View Full Version : Don't forget the birds
In this freezing whether don't forget our native birds and visitors who are trying to survive.
There may be no fresh water available for them, and other sources of food may be covered. Put some water out and some food. It can be prepared birds seeds or fat balls, but maybe you have nuts left over from Christmas, or fruit that no-ones going to eat, or even some old bran flakes, which, lets face it, you're really not going to eat, are you?
Have a llok here if you want to know more
http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/details.asp?id=tcm:9-238241
Shellywoozle
06-01-10, 04:03 PM
I got some fat balls yesterday and putting bread out. Didnt think of water god one !!
Spiderman
06-01-10, 04:11 PM
i got some fat balls but i aint letting birds peck at them :shock:
hehe.
Lol trust you
Are they hairy too, 'cos if they are I don't reckon the birds will want to peck them ;)
amnesia
06-01-10, 04:17 PM
I don't think owning cats and then putting food out for the birds is such a good idea.
Luckypants
06-01-10, 04:22 PM
I feed the birds year round, seeds and fat balls. Since the cold snap, I noticed that the wild pheasants have started coming in the garden for the seeds dropped by the others off the feeder, saved me a job as there was quite a pile of manky seeds there! :D Also have had woodpecker on the fat ball feeder. I don't put out water as there is a river 50 meters away with shallow banks.
dizzyblonde
06-01-10, 04:24 PM
I don't think owning cats and then putting food out for the birds is such a good idea.
Don't be silly, I have three cats and feed the birds just outside my kitchen window, on a big multipoint feeder thing on a pole.
All year round they eat, and right now I have a cheeky pair of robins that are as fat as turkeys, I'm surprised they can take off!
Spiderman
06-01-10, 04:25 PM
Lol trust you
Are they hairy too, 'cos if they are I don't reckon the birds will want to peck them ;)
well someone had to say it! And you know how hairy i am...what do you think? ;)
Lol not a problem in my house.
Yes I have a cat but it's no threat to the birds because
a. She's a big wimp, she's even scared of her own shadow (and Zig!)
b. She's looking out at the snow through the window, then looking back at me as if to say 'can't you do something about this nasty cold stuff because I really don't want to go out in it and get my delicate paws all cold and wet'. She does a similar expression when it rains, but it has a greater note of digust in the look because rain isn't as pretty as snow.
c. Birds can fly, she can't
Littlepeahead
06-01-10, 05:15 PM
I too have a cat, but the birds know he is a fully paid up member of the RSPB and he hides under the table if anything bigger than a starling comes into the garden. I did put extra food out today for the birds. Mealworms are the favourite.
Bluepete
06-01-10, 05:18 PM
Yep, nuts, fat balls, seeds, meal worms, water, I'll eat the lot!
I even leave some for the birds.
We have six feeders, so plenty of food for all.
Pete ;)
maviczap
06-01-10, 05:19 PM
Put a feeder up on Sunday, but none of the daft birds round our way have found it yet :confused:
The ****ehawks don't like the fat balls thank goodness :p
Spiderman
06-01-10, 05:19 PM
How do you guys prevent the water from icing up tho? I'm curious.
I'm assuming anti freeze wont be good for the birds somehow.
Littlepeahead
06-01-10, 05:22 PM
Just give them vodka
Spiderman
06-01-10, 05:43 PM
haha, i'd love to see that!
missyburd
06-01-10, 05:46 PM
We stick bird food out as much as we can, got a few cheeky dunnocks and house sparrers around, a fat robin that chases off a skinny one and the odd woodpigeon, magpie and blackbird, although the blackbird tends to hog the coconut with seed in until chased off by something bigger :rolleyes:
c. Birds can fly, she can't
She mightn't have wings but she no doubt has springs in her legs and I bet she can jump pretty high and pounce on them if she so set her mind to it ;)
How do you guys prevent the water from icing up tho? I'm curious.
.
Put it out fresh every day if you have the time.
