Bluetits

[DSJ]

Our riverside garden has always attracted birds of very many species from robins & kingfishers to swans, ducks & moorhens. However, we have been missing our bluetits for the past year or so. We used to get so many in the garden but now there are none. Why is this?

[burnhal]

There is certainly not a shortage of blue, great and coaltits throughout the country. Numbers visiting gardens in general seem to be steady. Certainly I seem to have more than usual. Do you put out feed for them? If you dont then perhaps people close by do! I sometimes think I have the streets population of birds- I put out lots of feeders- possibly to the detriment of other peoples gardens.

[Cetti]

Sadly, DSJ, it was the very wet summer again to blame for the devastation in their numbers. The babies just starved to death.

Hopefully, if this summer and next year are better the numbers will improve as like you I love to see them. Here's an article that will explain the drop in numbers :

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xm l=/earth/2007/11/05/eablue105.xml

[DSJ]

I'm glad to hear that bluetits are surviving elsewhere at least. We have always put feed out for our birds - seed, nuts in winter, & fat balls. The ducks & moorhens on the river congregate every morning at 8.00am waiting for my husband to go down to the bank to scatter seed & bread.
Perhaps the shortage of bluetits is just a local thing.

[DSJ]

Thank you, Cetti.

[Cetti]

How confusing for you DSJ, as burnhal and myself are usually in agreement on birdy matters. Never mind.

Buzzards and Red Kites are on the increase, so that's good news - and I hope the Blue Tits flock to your lovely sounding garden this spring.

[burnhal]

It may well be regional. I live in Bedfordshire which seems to have escaped the bulk of the dreadful wet this year. How was it where you are Cetti and has it affected your population? Where are you DSJ?

[DSJ]

We're on the Lincolnshire/Cambridgeshire border.

[LoftyLottie]

Mine are still as plentiful this year although I am hesitating to feed them at the moment as we are plagued with rats and they are climbing the trees, throwing the feeders to the ground and then dragging the feeders off (presumably to their nests!). Life in the middle of the countryside can be far from idylic!!

[DSJ]

That's amazing, Lottie. We have seen rats but I don't think ours climb the trees. They certainly don't interfere with the bird feeders. Ducks from the river actually sit on the branches of our apple tree & peck at the over-ripe fruit which seems to make them slightly woozy! Living in the country is never boring!

[Cetti]

I'm way down south on the Dorset coast ,burnhal.

We've recently moved to a semi - rural area and even here I'm lucky to see a Blue Tit , although the Great Tit and Coal Tits are doing extremely well. It appears the smaller the bird the more vulnerable they are - poor little souls.

[LoftyLottie]

I have watched them climbing our trees DSJ. They are quite agile and very, very clever. I must admit to secretly quite liking them and admiring them for their intelligence, but unfortunately we do have to control them as they get into our loft and I draw the line at rats in the loft!

Apparently, the local estate manager has told me that the rats are a real problem this year due to the wet summer. I must admit will are seeing more than ever before.

And yes, I agree country living could never be boring - something new every day - stoat on the garage roof this morning!!

[LoftyLottie]

I laughed at the whoozy ducks in your apple trees DSJ! I love ducks. Unfortunately, I have even seen the rats up our apple trees knocking the apples down and then running away with them!!

[LoftyLottie]

'We are seeing'!

[DSJ]

Great news! On the first day of 2008, our blue tits have returned to the garden. This really is welcome news and we're thrilled to have them back with us.
Happy New Year to all of you.