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Polite request to help our feathered friends

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By *layfullsam OP   Man
over a year ago

Solihull

Winters here And Blue Tits and lots of our other feathered friends will soon need a little help if any of you can join me to give them a little helping hand/wing.

It doesn't take long and you'll know you've your little bit and if you place the feeder in the right place you'll get a free display from your new found feathered friends.

Appreciate some will say wtf has it got to do with swinging so I'll apologise but if just a few of you help it will be appreciated.

The winter can be a tough time of year for birds. But you can give them a helping hand, whether you have a big garden or a small windowbox. Here are the top 10 bird feeding tips.

Know your birds.

Different species eat different things. Sparrows and finches like seeds; tits like fat; and thrushes and robins like fruit and worms. Starlings will eat just about anything. Make sure you're providing the right menu for your diners - find out what to feed birds.

(Not sure which birds are visiting you? Try the bird identifier on the rspb site

Look out for leftovers.

Some of our own food can be good for birds – for example, fruit cake or mince pies, dried fruit, unsalted nuts, or apples and pears past their best. Try sprinkling grated mild cheese under trees and bushes for more timid birds like wrens and dunnocks.

But choose the right stuff

Birds probably won't eat your unwanted Christmas Day sprouts, and putting out turkey fat is a big no-no - it's so soft it'll stick to birds' feathers and stop them from keeping waterproof and warm. Avoid anything mouldy or salty (too much salt is poisonous to small birds).

Don't poison your pets!

Birds love dried fruit. But if you have a dog, don't put grapes, currants, raisins or sultanas within their reach. Vine fruits can be toxic to dogs (check the RSPCA's advice).

Keep water in bird baths and ponds unfrozen.

Birds need to drink and bathe every day - even when it's really cold outside. A pond or bird bath is great, but even an upturned bin lid or plant saucer can give birds the water they need. We've got lots of useful tips on how to keep water from freezing.

Put out the right amount of food.

Only put out what will get eaten during the day. This is important if you want to avoid unwanted visitors like rats. It'll also mean that there aren't big piles of mouldy food on your bird table.

Keep it clean!

Dirty bird feeders and bird tables can help spread diseases. Make sure you clean them regularly to keep your visitors healthy and happy. And always wash your hands after feeding the birds!

Location, location location!

Keep you table or feeder somewhere:

quiet - where birds won't be disturbed.

safe and open - to stop cat-ambushes and allow for a quick getaway

sheltered - from harsh cold winds, rain or snow.

Enjoy!

You've got a thriving feeding station and garden full of hungry visitors. It's time to take a moment to watch and enjoy the birds the happy birds feasting on the food you've provided!

Give yourself a pat on the backfor giving nature a home

By feeding the birds in your garden, on your balcony or at your window, you'll help them get through what can be a tough time of year. You're a bird-feeding hero.

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By *emorefridaCouple
over a year ago

La la land

Thanks for the advice op, clearly something you are passionate about

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By *epsonWoman
over a year ago

Biddulph

I feed the birds 365 days a year

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By *amissCouple
over a year ago

chelmsford

Done already . We have the mixed seed, niger seeds and fat balls out. We have had blue tits, long tail tits and even robin's are going on the station. We get loads of starlings and they decimate the fat balls.We have a little cat now and in the summer she twice brought us a baby wren. She didn't harm them though.

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By *layfullsam OP   Man
over a year ago

Solihull


"Thanks for the advice op, clearly something you are passionate about"

It's tough out their with 4 trillion cats intent on killing them, plus the ice and snow covering up food sources.

I'm looking forward to my robin who is getting braver and braver and now sits about a foot away from me if I'm in the garden.

It's a good feeling when you see the numbers of visitors to your garden increase because of your help

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By *layfullsam OP   Man
over a year ago

Solihull


"I feed the birds 365 days a year "

You're awarded SAMs medal

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By *Man1263Man
over a year ago

Stockport

I help feed them!

Does that count?

