WARNING . Please feed the birds in your garden

[Gardenman]

Apparently this year due to the weather there are fewer insects for the birds to eat. So please if you don’t usually buy fat balls & seeds to put out (in safe places to avoid the cats ) a plentiful supply . They really need it this year, especially with snow forecast later this week. 
 

Thankyou 

[malumbu]

Rather alarmist. There is unlikely to be snow this week, but even if there is that is natural and wildlife adjust accordingly.

There are fewer insects to eat due to what humans have done to the planet over the decades.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decline_in_insect_populations  In particular:

• Habitat Loss and Fragmentation:
• Agricultural Chemicals:
• Climate Change:
• Pollution:
• Invasive Species:

There is even a case for not feeding birds due to the spread of disease through feeders, greenfinch population was decimated.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/24/should-we-stop-feeding-birds-what-happens-if-we-do-and-does-it-spread-disease

 

I do feed the birds but keeping a watching eye on the evidence.

 

And I try to grow insect and bird friendly plants including attempts at a meadow.

 

There could also be an argument for not keeping cats as these may decimate bird populations.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/aug/14/cats-kill-birds-wildlife-keep-indoors

 

You will need squirrel proof feeders and even then you may have the starlings and green squwaky things eating most of the food left out for small birds.

 

[Angelina]

Great shout.

They do need the extra fat when it’s winter, but don’t use fat balls from April as they are dangerous for nestlings as the babies can choke on lumps of the fat. When it gets milder switch to suet pellets as they are harder and don’t melt (the grease is bad for feathers.

 

 

[satsuma]

On 08/02/2026 at 23:21, malumbu said:

There is even a case for not feeding birds due to the spread of disease through feeders, greenfinch population was decimated.

 

Rather alarmist.

[Sue]

35 minutes ago, satsuma said:

Rather alarmist.

Sadly true though.

I've just replenished my (clean)  feeders and put out suet blocks and logs.

Now I'm waiting for the pigeons and squirrels to descend 🤣

[malumbu]

1 hour ago, satsuma said:

Rather alarmist.

Silly comment.  Read the attachment.  Or go to i-player and watch Winterwatch: https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/documentaries/winterwatch-jack-baddams-protect-birds-comment/

Our gardens are not natural, many of the birds that use them are dependent on us.  Most of us feed the birds, including myself, do it for our own pleasure rather than in a belief that we are reversing the damage done to nature by humans over recent centuries.

[Penguin68]

41 minutes ago, malumbu said:

Our gardens are not natural, many of the birds that use them are dependent on us

There is virtually nowhere that is, except perhaps the few remains of the temperate rain forest in the West of the country. Even the apparently wilder parts are actually the result of agriculture or game management. 

[CPR Dave]

Bird feeders encourage rats and squirrels.

Neither are good for birds. 

[Angelina]

If I don’t feed the birds, they’ve actually come and perched on the fence and stared directly at me through the window. The squirrels do that too. 
 

[fishboy]

We used to feed the birds, but once the parakeets discovered this they just took over, scaring away all the other species and eating everything in sight. I tried scaring them away with a Nerf gun, but they just didn't care. I know it will open a can of worms (no pun intended) but I really think  the parakeet population needs to be reduced; yes they are pretty, but they are just like a plague of locusts when it comes to food supplies. 

PS apologies for pedantry @malumbu but the true definition of "decimate" is to reduce by a tenth... 🫤

[Jenijenjen]

28 minutes ago, fishboy said:

 

PS apologies for pedantry @malumbu but the true definition of "decimate" is to reduce by a tenth... 🫤

I raise your pedantry. Language evolves and Merriam Webster gives the meaning as "drastically reduced especially in number." The word originally derived from the Roman practice of killing every tenth soldier in a mutinous army but I'm sure nobody uses the word in that context now.

[fishboy]

Which is why I was careful to specify "the true definition"!

A bit like "dilemma", generally used for any tricky decisions but should really be where there are only two options, both with equally bad outcomes...

[Jenijenjen]

But as language changes, it is no longer the "true" definition!

