My mum recently bought a slice of coconut with fat on it (something like that anyway) to put on the bird feeding table. It's attracted bigger birds than we're used to - starlings, my mum said. She's not so keen, and I sort of feel like that too, but perversely I also quite like how unsettled I can be by these things. It's novel, anyway.
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Starlings are greedy things and will clear a bird table in no time. They are very characterful birds, though, and it's quite fun to watch them squabbling. Plus your mum is doing them a good turn as Starlings are declining and need all the help they can get.Originally posted by Joseph K View PostComment
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A large flock of starlings descended on my cul de sac a few days ago; the neighbours cat did a really bad job of stalking them, they were on the roof tops before it started its charge! Me and the starlings were laughing at it as it walked away in a huff...Comment
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Went to Puddletown forest to listen to and watch the nightjars.Comment
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It was probably wise not to pounce earlier - in years gone by one of our cats caught a starling and even if she had thought of devouring it, was viciously mobbed by the flock, and retired to a safe spot!Originally posted by Mal View Post
On nightjars -as a child, probably because of the not very good picture in my bird book I grew up thinking nightjar to be a very ugly bird! Only recently did I realise that the ‘whip-poor-will’ in such songs as ‘My blue heaven’ and ‘I’m so lonesome I could cry’ is in fact an American Nightjar.Comment
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Did you wear white hats to trick them out of the woods?Went to Puddletown forest to listen to and watch the nightjars.Comment
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Searching for reports of Red Kites taking new-born lambs, I found a disputed claim but further on in the same thread I found this. Wow!
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Red kite males have a weight of 800–1200 g, and females 1000–1300 g. A newborn lamb is likely to be at least twice the bodyweight of a kite.... Feeding on a dead or stillborn one, possibly.
I'm sceptical about that video......Comment
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As am I, but thought it worth linking to, anyway. The thread with with the claim re. Red Kites and lambs is this one: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index....-lambs.114572/Originally posted by Richard Tarleton View PostComment
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Well...er...how about it?Originally posted by Bryn View Post
I heard the interview on "Today" this morning.
I think it's likely that gulls are likely to judge their prey on grounds of size, rather than distinguishing between "small wild mammal" and "pet, to be avoided"...... Just as long as nobody is advocating a cull on the strength of this (likewise the, rare, kite story). Unfortunately in this overcrowded country there's just so little space for wildlife, we force it into our surroundings by our actions (gulls forage in towns partly as a result of declining fish stocks, and partly because we leave so much food for them - and foxes - lying about)
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Hmm. I have to admit that I am not that opposed to culling when it comes to anthropogenically modified wolves.Originally posted by Richard Tarleton View Post
(Perhaps my position on such matters might be somewhat clarified if I mention that I'm an RSPB Life Fellow.)Comment
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