Are bird tables a good idea?

Are bird tables a good idea?

The best bird table has to be easy to assemble, easy to clean and most importantly, provide a safe place for birds to feed when food is scarce. The colder months are when food is hardest to come by and birds will benefit the most from a bird table with a regular food supply.

What is the best design for a bird table?

Design – A basic platform with edges and drainage channels with or without a roof is by far the best. Avoid bird tables with a nest box in the roof – encouraging birds to feed in another’s nesting territory is not wise.

Are hanging bird tables any good?

Hanging bird tables can sometimes be cheaper to buy than traditional standing bird tables and they are easier to maintain. They make great gifts and are a good way to help get children interested in birds and wildlife.

Do birds like bird tables?

Modern bird tables are often easier to clean and will make a real style statement in your garden. Thrushes, blackbirds, wrens, and wagtails like to feed from the ground so choose a low bird table if you want to attract these species.

Do bird tables attract rats?

Bird feeders don’t actually attract rats; it is the easily available seed and other types of bird food at ground level that keeps the rats coming. Discarded seed thrown out by birds and poorly stored seed are probably the most common causes of this. Fortunately, there are easy ways to help stop the rats.

How do I attract birds to my bird table?

Top 12 Tips to Attract Birds to Your Feeders

1. Offer a Variety of Foods to Attract Birds to Feeders.
2. Birds Love Peanuts.
3. Keep Track of Your Visitors.
4. Get Your Neighbors Involved.
5. Use Plants for Shelter Around Feeders.
6. Add Water to your Landscape.
7. Maintain a Four-Season Habitat.
8. Leave a Little Garden Debris in Winter.

Should a bird table have a roof?

It is best to leave the table untreated. A few nails or hooks in the edges of the table will be useful for hanging nut or seed feeders or fat balls. A roof gives some protection to feeding birds (from rain, snow and hunting sparrowhawks). Some birds may even roost at night on a table with a roof.

Do blackbirds Use bird tables?

Ground and table feeding – birds such as blackbirds, collared doves, thrushes, dunnocks and robins will not use feeders, preferring to feed off the ground or a bird table.

How long does it take for birds to find a bird table?

Birds will often go to a new bird feeder within a day or two but it is most common for birds to take anywhere up to several weeks before they start to feed at a new place. The general rule is anything from two to four weeks.

How do I stop rats getting on my bird table?

How to Keep Mice and Rats Away from Bird Feeders

1. Use a Squirrel Baffle.
2. Use a Covered Bird Feeder or Weather Guard.
3. One of the Best Deterrents is a Seed Tray.
4. Avoid Using Platform Trays for Feeding Birds (if you have a rodent problem)
5. Don’t Completely Fill Feeders.
6. Use Covered Metal or Strong Plastic Bins to Store Seed.

How do I stop rats climbing my bird table?

If you find rats or other animals are climbing up onto your bird table in order to access food, you can consider adding a baffle. A baffle is a cone shaped piece of plastic or metal that stops squirrels and rats climbing up the post.

Why won’t birds come to my bird table?

Birds will not immediately flock to a new feeder; they need time to find it, watch it and to make sure it is safe before they approach. The feeder must be in a good location for the birds and provide natural cover for safety, a good vantage point and good quality seed or food.