GARDEN BIRD CAFÉ
WINTER - PART 2
What a difference a couple of weeks can make in the winter weather; from the coldest December on record at the Café, when at one point temperatures plummeted to -17 degrees, to a much milder January when on one day it reached 11 degrees and the birds started singing thinking spring was already here…a sharp frost followed but nothing like the cold of December.
Like many of our customers the Café also suffered from delayed deliveries during the bad weather during December,
but fresh food arrived just in time before poorer quality food had to be served.
Those extra birds that came in to feed last month seemed to stay with over a dozen Chaffinch, ten Greenfinch and six Blackbirds; five Robins once again spent more time chasing each other than eating. One bird in particular (see picture) kept a vigilant watch from the table for others and immediately attacked when he saw them coming; no wonder he looks so tatty!
One worrying observation was the low numbers of Goldfinch; at this time of year there are usually around twelve birds present but only four have been seen during the month. Maybe they are finding food elsewhere or maybe the December weather did take its toll on certain species.
The Café has problems with Jackdaws at the moment and although all birds are 
welcome this species is causing a few headaches, especially with the peanut feeders. The birds are so determined to get at the food that they just carry on hammering at the wire mesh until it breaks and the peanuts fall to the ground.
They also love fat balls and totally dominate the smaller birds at the feeder; the answer was a caged fat ball feeder with the top fastened down with a large safety pin. Hopefully when the milder weather and then the breeding season arrive they will move away and find another food source, leaving the Café’s other regulars to feed in peace…
Great Spotted Woodpecker: The Great Spotted Woodpecker looks on as the Jackdaw dominates the baited log…she will have to be quicker off the mark next time.
One sad sight this month was of a female Chaffinch with a very badly damaged leg, but she seemed to feed well when she
did visit, eating seed from the bird table while balancing on her one good leg.
Later in the month up to nine Wood Pigeons were feeding underneath the feeders on the spilt seed and were joined by three much gentler looking Stock Doves. Both these species have become regular visitors over the years, but these are the highest numbers that have been seen at any one time.
The milder weather continued to the month’s end and gave hope that spring was just around the corner…no doubt there is far worse to come; the Café is well stocked with food for whatever is on the way.