Bread crumbs are always welcome. If you have any leftover fat from cooking sausages, bacon etc. then add seeds and any other titbits you can find to that in a pan and let it solidify then leave it in a dish outside. Also if you're really looking for something to do then get a block of lard and mix it with nuts, seeds, bacon bits etc. and stick that in a plastic disposable cup (obviously not polystyrene), half a plastic bottle or similar and the birds will love it :)
yorkie_chris
06-01-10, 05:49 PM
I don't think owning cats and then putting food out for the birds is such a good idea.
No cats in my garden
http://rlv.zcache.com/cat_hater_magnet_scope_design-p147868778097374339q6ju_400.jpg
Speedy Claire
06-01-10, 06:24 PM
Guess what kind of bird I am?
I read the thread and thought thats a good point I`ve totally forgotten about the birds so half an hour ago I went out and piled up the feeder. I`ve just realised it`s night time, there won`t be any birds about :rolleyes:
ok i'm no vet buuuut, why do people give birds 'fat balls' i always thought that birds have hearts and artery's. so by doing this, dont you lessen their life span by giving them fat?
DarrenSV650S
06-01-10, 06:31 PM
In this freezing whether don't forget our native birds and visitors who are trying to survive.
There may be no fresh water available for them, and other sources of food may be covered. Put some water out and some food. It can be prepared birds seeds or fat balls, but maybe you have nuts left over from Christmas, or fruit that no-ones going to eat, or even some old bran flakes, which, lets face it, you're really not going to eat, are you?
Have a llok here if you want to know more
http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/details.asp?id=tcm:9-238241
**** the birds! :confused:
**** the birds! :confused:
Sorry, what's that darren? Oh FEED the birds! Oh yes, that is the feathered kind.
You'd be surprised how many of your old food scraps the birds would love to eat at this time. Won't cost you much, if anything. Bit of time maybe
timwilky
06-01-10, 06:40 PM
That's it put stuff out to encourage the tree and ground rats.
There is a nice sparrow hawk round here getting fat on collared doves on my lawn (Must get a piccy). That is how nature intends birds to feed.
urbane1
06-01-10, 06:57 PM
Don't forget the furry friends as well.
We have a family of snowshoe hares that we feed in the front yard, and yesterday there were a number of white tail deer that have ventured up out of the park eating the rabbit food, so we have put some hay out for them. Glad the bears are hibernating at the moment (I don't blame them!)
Spiderman
06-01-10, 07:13 PM
Don't forget the furry friends as well.
We have a family of snowshoe hares that we feed in the front yard, and yesterday there were a number of white tail deer that have ventured up out of the park eating the rabbit food, so we have put some hay out for them. Glad the bears are hibernating at the moment (I don't blame them!)
Surely the wildlife in canada are used to this as its a yearly thing, no?
Its just here in the uk we get snow like this so rarely that the wildlife dont know what the hell is going on.
whats the point in putting out food for the wildlife if it gets frozen?
missyburd
06-01-10, 07:29 PM
whats the point in putting out food for the wildlife if it gets frozen?
It won't hang around long enough for it to get frozen, birds are very hungry at this time of year, and once they get wind you're putting food out they'll be waiting for it no sooner have you done so.
speedplay
06-01-10, 07:37 PM
My birds freezing her t1ts off too.
Nipples are well on show :D
urbane1
06-01-10, 07:37 PM
Surely the wildlife in canada are used to this as its a yearly thing, no?
Its just here in the uk we get snow like this so rarely that the wildlife dont know what the hell is going on.
This is the second winter in a row that we have had long periods of -20 to -30 tempratures and snow on the ground for weeks on end. The wildlife does survive, but welcome some assistance.
TheOnlyNemesis
06-01-10, 08:15 PM
i got some fat balls but i aint letting birds peck at them :shock:
hehe.
3 posts and you degraded the thread, you slacking today or what spidey?
