Tawny Owl

My latest delivery from TWOOTZ with the owl logo reminded me of a newsletter which arrived from the British Trust for Ornithology. I regularly receive the news letters and Press Releases issued by the BTO to spread the word about their concerns and news in the world of ornithology and they have announced a new survey. The British Trust for Ornithology is launching a new survey to understand how the impact of urbanisation and particularly light pollution is affecting the behaviour of one of ...

Just a Smidgen of Good News

Just a smidgen of good news (is that really a proper word – or one of my old grandfather’s made up ones?) Wild Bird Populations in the UK, 1970 to 2015 is published by DEFRA and has a slightly hopeful observation or two regarding farmland birds. We live in the countryside so our Farmland species tend to overlap with our Woodland and Garden types of bird. Whatever! The bird feeding stations are just as busy as ever and there does not seem to be a lot of arguing going on out there – ex ...

Nuthatch

It doesn’t always work – but it makes you feel really good when it does! A loud clatter on a house window often means that one of our feathered friends has misjudged their route and flown full tilt into the glass. Sometimes the victim is found cold and stiff on the ground, but on the odd occasion we get to the scene quickly enough to try a trick taught to me by an old gamekeeper. The victim is quickly cupped in the hands and a gentle breath is added at the rate of about two in eve ...

Tawny Owls

So I’m not the only one worried about the lack of “Twit Twooing” going on around my garden this winter. That is if you can call it winter – the season seems to be upsetting all manner of wildlife with birds not sure what is going on….. The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) have noticed this in their Garden Bird Watch and are appealing for help in monitoring these well loved birds of prey. The BTO news release for December highlights this and below is an extract from it: ...

Sparrows

Once again that great organization, the British Trust for Ornithology is highlighting trends in bird populations which could otherwise pass us by – this time they are pointing to our once-so-common sparrow family – or ‘Spadgers’ as my old grandfather would have it. Below is an extract from their latest newsletter…….. “With significant declines in both House Sparrow and Tree Sparrow populations, things could not have looked worse for UK sparrows. However, British Trust for ...

Toadlets

There is a bonus for the omnivores in our bird populations this month. Have you ever looked at the clumps of toad and frog eggs at the edge of a pond, or later at the host of tiny tadpoles and wondered why we are not swamped by vast populations of these amphibians? Well, the answer lies in the dewy grass of the early August mornings – tiny, and I mean tiny toadlets and froglets can be seen moving to areas where they will live before joining the circle of breeding. Depending on whe ...

Swallows

If it’s not one thing then it’s another….. Delighted to see our swallows (hirundo rustica) have returned from their 6,000 mile winter holiday in South Africa – not so pleased to see that this week they have selected a security light for the base of a nest for the year. Usually we do not intrude in our guests nesting selections, but this time it will be necessary – the lights get extremely hot when they are on – and the swallow's presence will ensure that the sensors switch them ...

How are the birds doing in your garden?

How are the birds doing in your garden? Pretty well I suspect, because to have reached this blog you will probably be one of the multitude of caring folk who are supported by one of the best bird food suppliers in the UK. I do not work for TWOOTZ but heartily support their ethics and enjoy the quality of their products – from time to time I do receive a packet of a new food line to trial – and very welcome it is! There – my interest is duly declared! I also support the work of ...

Tagged Birds

Oh Dear! – That is three up for Mrs C! For some reason my family enjoys the strange delight of being the first to hear the returning Cuckoos – and Mrs C reported hearing the first calls of one of these strange birds this week. The light winds and warm temperatures during the last week provided the perfect conditions for migrant birds held up in southern Europe to continue their journeys north, and they did just that. Swallows, Willow Warblers and Ring Ouzels arrived in force. Cuckoos w ...

Spot the brightly coloured rings for urban birds study

As a TWOOTZ customer and bird enthusiast I am delighted to see that the company has agreed sponsorship with the University of Birmingham in the 'Urban Birds Study'. With threats to wildlife from pestcides and weather trends you simply cannot have too much information on what is good and bad for birds – their population trends and locations help to point out problems before they get out of hand. So get out your binoculars and spot the brightly coloured rings which the survey is using and ...

Urban Birds Study By The University Of Birmingham

Twootz.com is proudly sponsoring the 'Urban Birds Study' conducted by the University of Birmingham, which is looking at how the levels of connected tree cover and built land cover affect the movement patterns of common garden birds such as Dunnock, Great Tit, Robin, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit and Coal Tit. As part of the study, we are carrying out a programme of mist netting which involves the temporary installation of fine nets set between poles to catch birds in flight. Once caught a lightweigh ...

Fledglings

My local vet / friend gave me a quick call yesterday to go and identify a recently fledged bird that someone had taken into the practice. As you can see the 'baby' in question was a young Blackbird. He was given the exact location of the 'pickup' so we ventured down and released it, within 5 minutes of the youngster calling the adult female was at its side with a big juicy worm! Please, if you come across recently fledged birds leave them alone, 99.9% of the time the adults won't be far aw ...

