GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post

26-06-2006, 09:45 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening

writes
Hello,

We put some seeds out for the birds. I don't know whether this is a
good idea or not. On one hand, hopefully if they eat the seed, they
won't eat my plants! On the other hand, it might draw more birds to
the garden to eat my berries! What do you think?

Anyway, they've eaten two feeders full of seeds already. So my
question is, where can I buy seed in bulk and cheap?

Assuming by 'eating plants' you mean 'taking berries', I can only
suggest growing more berries and growing less palatable (to birds)
berries.

Berries which aren't red are not as attractive - my yellow-berried holly
tree keeps all its berries. Skimmia and pernettya seem to be totally
disliked by birds.

I find they're not very enthusiastic about Viburnum and cotoneaster, but
that may be because I have a good supply of more attractive berries - I
think other people find that cotoneaster berries go quite quickly.

Putting out seed will attract more seed-eating birds. If you want the
birds but not the berry-eating, try nyger seed, which attracts things
like goldfinches which go for thistle, lavender and dandelion seeds
rather than berries, and fat cakes, which are a favourite with tits (we
have 4 different species in our garden) which eat a lot of insects.

--
Kay