fortune Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 These are bloody hard times for the wild life and I’m sure most of us have a sense of good sportsmanship when many areas are suffering badly because of the cold and snow. The harsh winter could hit bird numbers "for many years to come". Garden birds, which are struggling to find food in the freezing weather and winter visitors are suffering and being forced into gardens for food, The small species will suffer. All insectivores are at risk and disturbing our wildlife when they need time to forage will use up precious energy moving elsewhere. Luckily wild bird feeding is a multi million pound industry so common species will get much help. Birds Of Prey particularly will be struggling along with most of our resident owl species as any food will be covered by the snow. When you shoot you will also disturb birds and they cannot afford to waste energy that they cannot readily replace. garden birds need water and a shallow container of water out in the garden will help the birds a great deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slug Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 I have been putting bread and seeds out on the table in the garden the last few days, and as I watch I have two Blackies drinking and head dunking in the pond.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Harry Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 I put some new fat balls out this morning as the other ones were frozen solid and the robins were in danger of bending their beaks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 Scatter wild bird seed every morning and most birds have found it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slug Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 I put some new fat balls out this morning as the other ones were frozen solid and the robins were in danger of bending their beaks. What are they ? and how do you make them ?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8landy Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 Dont forget they need water as well as food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKPoacher Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 At the moment they've got bread, seed, peanuts, crushed fatballs (whole ones freeze and become inedible in cold weather), raisens, apple pieces (diced really small so the blackbirds and thrushes can swallow them) and blackberries from the freezer. Today's guests include robin, great t i t s, blue t i t s, coal t i t s, goldfinches, green finches, collared doves, wood pigeons (cheeky bu99ers), black birds, a thrush and a mistle thrush that is charging about frightening everything else off. I've seen a sparrowhawk circling too. Yesterday I went to the shoot and discovered the outer, more remote feeders were just about empty. Instead of a few hours hide shooting with the air rifle I ended up humping three 20 - 25 Kg sacks of wheat over half a mile each through virgin snow to replenish the feeders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilR Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 (edited) My missus has put up seed, peanut and fatball feeders but that not being enough there's now aluminum foil trays nailed to the fences with more seeds in, so nine in total. Here's a couple of pics - spot the cheeky interloper! Well there would be if I could do it - I'll find out how and post in the picture section. There's been robins, plenty of tits and a sad looking pair of collar doves too. Amazingly the crows and magpies are keeping away. Just put pics up on the sporting pics page. Edited January 10, 2010 by philr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crouch valley Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 Apart from puting seed down to help the wild song birds we should convince the RSPB to cull some bloody sparrow hawks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shot shot Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 I have birds (no idea what they are) hopping around my back garden right now, just threw out some stale crackers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felly100 Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 Leave Sparrowhawks alone they are fabulous birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooter Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 I have fat balls with seeds in them out, wild bird seed, and maize. I also throw out the chicken carcass from Sunday lunch. I had a Yellow wag tail eating the chicken today, and I never had one in the garden before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deeksofdoom Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 I was out for a walk earlier today and the amount of birds out foraging for food is phenomenal, some are to weak to fly and can only go a short distance. There is a fair amount of them lying around the place dead aswell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Fudd Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 I have birds (no idea what they are) hopping around my back garden right now, just threw out some stale crackers did you hit any of them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felly100 Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 I have birds (no idea what they are) hopping around my back garden right now, just threw out some stale crackers I am amazed there are people on here that can't identify our resident birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chard Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 Apart from puting seed down to help the wild song birds we should convince the RSPB to cull some bloody sparrow hawks Don't talk **** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shot shot Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 I am amazed there are people on here that can't identifyour resident birds. ok then, its brown with a speckled underside, blackbird sized. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felly100 Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 female Blackbird? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felly100 Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 Apart from puting seed down to help the wild song birds we should convince the RSPB to cull some bloody sparrow hawks Another fine ambassador of the shooting lobby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deeksofdoom Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 ok then, its brown with a speckled underside, blackbird sized. female Blackbird? its a thrush ye clowns! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookiemonsterandmerlin. Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 To lighten the mood a bit Ive got some lovely fatballs the birds love. OTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shot shot Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 its a thrush ye clowns! just did a search, and I believe it's a mistle thrush thanks for that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 the wife put out fat balls ,wild bird seed and she got a tub of dried meal worms from the garden centre . the birds love them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felly100 Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 Who are you calling a clown he said there were a few of them. You rarely see a group of Song Thrushes ,and female blackbirds are more social and they are indeed brown with a speckled front. You clown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackbart Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 If its brown and its in your back garden it will be one of those asylum seeking things trying to break into your shed I have scraped the snow away and put bread and stuff out but the only birds htat have come are crows Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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