[Penguin68]

It is worthwhile noting that the original technical meaning was 'a reduction of 10%', which does not, to my mind, chime at all with 'drastically reduce'. I know that's how it is, I think lazily, often used nowadays but it does allow 'decimate' to be used so loosely that it loses meaning. And it can be confusing to those who know it's original meaning. I think that the fact that decimate and devastate are close homonyms does not help things here. 

[vladi]

On 08/02/2026 at 23:21, malumbu said:

There is even a case for not feeding birds due to the spread of disease through feeders, greenfinch population was decimated.

 

You will need squirrel proof feeders and even then you may have the starlings and green squwaky things eating most of the food left out for small birds.

 

 

With the right type of feeder arrangement the access by parakeets, squirrels and rats can be eliminated completely. Likewise, the spread of disease can be minimised.
The best method is to hang individual feeders inside a wire  cage that has a 2"x2" mesh on all sides that is mounted above ground. Being above ground it stops slugs and rats getting in. And with mesh on the bottom,the risk of transmitting disease from any droppings is eliminated. Small birds feel safe from predators in three
These cages are available online for about £33

[Jenijenjen]

1 hour ago, Penguin68 said:

It is worthwhile noting that the original technical meaning was 'a reduction of 10%', which does not, to my mind, chime at all with 'drastically reduce'. I know that's how it is, I think lazily, often used nowadays but it does allow 'decimate' to be used so loosely that it loses meaning. And it can be confusing to those who know it's original meaning. I think that the fact that decimate and devastate are close homonyms does not help things here. 

Language is a fluid and evolving thing and as it changes the original meaning of words can alter to take on a new true meaning or meanings. Original meaning is not the same as true meaning. Take the word literal which is now used to mean the very opposite of how the word used to be used, irritating for some of us but demonstrates the English language is vibrant and alive and also very subjective.

But I must go and make myself a cup of tea now or I will literally die of thirst 

[Sue]

1 hour ago, vladi said:

With the right type of feeder arrangement the access by parakeets, squirrels and rats can be eliminated completely. Likewise, the spread of disease can be minimised.
The best method is to hang individual feeders inside a wire  cage that has a 2"x2" mesh on all sides that is mounted above ground. Being above ground it stops slugs and rats getting in. And with mesh on the bottom,the risk of transmitting disease from any droppings is eliminated. Small birds feel safe from predators in three
These cages are available online for about £33

What are the dimensions of the mesh cage?

I have a similar one to deter pigeons, but it sits on the ground and is quite large.

[fishboy]

That's a great solution, but not really practical for a second floor windowsill! I tried many things, spiky wires sticking out to deter them from landing, the widest cage available (pictured), but they would still descend, scaring off all the small songbirds, cram their heads through the cage and devour all the food. I was metaphorically tearing my hair out so, combined with the worries about spreading disease, I had to call it a day. Very sad.

[vladi]

3 hours ago, Sue said:

What are the dimensions of the mesh cage?

I have a similar one to deter pigeons, but it sits on the ground and is quite large.

It measures 56cm x 56cm at the base.

[Sue]

2 hours ago, vladi said:

It measures 56cm x 56cm at the base.

Thanks, that's quite big, isn't it?

[Alec1]

10 hours ago, fishboy said:

We used to feed the birds, but once the parakeets discovered this they just took over, scaring away all the other species and eating everything in sight. I tried scaring them away with a Nerf gun, but they just didn't care. I know it will open a can of worms (no pun intended) but I really think  the parakeet population needs to be reduced; yes they are pretty, but they are just like a plague of locusts when it comes to food supplies. 

PS apologies for pedantry @malumbu but the true definition of "decimate" is to reduce by a tenth... 🫤

I struggled with the parakeets literally decimating the bird feeders within an hour.  I tried squirrel proof ones to see if they helped, but they jammed their claws in the mechanism to stop it closing.  Then the pigeons managed to do the same.  I spent a long time researching the best ideas and came across something on Pinterest.  Someone had used a metal dog cage and attached it to a wooden platform.  So that's what I did!  Once set up, you just hang the feeders inside.  Large birds like pigeons and parakeets cannot get inside.  I get all the small birds, plus starlings.  Not many thrushes or blackbirds around, so have no idea if they could get in.  The squirrels do!  It's amazing watching them slide through narrow gaps.  I also covered the roof of the cage with a piece of plastic to keep the rain off, plus I am just about to replace the cage plastic base with something more mesh like.  It can get a bit gooey after a while, so with mesh, all the dropped seed from the messy goldfinches, will go on to the ground where the pigeons can clear up.  I even added a birdcam.  

