If parakeets are hovering around, robins might feel too nervous to visit your garden, but there is an easy and humane way to gently deter the bigger birds.
The best way to discourage parakeets is to fill a birdfeeder with smaller food items(Image: Getty)
If your garden has become unusually silent despite having a well-supplied bird feeder, you might be facing a parakeet issue, and there’s a straightforward method to deter them whilst encouraging smaller birds to make a comeback. Parakeets are frequently confused with pet parrots or budgies, but they’re actually wild birds that have inhabited Britain since the 1960s and are extremely sociable, typically visiting gardens in substantial flocks.
Whilst they aren’t hostile birds, they are sizeable, loud, and extremely opportunistic regarding food sources, which can frighten smaller native species like robins or finches.
Robins particularly tend to feed in solitude and can be easily scared off by parakeets, potentially causing them to shun bird feeders and struggle to nourish themselves during the brutal winter period. Nevertheless, wildlife specialists at Ark Wildlife have revealed that deterring parakeets is relatively straightforward – you simply need to begin offering different food varieties.
What foods keep parakeets away from your garden?
The specialist explained: “Peanuts and sunflower seeds are very attractive to them, but they are less interested in fine seeds including niger seeds, or millets,” reports the Express.
Parakeets are large and nosy which often intimates other smaller birds in a garden(Image: Getty)
“They are also less inclined to eat fat or suet products such as fat balls or suet pellets. By avoiding foods that parakeets enjoy you discourage them from visiting, leaving your garden clear for your regular small garden birds.”
Parakeets boast substantial beaks built for cracking large seeds, so they prefer bigger chunks of food that are clustered together, making them simple to snatch and cart off.
They’ll steer clear of any tiny bits that are too fiddly and awkward for them to tackle, typically moving on swiftly to hunt for an easier meal.
Your best bet is to stock your birdfeeders with niger seeds, millet or crushed fat or suet pellets, as smaller birds possess more delicate beaks perfectly suited to consuming these foods without hassle.
The best way to discourage parakeets is to fill a birdfeeder with smaller food items(Image: Getty)
What other tricks can you use to put off parakeets and attract smaller birds?
It’s also wise to position feeders closer to ground level or beneath bushes, as this can put off parakeets, which typically steer clear of feeding in cramped spots where they feel vulnerable.
By contrast, smaller birds such as robins favour feeding close to vegetation, as it enables them to dart away rapidly should a predator emerge, whilst larger birds like parakeets are slower to respond.
It can also prove useful to make a habit of topping up birdfeeders first thing in the morning, since small birds generally feed much earlier in the day, whereas parakeets tend to eat during mid-morning or early afternoon.
If your budget allows, it could be worthwhile splashing out on a caged birdfeeder, a weight-activated model or checking out squirrel-proof feeders, as they’re all effective at keeping parakeets at bay.
Comments are closed.