Bird Feeder Type & Placement

Hi,
Moved into a new build with a fairly small plain back garden just over 6 months ago.

Would like to add a bird feeder but unsure of what type and where to place it.

Only birds I have seen in the garden are a blackbird and a pied wagtail. Have seen a robin and another type of bird in general around the estate where there are trees.

Any advice on a bird feeder and where to place one?
Would prefer not to have a free standing bird feeder in the middle of the garden.
You will see a bird box on the left hand side fence that came with the house, have yet to even see a bird go in or out.

Based in Ireland.

Thanks

 

My personal thoughts are dont hold your breath about the nest box, just leave it and see what happens.
How about a couple of hanging basket brackets, one on the shed and one on the fence then use some of those seed feeders you can buy.
I use sunflower hearts in them, plus I scatter a just a few meal worms on the ground for blackbirds and robins a couple of times a day.

Ultimately it would be good if you planted a few shrubs that give the birds cover and somewhere to perch, and eventually somewhere to nest.

 

Thank you, good advice on the hanging basket brackets. I will look into that.

Yes definitely, plan this year is to hopefully plant some shrubs in the garden, down the back by the shed and hopefully something on the left hand side of the garden as you look down the garden too. I will be back on here in due course seeking advice on that.
Unfortunately, most of the money left after buying the house went on trying to furnish the internal house.

 

Thanks for your reply. Hadn't thought of a nest box, I"m assuming a box at the back of the house at maybe first floor level minimum? Presumably it would need to be drilled into the house?

Yes, you most likely have seen my garden before, I had posted some pics on here seeking garden advice around grass growth, weeds, getting a garden shed etc.

Not rude at all, I agree, it's plain, stark, boring etc.
Plan this year is to try plant a few shrubs, will be back soon on here seeking advice on that front.

 

I've noticed that since I moved my bird feeders next to a tree there far more birds feeding.

 

Wide open spaces and no cover will leave any small bird vulnerable to sparrowhawk attack. This may be why you have not seen many birds.You may not be doing them any favours tempting them in.
Do the wider neighbourhood have feeders, do you see more birds in the older house environs nearby?
A small pond or water source for birds may be a start once you have established shrubs as cover.
PS. While designing your garden, consider moving/turning your shed so that you can access it from the path, walking on (wet) lawn is not good for you or the lawn !

 

Living rurally I have various birds of prey hovering close by and yes, they do attempt to take birds from the feeding station now and again but fail. The station is in an exposed area and the nearest shelter is 15ft away. Being open they spot the birds of prey quickly and are gone, sitting in total silence until it's safe to return.

 

Southern english sparrowhawks dont hover, they come sailing down the wind like a scimitar, talons to the fore!!

 

My garden is full of trees and shrubs and I do get occasional sparrow hawks.
I think they are probably just opportunists.
Any feeding site is going to attract them.

Cats are probably a bigger problem in urban areas.

 

I have Sparrowhawks here too.

 

I have a bird feeder station supporting an evergreen Lonicera plus a young Sarococca at the base. The birds like the cover and as we don't have rats nor squirrels the thing works well.



However, since I hung up a feeder on the low branches of a mature Viburnum, the posh feeder station only gets attention when the shrub feeder is empty. Apparently the low height is of no concern to the birds.