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SueB
Platinum Member
 United Kingdom
3218 Posts |
 Posted - 03 Feb 2009 : 10:51:01 AM
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Please remember to put some grub out for these little folk........
Some bigger ones got in too...
Nuthatch and Tit eat together!
We put fat balls in the feeder as the squirrels pick them up and run off with them!
Horses are going nowhere today!
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Pasha
Platinum Member
England
3622 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2009 : 11:16:18 AM
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Oh look at them 
We've put bird feed on our bird table but have to watch it constantly as the cat lays in wait underneath for any unsuspecting little ones |
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SueB
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3218 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2009 : 11:17:20 AM
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Two Robins protect their fat ball feeder.
Fat squirrel.
There is a reason why I am taking these pics...we have a rare bird visitor who has obviously been blown off course, I'm hoping to get his photo. Can't name him on the computer as all the twitchers will be round
Just thought, better not put his pic on here either |
Edited by - SueB on 03 Feb 2009 11:18:56 AM |
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Pasha
Platinum Member
England
3622 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2009 : 11:25:52 AM
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No don't - you can tell us who he is once he's gone safely on his way  |
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Montikka
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
2653 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2009 : 2:58:18 PM
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I'm intrigued...hope you can tell us eventually |
   
Louise, Warwickshire |
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Roseanne
Moderator
United Kingdom
6708 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2009 : 3:08:23 PM
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This is going in this week's paper. A pensioner has donated a sack of bird feed for the birds around the town parks. It has extra advice for people wanting to help the birds. I am told you should put water out too!
(See, I do do some work as well as pop onto AL!! - See Crabbet thread latest!)
PARK rangers and town councillors have teamed up with an environmentalist to help the town’s bird population survive the freeze.
Banbury Town Council has agreed to its park rangers distributing bird seed provided by Grimsbury based Ted Smith, who runs an environmental and ecological study and protection organistion called Probe.
“The possibility of further snow outbreaks and cold weather may cause Banbury reservoir to freeze over making it difficult for dabbling ducks like the Banbury population of Mallard to dive to obtain plant food and invertebrates,” he said.
“The town council has agreed to distribute 20kg of special, mixed bird food along the banks of the River Cherwell in Spiceball Park to help the park’s bird population. It includes mixed food for waterfowl, doves, finches, robins, blackbirds, thrushes, hedge sparrows, crows, magpies or other species which find it difficult to find food when the ground is frozen over and food covered by snow.
“Unfortunately we can’t feed the heron, kingfisher population or wintering cormorants whose main diet consists of fish. These will migrate to other areas and may go back to estuarine and coastal waters.”
Ian Brearley, parks officer for the town council, said: “We thank Mr Smith very much for helping to conserve the wildlife of Banbury’s green spaces and we’re happy to help where we can.
“He is supplying and paying for the feed and our rangers are distributing it at various spots along the river along Spiceball Park. It is a very generous gesture on his part.”
Councillors approved the move on Monday and by Tuesday rangers started putting out food.
Mr Smith reminded householders that many birds die from cold and starvation during cold spells.
“Keep garden feed containers full and remember to place bread or other food and meat scraps on open pathways, for birds which are too big to take food from garden feeders,” he said. |
Roseanne |
Edited by - Roseanne on 03 Feb 2009 5:21:34 PM |
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SueB
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3218 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2009 : 4:35:10 PM
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You are so good Roseanne.....
I didn't realise that our lovely garden birds will die overnight if they don't eat enough during the day.
I have found out that my unusual bird visitor is not rare, but is not normally found in the UK. He or she has got lost I think? I have tried very hard to get it's photo, but it is very shy. I can see it very clearly with my binoculars.
It normally lives in Russia and Siberia!! (according to my book). Called a Redwing, (Turdus Iliacus).
It has been digging under our Rhododendron bushes looking for grubs.
Any Twitchers won't make it here right now as we are almost cut off with snow. |
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Roseanne
Moderator
United Kingdom
6708 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2009 : 5:20:10 PM
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Sue you can buy big bags of (dead) grubs in our local feed shop! I'd definately be putting stuff out for them!
I love your pictures. If you can get one of your Siberian guest it would be great to see him/her. I wonder how it'll find its way back?
My Grandad used to put out currants for the pheasants because they love them. |
Roseanne |
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Minty Arab
Silver Member
England
482 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2009 : 5:27:49 PM
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 I did! i fed the birds at our yard but I cant put bird food out at home cos we have 9 cats, lovely photos, i do hope you get one of the redwing sue,
but it looks freeeezing cold  we didnt get that much snow and its mostly all gone now! very icy still though
Emma  |
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Roseanne
Moderator
United Kingdom
6708 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2009 : 6:58:01 PM
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| I don't put food out at home either Emma because I have a cat too. I do have a few hanging bird feeders strung up high on the sides of the stables. They're going through peanuts like mad at the moment. The others have assorted seed in and one lot has stuff with dried insects for the robins. The robins I've seen prefer to sit around in Lance's feed bowl after he's finished and clear that up! We have loads of pied wagtails (?) that have a full larder of little insects that live under and around the pils of poo - but they must be hungry now in this weather, since the poos are under snow. What a job I'll have clearing it after it thaws... |
Roseanne |
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vjc
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4952 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2009 : 7:26:42 PM
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| well said roseanne please remember they also need fresh water too! its very difficult for them when everywhere is frozen! |
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JulieH
Bronze Member
England
146 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2009 : 10:43:01 PM
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| Redwings are migrants here, they arrive from September and leave again in March, usually seen in flocks in the countryside. Lovely bird. |
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SueB
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3218 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2009 : 09:24:47 AM
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Thanks for that Julie, I have never seen one before. He or she is all alone, looks very sad this morning.
Must have lost it friends.
Our snow is melting and we now have rain...normal Devon weather then.
Keep warm everyone. |
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marionpack
Gold Member
England
1073 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2009 : 12:31:38 PM
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| I think you will find that the Redwing is part of the Thrush family, we do tend to get a lot at this time of year in the fields, and the wild birds don't only need the fresh water for drinking, they also love to bath in, at this time of year I have doves/pidgeons all bathing in the ponds, while the sparrows black bird robins are in the waterfall, really lovely to watch |
Berkshire
   
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