The RSPB Community

Wildlife Word-Link Game

Heron77 — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:16:31 GMT

Hello.

Here's a fun game. The idea is that the first letter of a word or phrase must be the same as the last letter of the word or phrase before it. For example if a word or phrase ends with "r", the next one must start with the same letter. Hope that explains it. Anyway here goes.

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER.

Multiple Notifications of the samemessage

Cirrus — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:24:43 GMT

I continue to receive multiple notifications of the SAME message . 8 and 10 notifications of the same message are not uncommon. Yrch !!!

Fat/suet ball holders

iBozz — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:40:15 GMT

Around 12 months ago, I changed a very popular and busy wire fat/suet ball holder for a rather more aesthetically pleasing wooden one.

Since then, all birds have ignored the new holder completely and this morning I threw away a second set of untouched fat/suet balls - with not one single beak mark anywhere to be seen - because the seeds had started growing!

Now why do the birds totally ignore this unit? They enthusiastically eat the seeds hanging next to it and also, although not very often, the nuts also hanging there.

A blue tit family nest nearby and were frequent diners at the old unit but even they have turned their beaks up!

I have a typical north western urban garden, visited by blue-tits, robins, sparrows etc, but nothing "exotic".

The "new" device is the suet log bird feeder:

http://shop.nationaltrust.org.uk/products/suet-log-bird-feeder/302/

I'm beginning to think that I need to revert to the old method, but before I do that is there anything that I am doing wrong?

Four word Association Game

Blackbird — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 10:08:24 GMT

This an idea from another Forum I use

With this one, you add four words in order to create/continue a story.
eg:
Post 1: I logged into RSPB
Post 2: forum and there was
Post 3: a lot of posts
etc etc

about all types of

Sparrows nesting?

Sparrow — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:36:17 GMT

For the last few days I have been watching my sparrows gathering bits of hay, small twigs and especially feathers. Two of them even had a squabble over a rather nice feather. Are they making nests already, or are they just practising!!??

Question about grass care?

Aberdeenshire Quine — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:17:30 GMT

Could I ask a question about weed control, please?

I'm fortunate enough to have a big area of grass (I wouldn't dream of calling it "lawn". But is is a bit weedy and a bit mossy. The soil is lightly acid, very damp and bit clay-y.

Now that I'm finally paying attention, and, short of hand weeding quarter of an acre, how do I improve the grass to weeds ration, please?

Gorillapod Equipment

Blackbird — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:50:54 GMT

Hi there

My enterprising OH came home last night with a 'Gorillapod' or 'tripod' for our camera.

It was bought from Dixons.

Interesting bit of kit to add to our collection

http://www.picstop.co.uk/Joby/

The tripod has 'bendy' legs and be adjusted to stand any angle on all types of surfaces.

Regards

Kathy and Dave

Recommend CDs of bird calls/sounds

birdybiker — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:10:00 GMT

Can anyone recommend a CD of bird calls?

I'm pretty new to all this and it would be really useful me.

WHAT'S FLOWERING IN YOUR GARDEN IN NOVEMBR?

lucybob — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:03:36 GMT

This photograph was taken at lunchtime today 10th November - it is a standard rose and I took the chance and gave it an extra feed right at the end of the feeding period and here we are with a lovely display. Had a look around the garden and found there was still quite a lot of other summer colour still about as well which hopefully will make the winter seem a lot lot shorter when it gets here!

New Etiquette quezzy

seymouraves — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:32:26 GMT

Hi,

1st - the suggested answer box bemuses me- I assumed I couldn't tick it on one of my own posts-

However I notice it is possible ,

2nd - If I post to a question it's because I think it IS the answer :)))

any comments guys?

Sign the Letter!

LloydScott — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:06:40 GMT

Letter to the Future campaign

In a nutshell

The Letter to the Future urges politicians to consider the health of the planet, for the sake of future generations, when they are making decisions about where to invest money and where to make cuts.

It aims to get Governments to spend more money on saving wildlife and the environment

READ THE LETTER

Topline goal

We need as many people as possible to sign the letter so that we can let the government know how important nature is to us all.

We will achieve this by showing politicians that hundreds of thousands of people care about nature and want to see it protected not just for the short term, but for future generations.

We'll use signatures to ask politicians to do six things, which are at the heart of our conservation work:

create a countryside fit for wildlife;
safeguard our sealife;
stop extinctions;
save the rainforests;
stop climate chaos; and
inspire children through nature.

Near-term goals

300,000 signatories by early spring 2010 — for immediate use in the Westminster general election run-up.
500,000 signatories by spring 2011.

SIGN THE LETTER TO THE FUTURE RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW

Why we care

For 120 years, we have given nature a voice, fighting injustices against wildlife with tenacity and passion. These are moments in our history which demonstrate again and again how people standing together can change the world.

Today, in signing the RSPB's Letter to the Future, we have the opportunity to help nature win its biggest ever battle.

