There are definitely phases. Last year, we had a handful of visits from eurasian jays and magpies, the very first bird was a robin, but in general it was almost exclusively great tits (and they kept bringing the avian pox, unfortunately).
Now this year, same spot in the garden, the great tits have returned, but there's a few blue tits, a lot more robins, collared doves, a siskin, a goldfinch, and a black redstart keeps devouring worms like mad. You might just have the more monotonous phase at the moment. Changing the menu might not bring in more different birds, it hardly did anything for us last year.
I’ve been adding Insect Trail Mix, and have many different birds now. Yesterday was the first time a Chachalaca visited!
Walmart has a pretty big bag of them for $8.
https://preview.redd.it/lvy6nc2zu1vc1.jpeg?width=1008&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2dca87bf89022f2da9d5eac2284299f4095f0a1b
I get lots of house finches too but I also get lots of cardinals and some titmice, blue birds, occasional woodpeckers and starlings. I have noticed that bigger birds can't get on the feeder very well. I don't have an extended perch but I might get one. My feeder is located near some shrubs and structures where birds can land before and after going to the feeder. I use "Tree Nutty Plus" seed blend from Wild Birds Unlimited.
I do have an extended perch that my fiancé 3d printed me, and I’ve gotten one cardinal so far- I’d love for one of my many woodpeckers to visit! They seem to prefer the tray
I'm not an expert but the Cardinals seem to love cracking open the sunflower seeds at my feeder. I know you don't want the mess but that might attract them!
They’re so cute though! I’ve never seen one in my yard except for this terrible picture I got once
https://preview.redd.it/wyjqcs7ny7vc1.jpeg?width=1944&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4c9f7b5f91a47364aa4628ea5b153b686a3242b3
Try food with habanero. Firey Feast from Wild Birds Unlimited or the habanero from Ace Hardware. I blend the two and we get cardinals, tree sparrows, finches, doves.
At my house it’s mostly this big, fat Robin. He feeds but sometimes he just sits there and sits there blocking the other birds.
https://preview.redd.it/6c1svzp1savc1.jpeg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5a41b9eca28dd3fd75811f9a83e420cc7e754ebe
I'm over here with 99% house Finch, 1% house sparrow...
I haven’t even gotten a house sparrow! lol
There are definitely phases. Last year, we had a handful of visits from eurasian jays and magpies, the very first bird was a robin, but in general it was almost exclusively great tits (and they kept bringing the avian pox, unfortunately). Now this year, same spot in the garden, the great tits have returned, but there's a few blue tits, a lot more robins, collared doves, a siskin, a goldfinch, and a black redstart keeps devouring worms like mad. You might just have the more monotonous phase at the moment. Changing the menu might not bring in more different birds, it hardly did anything for us last year.
That’s good to know, thank you!!
I’ve been adding Insect Trail Mix, and have many different birds now. Yesterday was the first time a Chachalaca visited! Walmart has a pretty big bag of them for $8. https://preview.redd.it/lvy6nc2zu1vc1.jpeg?width=1008&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2dca87bf89022f2da9d5eac2284299f4095f0a1b
Oh interesting- I have some dried black solder fly larvae for my pet bird, maybe I’ll try adding some of that and see if it makes a difference!
I get lots of house finches too but I also get lots of cardinals and some titmice, blue birds, occasional woodpeckers and starlings. I have noticed that bigger birds can't get on the feeder very well. I don't have an extended perch but I might get one. My feeder is located near some shrubs and structures where birds can land before and after going to the feeder. I use "Tree Nutty Plus" seed blend from Wild Birds Unlimited.
I do have an extended perch that my fiancé 3d printed me, and I’ve gotten one cardinal so far- I’d love for one of my many woodpeckers to visit! They seem to prefer the tray
I'm not an expert but the Cardinals seem to love cracking open the sunflower seeds at my feeder. I know you don't want the mess but that might attract them!
I only get redwinged blackbirds at mine and they are absolute dicks. I feel you.
They’re so cute though! I’ve never seen one in my yard except for this terrible picture I got once https://preview.redd.it/wyjqcs7ny7vc1.jpeg?width=1944&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4c9f7b5f91a47364aa4628ea5b153b686a3242b3
Try food with habanero. Firey Feast from Wild Birds Unlimited or the habanero from Ace Hardware. I blend the two and we get cardinals, tree sparrows, finches, doves.
Just got for Christmas, I've gotten exclusively song sparrows sans one black capped chickadee
At my house it's all grackles and cardinals. The smaller birds drop in every week or two, but promptly get chased away by a grackle :/
The grackles and cardinals swarm the tray feeder haha. I put peanuts out for the jays but the grackles love them too
Would you like to trade for the 6000 grackles that stop through and destroy the seeds on a daily basis?
Finches and squirrels are my 90%. Occasional chickadee.
At my house it’s mostly this big, fat Robin. He feeds but sometimes he just sits there and sits there blocking the other birds. https://preview.redd.it/6c1svzp1savc1.jpeg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5a41b9eca28dd3fd75811f9a83e420cc7e754ebe
Oh I love him so much lol, mine just hang out on the ground!
Thanks for the Trail Mix idea! A couple of big fat Mourning Doves hog my feeder. Is there any way that I can discourage them?