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| | | Hello and welcome to our News page!The News page will provide a wide range of information to help you identify signs of nature and ways for you to help your wildlife. We realise that choosing products that are right for you and your garden can be daunting at times, so why not check this new feature by clicking on "Product Spotlight" in the lower left of the front page of the store. This time we are looking at the DIY Nest Box kit and the Triple Organ Pipe Wall Feeder. |
 | Nesting Site ProtectionIts a sad fact that every summer millions of nestlings are killed by cats, Magpies and other predators like Grey Squirrels and rats. Although having up to 3 broods a season helps many species recover sufficiently, many more are needlessly killed through bad choice of nesting site and other factors.Although it is hard to stop nest predation completely extra measures can be adopted in the protection of nesting birds and their young. If for example you site a nest box on a fence or trellis the addition of chicken wire can act as an extra barrier helping the nest and stop any threat of abandonment too. Remember the 6 feet or 2 metre rule as a mimimum height benchmark though when putting up nest boxes on garden fencing or trees.In our images the homemade Blackbird nesting box has had a small section of chicken wire secured by plastic coated garden wire to the fence. As the ivy (top of fence in image) grows it should cover the wire but leave enough space for the Blackbirds to access the nest box by growing across/down the wire. With the wire placed like this any inquisitive feline can not access via climbing the hedging in front of the fence even if it is attracted to the nest by noisy nestlingsHiding nest boxes in ivy and thick shrubs is a good way of overcoming predation of nesting sites. Under roofs of outbuildings is another great predator proof site. Placing wire like this in your shed at a regular nesting area will help also. Another tip can be to close the shed door and leave a small window open or make a small hole in the corner of the roof area as an alternative access point.(Top image) Side view of protected Blackbird nesting box showing space for the adult bird access.(Middle image) Front view of same nesting box showing the barrier created by the wire to stop attack from the front. (Bottom image) A Wren nesting pocket fixed on to a small trellis and as a result well hidden by the ivy growing all around the pocket. |
 | Nesting Pockets- How to make them last! The addition of a piece of plastic sheet or bag can help a nesting pocket last considerably longer. In the image a tall nesting pocket has had the addition of a section of old seed sack wrapped around it and then secured with a small nail. The best area to site pockets is in quiet and secluded areas prefably under ivy or similar nearby cover. |
 | Feeding SafetyIs your feeding station safe and secure for your garden birds?Adding a small fence around your feeding station can help protect ground feeding birds like thrushes, blackbirds, Collared Doves and finches from hunting cats. Also where you place your feeding area is important in limiting cover for any potential attacks too. Try a less dense area of your garden.(Top image) In our photograph a small plastic coated wire mesh fence has been placed around the feeding station the fence has been secured using ordinary garden cane sections. (Bottom image) Close up of fence. |
 | Help Prevent Bird StrikesEvery year hundreds of thousands of birds are sadly killed by flying into windows. The majority of these strikes are against patio, large ground floor windows and conservatory windows. It is generally known that birds fly into windows as they see the relection displayed from the window and think they are flying towards that reflection. Windows however are not the biggest killer of birds, cats and motor vehicles are the largest cause of bird fatalities.You can help reduce potential bird strikes by following the points below.1) If you have blinds draw or raise/lower by only half the length of your window or cover your window completely.2) Alternatively if a particular window is receiving strikes draw your curtain for that particular window during the day if feasible.3) Use Anti Bird Strike Stickers.These come in various designs and are quite effective against window strikes. |
 | Hedgehogs- do they visit your garden?Hedgehogs are a welcome visitor for any keen gardener and wildlife watcher alike. Not only do they consume the pesky garden slug, they are fun to watch as they move around the garden and from time to time have a shouting match with another hog that sounds like a small dog barking every few seconds!How do you know if you have Hedgehogs? well if you have not seen any you can check your lawn for Hedgehog droppings or dung they are quite small swirls (see image) You can attract hedgehogs to your garden by leaving out a bowl of water (use a margarine tub and cut the base out like in image) and some food. Either cat food pouches or better still commercially manufactured food as it contains more nutrients.(Main image) Hedgehog dung near a feeding area. |
 | Recycling Old Paving SlabsIf you have a few old concrete paving slabs knocking about why not reuse them within your garden.Old paving slabs are great for constructing small ornamental walls in gardens or for constructing retainer walls for flower beds or even crazy paving footpaths in gardens or under seating areas. In the images the original aggregate used underneath the cracked and broken 2" slabs has been dug out and then substituted as a base layer for the new wall footing in the images. Because the slabs are all the same thickness they give the impression of being "dressed" or specially cut by a stonemason. Gaps of half an inch are used between each piece. These type of walls are also good as habitats for small mammals like field Mice and Harvest Mice so if you have a problem of small rodents getting into your property offer them an alternative via a small wall.(Top image) Shows the paving slabs newly pulled up from a footpath area ready for new ones (broken as a result of heavy vehicles driving on a small footpath into a private residential area). (Middle and Bottom images) Shows some of the same paving slabs broken up and reused for constructing a small retaining wall in a garden (four course depth for the majority of the wall and then a seven course depth for the semi circular feature in the picture). |
