Bossy Bird!

[Daisy]

First thing every morning, I let Eva out and go and check that the bird feeders are ok - sometimes the seed gets a bit damp and then gets stuck in the tube. I top them up and always put half a handful of seed, mealworms, grapes or something on a garden table for the ground feeders - mainly blackbirds.

Yesterday, being Friday, I checked the feeders, and they all had plenty of seed so I carried on round the lawn doing pooh patrol so I could bin it before the bins were collected. As I was putting the bin lid back on there was a firm 'plop' on a nearby table. There sat a bright-eyed blackbird giving me a Hard Stare.

"Hello, little fellow" I said, "What do you want?" He did a little jump and carried on staring at me.

"Ahh, you want your breakfast,don't you?" He did another little jump and as I started to walk round to the back of the house he hopped along the fence, leading the way, then waiting on the seat by the other table while I went and got him something to eat!

I wonder what he'd have done if I'd ignored him!

[Plantaholic]

Blackbirds can be very bossy. A friend of mine fed a blackbird and if she was a bit late it used to come inside and chirp at her.

[Nana]

I can just see it Daisy. Funny little thing.🐧(there wasn't a blackbird emoji.)

[Nanto2girls]

Awww thats lovely Daisy. We have a blackbird that comes every day.
If hubby is doing anything the bird sits and watches him.
We know it's the same one every time,he has a crooked leg and doesn't walk,he hops.

[Gemini]

Daisy, if you had ignored him he would probably have come and knocked on the door demanding his breakfast

[Daisy]

They are very friendly and like Plant's friend we used to have one that came into the kitchen if room service was a bit late! It was in the days of Rusty and Clyde and they used to wait politely for the bird to move before they went through the door! I can' see Eva doing that, but this one hasn't got that bold/foolish - yet.

[Grauntie Mag]

We are fascinated by the pigeons trying to work out how to get to the seeds in the feeder just now. Mr squirrel has just been. I was given a squirrel feeder for Christmas in the shape of a horses head! Apparently I have to smear peanut butter up in the neck part and mount the thing on a stick so when the squirrel puts his head inside it looks as if it’s a horse with a squirrel’s body! It can stay in it’s box. It would be a criminal waste of my peanut butter. 😆
Has the blackbird been back Daisy?

[Plantaholic]

I am sorry I have had to stop feeding the birds after we had a problem with rats and because they have the woods and our garden is big they don't come close to the bungalow. I am hoping the blue tits find my nesting box this year, they are already looking at the holes in an old apple tree that gets used every year. Problem is the cat is very interested too.

[Nana]

Funny you should say that Plant. We had to stop feeding our birds too because of the same problem. My neighbour puts out so much food for the birds that it draws the rats in. Inevitably they come into our garden when her food supply runs out.

We have a metal pole with offshoots of four hangers for the food. The rats actually climbed up it & somehow made their way to the bird feeders. Quite clever really but after OH & her had a chat the Council pest control took over.

[Glammanana]

We have 4 x hanging feeders and 2 x bird tables for the larger birds which OH fills up every day two ringtailed doves wait for him every day and run along the shed roof when they see him going down the garden they have become so tame over the months,we have noticed a family of Robins call in every afternoon over the past few weeks I thoughtthey had moved on but happily they have returned I do love to see them.

[Plantaholic]

The rats used to climb the pole and eat the table food I put out for the table feeders. The first thing the pest control man said was we would have to stop feeding the birds. He said so many people are feeding the birds it is causing a rat problem. I think the family were living in the compost heap in a neighbours garden backing onto ours. We now have a cat so bird feeding is a no no.anyway.

[Grauntie Mag]

My cat just cannot be bothered Plant. But then she is 20 at least. She used to growl at the bigger birds through the window but now I could vacuum her up and she wouldn’t notice.
Lucky birds. 😸

[aggie]

We had to stop feeding the birds when I took a quick snap of the frost on the peanuts and saw a rat in the frame !

[Daisy]

Yes, our blackbird is on patrol every morning, but I think we have rats in our compost, so this food chain might end abruptly! I only put very tiny amounts on the table - it never lasts more than 15 minutes, if that, but maybe they are climbing the pole to the feeders! If anything, I'd rather get rid of the compost bin and make the rate homeless!

[Nana]

Looks like rats are a problem to a few of us. We live by the side of fields so it doesn't surprise me really. It will be interesting to see if they turn up again this yr.

Glam I used to be so pleased when I saw a couple of doves. Then we got about half a dozen followed by pigeons. OH said there was a dovecote nearby. After these big birds had their fill there wasn't much left for the little bird's. There are two robins that come everyday & I just love seeing them.