Where to position a bird table
Jul 21st, 2008 by Birdy Trish
Should bird tables be placed out in the open or near a hedge.
On the internet The BBC Science and Nature Page - Animal gives this advice -
It ( the birdtable ) needs to be fairly close to dense bushes to provide refuge for birds avoiding sparrowhawks, but not so close as to provide cover for predatory cats.
On the internet The RSPB advice on where a position a bird table gives this advice -
In the open and safe - with a good all round view so that the birds can see they are safe from predators while they feed.
For me there is no right or wrong answer.
If you have cats DO NOT place a bird table in or near a hedge.
If there are sparrow hawks nearby DO place the bird table in a hedge.
GOOD REASONS TO PLACE A BIRDTABLE NEAR OR ‘INSIDE’ A HEDGE -
- Sparrowhawks cannot fly if their wings are damaged. If they go inside a hedge for prey (especially a hawthorn hedge) they may damage their wings. So they like the birdtable to be out in the open.
- The Hedge shelters the bird food from wind and rain. If a bird table is out in the open bird food often gets ‘clogged’ onto a birdtable when there is rain. This means the bird table has to be cleaned. Also, if there is a lot of wind the bird food can get blown away off the bird table. Putting the bird table in such a sheltered position keeps the bird food fresh and avoids waste.
- The birds are sheltered as they eat the food.
- I know birds roost in this big hedge so they get bed and breakfast from the same hedge.
Bad Points about putting a bird table inside or near a hedge
- Cats can pounce onto the birdtable
GOOD REASONS TO PLACE AN OPEN TOPPED BIRDTABLE OUT IN THE OPEN ARE -
- The birdtable is easily visible to a variety of birds.
- Birds can easily swoop onto the bird table, collect food and swoop off again.
- It is accessible for blackbirds and thrushes who cannot get into some meshed feeders
- Cats cannot pounce from a branch in a hedge.
Bad points about putting an open topped birdtable out in the open
- Larger birds get most of the bird food
- It actually attracts rooks and crows
- Bird food gets blown off in the wind
- Rain can waste the bird food
Every person who puts food out for birds has different problems and different situations. Some people cannot attract birds to their bird tables. Others get too many birds at the feeders. I know someone in York who had so much trouble with sparrowhawks she stopped feeding birds. I myself have had trouble with cats killing birds. I have also had trouble with rooks, crows and squirrels- other people won’t have had these problems. It seems to be a case of your own situation and a bit of trial and error.
