On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 17:53:51 +0100, Sacha
wrote:

~in article , jane at
wrote on 14/10/03 3:54 pm:
~
~ On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 15:22:40 +0100, "Lucy" wrote:
~
~ ~I underlaid a large Pyracantha with bark with the idea that fallen dead
~ ~leaves would not show up as much as with gravel. It is working up to a
~ ~point, but the blackbirds are throwing it all over the adjacent paving as
~ ~they search for insects. As they start at dawn and continue on and off
~ ~until dusk, it is hard to keep up with them. Does anyone know of a way of
~ ~stabilising the bark?
~ ~Lucy
~ ~
~ ~
~ black (coloured) bird netting?
~
~I'm sorry to be contentious but what would that achieve other than trapped
~birds?

See my answer above for qualification - it is sold as bird netting after
all, and nobody seems to think about this when discussing fruit cages etc.

~I'd prefer to have all kinds of crap thrown all over our garden to ensure
~the blackbirds and all other kinds of birds keep coming to it. For a start,
~they're eating insects that some people will next year have to spray to
~kill, for a second they are doing what comes naturally and it is we, who
~have a passion for immaculate gardens and squared away, hospital-corner
~flower beds who are metaphorically treading on their toes.
~Leave the birds alone and be glad to have them - all too many are now
~disappearing.

I mowed the lawn and did the rake-over of parts of it on Sunday. While
taking a breather I realised I'd got a robin sitting on the bench opposite.
Immaculate feathers (after the last time I saw it, where it looked like it
had been through a tumble drier). It hopped onto the lawn, grabbed and ate
a tiny green caterpillar and hopped back up to the bench. Repeated this for
some 10 minutes, including sitting on the mower handle, giving me several
patches of extra nitrogen and helping with yet more pest control.

Made it a magical moment. I was about 6' away, wishing the camera was
outside...

This is the first year I've avoided slug pellets in the garden as well as
the allotment, and I'm convinced the wildlife is doing better already.

Must put some new fatballs out this week. The bluetits go through them like
motorised beaks...


--
jane

Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone,
you may still exist but you have ceased to live.
Mark Twain

Please remove onmaps from replies, thanks!