TheOnlyNemesis
06-01-10, 08:16 PM
It won't hang around long enough for it to get frozen, birds are very hungry at this time of year, and once they get wind you're putting food out they'll be waiting for it no sooner have you done so.
then they'll start crapping on all your property waiting for it
missyburd
06-01-10, 08:21 PM
then they'll start crapping on all your property waiting for it
I don't mean literally sat on your roof waiting, watching with their beady/greedy eyes and divebombing the food as soon as its available :rolleyes: The trick is to not be as regular as clockwork when putting it out, then the birds are not becoming too heavily reliant on the scraps you are providing.
Well at the moment the crap will just sit on top of the snow, then freeze, then thaw when the melt comes and get washed away.
better than finding rotting dead birds all over the garden in the spring
Miss Alpinestarhero
06-01-10, 08:27 PM
I feed birds all year round -but have made sure there is extra food available at this time of year. There have been more birds than usual in my garden, I've even seen some that I dont normally see!
Littlepeahead
08-01-10, 10:06 AM
I made 2 bird seed cakes to put out. Then persuaded a young lad in Asda last night to sell me a load of bread soon to go out of date for 20p because the birds are hungry. And he did.
Luckypants
08-01-10, 10:08 AM
I don't put out water as there is a river 50 meters away with shallow banks. Might have to put some water out, the river froze over last night! It's bally cold here.
Luckypants
08-01-10, 10:09 AM
I don't mean literally sat on your roof waiting, watching with their beady/greedy eyes and divebombing the food as soon as its available.They sit in the tree behind the house, waiting..., waiting..., waiting....
timwilky
08-01-10, 10:12 AM
Don't forget the furry friends as well.
We have a family of snowshoe hares that we feed in the front yard, and yesterday there were a number of white tail deer that have ventured up out of the park eating the rabbit food, so we have put some hay out for them. Glad the bears are hibernating at the moment (I don't blame them!)
Furries round here eat penis (http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Son-39in-plot-to-kill.5477291.jp), or try to.
Not relevant. Not necessary.
dizzyblonde
08-01-10, 10:49 AM
Back on topic!
I do have to brush the snow off the seed evey now and again, but have noticed the cheeky robins have tunnelled into the remaining snow anyway, the seeds got its own igloo! They don't like bread, tried that, but it seems that Bill Odies garden friendly seed is high on the menu and is going down rather well. Apart from the cheeky dunnocks and tree sparrows there are a couple of blackbirds appearing.
The robin is not going to be able to take off soon....and Mr Tibbs will get more than just bird watching and lip licking.
missyburd
08-01-10, 11:05 AM
Apart from the cheeky dunnocks and tree sparrows there are a couple of blackbirds appearing.
You'll be very lucky to see a tree sparrow up our end!
Tree Sparrow, now a rare species
http://www.birdfood.co.uk/images/fact_files/tree_sparrow_01.jpg
House Sparrow, much more common but not as common as they were
http://www.thewesternisles.co.uk/Assets/Images/rarebirds/bird-sightings-house-sparrow-1a.jpg
Littlepeahead
08-01-10, 11:14 AM
We have a coule of magpies who scare the bejeezus out of the cat. But he still hasn't recovered from being dive bombed by the blackbird last year when it had chicks. I may have to get him counselling.
missyburd
08-01-10, 11:28 AM
We have a coule of magpies who scare the bejeezus out of the cat. But he still hasn't recovered from being dive bombed by the blackbird last year when it had chicks. I may have to get him counselling.
Lol a mate was telling us the other night about how a pair of magpies worked together to tease this cat mercilessly. One would creep close to the cat, peck it's bum then fly quickly out the way as the cat spun round to chase it, then the other magpie would appear and peck it's bum again and so on. Apparently extremely entertaining to watch hehe
dizzyblonde
08-01-10, 04:02 PM
You'll be very lucky to see a tree sparrow up our end!
