I used to have plenty of wild birds visit our back garden, but this Winter they have been most conspicuous by their absence. We have put out plenty of food but it has hardly been touched. Could the severe cold weather have killed them off ? Any ideas ?

Bloody magpies. I just hope we get some back for the spring, even the park seems pretty bare to what it used to be like, except for the magpies and squirrels, egg eaters the lot of them.

I used to be a keen bird feeder but ended up with rats under the decking,I can't figure out how to feed one and not the other.Any ideas?

They'll be back as soon as it's a bit warmer

Don't put the food on the floor

My next door neighbour used to feed the birds with loads of stuff and it was all over his garden. Couldn't figure out if it was a bird feeder station or a moggy feeding station, still puzzled. The cats were well fed that's for sure.

a freind of mine is realy into birds and he says the lack of birds is due to the harsh winter here, basically more species have migrated than usuall

Yeah, makes sense. Should have done the same myself

I put those fat balls in the hedge in my back garden i get mosly sparrows eating them i'll have to go and buy more we put bread on the grass and the bigger birds eat that

easy enough to make fat balls, its just lard and birdseed.

First put a hole in base of the cup, thread a loop of wool through the hole and trap inside the cup with a twig.
Fill plastic disposable cup with birdseed
Melt the lard and pour over
Let it cool for a while then pop it out of the cup

ok ok i know they are only cheap (no pun intended) but great to get the kids making and hanging them around the garden

One rider on that is that you shouldn't use lard off the joint, salt is poisonous to birds they don't have the wherewithall to deal with it.

i had a robin, couple of sparrows, a blackbird and a couple of wood pidgeons that were there feeding all through the snow but seem to have disappeared this week - very strange

Mint or fruit?????

Serious answer - doubt it very much

foxy woxy - delicious on toast

I'd like to see him try...

During the snow we had five goldfinches and a Redwing feeding in the front garden as well as the usual longtails, blue tits,robins and Blackbirds...Have never seen a Redwing before apparently this is a rare sight in urban areas...keep them feeders topped up and when its very cold access to fresh water.

been a lot of redwings in the hedgerows of leasowe golf course for the last few winters great to see

some of the birds that come to feed in our garden,

more,

We get lots of birds in the garden, we have a feeding station in the front garden and two in the back also have a pond where the birds have a bath.

I have to put the bird food high up in the hedge or that cat of mine would catch the birds and eat them he's had 2 squirrels a few birds and field mice

What type of bird is it, on the pics with the feeder?
we got loads of them? And wood pigeon and robins, too.

I have been feeding hordes of sparrows & pigeons. Once I was visited by a rosy breasted pushover & a yellow tailed matress thrasher.

You wish! Ha

Come on Rude - you should know a tit when you see one

haha softy