missing birds

[con-amca]

Where have all the birds gone? We used to have flocks of sparrows, starlings, bluetits etc etc in the garden. Now all we have are magpies. And grey squirrels.

Is there any connection I wonder?

[Jimble Jones]

yes them bird eating squirrels can be a pain.....

alternatively is there a really fat happy cat in the corner of your garden?

[garner]

If you go to food and drink and then onto recipes, and look under starlings recipes it might give you some ideas as to where they are all going not a very nice outcome

[vehelpfulguy]

See some of the entries on this RSPB site for reasons why:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/dec line/index.asp

http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/dec line/birdsdecline.asp

http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/dec line/nationaltrends.asp

[vehelpfulguy]

If you want to protect and help birds join the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds):
http://www.rspb.org.uk/

Or the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust:
http://www.wwt.org.uk/

Both organizations have reserves all over the UK that you visit free if you are a member.

Here are the RSPB reserves
http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/days_out/index .asp

Here are the WWT reserves:
http://www.wwt.org.uk/visit/

Most of these reserves are wonderful relaxing places and you can have a good day out there. Here is slimbridge for example:
http://www.severnestuary.net/sep/images/Slimbr idge_WT.jpg

As well as bird watching Slimbridge has a gift shop, restaurant and art gallery so plenty to do.

[burnhal]

Part of the answer is the particularly mild winter we are having- there is still plenty of food elsewhere and the birds dont need to visit the gardens. Having said that I am still getting plenty of blue tits, great tits, loads of sparrows, flocks of goldfinches. chaffinches and green finches. I put out feeders and I have noticed that even though the birds seem to be visiting, the feeders dont need filling anywhere as often as during a cold winter.

[con-amca]

My thanks to all of you.

No, there are no cats around these days.

As for the starling recipes - I had no idea! What else
do they get up to in Tunisia I wonder?

I've spent ages already browsing round your suggested websites this morning. Fascinating stuff, and the answers to my question are not altogether what I thought. I was inclined to blame the magpies, but I can see that's not
correct.

My garden used to be like yours, burnhal. Now all I get -
apart from the magpies - are a few blackbirds, and the odd robin.

Anyway, thanks again. I give you all three stars.

[Athley]

They must all be in South Wales. I've had robins, blue tits, sparrows, blackbirds, magpies and squirrels all in the garden and my cat too so can't blame her.

I put out food daily and fresh water but also have quite a few trees in the garden with berries on - maybe that could be the reason.

I do notice though that if the food has run out the blackbirds and the robins will come close to the house and make a right racket late afternoon as though to say 'where's the grub!'

:o)

[con-amca]

Thanks for you input, Athley. Some parts of the country
seem to be more affected than others. It's all a mystery.

Can we blame the government, I wonder ?!?