 | Get Goldfinches into your GardenGoldfinches must rate as one of the most beautiful of our native finches. As the name suggests the majority of its colour is gold and yellow but the striking contrast with the red, white and black of the head makes this bird stand out on your bird table, if you are lucky too have them visit.If you don't have goldfinches at your feeding station then they can be quite easily tempted by the addition of a niger/thistle seed feeder and time. As goldfinches fly in flocks, if one flys in it is most probable that others are nearby waiting. Similar species who enjoy niger/thistle seed are Redpoll, Siskin and Greenfinch plus one or two of the tit family mainly Blue and Coal tits. For more information on goldfinch feeding go to 'Meet The Droll Yankees Family' in information and then to the Goldfinch Flockers area. |
 | Catbibs-for bird lovers who have cats.If you own a cat and feed your garden birds then I know that everytime you let your cat out you worry for the birds and small mammals in your garden or surrounding area. Here at Gardenbirdfeeder we have been carrying out trials of this product for the last two months (even though it has been tried and proven by a scientific study in Australia). The feedback has been astonishing in that the number of birds caught was significantly reduced in some cases to zero captures/kills.So how does Catbib work, its simple lightweight and neoprene construction does not hinder the cat from running, climbing or carrying out all the other things a cat does although the bib restricts the "pawing" motion that a cat uses to catch its prey.Anyway Catbib seems to be fulfilling its packaging statement or "in the business of saving millions of birds" to put it simply. |
 | Tell tale signs of Sparrowhawk activityIf you have large numbers of garden birds feeding regularly then its possible they are being watched high up from a nearby mature tree by a hungry Sparrowhawk or Kestrel. Feeding stations offer an easy meal especially as unsuspecting adult birds bring their new nestlings to your feeders. Although initially annoying its all part of the food chain though and the young of both these predators need feeding too. Repeat attacks on a daily basis are rare as both sparrowhawk and kestrel prefer different and various habitats and environments to hunt in with rodents making up most caught prey. Fence posts and telegraph poles are favourite sites for plucking but depending what's close at hand other sites will be utilised. As an alternative you can provide scraps of raw meat which, if you have birds of prey, will take up on any free offerings. We recommend building a high wooden table about 6ft high siting away from the other feeding station, for example; bottom of a garden with plenty of room for landing. Ask your local butcher for any scrap meat or bones.When out and about look for posts and particular feathers at its base or strewn about the immediate area. Sparrowhawks especially choose fence-posts as 'plucking posts'. They will strip the non-edible areas while taking out most feathers before returning too the nest or a high branch to feed. (Top image) A complete view of the post with one or two feathers just visible on the very top.(Left image) Close up view of the base of the same fence-post. Goldfinch feathers lie scattered, a tell tale sign of Sparrowhawk activity and an ordinary garden fence-post being used as a plucking post. |
 | Owl Pellets Next time you go out on a walk keep a look out for owl pellets. Pellets are regurgitated remains of the prey (bones and fur) that are feather light in weight and although these might look like some type of dropping, they are not. Barn Owls cough up pellets, which are often as long as 4 inches in length. They are black and shiny when fresh, but they gradually fade and lose their sheen with age. Pellets can be found at the base of trees and buildings (Left image) Two whole Owl pellets and one dissected showing the skull and other bones of various rodent prey. |
 | Woodpecker HabitatsDead and decaying trees are fantastic habitats for insects and birds alike. Woodpeckers are just one of many species that will spend considerable time searching surfaces and cracks for insects. They will also spend hours pecking holes for nesting sites, so if you have a dead tree in your garden and are thinking of cutting it down think again.The tree in the left of this picture is a dead Beech tree badly damaged by past storms and strong winds, the other a mature deceased Scots Pine.The Scots Pine has had all the main upper branches cut off leaving the trunk standing. The first image had a Greater Spotted Woodpecker occupant the second a Greater and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker as a result of being left standing. Many species of insect like woodlouse live within its bark too. |
 | Fungus Spotting timeSummer and autumn sees the appearance of many weird and wonderful fungus or non-flowering plants to be exact. In Britain alone there are 10,000 plus species of fungus.They all play a vital role in nature by breaking down living or dead organic matter for recycling which, eventually is used by other creatures of the wood or forest floor.The "Fly agaric" (Amanita muscaria) can grow upto 10 inches tall and is common in birch and pine woods. This is one of the most easily indentifiable of all fungus with its scarlet cap with pyramid-shaped white scales and white gills just below the cap. This should not be eaten as it can cause violent gastric upsets. |
 | Build a Nature or Log PileNature or log piles are another much welcomed habitat that host many mammal and insect species and are easily constructed. Nature piles can be made from unused roofing tiles, corrugated iron pieces, stone, gravel or practically anything about the garden. Small mammals from rodents to frogs and hedgehogs may readily use any recess or space available. The design can be as uniform or simplistic as you want.The nature piles in the images were constructed from small branches placed in a wigwam shape and left in the corner of a garden and a wooded clearing. For the bottom image covered in dead ferns...simple. Another proven design is to lay medium width and equal length cut branches horizontally then vertically then repeating the process upto about 3-4 feet in height, then covering with small branches and then branches with foilage, making sure there are many access gaps for your garden visitors. |
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