I have always fed the birds come the cold weather, i like to see the sparrows, and the squirrels on the garden.... sat eatin the nuts and fat balls put out for them....and sometimes we even get a fox at night.... which we leave a dish of dog food....

I lv the cold frosty mornings..... but this mornin while raking up the leaves i found 2 little sparrows huddled together..... dead.. they were frozen solid...made me think how hard winter must be for our little wild animals...

and yes i buried them...

it made my heart sink:(
poor little buggers...:cry:

Do you like to feed the birds etc??

Worried about feeding birds as local cats tend to stalk my garden. But lots of lovely bushes with berries on nearby so they seem happy at the moment.

We don't really have a local bird population due to the number of cats in our area, and I don't want to encourage them, as they'll only and up as dinner or a toy.

I even sabotaged a nest building exercise by some blackbirds this year as they were trying to build in my apple tree, which is a meeting place for many local cats and would be doomed to failure, so I thought it better to remove the nest repeatedly during construction so that they would build elsewhere, rather than watch the poor things get eaten.

A couple of neighbours have tried putting out food for birds in recent years and it has gone untouched.

I never use to feed the birds till i moved back in area were i grew up in as in the old area i only seen fox and few birds,and my mum brings these fat balls to my house (never hear of them befor) has she always likes to see wildlife in garden and feed them,and nuts for birds and the squirrels.

I like to see the squirrels has only ever seen them in park and never in a garden has we never use to get them befor.It's quiet funny to see them break the plastic nut bag of the tree and drag the bag and take the lot back to there home.

I wouldn't dream of feeding the birds in our garden purely because they'd either end up as Smitch's dinner, or Smudge's favourite toy!

Too many times I have had to try and get birds to fly out of my bedroom window...

We did used to have a robin who used to be there every year without fail, but then one of our cats got him. I was gutted - the poor little thing always came to see us!

But yes - this winter is very cold and I do feel for the little ones outside! Wish I could do something for them :(

We've had a lot fewer birds around recently, we used to have loads of little ones, but these days it's just one sparrow, some woodpigeons and 3 collared doves. Can't help wondering why the others don't visit us any more...

I feed the birds.
Sorry i cannot post a funny picture. Am being stalked :rolleyes:

So really thats all i can say

Originally posted by madowl
I have always fed the birds come the cold weather, i like to see the sparrows, and the squirrels on the garden.... sat eatin the nuts and fat balls put out for them....and sometimes we even get a fox at night.... which we leave a dish of dog food....



You'll need to be a little less gooey about the sqirrels if you're concerned about the birds. Sadly grey squirrels are greedy and what they can't eat immediately they'll usually bury, - leaving little if anything for the birds. Squirrels will also take eggs from nests and kill and eat nestlings, so are just as predatory as cats on the wild bird population.

I've a squirrel- proof bird table and the feeders and fat balls are hung on very thin wire. The squirrels can slide down this wire but can't climb back up it which is a bit disconcerting for them when the dog is sat there waiting for them to jump ;)

He hasn't actually caught one yet and I doubt at his age he ever will, but he gives the squirrels pause for thought.

BTW - it's just as important to feed the birds when they're nesting as an easy supply of food for them gives them more time to find food for the young, which generally has to be 'live' food like insects and caterpillars etc.

Would love to feed the birds unfortunately its a bit difficult from the 7th floor of a tower block.

Never mind the Waxwings will be here soon!!

I think it is a shame there are not as many birds around as there used to be. I'm lucky in that where I live we have some ideal and safe habitats for a range of wildlife. The bank along the railway line is a haven for lots of birds and small animals. Rarely bothered by people, they feed on the wide variety of natural 'food' and have trees and bushes to nest in.

I'm keen to ensure my garden is reasonably environmentally and wildlife friendly - we have planted a range of hedging to attract different birds and provide food and shelter. We also have several trees, maturing slowly. I limit the use of slug deterants and we leave some areas of the garden untouched.

I've seen frogs, hedghogs and newts in the garden. We have lots of dark places under bushes which are rarely disturbed as well as piles of wood and rocks - ideal resting/hiding places.

I'm reluctant to provide additional food at this time of year as hopefully all the animals that should be hibernating will do so. In another week or two, once the hibernating animals are out of the way I make sure there is fresh water available for the birds and probably a sprinkling of winter feed - i've managed to find a place reasonably safe from the cats - I think. It's right outside the kitchen window so I can see if the cats do start to prowl around.