" Big Garden Bird Watch" Matey's! It's Good for U... - PMRGCAuk

PMRGCAuk

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" Big Garden Bird Watch" Matey's! It's Good for Us! Always

54 Replies

In the UK this is good information on how the birdies are doing! Easy site access!

Have a go if you can. Ta.

54 Replies
DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer

Always do! Feeders to the fore!

in reply to DorsetLady

Good on yer DL it's not all about us is it! We may have our favourites but it gives some clue how it's going for them!

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to

We (I) have lived in same house since late 1990s and the song birds have certainly declined over that time. Such a shame.

in reply to DorsetLady

Tough world for rural songsters now ! They need that space & safety! Can only do our bit as we do!

SuziCutie profile image
SuziCutie

Where have all the birds gone ?? We have quite a few feeders and usually loads of birds but last week or so hardly any birds at all ?? I live in South Wales uk

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to SuziCutie

Pesticides and monocultures...

in reply to PMRpro

You mean indirectly us lot? ...Surely not!.. We are instructed not to feed them bread here even though they are starving in Winter! PC madness! Most only live a couple of years anyway! Evening rant over! Thanks for your comment which is quite true too!

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to

Bread is just bad for them - it isn't a "don't feed them", it is "feed them the right stuff".

But not you personally, it is the farming patterns which are difficult to influence except maybe by creating a demand for organic stuff. Germany and Austria both have large amounts of organic farming, they still have loads of birds. Drive through a large area of oil-seed rape - decided lack of any wildlife. Pesticide use kills off the useful insects as well and large areas of a single crop doesn't help either when it comes to biodiversity and large insect populations. They aren't around in the summer as much - so bound to even fewer in winter.

in reply to PMRpro

My view is that some wholemeal or granary is ok for them to supplement the green or grain stuff especially when they can't get at it. It's got to be better than starving! They have such short lifespans anyway with predation. Some parks here have let the Canada Geese population explode & of course parents take the kids to feed them with crappy white bread which is bad for anyone never mind birds. This can lead to "Angel Wing". I feed them mostly grain, sunflower hearts & fats!

I don't remember House Sparrows being fed anything other than bread & it didn't seem to do them much harm in the past!

Agreed. Certainly the farming patterns & big pharma. have made a huge difference in the countryside. Hedgerows have been ripped out or poorly managed. Herbicides,pesticides & fertilizer's have been overdone in the chase for yield & quality produce. We are relatively a small country with a large population with much of the land unsuitable for agriculture. Plus most of us do not want to pay premium prices for organic produce.

It's a difficult one to resolve! Maybe it will be even worse if we all go Vegan! ( Hope that does't upset too many!)

Putting the soapbox away now. ATB

Blearyeyed profile image
Blearyeyed in reply to

Breads not great for most birds but some of them are more tolerant , your starlings, if you love them are great scavengers.

From my WWT knowledge , putting various foods like nuts , seed cake ( seeds in lard ) old fruit chopped up , meal worms are all good , and actually chopped up bacon rinds ( after a quick soak in water) bits of meat trimmings all appreciated.

It's good to put different foods in different places in your watching site as the birds will be attracted by the food they like best ( and the moths and butterflies too!)

The thing we all forget , especially in winter , is birds need water , in a shallow bowl or saucer on a high point for drinking and washing with. Often it is dehydration rather than starvation that does it for our feathered friends.

in reply to Blearyeyed

Yes water is so important....They eat well here Bee. Too Well! Top smartest bird is a Magpie! He would move in if he could!! Cheeky blighter he/she is!

Blearyeyed profile image
Blearyeyed in reply to

Just wrote a follow up post to my previous one letting all know our results and who won our challenge , plus some hints from people who replied about other surveys we can all do.

Included is a photo of me in my favourite bird riding outfit , out for a trip with the family on a very rare breed the giant plastic ride on swan ( unfortunately , the photographer wasn't as good at taking pictures of wild life as you but still managed to take a snap of a very peculiar bird!😂😂😂)

Daisychain reveals that she spotted a very talented magpie much like your own , there must be something in the water!!

Hugs Bee x

in reply to Blearyeyed

"Ride A White Swan"! Who do you think you are Bee!! Marc Bolan! (God that's whirled me back to 1970! Must dig out my Rupert Bear hipsters & disco shirt!)

I'll catch up with your post in a little while after I've done myself a bacon & egg sarnie.

Magpies are rated as one of the most intelligent birds in the world. A neighbour virtually had a tame one who had been orphaned!

in reply to SuziCutie

Certainly different it is over the years here looking after our feathered mates!

borednow profile image
borednow in reply to SuziCutie

Exactly! I'm in West Yorkshire, garden always full of bird food and, knowing RSPB thingy coming up I went out and bought yet more treats, peanut bird feeders etc.. And now looking out at my little garden - Nothing. No sign of any birds anywhere. Right now I'd welcome anything with wings, even a vampire. Just had a thought - do you think birds know about RSPB thingy and are having a laugh ....................... ??

in reply to borednow

Love it! " The Lesser Spotted Vampire."!

