Wild Birds

[Robinia]

Hi to all the birdy people, we haven't had a 'meeting' for a long time.... Do any of you know where to buy sparrow sized hot water bottles because I'm sure the poor little things must be needing them?! Have you any nests yet? We think there's a blackbird in my neighbour's tree but apart from that no signs of building here - I'm in Derbyshire btw.

[logman]

Cant help with the hot water bottles I'm afraid, buy can buy roosting pouches, that you can hang in quiet areas away from the bird table is preferable, in bushes etc.

[valsuey]

Hi Robinia nice to hear from you! The blackbirds in my garden are busy collecting grass and twigs etc so I guess they are starting the nest building.Bit cold though! We have also had magpies on our garage roof picking up twigs and going off with them.(I'm in Hants by the way). Spotted a magpie on the bird table this morning! Very unusual,must have been very hungry.

[beryllium]

Hi there, we have just moved to our new house in a small village in Kent and we put a bird feeder up about 6 wks ago. Since then the little birdies have become decidedly rounder and are getting through a tube of mixed feed every 2-3 days! so I think they're warm! the fir tree is full of chattering and lots of nesting going on...

[shaneystar2]

I flatly refuse to buy my Mr .Sparrow and his ever increasing family a hot water bottle ! They are going through fat balls at a rate of knots here !! Bless! Lots of chittering and chattering going on so I expect they are nest building in my ivy fence Perhaps they know something we don't and warmer weather is on the horizon .

[Cetti]

Where have you been Robinia, not been poorly I hope? Good to see you anyway :-)

The spadgers don't need hot water bottles down here as they've been bathing daily with my increasingly dopey dunnock. He just sits in the water and gazes into space while the sparrows give him a thorough soaking. A bit worrying. A blackie's nest in our privet this year is a possibility as long as they can work out between them who is male and who is female. I blame it on the seed.......!!!

[Robinia]

hi all & thank you for your replies. I've seen those pouches logman - but they're all going to be demanding them if I put one or two out!

I'm glad to see the birds are busy in your gardens - you're right they are feeding like fury. As well as the common regulars, finches, tits etc I had three male & one female reed bunting earlier so unless she has sisters at home she's going to be a very busy bunting.
I wouldn't want to be a newly hatched chick in this weather tho'!

[Robinia]

Hi Cetti - still here thanks! (all the biddies are still bumbling around in suggs you know )

ooooh bathing? - perish the thought - I don't think the birds here are that tough.

[logman]

Something definately seems to be stiring in the bird world, I've seen mr and mrs mallard waddling off in the shrubery and moorhens are busy looking for suitable twigs and crisp packets for nest building..

[WendyS]

Am afraid the nearest suggestion I can suggest to a hot water bottle for birds is to extract the bag from your vacuum cleaner, painstakingly pull out all that lovely woollen carpet fluff with a pair of kitchen tongs and put it out in the garden for birds.

They will absolutely love these little bundles of fluff for their nest building and it will keep the babies really warm if the weather suddenly turns cold just after they've hatched.

[Robinia]

crisp bags logman? it's amazing what they use isn't it?

A couple of yrs ago mrs. blackie built in the jasmine right outside my bay window & could see every stage. I was fascinated to see her lay a 'floor' of fresh dandelion leaves before starting on the twigs. As the dandelions dried they crumbled & fell away leaving the woven nest. Amazing! Sadly & annoyingly she was scared off by a local cat.

[Robinia]

oh hi Wendy - yes I have a fat ball holder full of my spaniel's fur clippings hanging in the tree - but as yet is untouched. It's hilarious watching them flying off with it - looks like they have beards!

[gen2]

Hi all, We are still in winter mode here in Fife. Yesterday's heavy snowfalls drove many birds from the countryside to the towns and coast. I had visits from redwing, mistle thrushes and a pair of bramblings. No nesting activity that I am aware of, though the male blackies are becoming very territorial and constantly fighting/chasing each other.

With regard to the sparrows, it's not hot water bottles they need, but birth-control pills. They are arriving in my garden in a flock of around 24 and demolishing the food supply in next to no time.

[paddy_36]

Hi all, think a pair of blue tits are eyeing up the nesting box in the garden! Gen2, I'm in Stirlingshire and the snow brought some new birds to the garden yesterday - a male and female yellowhammer and a brambling. Was so excited! You're right about the sparrows too - they fairly get through the seed and fat balls I put out!

[Breezy23]

Loads of activity here in Surrey as well. Seem to be forever buying sunflower hearts by the sackful. We have 6 male blackbirds who seem to get on with each other without any territory problems, the most we've ever seen at one time. Current visitors, starlings (by the hundreds), blackcaps, dunnocks, sparrows, blackbirds, robins, collared doves, chaffinches, goldfinches, pied wagtails, greenfinches, blue tits and one very fat wood pigeon. They all adore Tesco's value sultanas, our local store can't keep up with the demand. What do you all put out as treats, and do you seem to spend a fortune on them as well?

[gessoo]

Am shortly going to have to take out a loan to feed the birds. The more I put out the more they eat. I reckon they have spread the word around that someone has opened a free cafe!! I am now buying sacks of bird seed and nuts along with about 12 seedballs a week.

Mind you, Mr Pheasant seems to be getting more than his fair share and arrives every morning and evening. He is so fat now that he would make a wonderful roast for a large family. However, he knows he is perfectly safe in our garden.

[gessoo]

We have a good market stall that sells large bags of Sultanas which are obviously not as good as the ones we eat, but are very cheap. I have two dogs and two cats and I reckon the birds are costing more than my pets at the moment!!

[gessoo]

Two years ago we had a siskin who used to fly into our conservatory and pinch the cobwebs to use for nest building. She got used to me picking her up and putting her back outside (she could get in and never work out how to get out again!)

Cobwebs!! Shows how good my housekeeping is :o)

[Robinia]

hi again - glad to hear that spring is sprung in some areas.

Yes the food is disappearing so fast - I'm thinking of rigging up a drainpipe chute from the window to the path so I can stand & pour it down as they wait at the end.
I've 4 blackies fighting it out for best (!) raisins & they get apples too if they're lucky. I'm just going to grate some cheese as a treat for whoever gets to it first!

don't worry about the cobwebs gesso - when they're heavy enough with dust they fall down.

[shaneystar2]

Lol..you lot are treat on a cold day.
I go through peanuts,fat balls, and bags of sultanas as if I were feeding the five thousand .Mr.Sparrow and co are so fat it's a wonder they can balance in their old curly willow tree !!
It's past it's best really and should be cut down but they will only complain if I do !!

[gessoo]

The reason that tree sparrows are thought to be in decline is that they are all in my garden!!!