Tree Sparrow, now a rare species
http://www.birdfood.co.uk/images/fact_files/tree_sparrow_01.jpg
House Sparrow, much more common but not as common as they were
http://www.thewesternisles.co.uk/Assets/Images/rarebirds/bird-sightings-house-sparrow-1a.jpg
meh, mrs zoomaladyist! I am no expert. They are brown and have wings:oops:
missyburd
08-01-10, 04:32 PM
meh, mrs zoomaladyist! I am no expert. They are brown and have wings:oops:
But now you know :P Dunnocks are also called hedge sparrows just to add more confusion into the mix.... :D
I feed the birds that come to my garden. Nuts, fatballs, bacon rind thats cut up. They are especially fond of my grandmas lemon sponge cake, its a frenzy when the sparrows realise its there on the kitchen window sill. The dog just sits and waits for the crumbs to start flying. Had a family of long tailed tits in the spring, lost count at about 13 birds but its mostly sparrows, couple of robins and a few male blackbirds
missyburd
08-01-10, 04:47 PM
Had a family of long tailed tits in the spring, lost count at about 13 birds but its mostly sparrows, couple of robins and a few male blackbirds
I love long-tails, they're so fluffy. Only ever go about in flocks though, if you see one there'll always be a few more not so far away! Here's one I ringed once.
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2569/62/4/879760552/n879760552_6274812_289026.jpg
I sat and watched the birds for half an hour today and we had coal tits, house sparrows, robins, dunnocks, a blackbird, blue tuts and the odd great tit. Even had a heron surprise the cr4p out of me when it flew by the conservatory and nearly landed on a bush a few metres away before it saw me and took off again.
dizzyblonde
08-01-10, 05:15 PM
But now you know :P Dunnocks are also called hedge sparrows just to add more confusion into the mix.... :D
seee I wasn't far off:smt037
Im also keeping a mouse well fed in the shed. Not sure where its actually living in there but its taking the nuts i leave out for it
missyburd
12-01-10, 02:08 PM
Just found this :( http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8449089.stm
Oh dear, that's worrying :(
It's not too bad around here in Essex now; the thaw has set in.
Still putting food out for them though
Quiff Wichard
12-01-10, 08:58 PM
me always feed the birds..
walked Monty down the canal yesterday and fed the ducks and put bread out for the birds and sat waiting.. and a robin came along.. and a magpie.. was ace..
gruntygiggles
12-01-10, 09:52 PM
I love feeding our birds here. We have a Robin, pair of Wrens and pair of Blackbirds that are here all year round and have become incredibly tame around me and the dogs. The robin will perch on the bench under the window less that 3 feet from me while I open the window and fling the seed and suet out...he just waits for me to finish and picks up the bits that fell to the ground under him while the blackbirds have what I've thrown on the wall.
I always feed all year round too. Nice thread Messie :-)
Quiff Wichard
12-01-10, 09:56 PM
here we are.. bread ready- yes there was brown bread too I know we shouldnt feed white.. oops..
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b326/sigourneysbeaver/DSCF0025-2.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b326/sigourneysbeaver/DSCF0026-2.jpg
it was cold cold cold.. and the ducks and birds were really happy for the bread and birds loved the nuts..
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b326/sigourneysbeaver/DSCF0023-3.jpg
waited 15 mins for this lil fella to pop out.. felt a bit wierd skulking in my car with camera at the ready .. got some odd looks
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b326/sigourneysbeaver/DSCF0029-2.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b326/sigourneysbeaver/DSCF0034-2.jpg
monty not happy - he made a noise cos birds getting more attention than him..
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b326/sigourneysbeaver/DSCF0012-4.jpg
then home to feed Monty
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b326/sigourneysbeaver/DSCF0028-3.jpg
and left behind something for the birdies..
