Hobbies and Crafts

I think it would be OK Rose, put it out in small amounts. Blackbirds certainly like cheese, I don't think the smoked part would hurt them.

Next door have a garden that attracts a lot of birds and they have lots of feeders and shrubs so although I haven't got a lot of plants yet I do get quite a few birds, mostly wood pigeons and collared doves which roost in the park, but two robins and two or three blackbirds are regulars.

Does anyone know if stale 'smoked' cheese is ok to put out?

I tried a different thing with fat in, like a large piece of hollow bamboo but so far (about three weeks) the birds don't seem tow ant to go for it. Coconuts don't last long at all. I bet the squirrel thought he'd found a banquet!! :-D

We can't let the thread disappear too far down the pages :-|
I just went to check the Coconut shell and fat balls.The Coconut is empty AGAIN,and I noticed big scratch marks on the Shell.Pesky Squirrel has obviously found it :-S

Shame it dropped down we usually keep it up now we have two bird threads.

Thanks Ann, I remembered it started "do the birds know" and advance searched for that, then just for 'birds' and nothing :-(

Nudged up because Rose couldn't find it.

Before l forget....some brilliant photo's on my blog from Shaun:))

AND WE HAD a Sparrow Hawk on back fence this afternoon:)))))
nope...no photo's:((

jude

Nite nite off to bed:)

Naughty Naughty Jude ! lolol.
Birds are eating me out of house and home here (with some help from the 2 greedy squirrels.
I saw my Gt Spotted Woodpecker again today on the peanut ball.Still haven't managed to get a decent pic though :-S :-S
Must dash .I think the dog needs out.He is looking desperate.

OK everyone...its me:))))

Okay girls........own up

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-16488207

thanks Shaun, we are not that good at cleaning the feeders either and we have so many. Will have to think about that one. We do clean the bird bath.

Aww bless you Shaun...thanks for that

Who's a clever lad then:))

l must look at the links this lady sent me, if anything good l'll add to here.

Vic washes the bath everyday but sadly we are not good at cleaning the feeders. We will though cause seeing this W/pigeon is not nice, l wish we could catch it but he's very quick off the mark, l think we might next door to help us from their side of the fence with a towel or something!

Thanks Shaun:)

jude :-)

Hello Friends.
Hope you are all well and happy in what you are doing.
Good job JUDE explained to me how to copy and paste, because I would not be able to sit and type all this out.

I think I mentioned on a earlier post that I collect all my feeders up at night, this is because I had a problem with sick birds a couple of years ago and since I started doing this I have had no problems at all. I also scrub out the bird baths every morning.

Fact Sheet: Coping with Diseases at Bird Feeders
The Diseases
Four diseases commonly affect those bird species that typically use feeders. This is an important distinction because not all bird species visit feeders.

Salmonellosis (sal-muh-nel-LOW-sis)
Salmonellosis is a general term for any disease in animals and people caused by a group of bacteria known by the Latin name Salmonella. Birds can die quickly if the Salmonella bacteria spread throughout the body. Abscesses often form in the lining of the esophagus and crop as part of the infection process. Infected birds pass bacteria in their fecal droppings. Other birds get sick when they eat food contaminated by the droppings. Salmonellosis is the most common bird-feeder disease.

Trichomoniasis (trick-oh-mo-NYE-uh-sis)
The Trichomonads are a group of protozoan (one-celled microscopic) parasites that affect a broad variety of animals, including humans. One Trichomonads species afflicts only pigeons and doves. The popular and widespread Mourning Dove is particularly susceptible. Birds afflicted with Trichomoniasis typically develop sores in their mouths and throats. Unable to swallow, they drop food or water contaminated with Trichomonads that other birds then consume, thus spreading the disease.

Aspergillosis (as-per-jill-OH-sis)
The Aspergillus fungus (mold) grows on damp feed and in the debris beneath feeders. Birds inhale the fungal spores and the fungus spreads through their lungs and air sacs, causing bronchitis and pneumonia.

Avian Pox
More noticeable than the other diseases, avian pox causes wartlike growths on featherless surfaces of a bird's face, wings, legs, and feet. The virus that causes pox is spread by direct contact with infected birds, by healthy birds picking up shed viruses on food or feeders, or by insects mechanically carrying the virus on their body. However, not all warty growths on birds are caused by the avian pox virus.

The Disease Problems
All four diseases can lead to death. Salmonellosis may kill the birds outright, and pneumonia from Aspergillosis is nearly always fatal. Trichomoniasis may obstruct a bird's throat. Avian pox growths on the face can become large enough to impair vision or eating ability and growths on feet and toes can affect a bird's ability to stand or perch. Thus, sick birds are more vulnerable to starvation, dehydration, predation, and severe weather.

You can spot sick birds in a crowd. They are less alert and less active. They feed less and often cower on a feeder, reluctant to fly. Their feathers look ill-kept. Despite these obvious symptoms, disease usually is overlooked as a complication of feeding birds. Certainly, the signs of illness are not as easily noticed as bright colors and cheery songs; but being inconspicuous does not make disease unimportant.

Hope you find the above helpful.
You all take care.
Shaun

Aaw it must be lonely Jane, hope it can find a mate come spring!

No sign of poorly birds here either (thank goodness).I will keep my eyes peeled though.
We have a couple of W Pidgeons Ann who have also been doing the head bobbing and flirty stuff lol.
Still have just one lonely looking Moorhen popping in the garden from next door.I'm sure it must be the only surviving one from the group that were babies last year.

Not seen any poorly birds round here Jude. Wood pigeons do scavenge so I wonder if they have picked up disease from ground level?

A pair were getting frisky here a couple of days ago, must have thought it was spring. She was leading him a merry dance as they do and he was twirling around and chasing her, so funny to watch.

Morning everyone......way down the pages this morning:((

Have just been speaking to DEFRA in Wales...we have had W/pigeons that are very poorly in the garden, one died about 6 weeks ago, another has been looking like going the same way, but then we did'nt see him for a few weeks, but yesterday he or another turned up. His beak is all sticky, mud and saliva and very scraggy generally. They say it could be due to the bird desease from garden feeders. They are sneding my via email some informative links.....but most importantly the feeders must be scrubbed on a monthly basis.

Our vet says he will do a postmortem on the bird if we can catch or find it. So if we catch it it will be put so sleep and save it anymore distress!!

Keep an eye out for any birds like this. We had a sparrow who was obviously poorly too bt that was some months ago now and not seen any others.

Take care
off out any minute....:)

jude xx :-)

Linda that is great, so pleased they have accepted it.

Hello Jude and Jane

Shaun thats lovely:))

Happy New Year to you too:)

Hello Linda and Ann:)

We still have the Green Parakeet feeding in the garden:)

jude

:-)