In message , Martin
writes
On Sun, 17 Oct 2004 12:07:38 +0200, "JennyC" wrote:

Hi

This is vaguely OT but I was wondering how birds almost immediately
know when I
start to put food out for them?

I don't feed in the summer, but as soon as I put any crumbs out the birds seem
to whiz down in three minutes flat to feed. Their mates seem to hear about it
too and before long the garden is humming!

The feeder is hanging in a sumac tree so they don't come to it much in
summer as
it has no fruits or berries. It's can't be that they see me go near
the tree, as
I tend the plants around its base all year long........

Do they have amazing eyesight - a terrific sense of smell - do the know what
time of year I start to feed - or what ??

Have you got enormous flocks of starlings where you are?
It's the first time for years, that I have seen them in large numbers,
likewise sparrows seem to be making a come back.
The starlings have been having a feeding frenzy on all the berries
that were on the trees. All gone now.


Bush telegraph? ;o)

--
Klara, Gatwick basin