Garden Wildlife UK

I have just treated myself to a Niger seed bird feeder. As well as my mix seed, suet pellets, fat balls and suet block. I am hoping to attract more variety of garden birds to my garden. At the moment this year. I have mainly been getting starlings and house sparrows. Not much of anything else. Does the change of feed make any difference or is it just really down to pot luck.

As always any advice is mucj appreciated.

Niger seeds are a bit 'marmite-y' I think: some folk go for it and others (inc. me) have never had any success with them.
They're rather a niche market anyway and it's usually the finch family which is attracted.
However, if you ever get a nuthatch be sure to take a photo !!

I think its good to have variety John, and to place the food in different places, not all next to each other, because remember, many smaller birds get spooked when a bigger bird lands on a feeder and they fly away. If you have feeders away from each other they will feel more comfortable and not pushed away . I bought niger seeds once in hope to attract finches but never had any luck with it so I don't put it out any more . However, I have had different finches around few times eating the seeds that I put for blue tits

My Sparrows occasionally have a go at the niger seed but the original intended customers(Goldfinches) had their heads turned by sunflower hearts and seldom return

Nobody ate my niger every one eats the sunflower hearts