On 13/01/2015 15:53, Ophelia wrote:


"Spider" wrote in message
...

It may be popular because it's a bigger than usual structure which
allows them plenty of room, plus it's sufficiently open that they they
can see predators approaching. Nice to know the other birds are
getting a beakful, too:~).

ATM we have a good half dozen starlings and several sparrows eating
(mostly) amicably together When a starling gets fed up and bumps a
sparrow off, it just hops on to one of the seeds feeders and then back
again))


Lovely! I haven't seen a sparrow for ages. Lucky you.


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!!! ;-)


LOL! That's fighting talk! If wriggly things really do give you
queasitis, then buy the suet blocks with insects/mealworms all mixed in.

I have every intention of doing just that ...


You won't perceive you're handling them in quite the same way. The
birds will still be grateful.

I won't be handling them at all. I have a big strong hubby who can do
the honours thankewverymuch)


Just as well, Your Queasyship;~). Thank you to hubby from me (waves).


BTW I saw the cage for them on that site you shared so I will be going
down that road

Great. I'd only just found that site, but it's very useful
..

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


They don't swim. They just drown:~((. However, if the birds have
found a popular spot and are safe, then we're all happy.

They look ok to me These ponds have reeds, bullrushes and stuff too if
that helps?


If nothing else, the fluffy seed from the bullrushes will be a popular
source of nesting material:~).


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)


Yes, birds will take crumbs;~)). (E, I shall cut mesen one day!).

Aye thi tongue's getting reet sharp, our lass, so tha'll need to tek care!

I wouldn't want to cut myself with it ... I might be a venomous spider:~(


About the crumbs, modom?

Modom, me!? La di bloomin' dah! You should see me in my claggy
gardening gear .. you wouldn't call me modom then:~)).


I bake all my bread so there will be options
g I do a nice wholemeal with mixed seeds and toasted wheat flakes!
Would modom think these will be appreciated? I also dry bread to make
crumbs for cooking. Will these be enjoyed our should they have fresh??

Fresh is best, simply because it's moister. If you want to put dry
bread out, make sure there is an *immediate* source of water. Dry food
can swell up in a bird's moist gullet and be harmful. I've even seen
birds dunking dry food in water before eating it:~).


(Don't even think of suggesting his nibs wear his dress suit to serve 'em)


Well, it would be an improvement on wearing his dress ...
My mind is beginning to boggle;~).


As to
the peanuts, you can get them out of the shed again and put them in a
mesh feeder, which is safe. Birds love peanuts and they're good for
them, too, they just need to be available in small pieces so choking
is avoided. Don't feel guilty, by the way, that squirrels aren't
getting their share; peanuts give squirrels osteoporosis.

eeh in out, in out, shake it all about ... so, peanuts back out then!


Yup. That sounds okey cokey;~).


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


I'm not sure, but I think I remember that starlings breed and rear their
young in small colonies, so you should have more than one in residence.
However, I can't even tell male from female, so there's no hope of me
telling you which of the usual suspects will settle. Once they're got
young, though, you may have to be prepared for some territorial
aggression. I'm sure there'll be other local colonies of 'your'
starlings not far away, waiting for an opportunity to snatch some food:~)


There's a good chance of it, I would have thought, especially if you
keep up your feeding regime. Any bird or creature will breed as close
to a good feeding ground as it safely can.

That is cheering news

However, you will need to
stop using pesticides in the garden, otherwise the parent birds will
offer poisoned insect food to their young, which I know you don't want.

I don't use pesticides ... or I haven't so far as I remember.


:~) Good. Keep up the good work.


Hopefully, with a garden full of hungry birds, most of your aphids
and caterpillers will be gobbled up:~).

)


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)


I'm not sure I'm teaching you, so much as geeing up your pre-existing
enthusiasm, and chucking in a few tips. I'm no expert. I'm learning
as I go along, too.

Well you sure as heck know more that I do!


Well some of it, once learned, applies to most birds, which makes it
easier. I picked up a lot from my father, although professional birdy
knowledge has shifted its opinion over the years. I just enjoy birds and
learning, rather like yourself:~).
--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay