Predator avoidance, bird feeding

 

Predator avoidance, bird feeding

Wetter, windier, colder... time to protect your birds. There’s more to it than feeders! (see last week). As well as the thieving ‘wide boys’ keen to gorge themselves on the bird food, there are the natural predators of the birds themselves


No apologies for an artist’s rendering – their breakneck speed and unexpected appearance makes them a professional’s photographic challenge - not for amateurs with a mobile! In less than the blink of an eye I have seen a Sparrowhawk - pictured above, zooming to and through a gap, successfully grasping a feeding bird as it flew.


Then there are the foxes - I assume that is what ate the pigeon


Much more dangerous are the unnatural predators – sadly, our cuddly cats do not fit into our natural ecology 

our kitten – who grew up to be a creature of character!. With a natural predator, the size of the population drops when prey numbers drop – in the domestic scenario things are different. The pet cat’s toll on garden bird life is enormous.



Many cat lovers keep their cat indoors from dusk to dawn (which is law in some countries particularly during the breeding season.) Others use a cat collar, but these have varied success. When the gorgeous kitten grew up, I used to find her collar scraped off and hanging on branches and twigs - it did not prevent her killing or maiming over 50 birds during her life.


But feeding birds thoughtfully can alleviate the situation!

Wildlife Garden Tips:


It may seem counter-intuitive, but firstly, keep feeders well topped up – so birds are not forced to hunt about on the ground and be vulnerable (though some, like Dunnocks, are naturally ground feeders). Also, well fed birds are probably more alert and active....



Feeders need to be high enough to be out of a cat’s leap reach.

Place feeders in a group so the birds feed in larger numbers... the more birds present at a time, the more likely one of them will notice a threat and sound the alarm... such calls alert the group.


Position feeders within 20m of hedges or bushes where birds can fly to and feed in safety. Good cover is provided by the festive season’s classics – Holly 


and Ivy

, and evergreens, like yew, even Leylandii. Good winter cover can be provided by thick twiggy deciduous shrubs such as

Dogwood.


Don’t put food on the ground near bushes where cats can wait in hiding. Put a low fence around ground feeders to deter cat pouncing.


Birds in flight, escaping from a predator in panic can fly into windows and stun or kill themselves... window alerts are easy to apply, last for years, and come in many designs, birdie (birds of prey silhouettes, butterflies 


or seasonal 


Enjoy your garden birds!

Be part of the big citizen science survey! Over 28,375

have signed up so far for 2026!

Watch and tick for one hour sometime between Friday 23 – Sunday 25 January


RSPB’S BIG GARDEN BIRDWATCH


Results indicate declining or increasing bird populations at a national level. Go to rspb.org.uk , sign up and get free digital or printed ID guide.


Picture credits: 1 - WWT Slimbridge display. Others - Nicolette Scourse



Winsley Nature Chains - Next Event



Poster photos by Chris Wardell - from Bradford on Avon's pond 














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