Our garden birds - Harsh winter weather can spell doom

[spidermom]

Well the redwings are still living in Cork,

Were they here all the time and i just didn`t see them.

Did they leave during the balmy spell and as they flew north into more cold weather, decide to return.

Or did they think, "that Cork is a fine place and we must be mad to move, lets go back too Pana"

The redwings were back with me today too....its been a hard winter though...and theres sod all berries et al left...plus there's this to look forward to for the weekend....http://www.politics.ie/current-affai...ml#post2447720

[toxic avenger]

Well the redwings are still living in Cork,

Were they here all the time and i just didn`t see them.

Did they leave during the balmy spell and as they flew north into more cold weather, decide to return.

Or did they think, "that Cork is a fine place and we must be mad to move, lets go back too Pana"

I had them for a while after the big freeze but then they disappeared. The fieldfares stayed put though (probably happy enough with the regular food) and are still here.

[MsAnneThrope]

Appropriately during Valentines weekend I saw my first Robin couple of the year, having been flirting with each other for several days. Now they're inseparable. It's a beautiful sight. He leads her to one of my food-tables and it's almost like he built it himself. "Look what I prepared for you, my dear!"

Love is definitely in the air in the Bird Kingdom at this time of year. In a few months' time I'll have the joy of seeing these little dotes, and other species, in the garden. The rewards of our winter feeding.

[MsAnneThrope]

Another cold snap for the next few days it seems, with sub-zero temperatures at night and hard frost in places. So please think of our feathered friends who will struggle again to feed themselves, and put out some food first thing in the morning and again in late afternoon between the hours of 3:00-5:00pm. Thank you

[CookieMonster]

My grandmother is now convinced that I am fattening up the birds in her garden to I can trap and eat them should the recession leave me cause to do so.

[Malbekh]

Of all birds, I do think I love the Robin best of all. They really are exceptionally confident in themselves. Our local cock follows me around the garden any time he sees an implement of destruction in my hands looking to pick up free worms.

[Baron von Biffo]

Another cold snap for the next few days it seems, with sub-zero temperatures at night and hard frost in places. So please think of our feathered friends who will struggle again to feed themselves, and put out some food first thing in the morning and again in late afternoon between the hours of 3:00-5:00pm. Thank you

Looking out my window just now there's a coat of white frost on all the sheltered rof tops so it's still tough out there. I'm putting out soaked sultanas and grated cheese morning and evening to boost the fat.

Yesterday morning I put up a little soft food feeder with dried meal worms and suet pellets. So far, apart from a few unsuccessful assaults by a starling they've ignored it.

[maxthedog]

Cork City Council have just spread weed killer on all the flower beds.

Just when the birds need food at the most.

The council kills of, the only raised beds in the area.

Expect plenty of deformed eggs .

[Baron von Biffo]

Cork City Council have just spread weed killer on all the flower beds.

Just when the birds need food at the most.

The council kills of, the only raised beds in the area.

Expect plenty of deformed eggs .

Do they have an environmental officer that you could contacy to protest?

[MsAnneThrope]

Do they have an environmental officer that you could contacy to protest?

According to the EPA website on making an environmental complaint (in Cork City):

Cork City Council Administrative Officer Environment, Cork City Council, Floor 3, Norwich Union House, 89/90 South Mall, Cork
Tel +353 21 4966222
Fax +353 21 4924054
Email environment@corkcity.ie
Website Welcome to Cork City Council, Cork City Local Authority, Cork, Ireland.

The names of the Environmental Officers in Cork City, according to Askaboutireland are Jerry Moynihan & Kevin Ryan

Please give them a call Max with details of what you saw. Hopefully the weedkiller was environmentally friendly and harmless to birds but I wouldn't bet on it!