Hi Inbal 

Good point about the bird count but I think they still  need to have people around to answer questions - after all they do want us to support them!

Hi Hev 

The sparrows are all in my garden.  Think they are on holiday because it is Cornwall and the weather is quite good at the mo!

Where is Perry C?  Have not heard from you for a while.

Judith

Got some good news about the birdies - Hubby was home for lunch today and he said the garden was FULL of birds - mostly black birds again but also sparrows, bullfinches and thrushes so I presume it's not too bad.

       hi judith

        glad the sparrows are with you in cornwall.it was like a spring day yesterday hear in yeovil today it is very cold. i would choose cornwall over yeovil too.may i ask what part of cornwall do you live in.   fed my featherd friends mash again they must be getting sick of it by now they also have the usual nuts  fat balls and wild bird seed e.c.t.   e.c.t. bless. well its been a long day they say the sun will shine to morrow bring it on .

          hev.

Hi all

Sorry I have not been here got stuck with a few things.

The rspb big bird count. I don't really like the format they use. You are supposed to spend an hour counting the different birds that appear in your back garden or park or where ever else you are doing it from. You will obviously get more birds coming if you put food out. So first part of dissagreement is the time, one hour. So if you are counting in your back garden for example, you look out of the kitchen window and you start your count. No birds!! You go out and put some food down, birds come from nowhere. Is that a true average of the birds in your garden or do they give out secret signals that attract birds from other gardens??

You finish your count. A couple of hours later you look out of the window and there are birds everywhere. Do you do another count and change one for the other. Ok its all about averages, which does not give a true reading anyway. So lets say you stick with the original count. You fill the form in on the rspb site which might say for example 10 sparrows, three blackbirds, two collared doves etc. The second count which you don't register says 30 sparrows, 5 blackbirds, 6 collared doves. So whats the true figure?? Surely its better doing an average over say three separate counts?? To make things worse, the rspb will use my figures to come to the conclusion that for example sparrows are dying off for some reason, or vice versa we are being swamped by collared doves.

As I said there are too many averages. Using one hour as a sort of test cannot give any sort of true reading of a rise or demise in bird populations.

Sorry I have gone on a bit.

Bazza 

Hi Bazza,

If that was me I'd do the count on the busiest time when there are the most amount of birds in. I would assume that they will then pick up your numbers and of other people in the area and make an avarage out of those.

Imbal Bland

Hi

You see how crazy this is. Your point of waiting for the most amount of birds. Firstly there would be that many flying in and out and hopping about (that rhymes lol) that you would not be able to count them correctly. So if you say in the count that there are 49 sparrows but there are actually 50, and say one million people are doing the count and when the rspb compare the figures from the last count it will show that one million sparrows have disappeared. If you over count by one then there are one million extra sparrows. The rspb will then make a statement which will say there is either a huge decline in the sparrow population or there is a huge rise in the sparrow population. When in fact neither is correct because its been an incorrect count.  As you say they can only come to an average when they total all the figures up, which will be for example that according to a recent survey the average sparrow population for England and Wales is between 3 million and 5 million. So again for example one million sparrows could die from a new strain of virus and the rspb would not know anything about it because the next count they do will still show the average of 3-5 million. 

Got a bee in my bonnet over this for some strange reason. I think I need a lie down lol.

Bazza 

Hi Bazza - I agree with you, it is not clear and very complicated.  I think I will have to just enjoy the birds and not worry about counting them.  I am up here in my little room and have the window open again because I have to work but I can hear them and the sun is shining so I am happy.  I just walked around the garden and counted 32 clumps of snowdrops!  Got all sorts of flowers out, the birds are singing and the sun is shining.  It is lovely!  Shame I have to be in here but you can't have everything (Why? lol).

Hev - we are near Redruth.  Do you know it?  The weather says it is going to be sunny again tomorrow.  Think it is lovely but a bit worrying.  We have not really had a winter and can't remember when it was last really cold.  Wonder if we are going to have a scorcher of a summer - and there are people who still deny climate change!

 Inbal -  how is the renovation coming along?  We were intending to start this month but I have had to work instead.  Still have time to listen to and see the birds though - I really like listening to them, esp this time of year.  Glad to hear your birds are back. 

