We have a thrush, he began singing this week, as always from the very top of the very tall larch tree by the pond. I assume it is a mistle thrush, I have never seen him on the ground in the garden, so it is hard to gauge his size.
I find the bird count very arbitrary and that makes me question its value other than as a way of getting more people interested in birds.
I watch the birds for a few minutes several times a day, and I know that there are at least 3 robins (with different territories) both a male and female woodpecker, and other birds that visit regularly such as reed buntings, and a Brambling. I can identify some of the pheasants and even some of the chaffinches as individuals, but none of this matters. If they don't turn up within a specified time, they don't exist for the RSPB.
We had a flock of at least 19 goldfinches a week or two back and at least 8 come together as a group most days. There are no doubt others waiting up in the trees andit is impossible to see and count them all at once. I know they apply a formula to adjust for numbers, but that only works for a speicies that shows up,
My wrens are very shy and I have never seen one on a Birdwatch, the Goldcrests are the same - I see them flitting around in the wilder parts of the garden and every so often one makes a commando raid on the spiders round the window frames, so fast that I can barely ID them before they are gone again. The RSPB knows nothing of them, or of the buzzards overhead (one did once land in a tree on the edge of the garden) or of the sparrowhawk that has killed a magpie and a woodpigeon and left their feathers in a pile for me to find. One once killed a blackbird right in front of us, nearly hitting my daughter, as we were standing on the yard.
Nutcutlet - With the information I received in the post a prepaid envelope was enclosed. If you downloaded your info there is a much longer address on the envelope if you feel you need it although they assure you it will reach them just the same.
"I find the bird count very arbitrary and that makes me question its value other than as a way of getting more people interested in birds."
The bird count is very important to monitor bird numbers across the country, the RSPB have complex systems to calculate the rise and fall of bird numbers from year to year and from region to region.
It is important and we are participating in an important scientific project.
The RSPB have a problem, they have several problems to overcome whilst doing this research.
The average adult typically has a 40 minute attention span (children a lot less in most cases), so asking us to partake for an hour is a big ask for the majority. If we are given a larger list of birds to look out for many of us would just not bother, it's too much to ask. So they limit the species to a group of relatively easy birds to ID. Many people have never heard of a Mistle Thrush and couldn't separate Song from Mistle if they tried. For many separating Dunnock (Hedge Sparrow) from House Sparrow is a big ask too and so on.
For many the Big Garden Birdwatch is too simplistic and easy, too easy. For others it's too much as it is. A balance is needed.
Species habitat and needs overlap and if one bird species is present then it could perhaps be assumed with some degree of safety that other species are present at the same time as birds species sharing the same habitat and region within the country have proven to fluctuate up and down in numbers together over the years.
There’s an awful lot going on analysing the data they get from us, all very complex.
AND YES..... your right it's also about raising awareness and involving children, It's our children and grand kids that will be left with the challenges of saving our worlds wildlife as we (our current generation) aren't doing very well at all.
Why are birds disappearing....... Loss of natural food, loss of habitat and the places to nest and poisoning brought about by the application of chemicals in our environment.
The House Sparrow needs nooks and crannies to nest in, typically and traditionally in our roofs. They love Tiled Roofs (Not Slate) without underlay underneath. New builds have modern roofing materials and are underlayed, the birds can't get in the roof space to nest.
Some species just need more space than we are giving them as we continue to expand and our populous increases its demand on our own planet. We are essentially just simply pushing them out of our (there) own world and space WE ourselves live in!!!!!!!!
The vast majority of us think that the countryside around us is a natural wild and wonderful place, IT ISN'T. it's a well manicured, controlled artificially maintained place and our birds and wildlife don't like it much. As we continue to increase in numbers and our demand on our planet increases we are destroying a planet for our wildlife to live and survive.
Joe the Gardener - I noted you had a Song Thrush visit you which you mentioned in the "Robin" thread dated 2 Jan. In all the information received from the RSPB Birdwatch there was no mention of the Thrush and reading the posts on this thread no one appears to have reported having seen one. I know they are in great decline both the Mistle and Song Thrush so you must be very lucky to have one visit you. Did you complete the Birdwatch Count and manage to see a thrush as I think it would be of great interest?
Yes, the song Thrush did show up. Interestingly, the situation with these birds is not so gloomy as it was up to 1995 in some parts of Britain. There has been an upturn in populations in western, central and southern parts of England, and in Wales. The BTO puts the continuing decline in eastern England down to drier farmland soils and a loss of grassland.
