The birds were always feeding from my original feeders. They had 2 perches, one on either side. The feeders got broken in a gale and I bought new ones, with 4 perches. The birds don't come near these. I've seen maybe a couple of birds feeding in the weeks I've had them, and a few fluttering round but not landing. I wonder if anyone has a had similar experience, and can suggest why the birds don't like the multi-storey feeders.
Birds don't like change so hopefully the longer they are there more will start using them, especially at this time of year when the babies will be around.
Thanks for your answer. I have found, as you say, that birds don't like change, but in the past they have always come back after a short spell - this has been a long period. But I will keep trying.
It could be that the birds are shy or suspicious of anything new, but my observations are that most birds seem to prefer to peck away at the bottom of the stack.
The birds are back! I eventually ditched the grand multi storey feeders and went back to the single storey ones and that day the birds began feeding again. I wonder if perhaps they don't like other birds feeding above them. Anyway, the garden is full of activity again. Thanks all.
As an aside (sorry) - what happens to all the dead birds? I see a few, maybe roadkill or killed by a cat but never any that seem to have died naturally. Is there a bird graveyard somewhere?