Wildlife and me
I like feeding the birds, I know I have to be careful with hygiene both from my own and the birds' point of view and I once visited an organic garden that had lots of information about why we shouldn't feed the birds at all, but I do. In exchange for a supply of food I like to think the birds help keep down the slugs, snails and aphids thus helping with my organic cause. I've had plenty of the usual small garden birds this winter, robins, tits, finches, sparrows, blackbirds etc as well as the woodpeckers that I like so much and they've all been very welcome. Because it's been such a hard winter, I've also been visited by the sparrowhawk, who I think might have been more interested in the little birds than my supply of nuts and seed. I hope you can see him here perched behind the green feeder. 
One day a buzzard came into the garden, now that was worrying, fortunately he didn't stay long. Quite a few pheasants call by, they are beautiful birds but they do cause damage in the garden, particularly pulling out newly planted seedlings. 
Then there are the really unwelcome visitors that hoover up under the feeders.
I could do without this little guy in my garden, I'm blaming him for the crocus and bluebells that were beheaded before they had a chance to flower. I've also noticed that mice seems to have been collecting bird seed and storing it in the greenhouse, there was quite a pile in there. Finally there are the grey squirrels. I don't mind them taking a few nuts but I do object to the way they either chew through plastic feeders or demolish wire ones, they seem able to unpick the mesh to make a way in. Last week I bought two seriously squirrel proof feeders, I'd been putting this off because I don't like the look of the ones with big cages round them and I thought only the little birds would be able to get access but needs must. After a display of acrobatics and frustration trying to get into the new feeders, this squirrel resigned himself to clambering onto the bird table where he did clear up a lot of the seed that the birds leave. I think I'll let him get away with that unless he starts to demolish the table.
We've had loads of feathered visitors this winter - though no birds of prey.
ReplyDeleteWatch MrSquirrel - the one that visited our garden got frustrated with the squirrel-proof feeders so he wrecked the table! We stood & watched him!!
Hi Jenny....I love that post! I'm a keen fan on watching and feeding the birds...I find it very calming to stand still for five mins and watch them.
ReplyDeleteWe had a sparrowhawk last year. we also sat in our garden and watched a red kite fight with a crow right above us..it was amazing!
Karen x x x
We had an owl once! I must admit that when I see mice helping themselves to the bird food, it putsd me off. I love the look of your garden.
ReplyDeleteWe don't feed the birds at home because of the risk of infection to our chickens, but I do feed them at the allotment. It can make a lovely afternoon hiding in my "hide" I mean my shed seeing the bluetits feeding off the peanuts.
ReplyDeleteJenny I am just amazed at all of your woodland visitors. No...make that envious! I know my husband would have something to say if rabbits came around but I'm sure he'd love to have feathered friends. Unfortunately, whatever that comes to visit are quickly chased away by our pups!
ReplyDeleteOh my word! Such a range of wildlife in your garden. he sparrowhawk is just beautiful! I love feeding the birds in our grden too, but sadly, here in our city centre garden we get a much more limited selection. I'd be sitting there all day watching them! Ros
ReplyDeleteWell we had a wonderful display a few weeks ago...... a rat running up the bark of a tree, along the branch and hanging itself upside down to eat out of a coconut shell I had obligingly filled with suet and out of date nuts etc from my baking cupboard. I wonder if sparrowhawks are on the increase since the owner of a house I cleaned yesterday was telling of a sparrowhawk in his garden at the weekend.
ReplyDeleteLove all your wildlife. Squirrels are hard to control but very cute! What a great photo of the pheasant!
ReplyDeleteLovely photos!
ReplyDeleteWe used to have a metal bird feeder in the back garden - a pole with hooks on it - and it was fascinating to watch the birds feeding from it. Unfortunately it got damaged when it was used to jemmy open the patio doors, and after clearing up after the burglars, I never got round to replacing it - although I think a I may go for a wooden bird table this time!!
Isn't it weird how being kind to nature and wildlife presents its own set of unique problems?! But you feel bad if you don't carry on!
ReplyDeleteHaving cats and chickens we don't see a huge amount of birds in the garden. We have a hedgerow at the bottom of the garden and robins are frequent guests in there, and of course we have tons of pheasants and hedgehogs.
But no birds of prey or many bird varieties despite all the chicken feed and grain around the garden.
The simple pleasure of feeding the animals...does them good & our spirits good! Such sweet photos, Jenny... Glad to see the snow it melting a bit! :o) Happy Day ((HUGS))
ReplyDeleteThose are lovely photos! We've had a lot of birds this winter, especially redpoll, who come for the nyjer seed.
ReplyDeleteBut at the moment our lawn is being well aerated by jays, who come and dig holes trying to find the nuts and acorns they dug holes to plant last autumn!
You certainly get a variety of garden visitors. Our most memorable one was a heron, early one morning. He just about cleared the pond of fish for his breakfast.
ReplyDeleteWow, when I saw these photos I thought I must be looking at somewhere in the US or Canada - incredible that its Scotland.
ReplyDeleteHi Jenny,
ReplyDeleteI know maybe he's a little bit naughty but that picture of the squirrel is fantastic....
I love the little birds, they always seem to look like they are having so much fun....
I have been trying to get my DH to make me a bird house, no luck yet..