Birds in the Garden

[RedViking]

When I first got the bird feeders there were only 2 or 3 birdies, now I might have the whole neighbourhood in the garden. During the day there are different kind of birds that come in .

In the morning I have the bigger birds (as shown in the video below), then about an hour later there are these aggressive yellow birds (same size) that come in an chases all the others away and then later the day and afternoons have very tiny birdies, some of them completely red, but by then I would imagine the seeds are basically finished (thanks to the nasty yellow birdies).

Any advise on how to attract different birds or manage the seeds better, or some general tips.

(watch the end for bird exodus)

High Quality Sound Recording with Zoom H6:

Some light rain. My inverter is running with a soft hum in the background, electricity was off.

 

[RedViking]

The bird houses I bought for around R140 each in Howick at Timber Solutions.

 

[Lupus]

Attract insects, which attract lizards, which attract other birds. Not all birds eat seeds, also flowers attract bees and certain birds.
Sounds like Viva Pinata here

 

[Kosmik]

We get plenty in our garden as well: weavers, what we call long tailed mouse birds, those deepemerald jays almost black, louries and my personal favorite is a little king fisher who normally greets us every morning sitting on a wall. Got a nice 1m long birdbath in one section, and they all love it.

Varying flowers , seed and a bath will attract them.

 

[RedViking]

We get plenty in our garden as well: weavers, what we call long tailed mouse birds, those deepemerald jays almost black, louries and my personal favorite is a little king fisher who normally greets us every morning sitting on a wall. Got a nice 1m long birdbath in one section, and they all love it.

Varying flowers , seed and a bath will attract them.

I have a bird bath but they don't seem to use it too much. Maybe because the dogs are usually around.

 

[3WA]

This is the most suburban thing I've ever seen. This is how it starts, then before you know it, you think planting a new cycad is a worthwhile life aspiration.

 

[Lupus]

This is the most suburban thing I've ever seen. This is how it starts, then before you know it, you think planting a new cycad is a worthwhile life aspiration.

Getting a garden to actually work is quite an achievement, especially if the previous owners let it go to hell and gone.

 

[3WA]

Getting a garden to actually work is quite an achievement, especially if the previous owners let it go to hell and gone.

There may have been just the slightest tinge of jealousy in my comment.

 

[Lupus]

There may have been just the slightest tinge of jealousy in my comment.

What no garden? Heard you can do wonders with pots

 

[ScottulusMaximus]

I block the bigger birds from accessing the feeders directly with strategic string across the perches. I find you go through way too much seed if they have direct access, they are quite happy on the floor picking up the drops.

If you want other varieties put out fruit on a flat platform, I cut up my apple cores into little squares and plant native fruit trees such as: https://www.indigenoustrees.online/kiggelaria-africana-wild-peach

Then you need to attract the nectar feeders, can either do this with a nectar bottle or nectar producing flowers, ask nurseries for the native ones in your area.

For the insect eaters you can do meal worms (can grow these yourself if you're up for the faff) or just keep your garden a bug friendly place, lots of nice creepers and hold up on the insecticides.

 

[Lupus]

I block the bigger birds from accessing the feeders directly with strategic string across the perches. I find you go through way too much seed if they have direct access, they are quite happy on the floor picking up the drops.

If you want other varieties put out fruit on a flat platform, I cut up my apple cores into little squares and plant native fruit trees such as: https://www.indigenoustrees.online/kiggelaria-africana-wild-peach

Then you need to attract the nectar feeders, can either do this with a nectar bottle or nectar producing flowers, ask nurseries for the native ones in your area.

For the insect eaters you can do meal worms (can grow these yourself if you're up for the faff) or just keep your garden a bug friendly place, lots of nice creepers and hold up on the insecticides.

This is what I wanted to do, but than I got lazy and stopped watering also price of water. I want to try get my garden drought resistant as I would prefer them growing in summer when we get rain. Had my little garden in my complex mostly drought resistant.

 

[RedViking]

This is the most suburban thing I've ever seen. This is how it starts, then before you know it, you think planting a new cycad is a worthwhile life aspiration.

Please tell me how to do that!!

