The winter seems to be encouraging some odd bird behaviour. In my garden I've seen robins, dunnocks and chaffinches hanging from the nut feeder, and blue tits feeding on the ground. Although this is probably down to the exceptional cold weather, could we see adaptations emerging to suit a more varied feeding habit?
Lucem Video
I don't think so as I've seen all those birds do this before. They don't follow the feeding station rule book that says one should be feeding on the ground, the other from the feeders etc. They try to get food however they can.
Millie & Fly the Border Collies
Hi Steffers,
Welcome to the forum.
I have also seen some different feeding habits like goldfinches feeding on the ground. We have had a rook on our washing line where we have a fat ball. Very funny to watch, we had a flock of long tailed tits this morning ! about 5 -6 all on the same fat ball LOL, By the time i got the camara they had gone :(.
If it aint broken, dont fix it !.... all good things come to those who wait !
I have also seen this behaviour before. If the birds can eat easily from the ground, they will do this. It takes less energy than having to cling to a feeder and fly backward and forward. Where they can see food, they will take it and in this extreme weather they must eat and conserve their energy.
Since the snow arrived, we've been getting regular visits to our garden from a buzzard - amazing! We're very lucky to have several buzzards living in the farmland & woods around our home & see them quite regularly on posts along the road or in the fields, but getting them in the garden is a first for me! Presumably their usual sources of food are unavailable due to the snow & ice. The buzzard is sitting in some tall conifers at the end of next door's garden & then swooping over our garden & neighbours'. Have seen him/her perching on roof of house a couple down from us as well. Guess s/he's trying to get one of the numerous small birds making the most of our feeders at the moment. Haven't seen him be successful yet, but guessing he must be getting something as he keeps coming back. Seen him up to 3 times in one day. Sure this is prompted by the current weather but not sure how unusual it is?