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b326/sigourneysbeaver/DSCF0027-2.jpg
gruntygiggles
12-01-10, 10:00 PM
Awww...look at Monty...lol. If I put bread out, I spread lard or some form of fat on it as they need plenty of fat for energy this time of year. That's pretty much all I've ever been told, so to make up for it, I buy RSPB wild bird seed...lol
Quiff Wichard
12-01-10, 10:07 PM
oo cheryl I will do that tomorrow - lard on the bread.. .. good idea
wyrdness
13-01-10, 11:59 AM
We put bread out, but the bird didn't touch it. Mrs W then found and old pack of nuts and raisins in the cupboard, so we put those out and the birds loved them. We don't have a bird table and the plate that we put out is now buried under several inches of snow this morning. Will have to go and dig it out.
gruntygiggles
13-01-10, 02:13 PM
oo cheryl I will do that tomorrow - lard on the bread.. .. good idea
If I've got bread and nuts, I like to whizz them in the food processor with suet and they absolutely LOVE it.
missyburd
13-01-10, 02:38 PM
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b326/sigourneysbeaver/DSCF0026-2.jpg
monty not happy - he made a noise cos birds getting more attention than him..
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b326/sigourneysbeaver/DSCF0012-4.jpg
Just an idea Dave but you could try ripping up the bread a bit for them, huge baps are difficult to break down into bitesize chunks and the birds will waste more energy trying to break bits off. Bet they love you though, what a feast! No wonder Monty's a bit jealous, cracking photo of him btw!
out, I spread lard or some form of fat on it as they need plenty of fat for energy this time of year.
Definitely a good idea, we keep meat fat and mix it with lard, add a load of seed and breadcrumbs then make into little cakes and leave to set, great all year round.
I've put out water, fat from my sausages and nuts & raisins.
I don't expect the birds to touch it - how would they know it's there? I've never done it before.
missyburd
13-01-10, 02:57 PM
I've put out water, fat from my sausages and nuts & raisins.
I don't expect the birds to touch it - how would they know it's there? I've never done it before.
You'd be surprised how quickly they detect its being there, it might take a few days before you'll actually notice them feeding as it might just be one or two birds in the beginning and not very often. At this time of year more birds are having to go further afield just to find food so its a really good time to spot them. The best times are early morning when birds are most active.
gruntygiggles
13-01-10, 02:57 PM
I've put out water, fat from my sausages and nuts & raisins.
I don't expect the birds to touch it - how would they know it's there? I've never done it before.
Give them a couple of days to get confident...they see you putting it out and when they've been down for their first feed, they'll come back again and again!
Give them a couple of days to get confident...they see you putting it out and when they've been down for their first feed, they'll come back again and again!
I'll give up by Saturday when I expect the snow to be gone ;)
missyburd
25-01-10, 12:38 PM
Have a lookie here you lot, if you've got a couple of hours to spare this weekend http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=145650 :-)
THey've still not eaten the nuts etc. I put out, :rolleyes: So I don't think I'll bother ungrateful....
If you want the birds to queue up, sunflower kernels. Buy in bulk for cheaper prices.
My garden is full of goldfinches, they love the sunflower kernels and niger seeds.
wyrdness
31-01-10, 12:39 PM
We bought a kit with two bird feeders, nuts and seeds. We put them up a few weeks ago, but the stupid tits don't seem to use them.
Dicky Ticker
31-01-10, 12:43 PM
Everybody seems to like fat balls,plus we have a seed feeder.We have a tit that is showing a lot of interest in our nest box,so we might have a tenant for it this year
with a bit of luck
Everybody seems to like fat balls,plus we have a seed feeder.We have a tit that is showing a lot of interest in our nest box,so we might have a tenant for it this year
with a bit of luck
Is this just pure smut? :confused: or are you talking about our feathered friends? :smt102
Dicky Ticker
31-01-10, 12:56 PM
:D:D--------you decide
gruntygiggles
31-01-10, 01:13 PM
I now have the resident robin and pair of blackbirds, a thrush that is a real bully, dunnock, a few blue tits and a pied wagtail. My food processor works every morning to whizz up stale bread and lard, peanuts and suetband i mix it with wild bird seed. They love it and the fat balls.
I now have blue tits and fat balls.
Stretchie been posting from your account again?
gruntygiggles
31-01-10, 01:48 PM
Stretchie been posting from your account again?
ha ha, i knew i could count on you for a comment!
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