Bog Myrtle & Peat

Ten days after putting out feeders for the stray pheasants in the windbreak above the farm buildings, I have to report an uncertain outcome. All of the maize I scattered around the wood vanished very quickly, but I think that I can put the majority of that down to chaffinches, which, when I visited again today, fluttered around at head height in large numbers.

A single cock pheasant rose out of the far end of the pines, and it is obvious that these visitors are using the wood due to the presence of prominent shit piles and groomed out feathers. It doesn’t appear to follow, though, that they are feeding from the feeders. Both plastic containers have kept the maize marvellously dry over the last few days of bad weather, but neither appear to have been used very much at all. Something has been feeding from one, but it has taken such a small amount that it is hard to imagine that it was anything larger than a finch. It seems that the pheasants are happy to take scattered feed, but won’t go near the feeders themselves.

In my opinion, it could be that the large green hats which sit on top of the feeders to stop the maize from getting damp are too wide and sit too low, forcing the pheasants to duck their heads down almost to the ground in order to feed. This is probably is making them feel vulnerable and unsafe. After all, I was given the feeders for free because they are an untested Polish prototype. It could be that the designers need to go back to the drawing board…

As the winter progresses and natural food sources begin to dry up, the pheasants may overcome their cautiousness. In the meantime, I could try and raise the feeders off the ground a little, but we shall see…