Some feeding garden birds questions

TechnoFreek

Hey guys. My third year feeding the birds in my garden. Best year in terms of numbers and varities and have a couple of new visitors this year. Nothing too exciting but it is for me: a robin, some type of pippit (id required), blackbird pair and very cagey song thrush.

So first question, is there any type if feed I can put out for these that other residents won't scavenge and gobble up on these new visitors.
I guess as well that for the most part the above birds are bottom feeders and dont bother with the hanging type feeders I have with nuts and seed etc.

Second question which is a bit more of concern.
My feeder station is one of those vertical metal frames. It is tree like and quite large and can hold a lot of seed and nut feeders at the one time. I currently have 8 assorted feeders on there but it can hold more. the station srick in the grass near enough to a fence. Because of its shape the birds perch on the station or fence waiting their turn.

As you can imagine there is no shortage of bird sh1te. On the feeders but also on the grass around the station.

My garden has very poor drainage so there is a lot of surface water this time of year. The combination of bird doodoo and water has left a black slurry type substance on the grass surface.

I've no doubt this is dangerous to the birds picking up the scraps that fall from the feeders above.
What can I do?

I can obviously move the station but it won't solve the problem long term.

All suggestions welcome.

Bsal

The only thing you can really do is move the feeders around the garden every couple of days and try to clean up the dropings in the area that is not in use before moving it again. Make sure you wash the feeders regularly too.

As for Blackbirds and Thrush's they really like apples. I chop the apples up into smaller pieces to make it easier for them to eat. If you have Starlings though they also like apples and everything else for that matter. My Robin likes fatballs, mixed seed and mealworms. Make sure they can have a drink of water and a wash too.

Half-cocked

If you're putting out apples, red ones are best.

I smell bad!!!

I spinkle peat moss every day at the base of my feeders. Helps absorb any faecal matter from the birds. Got the tip from a woman who rears Turkeys. She only uses peat as bedding for her turkeys, she sayes she gets hardly any disease anymore since changing to peat.

TechnoFreek

Thanks guys. Will move the feeder and start layingsome peat moss.

In terms of apples for the robin and thrush wheres the best place to position them. Just on the ground or at a height etc

Have a little water bath attached to the fence. No one bothered with it so far. The birds are very slow to adapt to new feeders and features I've noticed.

Half-cocked

Leave a few apple halves on the ground in the open for Blackbirds and Thrushes, stick a few high up for Blackcaps etc.