Every morning at around 8.30 I fill up all the bird feeders, throw seeds on the lawn and pour hot water into the bird bath. Everything is gone by the next morning.
Came back Sunday am after a night away and filled everything up at lunchtime - all still there frozen and untouched the next morning....
If they don't eat in the morning they die.
Because the bath water is still warm?
If they don't spot it when they wake up, they bugger off somewhere else and eat that instead. They'll be back tomorrow.
They eat all day not just in the mornings.
If they don’t spot it when they wake up, they bugger off somewhere else and eat that instead. They’ll be back tomorrow.
^ this is what I think happens. Plus, ours are busy first thing as I think they are hungry and thirsty after a night roosting.
Every morning at around 8.30 I fill up all the bird feeders, throw seeds on the lawn and pour hot water into the bird bath. Everything is gone by the next morning.
Came back Sunday am after a night away and filled everything up at lunchtime – all still there frozen and untouched the next morning….
They've got a routine, same as any other animal. They'll be going to places that provide food at regular times. You feed them in the morning, Doris up the road feeds at 11.30, the grubs and worms start appearing when the woodland warms up slightly so they go there a bit later...
Round this way, they suddenly appear. Often wondered why.
They’ve got a routine, same as any other animal.
I'm sure they have, but I'm just surprised that when it's this cold, not a single one notices several 100 grams of seed in the garden, sat there on a clear day for 5 hours just waiting....
E.g. I've had three Robins fighting over it, so you think one of them might pop back later one day...
Round this way, they suddenly appear. Often wondered why.
I expect it's related to your proximity
Same for me.
Same for me
They have a deep desire
What do the keys Y, H, J, K, I, 8, 7 & 6 have in common?
I'm not sure but some supernatural beings that serve god definitely had a meeting on your birthday
They eat all day not just in the mornings.
That's not necessarily the case. Seed eaters with crops can gorge themselves with food which will last quite a while, birds without crops need regular food.
Consequently a pigeon can easily survive a couple of days without food, a crow however probably wouldn't - they would quickly become too weak to fly and find food.
Also fat reserves play a part - pigeons will have some but crows have no significant amounts of fat.
Edit: And the comments with regards to birds and their routines are very valid imo.
The birds here come for breakfast, morning coffee, lunch, afternoon tea, high tea, dinner and finally supper.
Costs us a fortune in feed, they normally get through at least one feeder a day.
In our garden they tend to eat a lot in the morning and then there are another couple of busy periods around late morning and mid afternoon all species can come together in these blocks. At this time of year they will settle after that to keep warm.
They also tend to come in waves depending on species at various times in the day, looking out of my window I have a load of blue tits on the feeders at the moment but no other birds. Just finished typing and the blue tits have gone and it is all quiet 🙂
At this time of year they will settle after that to keep warm.
I was wondering if there was some energy conservation going on - minimising the hours out and about once they've eaten enough..
To be fair what else has a bird got to do this time of year apart from eating?
A quick preen and that's all the chores done for the day.
Round this way, they suddenly appear. Often wondered why.
I expect it’s related to your proximity
To be fair what else has a bird got to do this time of year apart from eating?
A quick preen and that’s all the chores done for the day.
Not necessarily. I’ve 2 jackdaws rebuilding their nest near me.
Ive got sparrows and tits nibbling at my fat balls right now.
I’ve 2 jackdaws rebuilding their nest near me.
They must be very house/nest proud! It's still a while before the hanky-panky season.
Tits like coconuts
Whereas blackbirds enjoy the sultanas we put out in the mornings.
oh, and Close to You!
To be fair what else has a bird got to do this time of year apart from eating?
A quick preen and that’s all the chores done for the day.
Gulls always find somewhere to fly to and from, and maybe to have a bit of a squabble over a chip. I've always admired the fact that gulls look like they enjoy flying and just do it for the sake of flying. I'd be a gull! I like arguments as well. 😀
It’s still a while before the hanky-panky season.
I thought so too until the six year old calls me over to the window last weekend. "Daddy look at those pigeons, one of them is climbing on the other's back! How funny..."
They must be very house/nest proud! It’s still a while before the hanky-panky season.
Indeed. They pair for life though.
I’d be a gull! I like arguments as well. 😀
Yeah being a Sea Gull full appeals to me too, but only because of their ability to shit on someone with truly spectacular results. Compare that with a sparrow, or even a pigeon - pathetic.
Yeah being a Sea Gull full appeals to me too, but only because of their ability to shit on someone with truly spectacular results.
I genuinely think that they target people just for laughs. And don't forget about stealing food from people's hands. Great fun, why wouldn't you do it if you could. 😀
They pair for life though.
A surprisingly amount of birds mate for life. And in the case of crows their offsprings will sometimes stay around to help their parents look after the following year's youngsters.
And don’t forget about stealing food from people’s hands.
Or even walking into a shop to steal a bag of crisps.
No such bird as a seagull!
incidentally, are you stalked by young men in your conurbation?
Ive got sparrows and tits nibbling at my fat balls right now.
Sounds uncomfortable.
Yeah being a Sea Gull full appeals to me too
Do you mean a herring gull?
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Suring the birds just assumed it was early closing on Sunday?
Do you mean a herring gull?
Well I've got no idea where "Sea Gull full" came from but I mean one of these cheeky gits who steal and shit on people.
Mine eat all day, every day. And sit on the feeders and stare at me if they're empty for even 10 seconds.
I was once told by a friend who is a bit of an ornithologist that birds don't fly for leisure; it's just too energy sapping. So if you see them flying, chances are they're hunting for food.
There are no more worms left after that
Frigatebirds can sleep whilst flying. That's true that is.
I can sleep while driving.
Because they change the batteries in the afternoon.
I was once told by a friend who is a bit of an ornithologist that birds don’t fly for leisure; it’s just too energy sapping. So if you see them flying, chances are they’re hunting for food.
They’ve clearly never watched ravens flying out in the open then. Usually they’re flying for specific purposes, fetching sticks for nests, feeding, etc, but occasionally you’ll get to see ravens flying just for the sheer joy of it, climbing, tumbling, doing wing-overs, basically aerobatics. Watching a big bird like a raven playing with the air is joyous. Watching a gang of swifts tearing around the rooftops at high speed screaming their little heads off is one of the great sights and sounds of summer - again, no reason for the behaviour as far as feeding or anything else other than for shits’n’giggles.
As far as my garden birds are concerned, during the warmer months, when I have my bedroom window open, I have to wear earplugs when I’m not working because the gang of starlings that pitch up at around 5.15am, screeching and squabbling wake me up every time. They come back at various times during the day as well.