 

[RedViking]

I block the bigger birds from accessing the feeders directly with strategic string across the perches. I find you go through way too much seed if they have direct access, they are quite happy on the floor picking up the drops.

If you want other varieties put out fruit on a flat platform, I cut up my apple cores into little squares and plant native fruit trees such as: https://www.indigenoustrees.online/kiggelaria-africana-wild-peach

Then you need to attract the nectar feeders, can either do this with a nectar bottle or nectar producing flowers, ask nurseries for the native ones in your area.

For the insect eaters you can do meal worms (can grow these yourself if you're up for the faff) or just keep your garden a bug friendly place, lots of nice creepers and hold up on the insecticides.

wow thanks!!! I haven't even thought about the birds that don't eat seeds.

 

[RedViking]

I block the bigger birds from accessing the feeders directly with strategic string across the perches. I find you go through way too much seed if they have direct access, they are quite happy on the floor picking up the drops.

If you want other varieties put out fruit on a flat platform, I cut up my apple cores into little squares and plant native fruit trees such as: https://www.indigenoustrees.online/kiggelaria-africana-wild-peach

Then you need to attract the nectar feeders, can either do this with a nectar bottle or nectar producing flowers, ask nurseries for the native ones in your area.

For the insect eaters you can do meal worms (can grow these yourself if you're up for the faff) or just keep your garden a bug friendly place, lots of nice creepers and hold up on the insecticides.

What does this bird eat?

 

[RedViking]

This is the part of the garden I want to use for the birds. Left is bird bath, right is bird house. (nice rainy weather today)


(yes, the wall need some paint. )

 

[ScottulusMaximus]

What does this bird eat?

Nectar: https://www.dkfindout.com/us/animals-and-nature/birds/types-beak/

 

[Lupus]

What does this bird eat?

View attachment 705983

Long curved beaks like that nectar, but you also get long but slightly pointy thicker beaks are insects, those smaller ones are seeds, the ones like a parrot is fruit, seeds, nuts and and as a parrot isn't fussy strangely enough.

 

[Rocket-Boy]

What does this bird eat?

View attachment 705983

You can also setup feeders for the sunbirds. Something like this.

 

[Zoomzoom]

What does this bird eat?

View attachment 705983

The beak says it all - that is a sunbird and it sucks nectar by sticking its beak down into flowers. You can get a bottle feeder for them.

Your other birds in the video look like weavers and they are very cheeky birds. Your small almost completely red birds are probably red bishops. The males turn fully red in breeding season and revert to a plain brownish colour the rest of the year.



Attracting a variety of bird revolves around putting out a variety of food - small seed mixes attract smaller birds while seed mixes with some larger grains, even up to the size of coarse mielie chunks attract larger birds. You can put out bottles for the sunbirds, although mine attract a variety of birds not just the sunbirds. You can put out fruit (orange, apple, pear, pawpaw, grapes), mealworms, grated cheese, popcorn, leftover cooked rice (never raw!)

As for the food - you put out more, there will be more eaten. You will strain and go bankrupt trying to outfeed the birds. Put out what you can afford and when it is gone, it is gone.

 

[RedViking]

The beak says it all - that is a sunbird and it sucks nectar by sticking its beak down into flowers. You can get a bottle feeder for them.

Your other birds in the video look like weavers and they are very cheeky birds. Your small almost completely red birds are probably red bishops. The males turn fully red in breeding season and revert to a plain brownish colour the rest of the year.

View attachment 706019

Attracting a variety of bird revolves around putting out a variety of food - small seed mixes attract smaller birds while seed mixes with some larger grains, even up to the size of coarse mielie chunks attract larger birds. You can put out bottles for the sunbirds, although mine attract a variety of birds not just the sunbirds. You can put out fruit (orange, apple, pear, pawpaw, grapes), mealworms, grated cheese, popcorn, leftover cooked rice (never raw!)

As for the food - you put out more, there will be more eaten. You will strain and go bankrupt trying to outfeed the birds. Put out what you can afford and when it is gone, it is gone.

What do the bottles look like?
You are right. I can't feed them all day. I am thinking to feed them even less in the mornings and then in the afternoons add more for the little birdies.