bird feeders

floyd

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

There is a bird round here that definitely does need an ASBO slapping on it though! I've not yet been able to identify it despite seeing it a few times recently, but is definitely a small/medium hawk-type bird, and it's attacking and killing small birds

We had a sparrowhawk that took a fancy to some of the greenfinches in our garden and could quite often be seen sitting on the fence waiting for them......until next doors cat took a swipe at it and we haven't seen it since

Debt_Free_Chick

Yup - sparrowhawk is the usual culprit.

Awesome to see them taking prey though.

Tis nature .... room enough for all, I think. Man is nature's biggest predator

~Chameleon~

I certainly agree with your last statement!

Ahhh yes, having just googled it certainly does look like a sparrowhawk, possibly a female one. If it's the same one she was around here earlier this year and snaffled a collared dove, leaving me a lovely pile of feathers and a beak! :rotfl:

floyd

I really like collared doves, I know they are only a small step from a pigeon but they are so nervous and timid I like to make sure they are ok. There is a pair that has been visiting us for a very long time and they always sit on the chimney next door to check there is no-one around

Debt_Free_Chick

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

leaving me a lovely pile of feathers and a beak! :rotfl:

Yup - amazingly efficient, aren't they.

They should get honorary membership of MS Old Style :rotfl:

No waste there! :rotfl:

kandyfloss

The RSPB sells lots of bird food and feeders and they will also give advice on their site on how to feed birds in the garden and how to build nest boxes and bird tables.

If you get really interested in birds you might want to join their organization and will soon be hooked on watching and feeding birds in your dads garden.

We have been members for nearly 30 years and it is well worth the subscription.There are reserves to visit all over the country and it is nice to know that by feeding the garden birds they are going to help future generations of youngsters grow up to appreciate this underated hobby.

Good luck and I do hope you have many happy hours of birdwatching for both you and your dad

doglover_3

I stopped also while back as i noticed the big birds fighting the little ones also tried left overs bread but i started getting mouse my neighbour told me it was bcause of the bread not sure if so i stopped feeding them but the birds would still come for the grass and in the soil warms.

noonesperfect

I have a Defender* bird feeder which is visited regularly but various members of the tit family, very occasionally a goldfinch or two, hedge sparrows (outnumber everything else!) house sparrows and dunnocks. Even wood pigeons have a go on a regular basis (hysterically funny watch them balancing precariously :rotfl: . Collared doves, blackbirds and robins tend to benefit from dropped seed from the above feeder and fat balls, plus any bread I might put out. Though the robins usually eat happily from the beed feeder as it has a tray fixed to it.
We had a few starlings nesting nearby in the summer but they seem to have gone now.
A sparrowhawk narrowly missed it's prey within 3 feet of my patio windows this week. I've never seen one so close before - they're huge.

*from above recommended company - almost squirrel proof...