Feed the Birds

by AngelinaJellyBeana 10th January 2010, 9:10 am

OK, so I know it's no longer "tuppence a bag" but just a little reminder for us all to try and put something out for the birds, especially as it's so cold and with deep snow in places the birds can't find grubs and worms.

Useful linky here
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=1888

by MrsC 10th January 2010, 9:56 am

Definitely worth doing what Jelly says. And if you're interested in seeing how Wildlife is coping with the snow and ice then there is a Snow Watch special (from the Autumnwatch team) being shown on BBC2 next Wednesday 13 Jan at 8pm! They've also asked for people to send in photos to either their website or their flickr group - details on our blog: UK Nature Blog

Mrs C

by Compostwoman 10th January 2010, 12:45 pm

Don't forget the RSPB "Big Garden Birdwatch" Sat/Sun 30th /31 Jan 2010

Details here

Also the School version of the same thing, which lasts for a fortnight Big Schools' Birdwatch, 18 January–1 February 2010,

link here

by MrsC 10th January 2010, 4:49 pm

Indeed - in fact I'm getting practice in for the birdwatch now as they're so much easier to spot when surrounded by white stuff! Laughing

Mrs C

by Wilhelm Von Rhomboid 10th January 2010, 4:56 pm

MrsC wrote:Indeed - in fact I'm getting practice in for the birdwatch now as they're so much easier to spot when surrounded by white stuff!

Mrs C

Easier to draw a bead on as well... Embarassed

by Compostwoman 10th January 2010, 5:16 pm

I thought shooting was banned under periods of snowy /adverse weather such as we are experiencing?

In fact I am sure it is.....

by Wilhelm Von Rhomboid 10th January 2010, 8:46 pm

Compostwoman wrote:I thought shooting was banned under periods of snowy /adverse weather such as we are experiencing?

In fact I am sure it is.....

Ban in force in Scotland and NI but not England or Wales yet AFAIK. Bunnies all sitting in their burrows toasting carrots over fire at the moment though. Barely pop their heads above ground.

by Compostwoman 13th January 2010, 1:14 pm

Have taken to confining cats inside at critical bird feeding times during the day as the slaughter and fright they were giving the poor birds was terrible...so birds have fed in peace for 3 hours this am, and will get another 3 hours this afternoon to feed up for the night.

Can I also remind folk to make sure there is fresh water outside for wild birds and animals?

by polgara 16th January 2010, 3:25 pm

I try to feed the birds, but they won`t come in. I have moved the tables, I have fatballs in different places, different seed feeders, peanuts & we have water. They fly through but don`t stop.
Also, do crows mate for life? :scratch:

by Compostwoman 16th January 2010, 11:25 pm

Crows mate for as long as one is alive, AFAIAA.. certainly the ones around here are serially monogomous...and last years juveniles help to raise this years nestlings...

by Aberlemno 17th January 2010, 6:56 am

Feed the Birds 2010_01162009Septcarewcastle0001

Feed the Birds 2010_01162009Septcarewcastle0008

Feed the Birds 2010_01162009Septcarewcastle0006

This is one of a pair of Greater Spotted Woodpeckers who visit our nut nets and have just discovered my home-made fat/seed feeders. During the snow and bitter cold, I had huge numbers of wild birds coming to our garden, and looked out one morning to find 26 Blackbirds waiting to be fed! We have had Redwings and Fieldfares, Thrushes, Chaffinches, Sparrows, Nuthatches, Blue and Great and Coal Tits, a Greenfinch, and the usual Jackdaws and unusually for round here, Starlings too.

by polgara 17th January 2010, 8:44 am

Thanks CW I thouight that was the case.

by AngelinaJellyBeana 17th January 2010, 9:43 am

Pol, I've got bags of nuts, seeds, fat balls (not personally, Billy/Gus ) hanging up as well as a flat tray feeder with nuts, meal worms, etc on and STILL no birds have been near them.

by Aberlemno 17th January 2010, 11:30 am

Jelly - how frustrating. Do the gardens around you have any trees, bushes, ground cover etc to encourage birds? Normally you will have some birds, even in the middle of towns, even if they are just of the starling/sparrow variety. I'll have to post you some of ours! We have plenty of sparrows as they keep a beady eye open for any spilt grain etc at the farm next door.

by Compostwoman 17th January 2010, 11:44 am

Jelly the general advice is to try different positions for you feeder, if it isn't being visited?

Could you split the feeding positions up, and spread them around the garden and make note of which feeder gets some birds at it? then that would be the best spot for all of your offerings.

Am surprised that you have had no takers in the recent bad weather tbh...must be very frustrating for you, as Abs says... hug

by AngelinaJellyBeana 17th January 2010, 12:15 pm

.
Abs, I'm surrounded by trees and normally I get lots of birds, mainly blue tits and great tits but haven't seen any recently. There's a lot of magpies around in the trees though, so maybe that's scaring the smaller birds away but even the magpies aren't coming in for any of the food.
CW, the various feeders are all over the garden, mainly to avoid the birds being in one place and the cats sussing it out. I've cleaned the old stuff off the tray feeder and put fresh bits out today.

by Compostwoman 17th January 2010, 1:51 pm

:scratch: hopefully that will help!

by polgara 17th January 2010, 1:52 pm

I too have feeders etc in lots of different places put fresh stuff out, clean up etc but the main bird is a s*dding big pidgeon who throws the food everyware. Must say my blackbirds do benifit from that, but I know there are robins & several sorts of tits using the garden as a super highway just wish they would make a pit stop. Rolling Eyes

by MrsC 17th January 2010, 5:58 pm

This cold weather has brought us loads of new visitors recently - including redwings, fieldfares and also a Jay that keeps sitting on neighbour's trees (on both sides of us) and just looking at our garden. Down at the nature reserve we've also had a load of new visitors too - pochard and tufted ducks!

Lovely to see, but as I was saying to someone down there today, it will be interesting to see if there is a drop in numbers of some of the smaller bird and things like kingfishers later in the year due to the cold weather now.

Mrs C

by Compostwoman 17th January 2010, 7:27 pm

JB, your hens aren't out under the feeders are they? As that really puts off a lot of wild birds..I have had to keep my lot shut inside their net to let the birds have a chance to feed...?

Just a thought, but you maybe don't let yours out in the garden?

by AngelinaJellyBeana 17th January 2010, 7:46 pm

CW, the hens have been in their run during this snow. First time out in the garden today for them for nearly 2 weeks. Usually I only let them out at weekends in the afternoons so I can keep an eye on them. So don't think it's down to the chooks :scratch:

Ah well, they'll come when they're ready

by AngelinaJellyBeana 22nd January 2010, 6:23 pm

Hurrah! A blue tit and a robin popped in for lunch today

by Compostwoman 22nd January 2010, 6:25 pm

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