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Finches at Niger seed feeder, no birds at other feeder-why?

13 years ago

Hi, I'm new at this. I put up feeders for the first time a few days ago. I've seen goldfinches around the neighborhood and neighboring woods, so I knew they were around and always wished some would come to our yard. I put up a Niger seed bag and had finches coming the next morning. I had a couple of other birds I did not recognize on it, too. I put up another feeder with a seed bell and nothing touched it. It was just a baffle I made from a clear plastic bowl with a seed bell hung under it. I made a few alterations to the feeder, added a tray and put black oil sunflower seeds and Niger seeds in the tray, in addition to the seed bell under the baffle. Still nothing is touching it. Maybe I'm just being too impatient, but I'm wondering if it might be because the plastic tray and bowl I used are shiny. I'm confused because some sources say birds are attracted to shiny things, and some say shiny things scare them. I'm posting a picture of the bird feeder I made. Any suggestions for improvements?

Also, I've been wondering how the finches so quickly became aware of the Niger seed feeder. Can they smell them from far away? Or could it be that other people had them up and they have learned to recognize by sight that that is where to go for food?

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chickadeemelrose
13 years ago
Hi!

Your feeder is neat, especially the way you've hung the tray on the bottom.

The only thing I can think of, relative to your question about why birds aren't using that feeder, is that at this time of year it's not the feeder - there are so many insects, seeds, buds, etc. out there that haven't been available to the birds before spring, and I know that's where most of our birds are getting their nourishment. Even the gray catbirds that have been in the garden and birdbath haven't been visiting our fruit/jelly feeder. I've actually taken everything down except the nyjer feeder, and I keep the birdbaths filled and clean because all the birds come to those no matter what.

On the other hand, we have a pair of goldfinches that visits our nyjer feeder every day at about 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., like clockwork. And more goldfinches than just those two take advantage of the feeder as well. So that feeder will stay up.

This will work out - you could leave your feeder up and wait and see, birds may suddenly see it and use it.

Good luck -

Donna
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Hi Paul, I have my finch feeder (from either Home Depot or Lowe's) outside now and it has been a huge hit with the goldfinches. I think it's a Perky Pet brand plain old plastic finch feeder, with a silver top, about $12.00 - and this feeder has fallen down from high up over our patio and not a crack. The seed in it also holds up well after a snowstorm. On this feeder I push all of the 3 perches in far enough so that three are quite short (sparrows like longer perches I guess, so this should help discourage them. I guess goldfinches don't care, because they use them). Perky Pet also makes an inexpensive feeder specially designed for goldfinches - where the seed portals are placed below the perches, which is not a problem for the finches but is a problem for other birds. Just some suggestions -
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