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Naturefile

Aww, an African Grey - beautiful, and they are incredible mimics.
This reminds me of the one we used to have when I was a child; he came from a pub where he used to sit on the bar and shout "'Ave a short! 'Ave a short!" He was called (with great originality!) Bird.
He caught a chill once and felt very sorry for himself. While he was poorly we stroked his head and murmured, "What's the matter, then, Biiiird?" Months later, when he was perfectly recovered, we'd catch him in quiet moments, hunched up with eyes closed and ruffled feathers, crooning softly to himself, "What's the matter, then, Biiiird?"
 
AW!! lovely. Yes he is an African grey. We love him he is part of the family really but sometimes he will not shut up especially if we are watching something on TV If we cover him up he goes into a sulk too.
 
It got busy at Mealworm Central this afternoon......





All the birds are starting to look a little frazzled now - the demands of parenthood are making themselves felt!
I've counted 2 robins nests, 3 great ****', a wren's, 2 blackbirds', a dunnock's. and a number of bluetits who have certainly got nests but don't stay still long enough to count!
I suspect we're going to be knee-deep in fledglings in a couple of weeks' time. That's going to keep the dog busy, patrolling to keep the cats away....
 
Ah, and there's also a doting pair of woodpigeons who bring their already-fledged, fat offspring to the birdbath, but he doesn't do much other than peck at it ruminatively, and occasionally **** in it!!
 

Delightful visitors to come dine
 
Incredible pictures Deb....wonderful


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KevinPotts said:
Incredible pictures Deb....wonderful


Sent from my iPad using DCUK Forum mobile app
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Thanks Kevin - you're very kind! In fact the photos are a bit rubbish, but it was wonderful to just sit there for a while, watching them all coming and going, oblivious to the fact that I was there. The blue **** are so quick that I couldn't get even a half-decent picture of them, but at times there were 10 or 15 birds all zooming in and out, and I was literally only about 6 feet away from them! Mealworms are irresistible.....
 
Oh no....!! I can hear a chainsaw somewhere nearby this morning and there's a robin in my garden, flying back and forth with a beak full of mealworms, looking agitated. I do hope he's just agitated about the chainsaw, rather than the fact that he may have lost his nest........



I get quite upset at gardeners aggressively cutting hedges and trees at this time of year - waiting for a few more weeks doesn't make much difference in the greater scheme of things, but it does make a huge difference to the birds.
Under the terms of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 198, it's an offence to "intentionally or recklessly disturb any wild bird while it is nest-building, or disturb a nest containing eggs or young, or disturb the dependent young of such a bird."
Penalties for non-compliance can be up to a £5,000 fine and 6 months imprisonment, but it doesn't seem to be enforced very rigorously, in my opinion.
 
debrasue said:
That's good support!
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Yep! She's really understanding of any other issues I have and she's also a knitter so it's always a pleasure to see her. I had some good news today, I've list 3 lbs in the 3 weeks since I saw her and my blood pressure is 113/72. Smug face!
 
I have always said, nature and wildlife have their own special place....



It appears that nature and wildlife don't necessarily agree with me!

(Yes, he's real - I was a bit late taking out the mealworms this morning, so he decided to come and get his own. I guess the kids were kicking off because they were hungry. And he left several expressions of disgust at my poor timekeeping.....)

 
Shar67 said:
I have been walking the dogs in a little park which in the last week has had crocus and daffodils opening with lovely purple and yellow colours.
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Had a blank moment and initially read crocodile for crocus, until I went back and re-read it. So funny!
 

Love that you are keeping an emergency stock of wine in case the Vintner's run short!
 
PNJB said:
Had a blank moment and initially read crocodile for crocus, until I went back and re-read it. So funny!
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Lol, never smile at a crocodile, it would have made for a very interesting walk.
 
The first two nests of great **** have fledged this week and we're knee-deep in squeaking, fluffy, avian 'toddlers'. They're not too strongly in control of their wings just yet and I almost ended up with one in the back of my head this morning, when I went out with the morning mealworms! They are awfully cute, though, and still expect the adults to feed them, standing next to the food and squeaking loudly. This little chap has been studying the peanuts and suet balls from every angle... He's brand new!


 
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