I love listening to the birds in my garden almost as much as I enjoy watching and feeding them. My favourite sounds emanate from the course hedgerow early on a spring morning; it sounds alive and buzzing with bird conversation. I wonder, do birds talk to each other; are they communicating or simply showing off … Read more
If you’re a regular reader of mine, you will already be aware that I love to feed mealworms to some of my feathered friends. In particularly, Christopher, my returning robin who eats them from the palm of my hand. I leave little piles of the wriggly little grubs out near to the house, just enough … Read more
Migratory birds have to cover several thousand miles on their hunt for food and warm climates. Many species, particularly passerines and other smaller birds, make their journey in large flocks, probably because there is safety and warmth in numbers. Other birds fly in formations of V and J shapes, sometimes inverted. It is a wonder … Read more
There can be few better sounds than the melodic tunes of birdsong. Weeding my flower beds and sorting the shed are made much more pleasant tasks if I’m being serenaded by my garden bird friends. I’m not sure if birds sing ‘because they can’ or if there is an ulterior motive for their song. Why … Read more
Do your garden feeders seem to have less activity when the temperature drops and the nights draw in? Mine vary from day to day – sometimes I can’t keep the dishes topped up quick enough, while others I throw lots of uneaten treats away. I know that some birds migrate, but wondered are there any … Read more
My garden seems a fairly quiet place at night, at least from the birdsong point of view . Occasionally, I hear the beautiful song of the robin coming from the front of the house, but few other sounds. I wondered if birds make noise at night or if they all find a safe place to … Read more
You might be interested to know when birds fledge the nest if you have urgent hedge and tree pruning to undertake. Before attempting any such jobs, it is wise to check that all the occupants have left the nest, as it is an offence to remove or damage them. Fledging is the act of caring … Read more
It happened to me, not once, but twice. The first time I was engrossed in a programme on the television and an almighty thump made me jump from my chair in time to see a blackbird slump to the patio. The second time I was driving on the motorway, again that same loud thump and … Read more
I recently overheard a conversation between my granddaughter and a friend discussing what they’d learned in school that day. They were posed the question, ‘are birds dinosaurs?’, and given time to research the answer. I was fairly surprised by their findings, so decided to dig a little deeper and share my own. In my mind, … Read more
A collection of birds that gathers together to perform a synchronised aerial display is known as a murmuration. The most common birds to behave this way are starlings. The phenomenon occurs between October and March all over the UK. There are many theories as to why birds murmurate. Researchers collate sightings of murmurations to give … Read more