Since I got the bird feeder the other day I've became aware of how fucking expensive bird seed is! It's a fucking fortune, and the greedy bastards have the feeder emptied within an hour of me filling it to the brim.

Stupidly, I feel some sort of fucking responsibility for the little fuckers now. How does that make sense? They obviously survived just fine before I put up a wee pink birdhouse, but nope. Sunk 25 quid on bird seed since I got it.

[–] sideone 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

As I understood it, you should only put food out in the winter when natural food is scarce. They'll go to your food first as its easier, but they lose the ability to find natural stuff / come to rely on you.

[–] Finnbot 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Oh fuck, really? But I love watching them :( There were a bunch of starlings with big juveniles that shrieked to be fed, so at least that made life a bit easier for them I guess.

Acht well, I've got a wee bird bath feeder-type thing as well, so I guess filling just the water part will attract enough of them for me to watch.

Edit - had a wee read of the RSPB site which has a good wee section on when and what to feed. It seems that during exceptionally dry periods like this it's ok to put out because they can struggle to find their natural food, like worms etc. The seed I have has mealworms in it so all is well it seems. Crisis averted!

[–] sideone 3 points 1 year ago

Crisis averted!

Hooray, enjoy the birbs

[–] chaosppe 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Are you sure it isn't squirrels? They can really take the whole lot.

[–] Finnbot 3 points 1 year ago

Wish it was, but nah it's a wee flock of starlings and handful of sparrows. Mostly the starlings though that decimate it.