Hi.
My Mum is a keen bird tabler and watcher in Penzance. About 6 weeks ago she noticed that she was not seeing any of her regular small birds in the garden, and for about the last 5 weeks she has seen absolutely none at all. I went down to take a look myself yesterday, and throughout the entire day there was not a single sighting of any bird at all in her garden, or in any of the neighbouring gardens or street, front or back. we saw the usual pigeons, gulls and rooks, but that was it, apart from a brief glimpse of a magpie.
Mum has fed the birds in her garder for over 40 years, and this has never happened before. She has big bird-proof feeders for the little birds, and usually she has little sparrows nesting in her nest box.
We are wondering whether there has been some kind of bird flu attack in the area? Or maybe something else has upset them, such as a new phone mast or something (we are not aware of one though). BUt I can't see how this would wipe out every single one in such a short time.
I asked about this a few weeks ago, and we were advised to keep putting out the food and see if they come back. Everything is just completely still and quiet.
Are there any other bird tablers in Penzance on this forum, and have you had the same problems?? Mum is in the Alverton part of town, on the edge of countryside.
THanks
Hi Whitewing - there could be a number of reasons why this has happened but my advice to your mum is to be patient and not to worry....local populations do fluctuate naturally from time to time giving the impression that your birds have simply disappeared.
Currently we are coming out of winter and into spring so birds are on the move - the ones you've been seeing all winter may not even be resident UK birds, visiting from places like Scandinavia, Europe and Siberia to name but a few. Our birds that travel South for the winter may still be on their way 'home'.
Building work in the area, trees being removed, telephone masts, a neighbour's new cat and other disturbances, no matter how insignificant they may seem, could all have an effect on the local bird population.
Take a look at the RSPB website here for more advice - and there's a thread here - http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/forums/t/10773.aspx where some others are also seeing less birds in their gardens - i hope their comments will also help to put your mind at rest.
Your mum should take advantage of the absence while it lasts and perhaps make some improvements which may help to attract the birds back. It's not all about food, they need good shelter too - if the garden is bare they will be less inclined to visit - sign up for our free Homes for Wildlife project for some ideas, or check out the Blog
I'm sure they'll be back soon! Let us know how you get on
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Hi LRB.
THanks for the encouragement, I'll pass it on to Mum. I think she is trying to put out various new feeders and types of food, and her garden has lots of nice hedges and bushes for cover. Strange though,how over all these years she has never had a similar situation. She says sometimes she wouldn't see any for a few days or so, but this has been total and has gone on weeks.
All you members in the Penzance area - has anyone else got this same problem?
What a shame for your mum, Whitewing. She must be feeling a bit upset about it after all these years of feeding the birds. I will keep my fingers crossed her birds return.
Cheers, Linda.
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Hi Whitewing,
my garden is getting fewer visits now, I was putting food out two or three times a day, I now only put food out the once in the morning and there is still some left at the end of the day.
There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed.
Here in Hertfordshire I am definitely seeing fewer birds than a couple of weeks ago, although nothing as dramatic as your mum seems to be experiencing. When I do see birds in my garden, I notice they are more intent on finding nesting material than food at the moment. I don't know what your mum's garden is like - mine is very messy with lots of twigs and leaves so plenty for them to find. Perhaps if your mum's garden is too tidy the birds may not be visiting for that reason?! In the garden centre the other day I saw you could buy special nesting wool and devices that look a bit like suet cake feeders to hold the wool for the birds to take. Perhaps that might be an option, along with your mum's new feeders?
Hope she sees the birds back soon!
Hi Somethingofadreamer,
Thanks for that advice. Mum's garden is not particularly tidy, and she has got hedges and things that birds can get nesting bits from, bu it's a good idea to try hanging out some more nesting materials. I'm seeing less bids in my own garden the last wee or so, which I assume is because they are nesting or migrating, but nothing as complete as Mum's.... the whoe day long, I honestly didn't clap eyes on a single small bird! My 'birdie' brother is down there this week, so he is going to have a walk around the neighbourhood and see what he can find out.
Cheers
GOOD NEWS EVERYONE!
My brother advised mum to not put any food out that big birds could get, and only the feeders for small birds that are caged.
Today, she has seen a blackbird in the garden, looking along the hedge at the top!!
She is thrilled!
She is getting up early tomorrow to see if she comes again! Maybe things are improving!
Thanks for all your help!
That is good news for your mum.
I hope the blackbird can get inside the caged feeders though.