Blackbird; I'll 'Ave 'Ee ....!

 Game on ....! 

I've been feeding the blackbirds their apples for months on end now. So much so that my weekly bag of apples has just become part of the household shopping list and budget.

Worth every last penny though. Just to be able to look out through the back door and see them scarfing down their life assuring rations, within minutes of me putting it out there.

 Always cut their apple in half, 'mind. They don't know what to do with a whole one, it seems. I've always cut them in half anyway. Just something I've done. I like to give them half, then, now that the days are longer and they have the time, I'll give them another half later.

 Anyway; I've had a male and, more particularly, a female out there for ages now. Both rung. (I'm a licensed Ringer and my Trainer and I have caught most of the 'resident' birds, in Mist Nets, and rung them long since). More than one male bird gets around here. Sparrowhawk took one a few weeks ago.

 Today though, I've seen 'my' female bird, enjoying her apple. Then, she's come out from the shelter of the hedge, where I feed them, and started bouncing around, pecking up the ground! 'My' bird's never done this before!

 She also looked 'different'. Her brown wasn't the same tones. No doubt about that. I've grabbed the bin's and focussed in on her right leg. No ring!!!  I was right; This was a completely different bird! Straight away, I decided we'd have to catch her and sort that leg out!  

 But, here's the best bit: Five minutes later, there's a Male bird out there. And he's fucking about, digging the ground and such too. Glass on the bugger straight away. Dear god! He's somewhere between 'warm brown' and 'browny black'!  Probably last years hatch then? And no ring!!!

 Fuck this! These birds need catching and ringing! God knows where they've come from. But, rings may let us find out where they go. How they get on as they go there. How long they live. All sorts of fascinating and useful shit ye never knew ye didn't know. 

 Ringing even just the birds in my 'garden' has expanded my knowledge and understanding of the True dynamics here exponentially. 

 You may observe the birds at your feeders. Count them, even. And think your finger's on the pulse? I used to. But, no. You're really just looking at a procession  of Chinese.  They all look the same and ye really just seeing apparent numbers. But, are they passing by? Or just walking endlessly round the block?

 You too could be amazed. Start Here. 
 

 

A Sound Reasoning On Why To Feed The Birds .....

Saw this, posted by " Fiddler ", on a Birding forum. Made me laugh so much, I just had to bring it here!

" Winter is here and our native birds are finding food scarce.
Please go to the pet shop and buy a bag of nuts for our feathered friends.
There is no finer sight on a winters morning than a pair of tits around your nut sack. Just remember however its a bit early in the year to expect a swallow.......... "

Fucking belter from our Fiddler, eh?