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Post by alfp1951 on Apr 1, 2018 6:19:12 GMT
Almost every day I find a single seed (sunflower heart) in the bird bath. There's never any in the grass around the bird bath and the several yards between bath and feeder make it unlikely that wind is responsible so I assume a bird drops it in there. If it were a mealworm I'd think "how clever!" As it is I just think "how strange!"
Alf
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Post by rowanberry on Apr 1, 2018 8:59:56 GMT
I keep finding strands of grass inside the cage protecting the fatball feeder. One of the birds has to be deliberately putting it in there!
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Post by Harold Smith on Apr 1, 2018 9:06:25 GMT
Hi Alf,
Whenever the Carrion Crows arrive in the garden they usually go to the ground feeder pick up a beak full of seed, mainly black sunflower seed, and drop them into the birdbath, swirls them around and then eats them. I assume they are carrying out some sort of cleaning process. One day, just after I had cleaned the bird bath and filled it with freshwater, a crow flew in with an enormous slice of white bread and promptly dropped it into the bird bath. A right mess it made. Sodden bread everywhere. When it left I had to clean the birdbath again.
There is Blackbird who occasionally picks up a seed and puts it into the birdbath. I've never seen it come back and retrieve it. Maybe you have a similar Blackbird.
Harold.
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mj224
New Member
Retired land surveyor
Posts: 43
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Post by mj224 on May 9, 2018 7:18:56 GMT
I have seen rooks pick up bread and soak it before eating..............
Mj
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Post by Harold Smith on May 9, 2018 8:47:38 GMT
I have seen rooks pick up bread and soak it before eating.............. Mj Somewhere near me someone is putting large amounts of sliced bread for the birds. My resident Carrion Crow brings them into the garden and dunks them in the birdbath. It nearly always does it just after I have put fresh water in the birdbath. The other day the crow turned up with two slices of toast. It makes a right mess leaving lots of sopping bread on the lawn forcing me to clean it up and refill the birdbath. I'm glad it doesn't dunk them in the pond otherwise it would be definitely person non grata. Harold. |
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Post by NellyDee on May 9, 2018 9:08:48 GMT
I get really angry with slices of bread being put out for birds. Years ago people were bringing bags of sliced bread and naan breads and emptying them round the lake in the park. It go so bad notices were put up - to no avail. It encouraged rats which nearly over ran the park. Extreme measures were taken and poison was put down. Yes it got rid of most of the rats, but a lot of other wildlife suffered too. Hopefully those responsible for causing the problem in the first place took notice of the rants in the local papers and being visited by the authorities did note the damage they were doing. Read more at www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/feeding-birds/safe-food-for-birds/household-scraps-for-birds#8D8MIoIDU6CTwOmM.99 |
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Post by rodboyd on Jun 3, 2018 19:40:59 GMT
Just to add for interest,
Soaked seed is very much liked by some birds,especially finches.When it has just sprouted it is at its most nutritious.
In early spring when it tends to be a little warmer and there are lots of showers about,the wild seeds start to germinate and are very high in vitamin E. This helps bring the birds into breeding condition and is readily fed to the chicks prior to them moving on to hard seed.
One of the best and easiest seeds to sprout is oil seed rape.
Roders…..
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Post by teasel on Jun 3, 2018 22:04:15 GMT
I had several things that looked like cherry pits in my bird bath today! I'm sure it's too early for ripe cherries on trees!
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Post by rowanberry on Jun 4, 2018 19:40:24 GMT
I had several things that looked like cherry pits in my bird bath today! I'm sure it's too early for ripe cherries on trees! I have had that, too. I think it's from the pigeons... they find some early fruit, (or something someone has put out for them... I put any squashy blackberries on the jays' table) and then they later regurgitate the stones. Why they feel the need to do it the birdbath, I have no idea! |
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