What birds (are you/have you been) watching? What birds have been watching you?

[gradus]

Pleased to hear and see three Greenfinches in the walnut tree today, we haven't seen them in the garden for a year or so, perhaps the mild winter helped.

[ardcarp]

Rather in the spirit of the header of this thread, a robin perched on my foot and observed me for about three minutes today. I was sitting cross-legged on a bench in the Mediterranean Biome at the Eden Project. This robin, Mediterranean or not, had clearly taken up residence and was used to cadging crumbs from the punters.

[Lento]

Rather in the spirit of the header of this thread, a robin perched on my foot and observed me for about three minutes today. I was sitting cross-legged on a bench in the Mediterranean Biome at the Eden Project. This robin, Mediterranean or not, had clearly taken up residence and was used to cadging crumbs from the punters.

There was a rather charming short TV film about the robins of the Eden Project a while back. There seemed to be loads of them.

[Nick Armstrong]

Interesting BBC4 TV programme on Monday evening for twitchers and non-twitchers alike perhaps:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05ttkx2

Dawn Chorus: the Sounds of Spring

The birdsong of sunrise in all its uninterrupted glory, free from the voiceover and music of traditional television.

With the first glimmers of sunlight, the birds of Britain's woodland, heathland and parkland burst into song. This is an opportunity to sit back and enjoy a portrait of three very different habitats and the natural splendour of their distinctive chorus.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Taking advantage of the sunshine (and doing my Spring cleaning) I opened all my windows wide to get a through breeze. Since when, several Blue Tits and Sparrows have used the "ledge" thus provided by the edge of the window to reach various insects caught in the cobwebs in the eaves of the house.

One is by the room where I'm typing this - so I had a Blue Tit within arm's reach. It took a while before it noticed me looking at it. I've never seen a bird do a double take before!

[Lento]

Starling running around with absolutely massive slug: can barely get airborne....has gone now, presumably to the nest. There could be trouble ahead!

[Serial_Apologist]

Starling running around with absolutely massive slug: can barely get airborne....has gone now, presumably to the nest. There could be trouble ahead!

I think you should slow down. Take advice from a cheap TV programme.

[Flay]

There's a bird (perhaps a wren) in my garden that sings some of Mahler's 3rd symphony!

Does anyone else hear musically educated warblings?

[Richard Tarleton]

There's a bird (perhaps a wren) in my garden that sings some of Mahler's 3rd symphony!

Does anyone else hear musically educated warblings?

Flay, here's a sound clip (see towards bottom of page) of wren. Can't quite place it in terms of M3?

Here's an article you may find of interest. You'll find a lot of google hits for Joan Hall-Craggs who carried out intensive studies of birdsong - she was also herself a cellist .


For 2 springs, many years ago, I had a blackbird next to my house which sang the first line of "Oh God our help in ages past".

[ardcarp]

...and we had a mynah bird. Actually a G minor bird, a blackbird which sang the opening motif of Mozart's 40th. Quite accurately.

[Dave2002]

Rather in the spirit of the header of this thread, a robin perched on my foot and observed me for about three minutes today. I was sitting cross-legged on a bench in the Mediterranean Biome at the Eden Project. This robin, Mediterranean or not, had clearly taken up residence and was used to cadging crumbs from the punters.

I have wondered on occasions whether anyone would comment on that aspect of the title. I am suspicious that in our garden the birds are watching us most of the time. Some are very clearly aware of our presence when we move, but even if we are not absolutely in their line of sight, and trying to remain unobserved, their behaviour does seem to indicate that they know we're around. Also, there seems to be a lot of communication between birds, even across species, though that does not necessarily mean that birds are mutually cooperative. They probably can recognise signs and signals from other bird species which allows them to react to what they may perceive as threats, and in some cases opportunities.

Your robin does seem to have come very close indeed. The last time I recall any birds coming that close (apart from pigeons) was in one of the London parks, where sparrows would come up to tables at outdoor restaurants to pick up crumbs. I would suggest that's hardly wild bird behaviour.

[Flay]

Can't quite place it in terms of M3?

For 2 springs, many years ago, I had a blackbird next to my house which sang the first line of "Oh God our help in ages past".

Thanks Richard. Not a wren. Perhaps a robin or blackbird. It's the piccolo at section 37 etc of the 1st movement (bar 474 for example, page 51 of the pdf). Do mi so - do mi so - do mi so

And the collared doves drive me mad with their renditions of London's Burning : "call the engines, call the engines"

[gradus]

A trimphone blackbird in the garden this morning, are there Nokia tune blackbirds?

[Padraig]

A trimphone blackbird in the garden this morning, are there Nokia tune blackbirds?

Certainly.

What's more, I have a jackdaw, a blackbird, a robin and a wren who regularly give a fair rendition of Sweet Adeline. Wonderful bass that jackdaw.

[ardcarp]

Certainly.

What's more, I have a jackdaw, a blackbird, a robin and a wren who regularly give a fair rendition of Sweet Adeline. Wonderful bass that jackdaw.