Pleased the Song Thrush turned up for your count. Interesting to know there has been an upturn in population. Maybe next year there will be more included in the Birdwatch count.
Posts
Fran, just seen your comment. Post seems an excellent plan
In the sticks near Peterborough
We have a thrush, he began singing this week, as always from the very top of the very tall larch tree by the pond. I assume it is a mistle thrush, I have never seen him on the ground in the garden, so it is hard to gauge his size.
I find the bird count very arbitrary and that makes me question its value other than as a way of getting more people interested in birds.
I watch the birds for a few minutes several times a day, and I know that there are at least 3 robins (with different territories) both a male and female woodpecker, and other birds that visit regularly such as reed buntings, and a Brambling. I can identify some of the pheasants and even some of the chaffinches as individuals, but none of this matters. If they don't turn up within a specified time, they don't exist for the RSPB.
We had a flock of at least 19 goldfinches a week or two back and at least 8 come together as a group most days. There are no doubt others waiting up in the trees andit is impossible to see and count them all at once. I know they apply a formula to adjust for numbers, but that only works for a speicies that shows up,
My wrens are very shy and I have never seen one on a Birdwatch, the Goldcrests are the same - I see them flitting around in the wilder parts of the garden and every so often one makes a commando raid on the spiders round the window frames, so fast that I can barely ID them before they are gone again. The RSPB knows nothing of them, or of the buzzards overhead (one did once land in a tree on the edge of the garden) or of the sparrowhawk that has killed a magpie and a woodpigeon and left their feathers in a pile for me to find. One once killed a blackbird right in front of us, nearly hitting my daughter, as we were standing on the yard.
But rules is rules
Nutcutlet - With the information I received in the post a prepaid envelope was enclosed. If you downloaded your info there is a much longer address on the envelope if you feel you need it although they assure you it will reach them just the same.
Carrots I just lost everything I typed. Can't bothered to do it again
Last edited: 31 January 2018 18:29:31
"I find the bird count very arbitrary and that makes me question its value other than as a way of getting more people interested in birds."
The bird count is very important to monitor bird numbers across the country, the RSPB have complex systems to calculate the rise and fall of bird numbers from year to year and from region to region.
It is important and we are participating in an important scientific project.
The RSPB have a problem, they have several problems to overcome whilst doing this research.
The average adult typically has a 40 minute attention span (children a lot less in most cases), so asking us to partake for an hour is a big ask for the majority. If we are given a larger list of birds to look out for many of us would just not bother, it's too much to ask. So they limit the species to a group of relatively easy birds to ID. Many people have never heard of a Mistle Thrush and couldn't separate Song from Mistle if they tried. For many separating Dunnock (Hedge Sparrow) from House Sparrow is a big ask too and so on.
For many the Big Garden Birdwatch is too simplistic and easy, too easy. For others it's too much as it is. A balance is needed.
Species habitat and needs overlap and if one bird species is present then it could perhaps be assumed with some degree of safety that other species are present at the same time as birds species sharing the same habitat and region within the country have proven to fluctuate up and down in numbers together over the years.
There’s an awful lot going on analysing the data they get from us, all very complex.
AND YES..... your right it's also about raising awareness and involving children, It's our children and grand kids that will be left with the challenges of saving our worlds wildlife as we (our current generation) aren't doing very well at all.
Why are birds disappearing....... Loss of natural food, loss of habitat and the places to nest and poisoning brought about by the application of chemicals in our environment.
The House Sparrow needs nooks and crannies to nest in, typically and traditionally in our roofs. They love Tiled Roofs (Not Slate) without underlay underneath. New builds have modern roofing materials and are underlayed, the birds can't get in the roof space to nest.
Some species just need more space than we are giving them as we continue to expand and our populous increases its demand on our own planet. We are essentially just simply pushing them out of our (there) own world and space WE ourselves live in!!!!!!!!
The vast majority of us think that the countryside around us is a natural wild and wonderful place, IT ISN'T. it's a well manicured, controlled artificially maintained place and our birds and wildlife don't like it much. As we continue to increase in numbers and our demand on our planet increases we are destroying a planet for our wildlife to live and survive.
Yes, the song Thrush did show up. Interestingly, the situation with these birds is not so gloomy as it was up to 1995 in some parts of Britain. There has been an upturn in populations in western, central and southern parts of England, and in Wales. The BTO puts the continuing decline in eastern England down to drier farmland soils and a loss of grassland.
Pleased the Song Thrush turned up for your count. Interesting to know there has been an upturn in population. Maybe next year there will be more included in the Birdwatch count.