tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905875401968829614.post8488776009886034283..comments2007-05-19T21:11:32.733+01:00shirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12956905954971466579noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905875401968829614.post-31319703585304991512007-05-19T21:11:00.000+01:002007-05-19T21:11:00.000+01:00Hi Shirl,<BR/><BR/>You were right! I scattered raisins under the ivy and the blackbird found a few. And it found its way through the mesh to the ground feeder. And it used the bird bath. We also saw what I though was a wren, until a starling fed it. It was a fat little fledgling. What a sight!vandjqnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905875401968829614.post-14196449137465361212007-05-19T13:28:00.000+01:002007-05-19T13:28:00.000+01:00Hi again, vandjq<BR/><BR/>Yes it is fun! I enjoy experiment with the different foods. Sunflower hearts (the white ones) are the greatest success for me at the feeders! Although Starlings and Blackbirds are going through a huge amount at the moment as they are taking them away to feed their young!<BR/><BR/>I have not found the blackbirds shy. I have a few and they fight sometimes and generally chase each other around the garden. Safety in numbers perhaps – your one needs to bring some mates!! Another favourite to give them as a treat is grated cheese – but the starlings must have sensors to spot that to! <BR/><BR/>To help the blackbird visit regularly you could scatter the food away from the ground feeder in an area (like at the base of your ivy) that the blackbird passes through. It will then return there for food again. They like to search the ground so I would be confident it would find it. It will eventually go to your feeder too it feels braver.<BR/><BR/>What will definitely bring the blackbirds back is a bird bath. As I said in my last reply a simple large saucer on the ground with pebbles will work better than a small stone purpose built one - it likes to spread its wings and move around.<BR/><BR/>As for the Starlings, well, they do invade a little don’t they? They have good memories too – try moving your ground feeder away to another area and watch their puzzled looks! :-) I plan to post on them later as this morning I spotted a juvenile being fed by the parent and then it trying to bath in the most dangerous place (for it) right under the tiny waterfall of my pond. Silly thing! <BR/><BR/>Yes it is definitely fun to watch all this activity in our own gardens – there are always surprises!shirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12956905954971466579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7905875401968829614.post-88033799329477012522007-05-19T12:50:00.000+01:002007-05-19T12:50:00.000+01:00Hi Shirl,<BR/><BR/>I have also been concerned about pigeons, so bought a ground feeding table and a wire cover which only lets in birds up to starling size. I have read that some people consider starlings a pest, but my wife and I find them quite amusing, squabbling on the feeder and spraying water all over when they are on the bird bath. However, we only get about 10 at a time so it's not too bad. One thing that does concern me is that our blackbird is a bit shy and doesn't use the ground feeder. But in your reply yesterday you said you scatter raisins around, so we are going to try that later today after a trip to Tescos. It's fun isn't it?vandjqnoreply@blogger.com