Bird Table News

Bev has been having a problem with sparrow hawks in her garden.  She is trying her best to get rid of them and has never experienced such a bold sparrow hawk in all her years of feeding.  Any new ideas for getting rid of sparrow hawks are welcome.

Hi Trish, here’s an update on our sparrow hawk problem!

Well whats happening is unbelievable to us! Yes, the hawk is staying away most of the time from the top of our garden and we have encouraged a lot of jackdaws and jays up there by placing food for them up there.

Also 8 pheasants have appeared too along with three song thrushes !!

On tuesday I heard an awful sound of a bird in distress. It was ‘our’ blackbird screaming for his life as the sparrow hawk pinned him down on the floor. I went almost right up to the hawk but he wouldn’t let go as he must have only just caught the poor blackbird.I shouted and he couldn’t lift very high off the grass with the blackbird [its a small male hawk]so managed of get only a little further up our steep garden.

Again I went up to it shouting loudly {explained to the neighbours later what was happening!!!}and this time it released the blackbird and he flew over my shoulder tweeting loudly but no worse for wear only an odd feather sticking up but was back on the bird table next morning eating!!

The sparrow hawk flew over the fence but came back 10mins later to look for the bird where he dropped it!Only to see me again!! Now he has moved down the garden is appearing in wait under the shrubs where the birds eat and dive in from him. I have discovered he is patiently waiting for the birds to go in there.

I first saw him wednesday face to face under there and he shows no fear of me just sits there until I shout etc and he moves but comes back later.

We have today put yet more netting, trellis garden canes etc round but need to make sure blackbirds etc are able to feed. He sits right next to the french door area of shrubs so I can see him easily but again and again he appears to mock me!!!!

After we put more barracades up he found a space and again he sat inside waiting. The robin froze on the bird table late this afternoon so again I went out this time he was the other side of the trellis so at least the birds saw him and he couldn’t get them. I am not convinced he will not be back tomorrow so had better check!! My poor husband has spent most of the day clambering around the steep garden making some of it safer for the birds to eat away from the hawk.

He couldn’t believe it when he saw the sparrow hawk land and sit about 3 feet from my head!I am wondering if it has been reared by a human? It seems every time I go outside its there! I have never known anything like it. I won’t give in and am hoping by the jays etc coming down the garden more often it will move on.

The balloon we put up isn’t working any more which is a shame but then this sparrow hawk doesn’t seem to have any fear. Sorry to go on a bit but I’ve never had an experience like this in all the years of bird feeding. I wonder if anyone else has? I will let you know of any future developments

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Bev, you aren’t going on about it and I understand how important it is to stop this sparrow hawk.

I’ve never had really bad trouble with a sparrow hawk in the garden, but I know they are about nearby.  My problem was with a cat, or cats.  Cats can cause such carnage in a garden.  Their owners feed them and keep them fit and strong and then let them roam and stalk wild birds.   Wild birds need a safe haven on a night as they need their energy for the day.  When birds are stalked all night  by cats and then have to spend all day searching for food they will either die of exhaustion or be too tired to escape from well fed cats that have not had their sleep disturbed.

Fancy the sparrowhawk being so close to you and also showing no fear of you.  The sparrowhawks I see flying in the countryside would not come near any human.  This is very strange isn’t it

I’m sorry the balloon isn’t working now, but I suppose it has got used to it and the balloon is now part of the garden.

You deserve a medal for all you are doing, but I know that feeding birds is important.  We have two or three blackbirds come very early every morning for food and they flit backwards and forwards through the day. The other wild birds move freely from hedge to cane feeder to cage feeder.  I am so sorry you are having this problem .  It must be spoiling your garden and your day.

Here is a link to SONGBIRD SURVIVAL

http://www.songbird-survival.org.uk/

It may interest you.  Please let us know what happens

Trisha

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Sunset on the Yorkshire Wolds

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10 Redwings in our Liverpool garden this morning

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Hi Denis,

Thanks for this information.  It’s good to know they are thriving.   I think they often join with flocks of  Fieldfares.  They are one of our winter visitors and don’t often nest here. 

I can’t ever remember seeing one.  They stay in the open countryside and so for you to see them in your garden is a bit exceptional.  I hope it doesn’t mean that bad weather is coming and they are preparing for a winter freeze.  Get the bird food ready

Trisha

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 I’m excited because I’m having this photo put onto Acrylic.  Not sure why I like this phot so much,  but I do

I took this photgraph about a year ago and have it as my screen saver, but I wonder what other people think

East Yorkshire

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Hurray!  A sparrowhawk being chased away from a garden.  Here is what happened.  Thanks Bev for sending this.

