As ever, follow the money.
“UK Pet Food estimates that the wild bird food market in 2023 is worth £380m, up by £35m on the previous year. ..”
OK, so that was three years ago, but with a similar increase every year? And, of course, the RSPB does sell bird food. Maybe a bit of a conflict of interest there.
I think that I heard they are saying that they are not going to sell food over the summer, or something like that.
It’s not surprising they are being reticent. The pet food industry is saying that the science isn’t complete yet, it might not be true all the time, and anyway who can resist feeding our feathered friends?
Well certainly not us 
- indeed, 5 kilos of “Buggy Nibbles” arrived just this week. And we are long standing members of the RSPB….
But will we have to switch our priorities perhaps? A vixen moved in about six weeks ago and, four days ago, five cubs took their first wobbly steps in the outside world.
The best way to feed birds is to grow plants that provide natural food for them such as seeds and berries, or that attract insects they like to eat. The diseases known to be transmitted via feeders are well understood and cause a lot of birds a nasty premature death. I first noticed the effects when greenfinches completely disappeared from our garden quite a few years ago. Anyone who cares about birds should stop using feeders, it’s as simple as that.
In my garden the Ivy (at least 50 metres times 2 metres high) is very popular with the birds. Especially in this season when there is not enough new food, but the Ivy berries are still there. Another favourite in a different season are the Rudbeckias. Small birds sit on them and eat all the seeds from them.
I’ve a few elderly people in my street and it seems to be a trend to keep your garden very clean and hang all sorts of human build birdhouses against the wall. I’m sure that if a black bird could talk, it would happily build its own house and provision naturally.
But then, black birds are eager birds unlike the pigeons …
Jealous of your fox.
It really isn’t as “simple as that”. The headline and the guidance is very broad brush.
RSPB guidance:
" 1 May to 31 October
There’s an extremely friendly robin this year that follows me around - always fun moving pots or potting things as it soon starts finding bugs. Quite what introduced lawn shrimp to the garden I’ll never know but the birds are welcome to them.
Also an emphasis on keeping everything clean, changing location of feeders if possible.
Weird, thought I posted this in Gardening!
Wildlife Photographer Of The Year always includes a section of very unpleasant photos.
One year they had a photograph of someone’s lounge and on the wall was a stiffed elephant’s head - obviously a trophy hunter
Here’s a more pleasant wildlife photo, taken in the garden last evening:
The mighty hunter about to give that blade of grass “a right going over”.
I was in the US of A a while ago. Took care of the house of friends whilst visiting. I was supposed to take care of the Chicken too. Left the coup overnightly open and the next day there was just feathers everywhere. Racoon apparently. Can’t imagine that happening in The Netherlands!
That’s the thing about lovely fluffy appealing wild animals. I suspect that many chickens, rabbits and baby lambs have different views on the subject.
Not to mention The occasional human newborn.
Foxes and human newborn?
Being hung up and having their throat slit. Often by machine.
Not stayed in one for a few years but National Trust apparently to close over 130 rental properties to cut costs. Some apparently will (surprise surprise) not be able to be updated to meet Net Zero targets and a Band C energy rating and will therefore be ineligible to rent out. Shame.
This beggars belief - only estimated to be 50-1000 of them left in the wild but one found in Wales under a bridge - how on earth has there been a trade in them as pets? I used to play there as a child.
Lovely video snippet tonight at the end of BBC news at ten just before the weather - what a cute creature.
I’m sure this will get a few people hot under the collar.
Why Spotify has no button to filter out AI music Why Spotify has no button to filter out AI music - BBC News
I’m glad I use Qobuz and Presto …
