chrisp
Junior Member
Posts: 99
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Post by chrisp on May 26, 2019 16:52:13 GMT
That’s interesting picture Sammi. I didn’t know they took more than one worm at a time ,we’ve had a parent visiting our mealworm feeder today .i was hoping they were feeding the fledglings that went yesterday but seemed to be taking more than one worm. I assumed it was eating them in the feeder. now I see your picture of Boris with three I’m hoping they are feeding the fledglings after all. May seems in good condition , I’m sure she’s coping well.
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Post by YorksherLass on May 27, 2019 11:41:51 GMT
I think those two piccies are fabulous Sammi - very clear & colourful I also had a laugh at the comments about Boris too!
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Post by WildlifePaul on May 27, 2019 11:53:56 GMT
Stunning pictures Sammi!
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Post by sammi on May 27, 2019 14:46:09 GMT
Thanks folks. I must try to upload a video of the antics in the nest today. I monitor all day and just happened to pop in and watch live for a minute. Two chicks were outside the nest cup and frantically trying to get Mum's attention for some food. She ignored them I rewound to see that during her housework time she had kicked them out. I watched live again willing them to get back into the cup and eventually they made it ( I hadn't realised how high the sides of the nest were ) Pheww!!!
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Post by suep on May 27, 2019 15:00:48 GMT
Gosh what a scare Sammi. Isn’t it strange how they get ignored once they are out of the cup, really can’t understand it. Glad all ended well. Sue
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Post by elle on May 27, 2019 21:05:03 GMT
This is also what I can’t understand Sue, as soon as they climb/pushed out of nestcup, if they don’t manage to get back they literally don’t get fed , im glad yours managed to get back Sammi Elle xx
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chrisp
Junior Member
Posts: 99
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Post by chrisp on May 28, 2019 9:41:12 GMT
Bet you were worried Sammi. Same as what happened to ours . Three kicked out and not strong enough to get back .two were on their backs . We opened box and put them back. They were the only three she had so it was no contest really.
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Post by YorksherLass on May 28, 2019 15:08:33 GMT
Phew, that's a relief Sammi, back safely in the nest cup after mum's housework! yahoo_clap
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Post by sammi on May 28, 2019 17:29:00 GMT
Just a quick update. We are down to four chicks I think. ..Everything crossed they will survive . I need to sparrow proof at least one feeder so she doesn't have to compete for mealworms. There are so many bird families feeding young in the garden
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Post by suep on May 28, 2019 18:05:08 GMT
Ooh Sammi, that’s not good news . I have never had sparrows that managed to get anything out of my Scott feeder, . I so hope you manage to sparrowproof a feeder to help mum. Good luck, keeping everything crossed for you . Sue
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chrisp
Junior Member
Posts: 99
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Post by chrisp on May 28, 2019 18:52:24 GMT
Oh dear Sammi, nuisance sparrows getting in. We had trouble with Robins . I love them but they are greedy little pigs and were taking several worms at a time. I cut some tit size hole plates out of plastic milk bottle and fixed over the larger holes of a cage feeder. Robins have a separate feeder elsewhere so everyone happy. Hope you can fix it so she can have sole use.
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Post by sammi on May 28, 2019 20:12:47 GMT
Thanks Sue and Chris. It's a bit of a juggling act. I put out an open feeder for the blackbirds if they get there first. Then I have a big Mealworm caged feeder for all comers who can fit in. Then I have up to 5 Scott feeders scattered about the garden in various places..one near the other feeders and the others in various locations. I have not seen any caterpillars going in this year.
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Post by YorksherLass on May 29, 2019 9:05:39 GMT
Oh Sammi - you are trying so hard with your scott feeders to sparrow proof them, so it's heart breaking that they still manage to thwart all your efforts.
