Yes, I will be doing it too, although I am convinced that the Channel Islands aren't taken into account even though they send me the information each year. Anyone else on here know?
I think the sparrowhawk is back, around here. Just removed a lot of little feathers from inside my squirrel-proof (but clearly not hawk proof) seed feeder.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
My Sparrowhawk has had a woodpideon, which it sat and plucked in front of us, and a collard dove. Yesterday she was sat on the fence opposite my kitchen window watching me.🙄
I think the sparrowhawk is back, around here. Just removed a lot of little feathers from inside my squirrel-proof (but clearly not hawk proof) seed feeder.
I wonder if it's the same one we have making a feathery mess on our lawn?? Just along the valley.! It seems the more you feed the birds the more likely you are to get the sparrow hawk clocking where his/her food is in abundance.
If it's woodpideon or dove feathers it's a her, if it's small birds house sparrow to blackbird it's a him. At least that's what the books say @Firecracker
You can save up the spilled feathers and give them back to the birds in the spring as bedding material. The sparrows go crazy for them here. I try not to save the ones with too much blood on them
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
I've got some old feather cushions which I was going to chuck in the compost but I'll save them for nest building instead. I already put out little bits of fabric in an old fat ball feeder so feathers could go in there too . Thanks for the idea .
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