In article , Amos E. Wolfe
writes
I recently put up a bird feeder in my front garden, hoping to see such
things as blue tits, finches etc. Currently all I have attracted is some
rather fussy sparrows (

They land on the perches and then proceed to pick through what is there,
occasionlly pausing to eat something. They do this with such a vigorous
flicking motion that a large amount gets spilled on the grass below.

I would estimate that they eat 20% while 80% gets dropped. The feeder
contains what is branded as "seed supreme" - a mixture of wheat? grains,
corn, dried peas and sunflower seeds.

Apart from starting to grow crops in my lawn from the discarded seed is
there anything I can do??

Try getting a 'cereal free' bird food - one which is high in sunflower
and other things - find the CJ birdfoods web site (links from the BTO
site IIRC).

Tits prefer insects to seeds, so they'll go for fat and live foods like
meal worms.

And remember that the sparrow population has declined dramatically over
recent years, so you're doing a good job ;-)
--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm