Coming back.

[Wild-Woman]

Over this weekend I've noticed a sharp increase in birds coming back to the feeders. I'm assuming these are exhausted parent birds, returning to feed themselves after nesting and their young out and about with them. Some of the adults look 'done in' and seem very skinny. I'm keeping the feeders topped right up for them and was wondering if there is any food that is a real 'tonic' for them other than the usual sunflower hearts, nyjer, fat balls and meal worms etc.
Julie

[Mark43]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Over this weekend I've noticed a sharp increase in birds coming back to the feeders. I'm assuming these are exhausted parent birds, returning to feed themselves after nesting and their young out and about with them. Some of the adults look 'done in' and seem very skinny. I'm keeping the feeders topped right up for them and was wondering if there is any food that is a real 'tonic' for them other than the usual sunflower hearts, nyjer, fat balls and meal worms etc.
Julie

The Starlings and Blackbird parents in our garden look pretty much fine.
The Blue Tits look a bit ragged though i have to admit.

I would say you have the food pretty much covered.

Found this lot on the net and it sounds good but i guess it's going to be quite pricey.

http://www.bamfords.co.uk/index.htm

[canonman]

Hi
Can't say your doing anything wrong, just keep the food going and I'm sure the birds will recover.
It's a hard time for the parents with the young.
In a few months time they will start slowing down on the feeders.
Something else that is sometimes overlooked at this stage and that’s to keep the fresh water going for them.
You could end up having to fill the birdbath 3 - 4 times a day.
It’s not they they drink all this, it because they do insist on have a bath and splashing it everywhere.
Mick

[Wild-Woman]

Yep canonman, got 2 nice bird baths for them. They are clean and kept topped up.
Had a disaster about 30 mins ago. A juvenile starling hit the patio doors full pelt. I picked it up but sadly it died in my hand. I felt really sad. Such a perfect little creature and such a wasteful end. That's with silouettes on the doors too. They seem to be so intent on chasing each other, they just don't look. julie

[canonman]

Wild Woman
Shame about the starling, but they are prone to dashing about chancing each other.
I still think that starlings are one of the cleverer birds around.
They soon learn how to get food from all sorts of feeders even if they have to hang upside down.
There also the biggest villains on emptying the bird bath, but its comical watching 3 or 4 trying to get into the bath at the same time.
Mick

[JM]

Originally Posted by canonman

Wild Woman
There also the biggest villains on emptying the bird bath, but its comical watching 3 or 4 trying to get into the bath at the same time.
Mick

Oh Yes! When I was speaking to the local farmer he said that he could put out 15lb of pig food and within 10mins the starlings would stuff the lot

[Tornado]

Wild Woman
Sorry to hear about your juvenile starling, its a real shame when this happens. Just two weeks ago I had a similar experience with a blue tit. I was doing the washing up and saw the mealworm feeder crammed with great tits and blue tits waiting their turn, then suddenly out of nowhere two blue tits came hurtling at the window. One managed to swerve but sadly, the other hit the window with such force my husband heard it upstairs. I rushed outside thinking the worst that it had died on impact, however it was still alive but looked like it had broken a leg as it laid there twitching. I carefully lifted the injured bird and placed him in a small cardboard box that my husband found, and I have to say I didn't hold much hope that he was going to survive. We put the box in a safe dark room for about 15 mins, then returned praying for a good outcome. Upon lifting the box to my amazement he was still alive and seemed to be quite active, so we took the box outside and opened it. Sadly though his leg was very twisted, I again carefully lifted him and placed his feet onto my finger which he then gripped (with both feet very tightly!) He sat there looking rather confused for the next five mins or so. With each few minutes after that, you could see he started to become much more aware of his surroundings. His little blue cap began to raise and after a full 25 mins, he flew off only to be chased away by "our" resident blue tit!!! what an ordeal for such a little bird.
So after all the window strikes in previous years coupled with the poor little blue tit we have now invested in some silhouettes, which seem to have done the trick thus far

Regarding your feeding the birds, it sounds to me like you have it pretty much covered.
It must be costing you a small fortune! We began with a few small (and I mean small) feeders which has now turned into a full blown bird restaurant!! But I wouldn't change that for anything!!
Hope your bird strikes this season are few and far between.
Keep up the good work!
Tornado

[Wild-Woman]

Thanks for that Tornado. It's true to say that there are a lot of caring people on this site.
Yes, it's certainly cost a few bob to keep the feeders going, but do you know what, I don't care! I've had that much enjoyment watching them on the feeders, bringing in more each day, it's been brilliant and I don't ever intend to stop.
As I mentioned on a thread I started the other day, I was rewarded by the goldfinches bringing back their young to show us.
I think birdfeeding is becoming very popular and I've started off a few people I know and now they are as hooked as I am.
Thanks for your reply. Julie

[May]

Originally Posted by canonman

Wild Woman
Shame about the starling, but they are prone to dashing about chancing each other.
I still think that starlings are one of the cleverer birds around.
They soon learn how to get food from all sorts of feeders even if they have to hang upside down.
There also the biggest villains on emptying the bird bath, but its comical watching 3 or 4 trying to get into the bath at the same time.
Mick

My aunt had a disused cat litter tray in her garden that got filled to the brim with rainwater during a particularly wet spell. She chanced a look into the garden one day to see it filled with bathing starlings! They were splashing about having a grand old time and within minutes the tray was empty.
She went out and refilled it, they waited till she had gone and flew back down to empty it again. This is now a regular occurance!

And as I type, there's a female blackbird having a bath in the dish of fresh water I just put out for the birds. A young greenfinch is getting a soaking into the bargain, hehe! Oh and now the blackbird has just had a go at the youngster for trying to get a drink