FACTORS AFFECTING THE USE OF FEEDERS BY GARDEN BIRDS .1. THE POSITIONING OF FEEDERS WITH RESPECT TO COVER AND HOUSING

We investigated the effects of placing peanut feeders at different distances from hedgerow cover and housing on their use by garden birds. Food consumption at feeders adjacent to cover was approximately double that of feeders 7.5 m away. Blue Tits Parus caeruleus and particularly House Sparrows Passer domesticus showed a strong tendency to use those feeders closest to cover, while further ones were used predominantly by Greenfinches Carduelis chloris. Feeders were also placed at 4 different distances from housing and food consumption increased with distance. The proportion of the total use made by Siskins Carduelis spinus was equal at all 4 feeders, but Greenfinches made increasing use of feeders the further they were from housing. We suggest how the siting of feeders may affect the species of bird that are attracted to them.