[Ryelander]

45 minutes ago, Alec1 said:

I struggled with the parakeets literally decimating the bird feeders within an hour.  I tried squirrel proof ones to see if they helped, but they jammed their claws in the mechanism to stop it closing.  Then the pigeons managed to do the same.  I spent a long time researching the best ideas and came across something on Pinterest.  Someone had used a metal dog cage and attached it to a wooden platform.  So that's what I did!  Once set up, you just hang the feeders inside.  Large birds like pigeons and parakeets cannot get inside.  I get all the small birds, plus starlings.  Not many thrushes or blackbirds around, so have no idea if they could get in.  The squirrels do!  It's amazing watching them slide through narrow gaps.  I also covered the roof of the cage with a piece of plastic to keep the rain off, plus I am just about to replace the cage plastic base with something more mesh like.  It can get a bit gooey after a while, so with mesh, all the dropped seed from the messy goldfinches, will go on to the ground where the pigeons can clear up.  I even added a birdcam.  

Looks great! but could it be possible to pinch the frames a bit tighter with some long nose pliers and add more struts to stop the tree rats getting inside? Also, the only issue with a mesh base is that it could attract rats towards your property.

Edited 3 hours ago by Ryelander

[malumbu]

Thanks for the good discussion, this should be re-titled as a general thread about feeding the birds.

@Penguin not really sure why you posted, most are aware that virtually all land in this country is managed, and has been for 100s of years, but there are many organisations, local and national government, that manage large areas of land that create appropriate habitats for British nature, including rewilding and reintroductions.  We can all do our bit even if this is not cutting your lawn, and certainly by not concreting over it.  (or plastic grass, urgh).   I have simply been stating that garden birds are semi domesticated, as perhaps the deer herds in Richmond Park, New Forest ponies, and even some foxes where we feed them. 

Whoever it was who tried to get a cheap jibe in about Southwark and the Gala festival.  Why?  There is a whole thread on Gala for you to moan on.  Lots going on in Southwark https://www.southwark.gov.uk/culture-and-sport/parks-and-open-spaces/ecology-and-wildlife

I've talked about green sqwaky things before, if it was legal I'd happily use an air riffle, and I don't eat meat.  And grey squirrels too where I am encourage to dispatch them.

Once a small group of starlings also got into the garden I constructed my own cage using starling proof netting, it worked for a year although I had to make a gap for the great spotted woodpecker to get in.  The squirrels got at it in the summer but sqwaky things still haven't come back, starlings recently returned.  I have a large batch of rubbish suet pellets so will let them eat them before reordering and replacing the netting.

Didn't find an appropriately sized cage, the gaps in the mesh have to be large enough for finches etc, and the commercial ones were £££

The issue with bird feeders isn't just dirty ones, and I try to keep mine clean, but that sick birds congregate in close proximity with healthy birds.  The cataclysmic obliteration of the greenfinch population was mainly due to dirty feeders and birds feeding close to each other.

 

[Alec1]

2 hours ago, Ryelander said:

Looks great! but could it be possible to pinch the frames a bit tighter with some long nose pliers and add more struts to stop the tree rats getting inside? Also, the only issue with a mesh base is that it could attract rats towards your property.

Honestly, the squirrels are not a problem now.  They only eat what has dropped.  The feeders I have are squirrel proof anyway from pre-cage times.  I have never seen rats in the garden, and even when I didn't have the cage.  I most certainly would have noticed them.  I do have a little family of mice which I have zero problem about.  If they stay outside, that's fine with me.  Plus, local cats keep that population down.  There are rats everywhere in London, there is plenty of food rubbish out in the street to keep them happy.  So, I guess you could fit extra bars to the cage if you wanted to, but then you run the risk of the birds not getting in.  They like to be able to fly in and out easily, which they do.