Hey everyone! I recently helped my parents spruce up their garden in the UK. We did a lot, including replacing an old birdhouse, cleaning up the patio, and setting up a bird feeder and bath. However, I've noticed that the sparrows are taking over – they empty the feeder in less than a day and are super loud at dawn! I've ordered a peanut feeder on the other side of the garden to attract other birds like great tits and finches, which I remember from my childhood. I've mixed the birdseed up with some black sunflower seeds and calci worms to help. Have any of you dealt with this issue before? What's your advice on keeping sparrows at bay and bringing in more variety of birds?
3 Answers
I get starlings and sparrows here too, and they can be a bit greedy! Try adding some mealworms or berries to attract different birds. I've had success with feeding mixed seeds that include those apart from wheat and millet. It’ll also help your little nephew have fun with a variety of birds coming by.
Plus, maybe consider keeping some ground feeders just for robins. They seem to love that and it might help the sparrows focus on the other food!
You can't really limit sparrows directly since they're part of the ecosystem, and actually, they're listed as endangered! But, if you provide a variety of food and use different feeders, you might attract more species. I've had luck with linseed and peanut feeders; they draw in all sorts of birds including woodpeckers! Just be mindful to clean the feeders regularly to avoid germs getting passed around.
For sure! Just be sure not to overfill the feeders so the food doesn’t spoil, especially the nuts!
Good advice! I’ve had similar experiences with my sunflower feeders; they attract diverse birds and I think the peanut ones might help diversify your audience too.
It sounds like you're doing a great job creating a bird-friendly environment! While it might be tough to keep sparrows away entirely, planting specific flowers or setting up a robin feeder may help. The smaller feeders can sometimes keep bigger birds away, which could be a good option for you. Plus, more native plants can create a natural habitat that might attract other types of birds.
Extra feeders might mean more refilling, but it could be worth it for the variety. I always see more birds when I add a few different options!
That’s a good point! I have a robin feeder, and it works well to keep the blue tits and sparrows from fighting over food. Just make sure to keep those feeders clean, as dirty feeders can spread disease.
I really hope your peanut feeder works out! My experience is that sparrows chase the bigger birds away sometimes, so a little strategy might be all you need.