"Spider" wrote in message
...
Ok I will watch out for that. Incidentally, is this just for starlings
or
all the birds? I was just reading Stephen's post who no longer gets
them I suppose they may not come back



I should just put it where the starlings eat and see what happens. Lots
of birds need a meat diet and may be interested, but there's no guarantee
the starlings will take it yet. It was just my suggestion, being a form
of meat you could easily offer. You'll soon find out if there are other
interested parties. Continue to put out the fat balls so the starlings
have a choice; that way, you'll see which they prefer.

Yes, we filled up the sdff(tm) this afternoon. We had, a few starlings
(nothing like the mob we had yesterday) so they haven't forgotten us. When
they finished in the sdff they were also having a go at the fat balls on the
trees and while they were there, a chaffinch and a few sparrows got busy on
the sdff(tm). A lady blackbird was feeding on the ground from the bits the
others had dropped Well that was just one time I was watching The
sdff(tm) certainly seems popular))))


I am starting to feel slightly queasy ...


E, tha's a big girl's blouse, lass! Have a stiff cup of tea and remember
it's the birds who'll be eating the mealworms, not you!;~)).

Aye, tha's right missus. Sigh ... I shall 'ave to gird up me loins and get
mesen sorted!!! ;-)



I see various birds around them all the time so I think they are safe.
I am
not talking about garden ponds btw ...


Oh, right! Well, so long as the birds are safe.

Well I have never seen any birds swimming thank goodness and they do seem to
be very popular spots



If you use a strong cleaner like bleach, you will have to scrupulous
about
rinsing it well. I buy a cleaner made specially for pets called 'Keep
it
Clean':

http://www.petplanet.co.uk/product.a...uWtAo d_XcAUA


Right! I have taken note!


again, it is available in supermarkets, pet shops and many garden
centres.
I use it around my cats and for cleaning birdy devices. I even use it
to
clean the kitchen floor where the cats eat (yes, they have bowls!:~)).

lol I know just what you mean ...


I bet he will! Once you start this bird feeding obsession, you'll
both be only too pleased to forfeit some artefact or project to keep
the birds happy. Sounds good to me:~).

lol With your encouragement how else could it be????


Nice of you to say so, but it's *your* encouragement the birds are
interested in. You've both made a great start and I get no sense that
you're about to stop:~).

Not a chance ... g Does the diet change throughout the year?

The parent starlings offer only live insect food to start with. After
some weeks (mentioned in that starling link, I believe), the young can
take other foodstuffs as well. They have to really, because they have to
eat seeds/berries/nuts, as well as scavenge, to get through the winter.

I think most parent birds feed their young on a high protein insect diet
to build them up. It's only later that other food becomes acceptable. The
important thing is not to offer whole nuts while ever there may be young
birds and inexperience fledglings around because there is a very real risk
of choking.

Oh crumbs! (puts peanuts back in shed - the one without a guttering)

So when is this likely to happen? Are the few who came today the ones
likely to breed nearby?

Sheesh I know so little. For many years I was living away from UK or
working and since I retired I moved around with hubby who was an IT
consultant contractor and it is only since he retired fairly recently that I
have had the time to stay home for a long enough period to take such an
interest in the life in my garden. But I am enjoying it very much, so thank
you for teaching me)


Hug of the Day flying to you. It's alright, you don't have to feed
it;~).

lol not even mealworms ...???


Especially not mealworms, thank you:~). However, I do love vermicelli
which means 'little worms':~).

LOLOL

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