that is useful for sunflower hearts.

Being for the drier(?) American market, these feeders need drain holes which I add before posting. The only ‘fiddly’ bit is getting the seed into the bottle, but a cheap plastic funnel will do the job.

Ordering:
Please e-mail me your detailed requirements or questions and I will supply total cost (multi orders save considerably on postage - try both types) and my address for your payment. Once your personal cheque has cleared your order will be dispatched.

e-,mail: williamsonclive@yahoo.com

Great Tit

Like it or not, it is nature’s way that we feed little birds to feed the BIG bird
 i.e the Sparrowhawk . . . . . . . so this Great Tit better watch out!
(see the ‘Gallery’)

Feeder 00202

Open tray
£4 + £1p&p