Bird Table News

• @countryfile It was good to see Matt Baker flying like a bird on Countryfile #
• @Bill_Oddie Really pleased Bill is reminding people of ways to stop cats killing birds . #
• @TopVeg Good advice on keeping a garden clear of weeds #
• @farming friends. Has seen lucky enough to see a barn owl again. #
• @peak food. Has written a really interesting article on climate change #
• @ peakfood. Has written an interesting article on climate change. #
• @peakfood. An interesting article about climate change http://bit.ly/1bmsfc #
• Received an amazing comment on birdtablenews.com. A reader has seen a sparrow throwing eggs out of a swallows nest. More to follow #
• Here is a photo from an old bok showing two birds working together to trick a penquin so they can steal the… [pic] http://ff.im/3XlRh #
• Photo from an old book showing two birds working together to trick a penquin so they can steal the… [pic] http://ff.im/3XlRh. #
• Had a comment about sparrowhawkskilling birds in a garden. when the garden birds had been eaten the sparrowhawk left for another garden #
• ‘Boom and bust’ of deforestation – http://bit.ly/jkVM5
  (via http://ff.im/3XBko) http://ff.im/3XBlp #
• Just seen the barn owl in next door field, never have camera though! (via http://ff.im/3XC4W) http://ff.im/3XC5b #
• Buy Small Quantities of Vegetable Seed from Moreveg -… http://ff.im/3XC9m #
• Can You Turn Simple into Simply Amazing? -… http://ff.im/3XElP #
• This poem shows predator and prey. Birds of prey must not overrun countryside http://bit.ly/zyz3N #

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THE BREEZE

Gently the breeze plays with the blossom of the cherry trees,
spilling the petals and disturbing the bees,
caressing the beeches and rippling the corn,
carrying messages of another dawn.

A blackbird awakening fluted his song!
But alas his greeting was not for long!
A sparowhawk up aloft that morn and
keen to feed her newly born,
clutched the chorister from his bower.

To the songster had come at this early hour,
a death as swift as that hawk in flight:
more would die ‘ere day turned night.
For nature is ever red in tooth and claw.
He who made all things decreed it so.

The feathers of the innocent fluttered down,
covering the earth in a chastening gown.
That gentle breeze played with them
as it passed by
with a whisper, or was it a sigh.

Ernie Teal

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Ernie is on Radio Humberside on a Sunday morning and I heard him read this poem. 

I asked him for a copy of it and he kindly sent it to me.

Ernie knows such a lot about the countryside, about animals, birds and he also has a rich store of memories. 

Thanks Ernie for sending me this.

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I do agree that  it is natural for birds of prey to attack.  I think the problem comes when the number of birds of prey becomes so high that it puts songbirds at risk.  What do you think – if you have time please let me know.

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Dear Dawn, Thank you for sending all the photographs on DVD.  They are really wonderful.  Please get in touch.

I am so glad you sent a letter with the DVD as I cannot find your email that you  mention in your letter.  I have looked and looked.  I am so careful with emails – but this time something has gone wrong

 I am still learning how to get the photos from the disk onto Bird Table News!  I haven’t been able to sort that out yet, so have not been able to put them on Bird Table News. Apologies for that

Could you email or get in touch by comment again so I can say thanks.

I have enjoyed looking at your photos, such a variety and so clear. Thanks.

Will put my techncal hat on again and see if I can sort out the technical stuff so I can put them on Bird Table News.  It is so annoying that I can’t.

In answer to your question – Last year I used Vista Print to design my calendar.  It was difficult but worth doing.  A calendar with my own photos on – great!

How wonderful that you have seen a seal.  Lucky you. 

Take care.  Trisha

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I received two comments about sparrowhawks -

Thomas said,

I don’t think you can ever blame natural predators for doing what they do naturally.

Songbird numbers have declined because of changes in our farming and living practices (lack of food and nest sites) and probably due to ever increasing numbers of cat ownership (there is stong evidence cat predation takes millions of songbirds each year), none of these are natural controls in this country.

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Liz said,

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For the first time in 20 years a pair of Ospreys have nested in England.

Osprey’s are one of England’s rarest birds of prey.

A pair have nested and hatched Osprey chicks at Kielder Water and Forest Park Northumberland.

They were enticed there by a specially built nesting platform. 

Kielder Water is an ideal place for Ospreys as it means they are close to a large man made lake where they can fish.  The land provides conifers where Osprey can build their nests.

The male Osprey has been seen flying over the water, catching trout and taking them back to the nest for the chicks.

This is a success story amidst all the news we get of other birds declining.

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This is why we should always peel and cut up apples when we are putting them out for the birds!

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I contacted the British Trust for Ornithology about the decline in swallow numbers.  This is their reply.

I contacted the British Trust for Ornithology about the decline in swallow numbers.  This is their reply -

Dear Trisha

 From reports we are getting, it does look as if numbers are down – and many birds were late. 

There can be so many reasons for Swallow losses. 

Last year’s poor summer was probably not good for them and there are lots of potential problems to face each winter; was the weather bad on migration, were there particular issues in stop-over areas, was it hard to find food in South Africa etc. 

Northerly winds over the Sahara in spring would make that particular crossing harder.  The only thing that I am aware of is the presence of weather systems across Spain & Portugal in April/May which probably contributed to the Swallows’ difficulties.

 Here’s hoping for a good breeding season to top up numbers ready for next year. 

If loads of pairs can rear two lots of five youngsters then that will make a huge difference.

 Graham

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Delivered to your door -

CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO FIND OUT MORE OR TO BUY NOW.

Bird Table News is a non-profit website.  Any commission I make is put into bird feeding  / bird feeders / all things birdy

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Is there a decline in the number of swallows returning to England. 

I think there is.  We have had fewer here this year.

Here are two observations I have received about the decline of swallows -

I live in a town s.e. Gloucestershire, population approx 3500. For the first time for at least 25 years (as long as we have lived here) no swallows have returned to nest in our shed.

I see none overhead in the town. Some martins, only one or two swifts instead of dozens.

I miss them each day, as they always fill me with delight while they are with us.

Why haven’t they come back – have there been bad storms in their winter homelands? Spin-off : we have noticed a lot more flies & midges than usual.

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We usually have three or four swallow nests in an outbuilding every year and countless swallows.

So far this year we have have only had fleeting glances of one or two swallows. Date 2ndof June

What is going on? I am not even sure what time of year they usually nest?

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• Are swallow numbers declining all over Britain?
• Is climate change affecting bird migration?

 To be able to help swallows we need to understand migration – which is difficult.

• Weather affects the timing of a swallows migration.
• It is not easy to help the swallows – we cannot put bird food out.

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 I have sent this short email to The British Trust for Ornothology  -info@bto.org  Hi, I have a website called birdtablenews.com.  I have been getting comments about the decline in swallow numbers this year.  One person said it was the first time in 25 years that swallows had not nested in his shed.

Here on the farm we have fewer swallows.  Swallows have been coming here for over 60 years (before my time).  They are declining.  Do you know of any reason.

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I will let you know what reply I got.  I have also asked other people and will see what replies I get.

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Last week on Springwatch there was a discussion about another migrant bird – The cuckoo.  It’s numbers are declining this year.  I wonder if the same thing is happening to the Swallows.

Swift numbers are declining and I have read that this may mean that insect numbers will increase.  I will put  a link in to an article about that tomorrow.

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SWALLOW RETURNING HOME 

Pleast let me know what you think.

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