Will They Ever Come?

[ladybirder]

Since moving to the town from the country I have missed so many of the birds that I used to see and hear on a daily basis. Now I'm never going to be able to entice the moorland birds into my garden here in Hove but I did hope to attract some Goldfinches. The Niger seed feeder went up over a month ago now and nothing. Nowt. Not a one. I always tell anyone asking a similar question to be patient and they'll come. But now I'm beginning to wonder. Will they ever come?

[redman41]

Have you a garden ladybirder ?
Patience is the key as the Birds will come although maybe not the Moorland ones...

[rowanwitch]

wrong time of year...they will be out in the countryside where the first annual weeds are going to seed expect them back late September once the food supply dries up... leave the feeder up but just fill to the first feeding holes and discard the seed and wash the feeder every 4 weeks...... you may get some greenfinches or tits to tide you over till the goldies come back

[ladybirder]

I'll settle for just the Goldfinches redman. The garden is communal but I look after it and have hung feeders from the trees and installed a birdbath which are used daily by a variety of birds. I honestly thought that a month would be long enough to see results from my new Niger feeder. Never had to wait this long before.

[ladybirder]

rowan I have Greenfinches feeding on sunflower hearts from my window feeder but I haven't seen them taking the Niger seed, yet. But I hope they do. Yes of course that is where the goldies will be, should have thought of that myself. I'll just have to be patient until the autumn then won't I. Thanks.

[Chaffinch]

Ladybirder, I put out a niger feeder about 2/3 months ago and nothing, yet the seed was very slowly going down. Then about a forthnight ago, I happened to look out of the window at about 6am, two gold finches troffing away, I've kept an eye out and they are back at the same time each morning. Two days ago they were there at about 7pm, and I've spotted them several times since at the same time and only the pair of them.

So dont dispair they may be visiting, its just finding the right time to see them. I'm sure mine must be nesting close by as they are always together.

[ladybirder]

Chaffinch are you close to open countryside?
I don't think any of the seed has been eaten but after what you've said I will look more closely at the feeder next time I go out.

[Chaffinch]

Ladybirder, yes I do live in the countryside, but do check closely. A friend of mine lives in Portsmouth, very built up, but he left the Niger out and now gets more Goldfinch than I do.

I was just ready to throw mine out when I spotted them. I wish you luck, you do so much for your garden birds :)