I only use Black Oil Sunflower seed and Nyjer seed. Also the type of feeder you use will discourage the larger birds. Something with tiny perches on it, or no perches should help.

Well, I am pretty new at this too Connie. Anything I know now I have learned from this forum. There are a couple of things I thought of that might help.

One is, I put out very little seed in the summer because at this time there tend to be LOTS of bugs, flowers, and fruit for the birds. I put out only Nyjer seed in the upside-down goldfinch feeder. I put out LOTS of water (four birdbaths, all around our property) and keep it fresh, and the water more than anything else attracts birds here in the summer.

You may be seeing fewer songbirds this summer because they are finding enough food elsewhere. The other birds you mentioned will eat any food that is put out and take advantage. Doves love whatever falls on the ground, and the other birds are pretty pushy. Also, there are feeders that are designed to keep the larger nuisance birds out and allow only the smaller songbirds in (caged feeders for example).

You might want to consider taking down your feeder just to see if your "less welcome" visitors leave. They probably will. Then you could start over a little at a time.

I'm sure there is a lot that others will add that will be very helpful. I hope you can have some of your songbird friends back soon -

Donna

Both Kendra and Donna are so right. I too, used to put all that seed out in summer. Now I just do the nyjer and grow sunflowers. I'm flower crazy, but I'd say about 80% of the flowers I plant are for the birds. Sunflowers, coreopsis, coneflowers, black-eyed susans, rudbeckias, and of course a zillion hummingbird flowers/plants!