Do you have a tip for feeding birds or a story to tell about a bird you've seen? If so we'd love to hear from you. Share your bird tales using the contact form and we'll publish our favourites here.
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Monday, 03 October 2011 |
Aaron wrote to tell us that he had just started out as a bird watcher and was curious about crows. He had heard that they are considered to be some of the most intelligent birds and display characteristics similar to human behaviour.
He said:"I have done a lot of hill walking in Scotland and have been watching the Hooded crows. They tend to be on pasture near a road, they are scavengers. When you bump into 10, 20 or 30 they take flight, you cant get near them. But I have often turned a corner to find a flock the size of a tennis court all closely packed like a black mass, at this point you can walk right up to them and they show no signs of wanting to take flight as if they have a sense of their "collective ability" which says as a mass you do not represent a threat.
I have found myself walking away thinking should they run out of road kill would they organise a collective attack? Has any one had a similar experience?"
There have indeed been reports over the years of crows attacking animals and even humans in behaviour known as mobbing. Mobbing is usually used to drive away predators particularly when offspring are under threat or to drive them away from a food source. Mobbing can involve flying about the intruder, dive bombing, loud squawking and defecating on the predator. |
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Prevent Flyaway Bird Seed |
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Saturday, 24 September 2011 |
Louise from Whitby wrote to share this great tip:
"In windy weather you might find that seed that you put out for birds blows all over your garden. To stop this happening simply spread an old tray with a thin layer of peanut butter or lard and sprinkle the seed on this. This will prevent the seed from blowing away and also gives your birds an extra delicious treat."
We think that's a great idea and if you have any tips you want to share we'd love to hear them. |
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Collective Noun For Swans |
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Wednesday, 03 August 2011 |
After seeing 43 swans (well done for counting them all!) together on the Avon at Stratford-upon-Avon Gary would like to suggest a new collective noun for swans - he thought 'a glide of swans' seemed particularly apt. And so do we!
If you have any ideas for new collective nouns for birds then get in touch using the contact form.
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Thursday, 14 July 2011 |
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During some recent high winds a crow's nest was blown into Stuart Nicol's garden and he was amazed at how it was constructed. As well as twigs and moss it also included stainless steel builder's wall ties, two fat ball hangers, four flower ties and a quantity of electrical cable.
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Tuesday, 12 April 2011 |
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Rita heard her first cuckoo at 8.50am at Hoo St Werburgh in Kent. An early cuckoo was also heard in the same village last year. |
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Thursday, 07 April 2011 |
Karen wrote from the Isle Of Wight to let us know that she heard her first cuckoo in Parkhurst Forest at approximately 8am on 8th April which is a week before the traditional First Cuckoo Day.
She commented "It's such a glorious day, I can't blame it for singing!"
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Attract Big Birds With Blueberries |
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Sunday, 06 February 2011 |
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Anne Stagg has some tips for encouraging birds into your garden. In winter she always puts out cores and peel from making apple pies but says if you want to attract bigger birds fling some blueberries across the lawn - apparently pheasants love them!
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Sunday, 30 January 2011 |
Two of our readers have contacted us about birds disappearing from their gardens.
Rachel Gibson told us: "I have feeders in a tree outside my office and regular visitors include greenfinches, robins, tree sparrows, blue tits, great tits and coal tits. One afternoon, a group of about 6 long tailed tits descended on the peanut feeders and stayed for about 30 mins, during which time all the other birds stayed out of the way. They left and have not come back since."
And John Aherne wrote to say: "I am curious to know the reasons why bird activity at my garden feeders has just ceased over the past 2 weeks or so. Prior to this, admittedly during the severe weather, I could barely keep pace with the frequency and volume of visiting birds which included birds I have never seen in my garden in Manchester before which included nuthatches, bullfinches and even a woodpecker. Any suggestions as to the reasons for this mystery?"
We think they've probably moved to more suitable nesting habits to breed. Don't worry - they should return once they have young to feed.
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Saturday, 30 October 2010 |
Jean, A Texan Bird Lover writes: "I love your website. I was just reading about "Bird Tables". We call them bird feeders here. I operate Birdlink Sanctuary and have a lot of waste seed from all these picky parrots so I have been putting all the left over seed and vegetables out for the wild birds. It is a great way to bring in the wild birds and to stop waste.
I am in west Texas so we are on the migratory path for many varieties of birds and butterflies on there way to central America for the winter. In Texas everything really is bigger, because the land is very poor quality so we plant acres in crops that migrating birds can feed on. One bush, Pyracantha produces an eatable berry that the birds can eat on all winter. It is thorny, but the little songs birds don't seem to mind."
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Thursday, 29 April 2010 |
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Brian wrote to us to tell us he saw his first swifts of 2010 on the 29th April in Worksop, Notts. He was not expecting to see them for another two weeks.
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Sunday, 25 April 2010 |
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Sandra Osborn heard her first cuckoo on the 18th April at 5:15 am near Ardingly, West Sussex. That's just four days after the traditional First Cuckoo Day of 14th April. |
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