Bird Table News

Disappearing birds

Aug 20th, 2008 by Birdy Trish

Hello I live in Sheffield and birds stopped coming to me bird table 4 days ago after flocking there in great numbers, anybody any answers?

I’ve been sent this question. The first thing that comes to mind is that there is a predator in the garden or nearby.

It could be a sparrowhawk. It could be a cat.

I’d like to ask if the bird table is near a hedge or in the open.

Sparrowhawks seem to attack birdtables that are in the open as they get a good view of their prey.

Cats seem to attack birds where the birdtables are near a hedge.

Here is what a Yorkshire Gent said when I asked him about birds not visiting bird tables -

Or have magpies, crows or any other large bird arrived on the scene -

OR IT COULD BE THAT THERE IS ENOUGH FOOD IN THE COUNTRYSIDE - SUCH AS FOOD FROM HEDGE AND BUSHES WHERE FRUIT IS RIPENING OR READY

Names of some birds that are fruit eating birds

OR Have you changed the bird food you put out?

I know that this gives more questions than it does answers. If anyone has any more help it would be welcome.

To sum up. It could be a predator nearby. It could be that there is enough fruit on the garden. Could be a change of bird food.

Hope you let us know what happens. Just don’t give up feeding birds -