But at moment, where I live, it's not set up for feeding them, busy main road on one side, private car park and hidden doorway on other, mean's no where to actually feed them.

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By *layfullsam OP   Man
over a year ago

Solihull


"Done already . We have the mixed seed, niger seeds and fat balls out. We have had blue tits, long tail tits and even robin's are going on the station. We get loads of starlings and they decimate the fat balls.We have a little cat now and in the summer she twice brought us a baby wren. She didn't harm them though."

You're lucky to get wrens, starlings are a pain and the sheer numbers make it look like they're bullying the others but they need food as well.

I've got a robin that's really friendly

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I totally agree and for years I've helped the birds but, unfortunately, the rats in my garden became a terrible and very expensive problem so I can't do it anymore. I will go feed the ducks though

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I always help the birds of this website to get orgasm but they never ever thanked me !

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By *epsonWoman
over a year ago

Biddulph


"I help feed them!

Does that count?

But at moment, where I live, it's not set up for feeding them, busy main road on one side, private car park and hidden doorway on other, mean's no where to actually feed them.

"

He tops up my feeders at weekends

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

If you can tell me how to keep hem them safe from my cat.. and all the neighbours ones...

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

We have lots of tits

Plenty of fat balls hanging from my tree x

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By *epsonWoman
over a year ago

Biddulph


"If you can tell me how to keep hem them safe from my cat.. and all the neighbours ones... "

You can get cat collars that alarm when they "launch" at the birds

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By *amissCouple
over a year ago

chelmsford


"Done already . We have the mixed seed, niger seeds and fat balls out. We have had blue tits, long tail tits and even robin's are going on the station. We get loads of starlings and they decimate the fat balls.We have a little cat now and in the summer she twice brought us a baby wren. She didn't harm them though.

You're lucky to get wrens, starlings are a pain and the sheer numbers make it look like they're bullying the others but they need food as well.

I've got a robin that's really friendly

"

We have lots of nests in the garden. We have lots of trees. This year we've had blue tits, long tailed tits, great tits, robins, wrens , doves and blackbirds

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I have all the necessary bird food out for my little friends. I have a hedgehog or too come in at night and got their food out just for them and watch them on my hogwatch app on my phone link from my camera. It's a delight to see the little hedgehogs snuffling around filling up before they hibernate.

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By *layfullsam OP   Man
over a year ago

Solihull


"I help feed them!

Does that count?

But at moment, where I live, it's not set up for feeding them, busy main road on one side, private car park and hidden doorway on other, mean's no where to actually feed them.

"

You can get bird feeders that attach by suction cup to your window or you could hang one from a communal tree ?

Any help is appreciated

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By *nabelle21Woman
over a year ago

B38

Thanks Sam x

It's great to give nature a helping hand where possible

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By *layfullsam OP   Man
over a year ago

Solihull


"I have all the necessary bird food out for my little friends. I have a hedgehog or too come in at night and got their food out just for them and watch them on my hogwatch app on my phone link from my camera. It's a delight to see the little hedgehogs snuffling around filling up before they hibernate. "

Loving the hog watch app idea

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By *Man1263Man
over a year ago

Stockport


"I help feed them!

Does that count?

But at moment, where I live, it's not set up for feeding them, busy main road on one side, private car park and hidden doorway on other, mean's no where to actually feed them.

You can get bird feeders that attach by suction cup to your window or you could hang one from a communal tree ?

Any help is appreciated

"

Nope, have looked, won't work.

But I have a cunning plan!

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By *epsonWoman
over a year ago

Biddulph


"I have all the necessary bird food out for my little friends. I have a hedgehog or too come in at night and got their food out just for them and watch them on my hogwatch app on my phone link from my camera. It's a delight to see the little hedgehogs snuffling around filling up before they hibernate. "

I have lots of hedgehogs, they snaffle the sunflower seeds that drop from the feeder stations. I am a hedgehog release site too

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By *amissCouple
over a year ago

chelmsford


"If you can tell me how to keep hem them safe from my cat.. and all the neighbours ones...