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From Bev -

Our feeding station is positioned near the shrubs and surrounded by the canes which seem to deter the sparrow hawk a lot of the time.

As the weather gets worse its not very easy to climb my garden to the higher level as its very steep and slippery, so I am encouraging the jays etc to come nearer the house and gradually they seem to be doing so.

I do this because I and my neighbour actually saw jackdaws and jays chasing off a hawk quite a few times last month . They also mobbed it so maybe they will actually help deter it for the smaller birds to eat in safety. Has anyone else heard of the same thing happening?

I saw them mob the resident tawny owl a few times this year but he comes back daily in the evening ok.

It seems to me that sparrow hawks are getting more determined here even though they aren’t always successful it doesn’t seem to put them of trying so all we bird lovers can do for our garden birds is persevere with our many deterrents!!

Any one else had similar problems ? It would be interesting to compare tactics! I have re positioned the balloon again today,so will see if it makes any difference !! Kind regards and a happy new year, Bev.

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Hope the balloon does make a difference.  I agree all anyone can do is try to deter the hawks so the garden birds can survive.

At the moment in my garden we don’t have any sparrowhawks, but  I see them flying in the countryside.

Amazing that Jays and Jackdaws mobbed a sparrowhawk.  It goes to show birds do think as a group (which I think we know anyway when we see them daily in the garden)

At the moment in the garden I’m lucky that pigeons are the only birds that try to grab the bird food

I am still using the canes stuck into the soil with some wire round as well. Get loads of birds in.  Am also using a makeshift feeder from an upturned plastic tray and an ordinary ground feeder.  I throw seed on the grass near a bush for the blackbirds that are waiting there on a morning.

Take care

trisha

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Hi everyone!
I have great plans for a baking session for the birds – just trying to find the time!

Hopefully it will be this weekend, my daughter wants to join in with the fun too. I thought it would make a nice change from buying the ready made fat products available.

everything is ready and waiting -

• lard from the supermarket,

• a good quality bird seed mix and the exciting bit..

• .lots of different things to make exciting toppings just to let the birds know it’s Christmas!!

I’m using old coconut shells, scrubbed out and dried after the birds have eaten the original fillings. These will be ideal to pack with the melted suet and seed mixture and the string to hang them is still intact. A generous sprinkle of dried mealworms, suet treats, chopped sultanas and papaya will make them look festive as well as delicious! Perhpas I should get some cranberries too?

To make block shapes I’ll use a baking tray lined with cling film, so that I can cut it into squares to fit my holder after it’s been in the fridge overnight. AND I’m wondering if I’ll have the time or the courage to attempt some very special fat snowballs…the plan is to make a seed and suet ball then roll it in peanut granules…how pretty on the tree!!! How tempting for the birds!!!
Wish me luck!!

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This is great.  So many plans and ideas.  Many, Many tanks for replying to my plea for winter recipes for birds.  Sounds like you are going to have fun and the wild birds are going to have a feast.  Have a wonderful Christmas and I’ll be having a go as well

Trisha

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Any winter bird feeding recipes are welcome.

I’m sure there must be many different ways we all feed birds, not just  by putting bird seed out. 

Here’s one I received in January

Hi Trish and everybody,

 my cake is

•  lard,
• ground sunflower
•  and peanuts, also whole ones
• all put together with currants and sultanas,

They go down a treat,

I had 9 long tail tits here today,
Not seen thrushes around, am worried,,mum used to come into workshop in breeding season, but offspring not so keen,,

Keep up the feeding everyone, we will get them through,,

Have 5 or 6 blue tits roosting in a nest box they have used twice to breed in,, dont know if the same family have moved in,,R

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NEVER USE VEGETABLE OIL TO MAKE A BIRD CAKE. ALWAYS USE FAT/ LARD OR DRIPPING

R is right IF WE KEEP UP THE BIRD FEEDING WE WILL HELP GET THE BIRDS THROUGH THE WINTER

Look forward to receiving some new bird feeding ideas

Trisha

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I too had a problem with larger birds on the bird feeder so hubby nailed a stip of wood on either side of the feeder to restrict access & we now seem to have lots more smaller birds enjoying it ,,,,

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Dee thanks for replying to Jo.  I hope it helps.   It is a brilliant idea

Is your feeder a hanging feeder or a bird table?  I suppose it would work with both.

I’ve seen rooks and crows balance on a hanging bird feeder and put their long beaks into the feeder holes.  I had to stop using the hanging feeders because of it.   Putting wood near it would stop their line of flight and their ability to balance on the feeder.  The same idea would work on a bird table.

Thank you for this – it is yet another way to keep rooks, crows, and pigeons away.

Trisha

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