Many ground-feeding birds just aren’t equipped to feed, hanging at an acrobatic angle from branches or tree trunks. So this means that they will also find it difficult to eat from your hanging feeders. Which Birds Are Ground Feeders? However, the most important factor to consider is bird safety. Is the feeder safe for birds to use? With no points where birds’ feet could get trapped? What bird food do you need for your bird feeder? And, if you have squirrels or cats in your garden, what is the best feeder to keep your bird food and birds safe? All RSPB bird feeders are designed with bird safety in mind. Read on to learn more about the different options available. Seed feeders If you want something a a little more modern or perhaps a feeding tray that will compliment the patio, then there's options for you there to. To help protect your garden birds from predators and guard their food against pests such as squirrels and larger birds, we also supply a selection of guardians, which can be paired with your ground bird feeder. This is a particularly useful solution for pet owners, as well as for those who live in areas with a thriving squirrel population.

The narrow mesh will exclude larger garden birds and most adult squirrels. To encourage a wider range of birds to feed, you could opt for the wider mesh option instead. When we think of attracting birds to the garden, our first thought is probably to hang up a feeder. Any large shallow dish will do. I’ve used a large plant pot saucer with a few holes in it for drainage; you could use a storage box lid, an old birdbath, or even a dustbin lid. Offering food to ground-feeding birds on a bird table keeps mess off your lawn and provides some protection from rodents and predators. In this article, we look at some savvy strategies for keeping the ground feeders, which include some of our favourite garden birds, fat and happy. How Best to Feed Ground Feeding Birds

A surprising number of our most popular garden birds prefer to feed on the ground. The Thrush Family Only add enough food for one day. Food left to sit overnight or for longer can go mouldy or attract rodents. Create a safe feeding sanctuary for small garden birds to feed in with this ground bird feeder protector cage with wide mesh. Magpies are quite big birds and extremely clever and adaptable. They’re entertaining to watch but if you’re having trouble with them eating all your bird food or damaging bird feeders you can buy solutions from RSPB Shop. Feeders and accessories to deter magpies:

Just like any other wildlife feeding station, a ground feeder needs to be properly taken care of to keep the creatures using it safe and healthy and keep your garden looking good. While hanging feeders are now the most popular bird feeding method in UK gardens, we have an array of alternative options available, some of which may even attract a greater variety of garden birds! One such product is the ground feeder, which comes in a range of designs and specifications to suit a broader selection of feeding aims. Another kind of problematic visitors to your garden are cats. Unlike birds of prey, domestic cats are not natural predators anymore. They do not need to hunt to survive, and their habit of catching birds, particularly during the breeding season, can be a problem for all types of birds. They are big birds and need to eat a lot. They also have a crop. This is a pouch in the throat, a bit like a doggy bag. It means that when their stomachs are full, they don’t need to stop eating. They can carry on eating the food available, fill up their crop, then digest the extra food later.Made from powder-coated steel, the ground-feeding sanctuary comes with pegs to secure it to the ground and there's room inside for an RSPB ground feeding table (not included). The top opens easily for cleaning and refilling. But if keeping predators and larger birds at bay is an issue, then a cage ground feeder could be an option. Before we look at how best to cater to the ground feeders, let’s look at why some birds prefer to feed in this way and which birds fall into this group. Why Do Some Birds Feed on The Ground?