Description:- Black Cloaked with Red Beak!

borednow profile image
borednow in reply to

A pigeon has just landed!!

Makes a change from an Eagle I suppose.

in reply to borednow

Congratulations!..Could send you a few of ours..! Envelope OK!!!..... Fending Ferals & bonking Woodies off here!

Anyway!..The address! Is it..! "High Moorland... West Yorkshire... Moon!!..." No postcode it seems!

Can't really send it by Pigeon can I..!!

Blearyeyed profile image
Blearyeyed in reply to

From the sound of things it wouldn't arrive and would probably get bludgeoned to death by those invisible killer vampire bats !!! Bee x

Dontwannabesick profile image
Dontwannabesick

Got my pack. Last year was sweating on a pair of jays who are regular daily visitors. I even (shock/horror) considered adding them anyway. But at the very last minute they arrived, my integrity was saved. Highest score was 17 goldfinches.

in reply to Dontwannabesick

17 goldfinches! Stunning! Yes the integrity! Know what you mean with the regulars! Stats!

Slowdown profile image
Slowdown

Yes, my grandson and I do this and the Big Butterfly count each year, nice time spent together.

I had a lone male blackcap 2 years running: this year I have a solo female - wish I could get them introduced!

in reply to Slowdown

Never go there!

Slowdown profile image
Slowdown in reply to

no chance, she's very flighty...

in reply to Slowdown

There you go! Same as us lot!

Blearyeyed profile image
Blearyeyed in reply to Slowdown

Just wrote a follow on post with some more suggestions from replies of other bird watches coming up . There's a worldwide one on the 15th-17th Feb. Plus , the results of my efforts with PDog this year.

Have you managed to get your Blackcaps to hook up yet?

I had a recently bereaved collared dove widower and two young male Chaffinches on the pull , it was like a really unsuccessful singles party out there.

Hugs Bee x

Yellowbluebell profile image
Yellowbluebell

We do the birdwatch with our 6 year old grandson who loves it. Even though we live in the countryside we dont get a huge range of birds although we do have a few birds of prey swoop.over the garden on a regular basis. Our cat doesn't seem to bother the birds though as they often feed when she's laying out on the decking!!!

in reply to Yellowbluebell

That's great Yb. Well done with grandson. But what's your cat on? ..Moggadon!!! Not like the cats round here!

Yellowbluebell profile image
Yellowbluebell

At our old house just over a year ago she was always bringing gold finches to the garden. She used to sit under a neighbours bird table and whether they just fell off or she jumped and got them I don't know but we moved to àn even more rural village she seems to have given up hunting even though there is even more wildlife for her to catch. All she seems to be after here is catching the odd pigeon but all.shes managed so far is a few tails feathers. She only nine so its not old age. My daughters cat is a real hunter and brings in birds, rabbits, mice and has been seen stalking the peacocks in a nearby house!! Trouble is he doesn't always kill his catches and they are running around their house. Other times he leaves the bits he doesn't want in the lounge!! Just to be festive at Christmas he killed a robin brought it home, dropped it daughters feet and then went and sat near his food bowl as if expecting some reward for his christmas present!!

in reply to Yellowbluebell

Cats are serious killers out there, as lovely as they are! Same with dogs maybe! He certainly got rid of our rats!

Yellowbluebell profile image
Yellowbluebell in reply to

Yes small dogs.seem better at ratting than bigger dogs. They are also good at thinking they are actually a lot bigger!!

in reply to Yellowbluebell

That's the beauty of them!... They think big!... I think!! Seen a stunning chestnut coloured Rizzler on my amble today! Always educational it is! Thought they were roll ups! Oh well rock on!

karools16 profile image
karools16

Stunning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

in reply to karools16

Wife's Notocactus "tabularis" in flower last year.

Grants148 profile image
Grants148

Sadly not many birds around my garden but l did see a couple of blackbirds yesterday.There are foxes around at night ,hopefully there will be more birds in the spring.

in reply to Grants148

Use to get lots of Blackbirds darting about but they seem to have dropped off the last few years! Thrushes are now a very rare sight here!

SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane

I adore birds more and more. Is it an age thing? I have even got a pair of Nuthatches.

in reply to SheffieldJane

Yes we have Nuthatches too. I think we observe more as we get older! I certainly do! Probably it's curiosity too! Or it's a way of escaping my own thoughts!! Lets see who's first to hear or see a Cuckoo this year! That would be an exceptional treat!

prunus profile image
prunus in reply to

Talking about cuckoos - it is now a few years since I last heard one here. We have also lost starlings and sparrows.

in reply to prunus

The sound of the Cuckoo was a regular feature of Spring when I was a kid. I have heard one only twice in the last 10 years. Never actually seen one!

SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane in reply to

Do you remember seeing little, bald, dead, baby birds on the ground when we were kids? I used to think cuckoos had done that.

