Feeding The Birds

[LadyCG]

Do you put food out for the birds?

Or hedgehogs and other critters for that matter?

I've just found some florentine mince pies and mini stollen I forgot I had and some OOD Brioche buns that little G wasn't keen on and I've just thrown the lot out with some crusts of bread.

I like looking after the birdies :-)

[murraymints]

now squirrels ! wee terrorists ! sweet wee faces but very aggressive with anything crossing their path !

[novalis]

I always put food out in the garden for the birds - a greedy wood pigeon tries to take more than his fair share but Mrs Blackbird gives as good as she gets - and when the ground is frozen I scatter seed in quiet places by the local playing fields.

[murraymints]

morning Novalis xx aww that's nice

[LadyCG]

Morning Novalis. Its lovely to hear others' tales of feeding our lovely wildlife. We'll done.

From a park in Boston:

https://ibb.co/86kyGmc

[murraymints]

lol wee thug ^^^

[rowanwitch]

I used to put squirrel feeders at the far end of the garden in the old place, they are lazy and tend to leave the rest alone. The crow family had dried dog food which they dropped in the lowest birdbath until it softened,plus they waited every morning for the contents of the slug pubs and wasp traps. They don't fly too straight after that.

[murraymints]

lol ^^ same when they start on the fermenting apple drops

[rowanwitch]

I love watching sozzled magpies, they pick fights and fall off the fence.

[murraymints]

easy prey for the prowling cats !

[murraymints]

the chatter from the magpies can be very very loud..especially if they spot a fur baby !

[LadyCG]

They're such funny creatures, not all that dissimilar from humans. I love watching their little antics.

[murraymints]

'orrible when the sparrow hawks attack !

[LadyCG]

Oh God yes, my mum has seen one come many times and take her little birds. She's tried to frighten it away a couple of times, to no avail.

That's nature I suppose but upsetting nonetheless when you see a tiny little bird fall prey.

It's absolutely persisting down here, but on the bright side my wrist is better today.

[murraymints]

aw that's good lady still 'orrible here too.. will need to venture oot to restock the feathery feeding tables.. I have a large hebe around 6 feet high and 12 feet long out front..the birdies hide in there during the rain and nip in an' oot !

[murraymints]

we also get what sounds like swarms of passing pterodactyls very early in the summer months... coming down from the country park...

[LadyCG]

I remember my ex used to have enormous koi carp in his back garden (he just had under 3 acres in total) and the heron would come down every morning and perch on the edge. It would fly off when I opened the window and hissed at it.

[murraymints]

Herons are a blummin' nuisance had to fill my large pond in down in Norfolk... they took everything ! also if they start to nest on your chimney you have to get rid as once nested you can't remove them ! I used to hang out attic roof with a long pole pushing it away..tied to other half who remained in attic !!

[LadyCG]

Haha, yes as lovely as our wildlife and nature is, it creates problems from time to time. Think wasps nesting, etc.

I wonder if Rowan knows of a bird sanctuary / wildlife park in the Midlands? The only place I can think of is maybe Cannon Hill Park?

[murraymints]

and then there were the bats !

[rowanwitch]

I think I would have paid to see that....
Sparrowhawks are a problem but if you are feeding the small birds they tend to have a better brood success rate which more than makes up for the losses. A peregrine can be more of a problem as they take bigger birds if they can.
A heron tried it's luck on one of my ponds, but fine mesh over the surface deterred it to the point where it gave up. I lost more fish to a fox. She used to come for a snack and liked a fish course. In the end it was easier to feed her and her cubs as well. Add that to Reggie the hedgie and his family it was an all you can eat buffet . I do miss it.