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Post by hfriel on May 29, 2019 9:43:36 GMT
Hi Sammi I was having problems with sparrows eating everything in the garden.....my house should be renamed ‘Sparrow haven’ We have hundreds.....Any time you look out you can count about twenty with more young ones coming every day at the moment. I have 2 ‘Scott Feeders’ as soon as they’re filled sparrows descend from everywhere and empty them in 5 minutes so husband came up with a redesign ‘Scott Feeder 2’ and its simply one band of garden wire pulled very tightly in middle of squares just above worm container, secured by some duct tape in places as in photo....amazing results...very frustrated sparrows, they are now just cleaning us out of black sunflower seeds...
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Post by sammi on May 29, 2019 12:29:13 GMT
Helen. The solution is so simple. Will get onto it today. Saves me lots of trial and error. I was thinking along those lines but it would have taken a while to get there.
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Post by blueeyedchick on May 29, 2019 12:37:58 GMT
I had to seal of my scott feeder nest hole as the starlings could get their beaks in. However, no problemo because the tits were going in through the top, down through the roof and back out with a worm so the Starlings gave up after a while! A larger container is probably a good idea save keep going to fill up hummmm Our Sparrows aren't interested in this feeder they go in my larger one so not worried about that. How are your brood doing?
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Post by sammi on May 29, 2019 12:44:14 GMT
Thanks Kathy yes when I sparrow proof then I can put more worms in. They litteally empty the pots in a flash. They don't use the entrance hole ...they just stretch their necks through the holes just above the container so Helens solution is the one. Off to find the wire
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Post by sammi on May 29, 2019 14:25:49 GMT
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Post by suep on May 29, 2019 15:28:34 GMT
Glad you found some wire Sammi, I think why mine don’t get sparrows pester is that the hole plate I have is only a 25mm and it is near the top of the cage so to speak. Sparrows gather on it but never managed to get worms - just as well have done as blue tits never found them anyway, or ignored them This solution from Helen seems perfect though. So hope you don’t lose any more babies - so sad Sue
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chrisp
Junior Member
Posts: 99
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Post by chrisp on May 30, 2019 9:04:08 GMT
Oh that’s sad Sammi about her trying to remove dead chick. Did you see on Spring Watch last night same thing happened. And one had to get itself back in cup as well. Strange how the mother doesn’t help. All this goes on in nature all the time .i suppose we only notice when we have cameras.
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Post by YorksherLass on May 30, 2019 15:42:17 GMT
That's a sad posting from you Sammi yesterday & I'm so sorry to read what happened. Have you any news about your updated feeder today? I hope it worked for you.
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Post by sammi on May 30, 2019 15:45:50 GMT
Helen and Sue I can report that the sparrows have been thwarted now at two of my feeders. Mine don't use the hole plate at all. They just hang their necks over the edge of the container using the squares of the mesh. By sort of blocking off one row just above the container level as in Helens pic they can't do that so it means the bluetits get more of a chance. I let them have a feed at my other feeders though so they won't get too upset. Yes Chris it wasn't nice watching but it looks like the nest is clear now and haven't seen too much fly activity so I think she's managed to clear all the little bodies. The larger ones take some getting out. Glad to report this morning there were still four chicks and more worms arrived in the post so plenty for everyone.
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Post by YorksherLass on May 30, 2019 15:55:56 GMT
Success with the two feeders! That's great news Sammi, plus four still alive & kicking! Thank goodness for all the knowledgable members on this forum, they must have saved lots of bird life for us.
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Post by sammi on May 30, 2019 16:18:11 GMT
Thanks Diane yes all is well at the moment. ....all apart from my camera which is playing up and is only in black and white apart from the first minute when I turn it on...have turned it off to give it a rest.
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Post by suep on May 30, 2019 18:14:38 GMT
Oh Sammi, hope the camera holds out for you. Glad feeders working ok and hope the four go on to fledge for you. It is sad watching them try to remove the little bodies - last year we had one stuck in a hole for several hours, it was a good job it was the box with three holes or don’t know what might have happened. Has anyone heard them mention on Springwatch anything about losses of so many blue tits this year? Seems country wide on here so odd no one has mentioned it that I have heard. Sue
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