Farmland Birds Continue To Decline - How Can We All Help?

For my sins I receive the RSPB press and media releases – they are a good outfit and well worth keen birders joining and supporting. The latest official figures on farmland birds have been released this week and they show they are continuing to decline. The Farmland Bird Index – which covers 19 species reliant on the farmed countryside – has seen a five year decline of eight per cent. Looking back over 40 years the long term decline in farmland birds is 50 per cent, however the decline ...

Notice the Chill

I think today has been the first real day of the winter... the wind switched from a rather mild westerly to a rather chilly northerly. With a small change in temperature us humans simply add more clothes, more layers. We can handle extremes in temperatures quite easily, adding or taking away layers of clothing as and when required. So how do our garden birds cope? I'm sure you may have noticed that in the Summer months, birds tend to look skinny and if like me you go out bird-watching ...

Rats

This is a dangerous subject: Rats! Bad management of bird feeding stations will always attract rats - and that is one thing that you want to discourage from your garden. Nasty, smelly disease ridden... but then on the other hand have you ever watched a young clean, cute ratlet working out how to get up onto a bird table? Rats! More like Acrorats with their clever and well thought out moves to reach the food. We have been plagued by birds of prey taking the young inexperienced fle ...

Creating a Summer Haven

For many people, summer is the best time of the year as the cold, miserable weather is replaced by sunshine, warm temperatures and outdoor life springs into action again. As summer has arrived and the weather is warming up, there is nothing more refreshing than drinking a tall glass of ice water. However, many people do not realise that clean, fresh water is as important to birds and other wildlife as it is for humans. Not only that, but birds actually enjoy splashing around in the water just ...

Nesting - A Helping Hand

Birds are the ultimate nest-builders- each species has its own unique nest-building techniques, if you keep a look throughout late March and April, you may be able to see evidence of this workmanship taking place. The male bird chooses the location of the nest, and the female builds it by carefully weaving grasses, twigs, and other bits of scavenged materials. To insulate the nest, she cushions the inside with feathers, hair and fine grass. For every type of nest, finding the right b ...

The Breeding Season

The breeding season lasts from early March to late July, and chicks are often found in a nest well into August. However, this is dependent on the weather as the timing of the breeding season is usually during their climate's spring to summer seasons, since that's when food and water are most abundant. Usually starting after the rainy season (which is early spring), so that by end of summer, their babies are raised and able to care for themselves so they can find mates and migrate with them, i ...

Clean Bird Feeders

A dirty bird feeder can harbour mould, bacteria, and other diseases that can decimate garden bird populations. Infected birds can spread the illness to other gardens and bird populations, creating epidemic conditions if left unchecked. Conscientious birders regularly clean their feeders to ensure that the spread of disease is minimized. Furthermore, clean feeders will attract more wild birds because the fresh, clean seed is more appealing and nutritious. Clean Regularly: All feeders should ...

A Winter Warning

This caption warns about hidden hazards in some bird food packaging and gives some tips on how best to look after our feathered friends this winter. Wildlife charities receive a number of calls each year from gardeners reporting injuries or deaths to garden birds after they have become entangled in the mesh or netting surrounding food that's been left out for them. The netting that surrounds fat balls, peanuts and seed is one of the most dangerous things that can be put out in our garde ...

The Dangers Facing A Fledgling

Being abandoned isn't the only danger facing a fledgling. Windows, glass doors - even greenhouses can prove fatal to a fledgling that is just starting to learn how to fly. Windows are seen by birds as just open spaces that they can fly through. Logical really when you see it from a bird's perspective. Every year at this time we are inundated with calls from people who have birds that have flown into their windows and are injured - sometimes fatally. If a bird flies into your window you w ...

The Story of Baldrick

West Yorkshire Animals In Need is kept very busy at this time of year with birds, especially youngsters that are injured, sick or orphaned. Fledglings have a particularly difficult time of things as they not only have to learn how to eat and drink for themselves but also how to fly solo. 'Baldrick' was assumed to be an orphan fledgling and had been taken into the vets by a concerned member of the public. The vets promptly called WYAIN who took over the case and brought 'Baldrick' home to asse ...

The Story of 'Tufty' - A WYAIN Rescue

This is 'Tufty' a baby blackbird, a hatchling, which we found on our driveway just over a week ago. At this age they are sometimes referred to as 'pinkies' for obvious reasons. It's incredible to see the blood flowing through the veins and the tiny heart beating away. I called her 'Tufty' as she has tufts of hair on her head. I say 'her'...at this stage you have no idea what sex the hatchling is! 'Tufty' is just a day or two old and her eyes are still closed. You must handle gentl ...

Baby Garden Birds - When To Rescue

This is most dangerous time of year for our garden bird population as it's the mating season. Nests are being built and babies are hatching. Birds of all different species and ages face potential problems and dangers. Thousands of baby birds die needlessly each year because people do not know what to do when they find a baby bird. Should I intervene or should I leave it well alone? These are the typical questions that will run through your brain and the answer will depend on the situation. ...