Where to place your feeders

Site your feeders and bird baths away from walls and fences where cats (and other predators) could pounce from. If cats do come into your garden, then consider using a bird table rather than putting down ground feeders.

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Do put them feeders near hedges, trees and other large dense shrubs. This will allow small birds time to quickly get away to safety if a predator such as a magpie or sparrowhawk is hunting them.

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You could grow more prickly shrubs and trees to help; not only for birds to fly to safety in, but also as desirable nesting sites.

This will also make predators move more slowly around the extra obstacles in your garden when hunting, giving small birds (and other wildlife) more time to get away.

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Why not add cages around feeders to help protect food from larger birds and grey squirrels (that can eat less-specialist food) and deter predatory species who may visit for the food but then learn where prey species regularly use.

Our research has shown that bird feeders and nest boxes need to be well removed from each other to reduce predation rates.

 

Space permitting, it is recommended that they should be 40m apart

 

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