You can get cat collars that alarm when they "launch" at the birds "

I'm a bit worried about putting a collar on Molly as she climbs trees, I'm worried she'll caught up. To be fair, she's quite good and normally just goes under a bush and watch them

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By *epsonWoman
over a year ago

Biddulph


"I help feed them!

Does that count?

But at moment, where I live, it's not set up for feeding them, busy main road on one side, private car park and hidden doorway on other, mean's no where to actually feed them.

You can get bird feeders that attach by suction cup to your window or you could hang one from a communal tree ?

Any help is appreciated

Nope, have looked, won't work.

But I have a cunning plan!

"

It would have to be squirrel proof at your place.

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By *epsonWoman
over a year ago

Biddulph


"If you can tell me how to keep hem them safe from my cat.. and all the neighbours ones...

You can get cat collars that alarm when they "launch" at the birds

I'm a bit worried about putting a collar on Molly as she climbs trees, I'm worried she'll caught up. To be fair, she's quite good and normally just goes under a bush and watch them

"

They come with 'snap' catches, that snap under pressure to stop cats getting strung up

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By *layfullsam OP   Man
over a year ago

Solihull


"Thanks Sam x

It's great to give nature a helping hand where possible "

It really is, I think as the generations of people get older and kids are more tech oriented simple things like this could be forgotten in a decade or two.

I got my kids involved when young and they help fill the feeders and break the ice on the water source.

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By *amissCouple
over a year ago

chelmsford


"I have all the necessary bird food out for my little friends. I have a hedgehog or too come in at night and got their food out just for them and watch them on my hogwatch app on my phone link from my camera. It's a delight to see the little hedgehogs snuffling around filling up before they hibernate. "

Aah, we have a hedgehog sanctuary down the lane, so we get lots of little visitors. We go and visit the babies when they are there.

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By *amissCouple
over a year ago

chelmsford


"If you can tell me how to keep hem them safe from my cat.. and all the neighbours ones...

You can get cat collars that alarm when they "launch" at the birds

I'm a bit worried about putting a collar on Molly as she climbs trees, I'm worried she'll caught up. To be fair, she's quite good and normally just goes under a bush and watch them

They come with 'snap' catches, that snap under pressure to stop cats getting strung up "

Thank you, I'll have a look out for one

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By *layfullsam OP   Man
over a year ago

Solihull


"If you can tell me how to keep hem them safe from my cat.. and all the neighbours ones... "

Put petroleum jelly on the pole to stop them climbing it or plant sharp prickly plants around it.

If there's a fence or wall they could launch from you can tie a taught wire or string on it or place metal spike strips in the bit they could jump from.

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By *layfullsam OP   Man
over a year ago

Solihull


"I help feed them!

Does that count?

But at moment, where I live, it's not set up for feeding them, busy main road on one side, private car park and hidden doorway on other, mean's no where to actually feed them.

You can get bird feeders that attach by suction cup to your window or you could hang one from a communal tree ?

Any help is appreciated

Nope, have looked, won't work.

But I have a cunning plan!

"

Love a cunning plan baldrick

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By *nabelle21Woman
over a year ago

B38


"Thanks Sam x

It's great to give nature a helping hand where possible

It really is, I think as the generations of people get older and kids are more tech oriented simple things like this could be forgotten in a decade or two.

I got my kids involved when young and they help fill the feeders and break the ice on the water source.

"

That is a great idea, I've got 2 grandkids and they'd love this

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By *layfullsam OP   Man
over a year ago

Solihull


"Thanks Sam x

It's great to give nature a helping hand where possible

It really is, I think as the generations of people get older and kids are more tech oriented simple things like this could be forgotten in a decade or two.

I got my kids involved when young and they help fill the feeders and break the ice on the water source.

That is a great idea, I've got 2 grandkids and they'd love this "

Rspb do a first book of birds and there was an ispy book

They also do garden surveys where across the country you note visitors to your garden and it gives them an idea as to how the species are doing.