Thanks for reading and please do feel free to discuss your thoughts about the letter in this thread! Do you have some inspiring thoughts/messages to contribute to the campaign? Please share your thoughts on why you would like to sign the letter..

RSPB

Car Jacking!

Kezmo — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:01:23 GMT

Hi all,

I thought I would let you know of a warning we received today at work about car jacking. I received it from a worthy source and apparently it has been confirmed both by the county council and also the police. Don't know if it operates outside of Essex but it costs nothing to let you know.

The car thieves patrol public car parks. They target cars by putting stickers/paper on the rear window. You return to your car and before you pull away, they assume that you will see that your rear window is obscured and will leave your car to remove it, leaving the keys in the lock and/or engine running. While you are at the back of your car, the car jacking numpties then appear and jump in and drive away, leaving you with a funny look on your face and a piece of sticky paper!

I have no reason to believe this to be a hoax and thought you might like to be aware.

Hello !!

Sparrow — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:40:30 GMT

Hi everyone. I am a total newbie to this hobby, encouraged by watching Springwatch for the first time this year. I bought a couple of beginners' bird identification books, a variety of feeders and food, dug out my dad's old binoculars, and here I am, joining in on a forum and using my kitchen window as a hide.

I live in East Lancs in the Ribble Valley. My garden is bounded by other similar gardens on two sides with agricultural fields on the other. So far I have managed to attract a large colony of 30 to 40 house sparrows (I believe they are mostly this years babies), a collection of starlings - not many, 3 pairs of gorgeous jackdaws, a few blackbirds, a robin, a wren, some dunnocks, a pair of collared doves, several feral pigeons and an intermittent sparrowhawk. I had a wood pigeon but not seen since August.

What I can't attract are the tits and finches. However, my neighbour has several goldfinches, blue tits and great tits on his feeders, but no sparrows! I confess to watching his birds through my binoculars out of a bedroom window. (I have my fingers crossed I won't get arrested for this!!!!) I have 3 separate feeding areas. One is a table for the larger birds, one is intended for the sparrows, and the other for the tits and finches. Each area has suitable food and feeders for the different species. So far there are no takers for the tit and finch area, apart from the sparrows in the queue for their own area.

Are my sparrows seeing off these other species? I know they are little thugs at times, and even my robin has to wait for them to have their afternoon siesta before he is allowed to eat.

Today In The Capital City

Kogia — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:58:46 GMT

I topped up, cleaned and resighted some of my feeders, Big Ben chimed 845 am in the background.

Deciding to see just which birds would find the dried mealworms on the tree stump first, I went upstairs and waited, watching from the bedroom window. Almost immediately the hanging feeders were full of house sparrows, I counted 18 squabbling busy brown birds and admired the boldness of 2 smaller goldfinches trying to edge their way in. 2 blackbirds settled down to make a mess of the pond edges again with their daily morning bath. A plane heading for a heathrow landing ploughed its way overhead.

Blue tits & great tits hopped in and around the action, snatching a snack when each opportunity arose, and 4 (the most I've ever counted) dunnocks slunk around the edges, this was a busy morning. A helicopter kept up the aerial noise and a builder shouted from the roof of a nearby block of flats.

The first heavy pigeon landed on the lawn, the sparrows held their places and then in a flash all were gone, surprising us all a sparrowhawk swooped in, only just missing its target.

Silence from one side of the garden, panic and alarm calls on the other. Sparrows sheltering in the sparse and almost leafless honeysuckle, with the sparrowhawk (can a bird look annoyed?) watching intently from the fence. It looked up, fixed me with its brilliantly bright yellow eyes, stared for a moment and then flew off, to try again somewhere else?

The garden was still and quiet, a magpie shouted from the roof of a nearby block of flats, a police siren sounded in the distance and a robin hopped on to the tree stump.

I wish it were countryside proper, but city gardens can still give us wild action.

How to ID Trees.

Blackbird — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:46:51 GMT

hi there

I thought I would open this thread, so everyone can post their tree pictures.

Just a way to get to know our Native trees (or non-Native trees {smile})

For a start I found this huge seed today.

As I walked under the tree the seed feel at my feet with a loud thump LOL {eek}

Can anyone tell me what it is?

I have placed a leaf from the same tree for ID reasons too

Pictures to follow

Thanks

Regards

Kathy and Dave

Dogs and bird food

Sparrow — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:08:46 GMT

Does anyone else have my problem? I would love to have one or two ground feeding stations for the blackbirds, dunnocks etc etc but my dog eats it all! Please don't suggest a protective cage because she would either break in or carry it off! She totally ignores the birds and they totally ignore her, by the way. She just likes bird food! All I can do at the moment is spread some meal worms in the flower pots and borders, but any fruit, fat, and even seed, gets eaten.

