Safe Feeding

Where to site feeders

Most garden birds do not like to stray too far from cover; the general rule is that feeders should be sited fairly close to vegetation, to enable an escape route from a launching predator. However they should also be sited far enough from vegetation to prevent predators gaining access, and to enable all dangers to be visible. For example siting feeders far from the ground helps to avoid predators such as cats.

Domestic cats

The RSPB estimates that there are around 9 million cats in this country, at 30 kills per cat each year, they kill 55 million birds each year. This figure is difficult to visualise, but close to the total British human population of 60 million!

In a statute of nature, a balance between predator and prey exists, whereby the number of predators fall if the prey species diminishes dramatically. However this balance is non-existant in the case of domestic cats, because they are not reliant on their prey for survival, so their numbers continue to increase even if the bird population disappears.

Cat owners can help to reduce kills by cats, so that birds and cats can live comfortably alongside each other:

• put a bell on the cat's collar
• keep cats indoors at dawn and dusk when birds are most vulnerable
• keep cats well fed, so they are less likely to hunt with as much determination
• feed your garden birds! Although this seems ironic, feeding garden birds can actually reduce cat kills, because well fed birds are not forced to search for food on the ground.
• site bird food appropriately. It is unwise to place feed on the ground or near bushes, where cats can lurk unnoticed. Instead, place hanging feeders within 20m of trees/hedges where the birds can quickly seek safety if they are threatened by predators
• erect a low fence around ground feeders to prevent cats pouncing on birds
• aim a water pistol at cats as they enter the bird feeding area. Despite being completely harmless they will soon learn to avoid the area