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Post by Cherry on Nov 18, 2015 8:30:39 GMT
In this week's Amateur Gardening, Bob Flowerdew pointed out that next boxes should not have corners, but should be round inside. Eggs need turning and they could get stuck in the corners. He suggests moulding the corners, possibly using plaster of Paris or similar, to soften them and leave a rounded bowl shape. He also wrote that nestboxes should be put up now and not in spring as usually advised because they choose their nest sites much earlier.
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Post by SueA on Nov 18, 2015 9:24:56 GMT
That's interesting Cherry , never thought about the corners but I suppose some birds put their own lining materials in so they probably fill the corners in themselves. |
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Post by Cherry on Nov 18, 2015 9:43:28 GMT
This is true and he didn't cover this, but I suppose one could fall out. That doesn't apply does it? Because then that egg would not hatch anyway.
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Post by sweetpea on Nov 25, 2015 20:31:50 GMT
some happenings with the birds here. At least 6, maybe 7 blackbirds foraging around and under Maureen's car. A grey wagtail in the enclosed wall garden and the peanut feeder without a top has been getting emptied by bluetits going right down inside it and taking away whole peanuts. Little rascals  |
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Post by daitheplant on Nov 25, 2015 20:40:53 GMT
To be honest, I don`t rate Bob Flowerdew. Birds nesting in boxes do just that. They build the nest IN the boxes. So NO square corners for them.
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Post by Cherry on Nov 25, 2015 21:49:16 GMT
I love Bob Flowerdew and went to see him give a talk at Downham Market town hall. He is a Norfolk man. A very organic minded gardener.
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Post by daitheplant on Nov 26, 2015 20:11:22 GMT
I still don`t rate him,Jen.
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Post by Andrew on Dec 30, 2015 17:16:00 GMT
Being so mild, it's been a relatively quiet winter so far for birds in my garden. As a result, I've discovered seed sprouting in my fat balls, suet block and seed feeder hanging on my feeding station!  |
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Post by daitheplant on Dec 30, 2015 20:15:02 GMT
At the allotments Andrew, the birds, and squirrels, have been filling up on the fat balls mainly. Which makes me edgy weatherwise.
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Post by SueA on Jan 12, 2016 12:29:46 GMT
I was watching this little wren yesterday working it's way round all the pots & containers on the patio, picking over all the plants, hope it found any pests lurking there! Hiding from the robin who was also watching :-    |
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Post by peony on Jan 12, 2016 13:04:56 GMT
Great pictures SueA , I've got a wren here that does the same and also searches all the cracks in the garden wall around the patio. The wrens nested in the ivy on our fence last year so hope they do the same again this year. Seen plenty of blackbirds, blue tits, pigeons, collared doves and occasional jackdaws but no sign of any starlings yet. |
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Post by SueA on Jan 12, 2016 22:15:47 GMT
We've still got the gangs of starlings coming to our garden peony, they arrive en masse, eat everything in sight & then take off again!  |
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Post by grindle on Jan 13, 2016 5:55:58 GMT
the birds are eating a lot at the moment, and like you the starlings are taking the lions share SueA |
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Post by Andrew on Jan 13, 2016 19:52:58 GMT
It's the pigeon's eating everything with us at the moment SueA. I did see a Robin on the feeding station several times at the weekend though, as I'd put a few mealworms and some seed on the tray. |
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Post by peony on Jan 17, 2016 9:31:01 GMT
I heard the Tawny Owls calling to one another last night, the louder 'twhit' call from a tree in next door's garden and the fainter 'whooo' from the forestry commission woods on the other side of the valley. Hope they get together |
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