odile Posted December 3, 2008 Share Posted December 3, 2008 I am surprised - not a single person, apart from Chris, has picked up on the amazing cruelty the French (sorry some) still imposed on garden/song birds which are revered in the UK. It is as though because it is 'traditional' so it's OK then', or as though as 'foreigners' trying to integrate we daren't say anything. People (some) stand by when badgers are slowly and terribly painfully dying of strycnine poisoning (musn't upset the neighbours) - or 10000000s of song birds are caught in nets, used as bait, BBQed, eaten whole with a serviette over the head, shot, etc, etc. Very few people ask about how to deter martens or dorrmice- only how to blow them up or whatever. But if any cruelty is shown to a dog or a stray cat - all hell let loose. I find this selective 'love' of animals bizarre and hypocritical. Sorry, rant over - and apologies to Tegwini - who was only asking nicely how to get mor birds in her garden. Hope you enjoy lots of them Tegwini when you next visit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tegwini Posted December 3, 2008 Author Share Posted December 3, 2008 Thanks OdileI can remember seeing tiny (dead) birds on sale a couple of decades ago, but didn't think they were still netted etc.Perhaps we birdlovers do need to do as much as possible to compensate for the birds lost, and I do think that this is awful, and neither do I think that 'tradition' is a reason for pointless cruelty. RegardsTegwini Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ventodue Posted December 3, 2008 Share Posted December 3, 2008 [quote user="chris pp"]Brambling tend towards forming their own groups, frequently in poplars near rivers for winter. They also seem to follow rivers quite often and can be seen flying along them in groups.Have you noticed that? [/quote]Interesting observation, Chris. I haven't noticed it myself, but will now pay more attention in future [:)] (Wonder whether they use rivers for migration?).I did notice how early they arrived here in the Midi compared to UK.CheersCraig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Coeur de Lion Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 We currently have many feathered visitors. We have many tits, a robin and very recently a Jay has been spending much time in our garden. I understand they are very shy birds (the jay) and tend not to venture out of wooded areas much. We have woods probably a km away in the distance and a series of paddocks seperates us from it. Today we had two of jays in our garden, hopping along and looking for whatever they look for. Absolutely gorgeous looking birds. I've never seen so much birdlife as these past few months. It's brilliant.R. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ventodue Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 [quote user="LyndaandRichard"]... and very recently a Jay has been spending much time in our garden. I understand they are very shy birds (the jay) and tend not to venture out of wooded areas much. We have woods probably a km away in the distance and a series of paddocks seperates us from it. Today we had two of jays in our garden, hopping along and looking for whatever they look for. Absolutely gorgeous looking birds.R.[/quote]A very important bird, the jay.Have you ever wondered how acorns, a rather heavy seed, get distributed away from the mother tree? The answer, to a remarkably great degree, is - by jays. During the autumn, they purposefully seek out and bury large amounts of acorns (to provide food during the winter); and they chose open areas, rather than the wood itself, to do so. Inevitably, they don't recover all of them and in the Spring, up comes a new oak sedling ...This relationship between oaks and jays was first commented on by Henry Thoreau, a 19th century naturalist, in the States. But here's the synopsis of a more recent study conducted in Holland: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/brill/beh/1979/00000070/F0020001/art00001In fact, it has even been claimed that without jays, an oak wood will never expand (squirrels, the other acorn hoarders, tend to nip out the growing shoot and also store the acorns within the wood).So, next time you see a fine young oak wood, thank the jays!Hoping this entertains ...RegardsCraig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cassis Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 Hence the French name "Geai des chênes". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gastines Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 Regular feed +clean water seems to bring a steady and varied flock to our birdtable and garden. Hedges all around with a wire fence inside so no cats plus plenty of hiding,resting places. 20 boxes of various shapes and sizes so we have resident families of most of the common garden birds,wrens being the noisiest. European goldfinch my favourite and we did have one nest box with them in last year.A friend from Bournemouth visiting last week spotted 17 types just in our back garden of 500sq mtrs.We are now lucky enough to have a songthrush visiting every day.As the big pond has been filled in a regular unwanted visitor has departed,a Heron. Our visitor got a thanks in Colin Tudge's new bird book ,as being a starter for his interest in birds.Regards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 [quote user="LyndaandRichard"] I understand they are very shy birds (the jay) and tend not to venture out of wooded areas much. R.[/quote]Not in France where they are generally more common. Common to the point where in this region we are almost falling over them. Wooded areas - Yes. Shy -NoChris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bastet Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 Although we have four cats, three of them are very lazy and hardly ever leave the house in the winter and the other seems to be more interested in mice. We put seed etc out for the birds around and near a tree about 20 metres form the house but blue tits & robins often come right up to the back of the house & perch on the back of the bench outside the window. One evening recently a blue tit keep dashing itself against the back windows and then just sat on the windowsill, looking in for about 15 minutes. It didn't seem injured or stunned at all. I thought it was attracted by the light so I turned it off and the bird still sat there. We turned the outside light on, went out & moved the window box a few inches and it finally flew away. We left the outside light on for about 10 minutes and thankfully, it didn't return.What would have caused this behaviour? Can they lose their bearings? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cassis Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 Was there a silver-top milk bottle in view just inside the window? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ventodue Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 [quote user="Bastet"]<snip>One evening recently a blue tit keep dashing itself against the back windows and then just sat on the windowsill, looking in for about 15 minutes. It didn't seem injured or stunned at all. I thought it was attracted by the light so I turned it off and the bird still sat there. We turned the outside light on, went out & moved the window box a few inches and it finally flew away. We left the outside light on for about 10 minutes and thankfully, it didn't return.What would have caused this behaviour? Can they lose their bearings?[/quote]Great Tits are also well known for doing this sort of thing.Lots of ideas have been put forward as to why, but in practice each is no more easy to prove/disprove than the next. Personally, I rather favour the idea that they see a reflection of the sky, or a tree, or whatever and are trying to fly towards it.Some avoidance ideas here http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=4578It's actually quite a problem - have a look here http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1046354.eceHTHCraig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bastet Posted December 11, 2008 Share Posted December 11, 2008 Interesting reading Craig. The feeders are nowhere near the windows so maybe it was a reflection of the tree & sky. If it's not minus 5 degrees after dark this evening, I'll take a bird's eye look at the house from the outside. It was more odd though, the way the little chap sat on the windowsill looking in for so long. Nothing resembling a silver milk bottle top is in that room !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tegwini Posted January 9, 2009 Author Share Posted January 9, 2009 We arrived back in the UK last weekend, but I have to report that we actually did see a few birds this time:Blackbirds, Bluetit, Great Tit amd Robin. We put some food out for them whilst there. I suspect it's hard at present for them - not made easier as we have a Fouine in the loft rooms (not sure what to call them in French!). I read that Fouines eat eggs, perhaps even baby birds. Planning to scare him/them off with moth balls. Our builderman (we are putting in a new bathroom etc up there) has suggested an egg with the white blown out and replaced with poison. Not keen on that, but not keen on poo & wee all over the place either. I thought they stayed away when we were around, but husband was woken by them early one morning.I assume they are good climbers as the house is a pavillion and the top floor is 3 floors up on the front.What do other people do ? And do they pose a threat to the garden birds ?RegardsTegwini Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gastines Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 To get rid of a Fouine we had in our roof.I had to put two layers of fine wire mesh ,screwed on, around the roof corners where he was getting in.One night we went out with a torch and saw him hanging on the wire trying to chew his way in.Bit odd as in the houses around us there are plenty of open stores/barns.Regards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weedon Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 On the subject of the pecking or tapping on the windows. Frequently I have heard some tapping, which I have discovered are either crows or rooks (big black birds) which are normally in the Oak trees in my garden, which seem to like resting on a wide window ledge on a little house I have, adjacent to the house I live in, which has a large window which was once a big opening with a shutter. I think they see a reflection of themselves in it and try to attack it. I wish they would stop as they are ruining the paintwork.Here is a picture I took yesterday of my barn owl.[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a372/weedonwite/Barney008.jpg[/IMG] EditedApologies, I did resize it but clearly not small enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tegwini Posted January 9, 2009 Author Share Posted January 9, 2009 Many thanks GastineThe builders (relacing aged insulation & Tongue & Groove) have done that, but we have not completed it all & I fear he/she will be at it right now.Not planning to use poison as it gets into the animal food chain, so will try also try moth balls. Trouble is French roof construction is almost designed to allow for 'squatters' - lots of gaps etc. English house, similar vintage none - and covered with something on the inside of the tiles.Surprising that a French animal shows little fear of humans and came into the house when we were there. We live in the New Forest & get Red Deer in the garden (they can jump a 6 ft gate/hedge and also push through a thick hedge). They show no fear of me when I chase them out- they eat my vegs & flowers. Never seen any in France, near a huge forest - I expect the Chasse makes the deer more nervous of people.RegardsTegwini Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 What on earth is that in your photo Weedon?Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krusty Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 We have a couple of woodpeckers ....been around the past two years , but also this year a lot of blackbirds ..about 20 daily. [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weedon Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 [quote user="chris pp"]What on earth is that in your photo Weedon?Chris[/quote]Not sure exactly what is on your mind Chris, perhaps you would care to enlighten me? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odile Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 well it looks a bit like Monty Python's parrot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 Simple enough question Weedon, I don't know what it is and therefore asked.[:D]So what is it, go on, tell?Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 Chris,[quote user="Weedon"] Here is a picture I took yesterday of my barn owl.[/quote]said Weedon, above the photoDanny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odile Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 Precisement, mon ami! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 Yes, I read that as well, I'm sort of assuming that was to mislead us and we have to guess what it is.Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 well, it seemed barn owl like to me...Danny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now