Calling Owls

Blackbird — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:47:22 GMT

Hi there

I heard my first Tawny Owl (2009) early this morning in Bedford. It was not close by as such but their call does carry well.

It was at 6am this morning, and it made my day. {smile}

At our last house a mile away, we had a few Tawny's in the nearby area. The favourite patch was an area of park with had a couple large Horse Chestnut Tree's near the wall at the edge of the grassway. This was their favourite patch close to us.

The Owls would start to hoot and meow fro hours on end, the the moment it became dark in the late afternoon. I remember standing at the foot of the same tree and I still could not see the Owl. They so well camoflagued anyway. That is what makes them so difficult to see.

Anyone esle heard any Owls at the moment as this is the time of year to hear them

Regards

Kathy and Dave

Hawthorn

Sparrow — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:45:56 GMT

I am thinking of planting a new hedge and thought about hawthorn. I have never noticed these being sold at garden centres, but this is probably because I haven't been looking. Anyone know if you can get reasonably established ones, and how long they take to grow? I had a beauty at my previous house, but it was 50 or more years old. I'm afraid I can't wait that long!

Birds disappearing!

Joyce Jones — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:16:20 GMT

Can you explain why, for months my garden has been a joy to watch; blue tits greenfinch dunnocks gold finch and now for the past few weeks they have all disappeared. My only visitors are magpies and starlings!

They were feeding so well I ordered a large bag of seed from you and now it is going to waste. Help!

bird book pulishing- what is needed

shout — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:35:22 GMT

hi,

I am looking into publishing a small field guide for use in the field. I have been around the world birding and find it hard to find a good guide.

Either to big and heavy to carry or light on information-- Is this true?

Where do people go to most birdwatching and is there a whole in the market?

Can I have all thought, everything would be useful.

thanks a lot, fellow bird nuts

Mark

Homes for Wildlife Actions

John Day — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:48:42 GMT

How many of you on this Forum have signed up to Homes for Wildlife? If so, have you been remembering to update what you've been doing on the 'My Garden' page which you can access from the link on your Homes for Wildlife login page?

I've been doing a bit myself in the garden this year and not remembered until recently to update my actions and was pleasantly surprised when I did. I've decided to write more about it in my blog tomorrow. But, while I'm doing that, I know how much you all like a little challenge:-

For all of you signed up to Homes for Wildlife, how many Actions and Gold Stars have you got and more to the point can you beat mine? If you’ve not downloaded any of the advice then log into HfW and return to your home pages to get the advice sheets and get ticking! If you’ve not signed up, use the link and see where it takes you. If you want to know how many I have you'll have to catch up with my blog tomorrow morning!

Lots of flocks

Sarum Bat — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:02:36 GMT

It was very windy here this morning but the sun was shining and the birds were out in force. My favourite place in the house for bird watching is the upstairs landing window as it gives onto a lovely view of the garden, the fields and the downs and I was amazed at the number of birds I saw.

There was the usual flock of about 50 linnets, goldfinches etc, a flock of 20 pigeons, one of about 30 rooks and then a huge flock of something else. Bigger than the finches but smaller than the pigeons. I thought maybe fieldfares and redwings but I couldn't be sure. There was a couple of hundred at least. Amazing! I've never seen so many birds at once near the house. In the garden I saw blue tits, great tits, greenfinches, blackbirds and a wren and when I went out to get in the car there was a flock of about 20 gulls overhead too. What a brilliant way to start the day and all in the space of about fifteen minutes.

Perhaps they were all enjoying the windy weather. All I know is that it was very difficult to tear myself away and go to work!

iPod

mxb — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:57:03 GMT

I have just purchased an iPod Touch, with a view to uploading a bird field guide to it.

With it I hope to carry a field guide of static pictures, video clips and bird songs. I will also be able to record songs for identification then or later.

I was going to buy an iPod Nano but the screen I think is a bit to small.

I bought Mitchell Beazley's book:

BIRD The ultimate illustrated guide to the birds of Britain and Europe.

As it contains a DVD iPod Field Guide. Unfortuntately the installation instructions don't seem to fit an iPod Touch. I have emailed Mitchell Beazley, but am not hopeful.

Has anyone got a similar arrangement to this ?

Autumn Colour

Frog Prince — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:33:36 GMT

Everyone seems to be enjoying the picture threads and I thought 'Autumn Colour' in the widest sense would be a good theme to allow us to share more pictures. So here goes.........

Recycling

KatTai — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:22:33 GMT

How do you rate the recycling service in your area? Are they some things that you think they should take that they don't?

We get a weekly recycling collection so that is pretty good (though we only put the box out fortnightly if that) - but they don't take cardboard! Yet for businesses there is a cardboard collection so why they can't collect cardboard from everyone else as well I have no idea! Cardboard is probably the most commonly recycled item in our house aside from the milk bottles. A lot of plastic things they don't take either even though they can be recycled and neither does the recycling centre so they end up having to go in the bin.