To not want BIG birds to eating the peanuts?

[choccyp1g]

I put heaps of bird food out and get a fabulous selecion of birds in my back garden, but the magpies and parakeets and bl**dy ring-necked doves literally swoop in and scoff the lot.

A woodpecker is about as big as I appreciate.

You need a sling shot to get rid of the big ones...

you are being birdist...

Seriously though, there isnt a lot you can do other than get the smaller feeders that the bigger birds are not as easily able to raid..

I love the ring necked doves, but hate the magpies as they killed all the babies in the wood pigeon best in the garden.
Would love parakeets.
The green woodpecker we have had in the garden was huge.

but are the big birds not hungry too they have a bigger body to fill and the sparrows are just teeny tiny you are being selctive in your bird feeding go out and shoot them all now

Survival of the largest I'm afraid. You can't do anything.

MrsJay you are just supporting your name. If a wild boar wandered in I'd be happier.

they are blooming scavengers eh the seagulls i get in my garden could carry off a small child if it got the chance

The green woodpeckers are welcome, but they just eat ants, not peanuts.
I know I am being unreasonable, but I can't help it. I can't stop them anyway.

Poor big birdies. :(

I hate that the squirrels eat all the nuts in our garden. Any bird is welcome. In fact i adore the Jays and they are big birds. I love the way they jump around.

The nuthatch has just come to the nearest feeder; it is about two feet from my window!

I remember my great Nan used to sit by the window feeding all the lovely birds & squirrels in her garden but if a pigeon dare come by he got squirted with an empty fairy liquid bottle filled up with water!

Another squirrel hater here. The bloody things nick nearly all the food I put out. None of the wire gadgets seems to work, except for the heavy prison bar types that keep the birds out as well.

You are being birdist - bug birds need food too, - my DH has the same attitude as you - he doesn't want woodpigeons or magpies having the food. But it's every bird for his or herself as far as I'm concerned.

Things you could try are - putting some food (including nuts) on the ground under the feeder or nearby - big birds often prefer to ground feed.

Also you can get feeders with a sort of protective cage round them that only smaller birds can access, (they also keep squirrels out), that might solve your problem.

I would love parakeets in my garden. (But I do get where you are coming from with cost of peanuts - a jay will get through a whole feeder full in very short time)

big birds not bug birds

Our neighbour has a bird table and has stuck in large nails between the 'floor' of it and the 'ceiling' of the bird table. It should prevent the larger birds squeezing in, but allow the smaller birds in.

Makes me laugh every time I see a great big pigeon filling his boots

they are blooming scavengers eh the seagulls i get in my garden could carry off a small child if it got the chance shock

DCs school have just had in a Harris Hawk to scare off the seagulls, he is gorgeous, but nobody told him he was only supposed to be scary and he tried to eat one.

the seagulls, not a child!

YANBU. I want to feed the little birds, not the big ones that aren't as cute or helpless looking.

We used to have a squirrel feeder Didn't stop them raiding the bird feeders but it was very entertaining watching them lifting the lid to get their nuts. I do love squirrels, I know I'm in the minority but hey, what's new!

I used to be like that, would knock on window at pigeons, letting the dog out the back usually chased them off

She didn't bark at the little birds so they would come back.

Don't put food out anymore because I have a young cat & don't want to tempt the birds in with her about.

DCs school have just had in a Harris Hawk to scare off the seagulls, he is gorgeous, but nobody told him he was only supposed to be scary and he tried to eat one.

howling with laughter here

They have harris hawks at Trafalgar Square to scare the pigeons away. I got chatting to the trainer and he said that they knew when it was time to take the hawks home and feed them because they would look like they were actually trying to eat the pigeons. Shame they're not allowed to because a few pigeon carcasses scattered around might scare the pigeons off for good. Although possibly tourists too.

I like hanging my bird feeders next to thin unstable branches. The little birds don't have a problem but it's hilarious to see a big fat wood pigeon edging carefully down the branch to try to reach the food before falling off

I had a lovely huge Macaw land in my garden (am abroad) and he came to me and perched on my shoulder. I decided to see if he would like to stay and went to the shop for food. When I got home I found green and blue feathers in the kitchen and a fat bastard cat looking very pleased with himself. You can borrow him by all means, he only kills the biggens. i once found a Flamingo in my drive and we managed to find his flock and reunited him. He was bloody huge. I have also been chased by a full grown ostrich in the car and he dented the bumber of my big solid american car with his beak. the bigger they gett the more bastardy they are in my experience so i support your birdist feelings. Apart from the Macaw, he was lovely.

My Dad just borrowed our dog crate so he could put bird food in it - only the small birds can get through the bars to the food, the magpies and pigeons will have to go hungry :(