The wild birds need your help!!!

[Dave7]

@Dave7 yes ours are big fans of suet blocks. We get ours from Wilco. Most of the tits and the robin can get at it. We also have an agile blackbird that manages to reach. The LT tits are especially keen and we have had 12 or more on it. Once we came back to find a hole in the middle where the GS woodpecker had been! We also give them sunflower hearts and crushed peanuts. We try and avoid much ground food beyond what falls because of the rats.

Yes.... I have found that. But as per my question......they don't seem to like the pellets.

 

[geocycle]

Yes.... I have found that. But as per my question......they don't seem to like the pellets.

Do you mean kibbles? Only the blackbird, magpies and robin goes for them if they are on the floor. We are very sparing with them because of rats.

 

[notmyrealnamebutclose]

Yes.... I have found that. But as per my question......they don't seem to like the pellets

I've never bought suet pellets myself but they may just be a poor quality product that the birds are rejecting,
maybe try a different brand?

Lard and flour heated gently in a saucepan for 5 mins is a basic suet, very easy to make, then if you want just add in some
mixed wild bird seeds and mold them in to a ball shape to go in the feeder, super easy

 

[Accy cyclist]

I put some seed on 'Bird Ladys' grave today and as soon as I put it down those two well fed wood pigeons appeared.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Anyway, I walked round the cemetery and came back to see someone had put dried bread on top of the remaining seed. Tut! tut! They hadn't even wet the bread!

What do you mean, these pics are just an excuse to show off my almost mirror shined shoes! As if I'd do anything like that for goodness sake!!

 

[notmyrealnamebutclose]

Saw a sparrow hawk in my hawthorn tree today, terrorising my precious birb collection. I know it's nature tooth and claw
and all that but not on my watch. An almost well aimed catapulted peanut sent it on its way.
Was kinda interesting observing as the 3 or 4 blackbirds an a few bluestits had scrambled to the other side of the
tree. I think the hawk was wanting them to flee so he could chase his target but they were smart enough not to, then
I stepped in

 

[laurentian]

Saw a sparrow hawk in my hawthorn tree today, terrorising my precious birb collection. I know it's nature tooth and claw
and all that but not on my watch. An almost well aimed catapulted peanut sent it on its way.
Was kinda interesting observing as the 3 or 4 blackbirds an a few bluestits had scrambled to the other side of the
tree. I think the hawk was wanting them to flee so he could chase his target but they were smart enough not to, then
I stepped in

I'd have left the sparrowhawk to do its thing! Hope you do the same for cats.

 

[Dave7]

I'd have left the sparrowhawk to do its thing! Hope you do the same for cats.

When you say "do the same for cats" do you mean........
Use a catapult
Or
Let it do its thing ?

 

[laurentian]

When you say "do the same for cats" do you mean........
Use a catapult
Or
Let it do its thing ?

the former!!

 

[notmyrealnamebutclose]

I'd have left the sparrowhawk to do its thing! Hope you do the same for cats.

Yep, certainly do and I can actually hit those most of the time

Edit: Out of interest do you think a sparrowhawks life is worth more than say, a blackbirds life?

 

[laurentian]

Yep, certainly do and I can actually hit those most of the time

Edit: Out of interest do you think a sparrowhawks life is worth more than say, a blackbirds life?

No I don't, it's the balance of nature.

There are way more blackbirds than sparrowhawks because sparrowhawks are further up the food chain (there are more antelope than cheetahs for the same reason). Without predating on other birds, there would be no sparrowhawks, without more caterpillars than bluetits, there would be no blue tits, without more leaves than caterpillars, there would be no caterpillars and so it goes on. No one is worth more than the other they are just interdependent.

 

[notmyrealnamebutclose]

No I don't, it's the balance of nature.

There are way more blackbirds than sparrowhawks because sparrowhawks are further up the food chain (there are more antelope than cheetahs for the same reason). Without predating on other birds, there would be no sparrowhawks, without more caterpillars than bluetits, there would be no blue tits, without more leaves than caterpillars, there would be no caterpillars and so it goes on. No one is worth more than the other they are just interdependent.

Yes you are quite right. I shall discard the catapult

 

[notmyrealnamebutclose]

And buy one of these 🤭

 

[laurentian]

In all seriousness, firing a catapult at a bird of prey is an offence. (and, yes, I know you weren't trying to harm it)

 

[annedonnelly]

Was kinda interesting observing as the 3 or 4 blackbirds an a few bluestits had scrambled to the other side of the
tree. I think the hawk was wanting them to flee so he could chase his target but they were smart enough not to, then
I stepped in

Yes, the prey birds will freeze and wait out the sparrowhawk's visit if they can. I've seen sparrowhawks repeatedly try to chase the smaller birds out of the hedge.

One of my neighbours told me recently that when they had a sparrowhawk visit the garden a woodpecker simply froze in full view on the feeder and the hawk ignored it or didn't see it.