You can also put up a nesting box which is exciting for young children.

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By *amissCouple
over a year ago

chelmsford

Children love getting involved in nature

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By *layfullsam OP   Man
over a year ago

Solihull


"Children love getting involved in nature "

They do, people assume they only want tech but it's not true especially if you make up a story about nature and his they can help.

Who doesn't want to see a packed feeder knowing they've only come because they've put out food

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By *amissCouple
over a year ago

chelmsford


"Children love getting involved in nature

They do, people assume they only want tech but it's not true especially if you make up a story about nature and his they can help.

Who doesn't want to see a packed feeder knowing they've only come because they've put out food"

It's great isn't it! When our grandchildren were young, we would take them to a nature reserve where they would see different species of dragonflies, birds etc, even wild horses. It's a great lesson for them

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By *ud and BryanCouple
over a year ago

Boston, Lincolnshire


"I feed the birds 365 days a year "

Us too (seed, fat balls, suet blocks & over winter, peanuts)

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By *layfullsam OP   Man
over a year ago

Solihull


"Children love getting involved in nature

They do, people assume they only want tech but it's not true especially if you make up a story about nature and his they can help.

Who doesn't want to see a packed feeder knowing they've only come because they've put out food

It's great isn't it! When our grandchildren were young, we would take them to a nature reserve where they would see different species of dragonflies, birds etc, even wild horses. It's a great lesson for them "

They'll grow up more rounded adults as well I would think.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

My garden always has mixed seeds and nuts about. We have lots of tits (lol), woodpeckers, robins, nuthatches and finches. There are also resident red kites behind, but obv they don’t come in to feed.

We have a nesting box and had baby blue tits this year

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By *amissCouple
over a year ago

chelmsford


"I feed the birds 365 days a year

Us too (seed, fat balls, suet blocks & over winter, peanuts)"

We don't feed them quite so much in the summer as there is lots of food about for them, insects, berries etc

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By *amissCouple
over a year ago

chelmsford


"Children love getting involved in nature

They do, people assume they only want tech but it's not true especially if you make up a story about nature and his they can help.

Who doesn't want to see a packed feeder knowing they've only come because they've put out food

It's great isn't it! When our grandchildren were young, we would take them to a nature reserve where they would see different species of dragonflies, birds etc, even wild horses. It's a great lesson for them

They'll grow up more rounded adults as well I would think."

They have. They have great respect for the country side and still love going on nature walks and birdwatching, but hubby is a twitcher, so it helps. He's been all over the world including Israel and the Negev desert, spent a couple of nights under the stars in the Sahara desert, great experience

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I've had an RSPB feeder for the smaller species in my garden since spring. I have seen no tits out in my garden. I want a refund!

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By *innie The MinxWoman
over a year ago

Under the Duvet

What do emus eat?

Asking for a friend

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

The blackbirds sit guard in my tree and stop the tits from feeding. Bugs me that!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Don't forget to remove the nylon mesh from fat balls as they can trap small birds.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I spent all day yesterday making assorted fat balls in giant ice cube trays with some seisal string between two (think square clackers) so I now have them hanging in pairs of assorted flavours. I'm in France and it's chilly. They seem to have worked well as the tree is alive with various tits and some green/ buff coloured birds I'm yet to identify.

Also keeps them safe from the large population of birds of prey in the field behind the house.

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By *innie The MinxWoman
over a year ago

Under the Duvet


"Don't forget to remove the nylon mesh from fat balls as they can trap small birds."

Fat balls always makes me laugh, sorry, very childish I know

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I feed the birds all year round but put extra out in the winter.

Get a lot of pleasure watching them from my kitchen window

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By *layfullsam OP   Man
over a year ago

Solihull


"What do emus eat?

Asking for a friend "

I once saw rod hull at a service station years ago and I can confirm that he was eating a full English breakfast

So I can only assume his Emu had the same leftovers as there was only one plate

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