I haven’t had this experience (yet) because I haven’t embarked on my new gardening lifestyle. But, next spring will be a new day. I wonder if this damage occurs mostly in the spring, or if it is related to the birds raising young. Baby birds cannot eat seeds, and parents need to find insects or worms to feed their growing family. If insects are in short supply, maybe they resort to leaves. Are those of you who have had damage located in cities or suburbs, where there might be a limited supply of wild plants or insects? Maybe try planting a bed of sprouts for the birds and covering the real garden. They might also need the moisture from the leaves, if there isn’t a nearby source of water. Install a bird bath? Just my ponderings.

David, at least you are staying out of that other exotic Asian dove location, "This site is for consenting adults only and should only be accessed by adults over the age of 21." Or did you? I'm not sure if there is any "native" plant invasive in my yard or garden. Amongst the dozens of weeds, they're all from the "old world" (& then there's your Russian olive). I don't have a good excuse for the pleasure I had at learning that the black locust trees are considered invasive in western Europe. The islands are terribly impacted but we're told that the development of so many useful domestic species is a result of the size and diversity of the Eurasian landmass. The Suez canal or not, Africa is a part of that same landmass. Over in the tomato forum, Carolyn linked to an article on genetic diversity. The authors' idea was that one of the reasons for problems of low resistance to pests in the older varieties was that the tomato gene pool was isolated in Europe by limited importation of tomato seed centuries ago. Utilizing new strains from South America in plant breeding wasn't undertaken until the 1950's. Genes from resistant varieties were very successfully made use of after that. Also, hybrid vigor is significant in those older crosses. Seems like it sometimes takes the people of the old world to take what is here and then give it back to us in a more appreciated form. The Russell lupin is an example but I'm not sure what the people or fauna of New Zealand think of the lupin invading acres of land there. Or, what they think about the American wild turkey or California Valley quail, for that matter. I believe you make some use of the German brown trout and where'd these Chinese ring-neck pheasants come from? The wild turkey is around here in what must be record numbers. I doubt if it was ever here prehistorically. With global warming, maybe we'll get that lesser goldfinch up here. But, will the Bohemian waxwing still come south from Canada every Winter? Oh, gosh. I'd fly away myself out of sheer nervousness but where would I go? Steve's digits

I would definately go for a variety over a larger feeder. My hopper style feeder is actually the least favorite of all my feeders. It is always the last to be emptied. The tube feeders are the finches favorite. Everybody else seems to prefer the open tray style feeders or feeding off of the ground. Suet feeders and peanut feeders will help you attract that woodpecker, they really like the sunflower too. Black oiled sunflower is the best feed for attracting the most and largest variety of birds by far. I do buy cracked corn and a mix too because they are cheaper and I have a large population of doves, and in the spring, summer, redwinged blackbirds and grackles. They will eat the cheaper seed and it helps cut the cost a bit. Otherwise they'd be perfectly happy to fill up on black oiled sunflower too! LOL

The house sparrows in my yard have raided a house martin nest and all live there happily.They usually form flocks/colonies and aren't that aggressive to each other..However, the head pecking sounds just like what a house sparrow would do.. Either way, less sparrows is a good thing..HOSP have been observed threatening and attacking 70 species of birds that have come into their nesting territory.You might think they're cute, but they attack and kill adult bluebirds , sometimes trapping and decapitating them in the nestbox and building their own nest on top of the corpse. They destroy eggs and young. I didn't really notice anything..I do somewhat agree with the shortage of food : few berries are ripe, but there are still lots of bugs.