Birds not eating bird food from a bird table
Mar 30th, 2008 by Birdy Trish
I’ve just been asked why birds aren’t visiting a new bird table full of bird food -
I recently bought a bird table after watching a programme on TV about the
decline of wild birds and how we could help by feeding them. Next step was to
go on line to find out what to feed them (that’s when I found your web site).
For four days now I have put out food but no visitors, can you tell me what I’m
doing wrong I would be grateful for any advice. Regards,
I was asked this question last year and part of the answer could be here -
Birds in a Garden Not Eating Bird Food
I’ve had the same problem as you have had when I started and even now.
I know it does take ages for birds to accept a ’strange object’ like a bird table even though it is full of bird food.
The only bird feeder my birds accepted straight away is the meripac ground feeder. All the other bird feeders took ages for the birds to realise what it was. Birds can be a bit ’stupid’ sometimes.
I want to tell you that I have had my back garden bird table up for years. Recently I had to stop using it and buy a new one. I laid the old bird table down on the lawn to be carried away later. All the birds still recornised the old bird table even though it was laid on the grass. I saw bird after bird after bird flit onto the old bird table, hop about looking for food, fly up and away past the new bird table and away into the sky. This did not just happen on one day. It happened day after day. I could have screamed at them! So this shows birds take time to accept a new object.
Are there cats about?
Is the birdtable out on the grass or near a hedge. I don’t think this should matter much but I thought it may help me if I knew. I have one bird table out on the grass and another near a hedge.
The bird tables out in the open are better for birds to see predators like cats and sparrowhawks.
Bird tables near a hedge are sheltered from the worst of the bad weather.
Can I ask if you live in the countryside or a town.
It is true birds do need our help. The RSPB Garden Birdwatch results are out and this shows how bird numbers have declined over the years. So DON’T GIVE UP.
You should not leave the same bird food on the bird table for days. You should clear the bird table every day or every other day. I know this is a bit annoying, especially because you are trying to help wild birds and they seem to be ignoring your help! But fresh bird food is best.
If the birds still don’t haven’t come to your bird table, don’t give up. Get in touch with me again and we’ll look into it more and help you more. It is the breeding season and extra food will be helpful for them. Keep up the good work and don’t let the our feathered friends get you down!
I know I haven’t given you a definite answer, but I’ll ask around and see what else I can find out.
If anyone else can help please do put a note to us. We bird feeders have to stay together!
[...] Roger wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptI saw bird after bird after bird flit onto the old bird table, hop about looking for food, fly up and away past the new bird table and away into the sky. This did not just happen on one day. It happened day after day. … [...]