That and white dog poo seem to have disappeared. Sorry for being less lyrical than you.

in reply to SheffieldJane

It was more likely their elder siblings shoving them out or being too adventurous before they could fly!

Ha! The mysterious white dog poo!! It was usually dried up & bleached looking or am I confusing it with something else!! God knows what the dogs ate in those days!

People use to just open the door & chuck em out for the day. Mostly they came back at dusk otherwise us kids in the road would be out trying to find them.

Happy days!!

prunus profile image
prunus

Before I came on the computer this morning I had a distraction. The green woodpecker was having a good go at where there is an ants' nest. Judging by the time he spent there he must have been having a good meal. I love to watch him.

in reply to prunus

Never seen that! Does he dig them out with with his claws or use his beak? Assuming the nest is on the ground! We get the spotted ones here on the sunflower hearts.

prunus profile image
prunus in reply to

He uses his beak only. I went to inspect after he had gone and there were two adjacent round holes about three inches deep.

in reply to prunus

Fascinating! Wouldn't have thought he got much out of the ants themselves! Maybe he's after the eggs.!

Blearyeyed profile image
Blearyeyed

So glad that you have highlighted this great RSPB Garden Watch project .

With everything I have on this week I nearly missed taking part in something which has been a family tradition for us since it began .

Just taking one hour of your time one day over this weekend in January to sit and record the number and variety of birds coming into your garden , community area , or even at your bird feeder hanging outside the window of your flat or house makes a huge difference to the research about the bird population in your area of the UK.

It's so easy , just print off the online survey , sit and tick then fill in your results.

Or , write down your answers and send them by post to the address online if you trouble doing computer surveys.

Most importantly , it is something for people like us on this forum who suffer from chronic pain , PMR or GCA , that we can enjoy doing with our families .

Many of us suffer and feel loss or sadness at not being able to take part in the family activities , games or days out that we once did because of the impact of our symptoms on our physical abilities.

Many of us sit at the sidelines and feel guilty when our children, grandchildren , nieces or nephews want us to take part in something they find fun with them when we can't do those things.

The Garden Birdwatch is one activity that even the most severe sufferers of PMR/ GCA among us can do with the little ( and the big!) kids no matter how hard our fatigue or pain is and feel like we are creating special memories , maintaining our bonds and doing something for the community .

Even if you can't leave the house you can sit together inside , watch the birds , get the children to fill in the survey ( little ones love spotting games) and talk about the birds.

You can buy in bird feeders , or the ingredients for the family to make them, hang them , and sit and watch them start a family tradition that can last generations.

You can get book or look online together at the different birds you see and learn about them and keep the pain free activity going by sitting together and watching them draw and colour in pictures of their favourite birds.

This sort of PMR/ GCA friendly family bonding activity can last long after the Garden Watch has ended , as the children can fill the bird feeders and do the survey with you every week all year round to create a proper record of what goes on in your garden .

You can go further , buy in bird houses for them to paint and hang if you have the room .

And , not just think about the birds , making hedgehog havens , planting butterfly and bee friendly seeds or plants in pots , making buy houses are all things we can take part physically in as much or as we can manage with our illness because the kids can do all the work and will love the hours spent visiting Granny , Grandad , Uncle or Auntie without either of you feeling that PMR / GCA has stopped the fun.

If your family already do these things at their house even better it means you know they will love doing it at your home as well when you can ask them . All of you bonding again in an activity that doesn't need to stop with even the worst forms of PMR/ GCA!

(Let's face it even if your vision is blurred the kids can feel like they are helping you by telling you what they see and describing what it's doing. )

So if you can , take Pdogs great suggestion and start a new tradition today .

A tradition that lets you connect with your family and community again in a normal way.

The RSPB Gardenwatch , and wildlife watching in general , could remind us all that despite PMR/ GCA we are all still Born to be Wild.

Hugs and Happy Spotting , Bee xxx

in reply to Blearyeyed

"Born to be Wild"! Love that matey, You rock on best way you can & you're doing great.

You're see your way through. You have that in you. ATB

Blearyeyed profile image
Blearyeyed in reply to

Loved your post , it just inspired me to write my own plugging this great idea and your genius too , with added links in case people need to spot that too!

Let's have a spotters competition and see which of us get the most this weekend. Gauntlet has now been thrown matey!!

in reply to Blearyeyed

OK you're on! Must warn you I've hired an army of local beaters & a B52 with a huge net!! I know how competitive you girls can be!!

Blearyeyed profile image
Blearyeyed in reply to

Right better call RAF Valley for some reinforcements then😂😂😂

in reply to Blearyeyed

You take it easy! Don't let the adrenaline/pred get to you tonight! Me I'm going to listen to sea shanty songs & err take the pressure off! Already nodding!! ATB

Blearyeyed profile image
Blearyeyed in reply to

Matey , me and the flying brigade have already established battle plans.

They are Synchronising watches for 05.00 , I am doing the same for 11.30😋😂😂

in reply to Blearyeyed

Right. Just getting my twitters hat & camouflage pyjama's on! I'll be ready to rumble! Just you see!!

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