Birdfeeder But No Birds

[MisterMan]

HI I made a little bird feeder from an old coconut and put a perch in it/around it and some bird seed and some fruit and then no bird seed.

I live in the jungle so there are lots of birds but not sure how to get them to come!

Thanks for any advice.

[PoeDogg]

Try rice....everything else in this country seems to prefer rice to anything else.

TIT.

[hanno]

I have tried various set-ups over the years; the only thing I ever attracted were ants, rats, and sparrows.

[Rimmer]

Birds seem to take a long time to get used to new things, I have been puting rice out for my minor birds for a while and only just now are they taking an interest in it. The other birds around the house such as Rollers, Bull Bull's and Magpie Robins don't come near the food, they sit on the bamboo and sing, and the rollers sit in a tree and swoop down on to the grass when they see an insect. I think maybe there is so much food around for them that they don't need our help.

I did see a very funny thing the other day, My wife and I were sitting on the deck watching two Indian Rollers in our big tree, what must have been the male dived off the branch and scooped up an insect on the lawn, he then flew up to his mate and gave it to her. When she took the offering he jumped on her and proceed to.... well you know. I can just imagine the conversation. 'Sorry dear I don't have 500 baht, will this grub do?' "Oh OK' says she 'but be quick'

We both fell off our chairs laughing.

[hanno]

Rollers eat reptiles, insects, amphibians, etc.; I would not really expect them to come to a bird table. As for gifts to get into the sack: grasshopper or 3-carat diamond, what's the difference?

I think there is plenty of food around; in Europe feeding is only encouraged during the winter months. Keep in mind that a bird table can spread diseases if not kept very clean.

[aitch52]

They seem to enjoy the dry pet food, Whiskas or Pedigree seems to attract them. We have a flock of Sparrows which are regular visitors and pain in the butt Mynah birds. We also have just built a 3 by 4 metre pond to grow on catfish which we buy as fingerlings. One of the nieces spotted a Raptor visit that and chased it off, we now have covered the pond with green shade netting. I haven't made a bird table here in Thailand, but had many in the UK and Oman, it takes time for the birds to adjust to it but keep putting out the fresh food. I used to put seed into a coconut shell and cover it with melted lard and let it set. The Blue Tits in the Uk loved that, where to get lard in Thailand? Enjoyed the Blue Roller dit Rimmer!

Good Luck

[aitch52]

Oops duplicate post, must be getting senile

Edited November 18, 2009 by aitch52