 Judith

Ji Judith 

It's stalling as some letter the solicitors wrote to probate was written wrong (basically a letter saying they won't be the executors - I don't think I spelt that right). Hopefully it will be sorted out soon so we can start sorting the mortgage etc'. I think it will take a few months yet.

On the garden front I've been ogling plants on ebay (bought some roses and clematis too) but I've come to the conclusion that most plants on ebay are too expensive because of the delivery charge unless you're looking for particular plants that most garden centres won't have or you're planing a bulk buy from one seller.

I got some geraniums from mother in law's garden and a shrub that was dug up a month ago and was left out behind their shed! She couldn't remember what it was but I thought that if it survived that long (scratched it and it was green underneath and had buds too) it deserves another chance. Happy I did too because she rang me when she remembered what it is - Abelia. She recons it has red flowers so we'll wait and see.

Hi Inbal 

I do sympathise with you re probate.  My poor father in law had to wait ages before everything was sorted out when his wife died. You will just have to keep refining your plans until you can do it all with your eyes shut!  Hopefully this is the last weekend I will have to work for a while so I can do some work on our house soon. 

You are lucky if you have an abelia - they are lovely shrubs and evergreen as well usually.  we have a grandiflora.  It was only planted about 3 years ago and has grown into a lovely arching bush.  The flowers are really pretty - ours a a very pale creamy pink although I think it is suposed to be white.  However, it is so pale that it is like those "hint of" paints you get.  Our fuchsia flowered currant is just coming into bloom.  I can't believe it is so early.  We have got lots of different flowers out - its just a pity they are surrounded by weeds!  I shall be glad to get out in the garden next weekend.

Judith

Hi everyone

Just latched onto this thread - we have had  just one or two days when I have put food out and it has not been touched and I did ownder where the birds had gone, but then they were back again with a vengeance - 10 blackbirds now, three robins, althugh I think the one that used to sit on the kitchen window sill and ask for me to put out his foodhas either moved on or gone to robin heaven - he has a peculiar marking on one of his wings, so I can tell him apart from the others.  Have long tailed tits (8 last visit). Song thrush and mistle thrush, the jackdaws are back as are the chaffinches.  Several sparrows and, of course, loads of starlings.  Lost a few blackbirds to the sparrowhawk but had a hen harrier theother day - as well as wood pigeons and, of course, collar doves. Most of the birds seem to prefer the suet pellets to seed so I think I shall just stop buying seeds and stick to the pellets - also, they don't make as much mess as seed.  Am still having rat problems and the pest control man that we have now is absolutely US.  Tried to tell me that we are the only people in the area with a problem, when I know for a fact (because the owners told me themselves)that the house opposite  - not to mention the hotel over the road from them, have major problems.

On the garden front, we need a massive re-design - will have to contact a landscape gardener and see if they will just give us ideas, and we do the work ourselves.  because we extended the garden last year, it is in two sections but we want to make it look more of a whole, but dont really know where to begin.  We have also been advised to move the apple trees further up the slope of the garden, to where it is a bit drier, because where it is now gets like a bog when it rains a lot.

Well, I am having trouble with posting replies to forum, so I hope this gets through. 

Sue

Hi all

Getting a bit spoiled now with this nice weather. If it keeps nice spring will be just around the corner. Prob is there is that much to do don't know where to start first. Already had three bin bags of weeds and prunings and still lots more await my secateurs. 

Susan Williams

I dont think you will be able to get a landscaper to just come for a chat, unless you are prepared to pay him something they most prob will not bother. Best thing to do is get one or two to come and say you want an estimate and then discuss it with him and ask him for suggestions. When you get the estimates back you will have it in writing to refer to in case you forgot what he suggested. Then you can do it yourself see!!

Bazza 

Bazza

Good thinking - thank you!

Sue

hi inbal

my e. mail says i have a reply from you .  i cant find it sorry hev.

Hi again,

Hev

I think it sends you an email when someone adds a message to the thread after you so no worries.

Judith,

We planted the abelia shrub infront of the pond now so it will "hide" it a bit now and make you actually want to go around the back - not that there's much to see there until we clear it of roots and concrete and those huge trees that block all the sun   I'm happy with how it's getting on in the garden, even got thrumbs up from mom in law lol.

Hi all

Still have not heard from the rspb, so I have come to a decision. If they cant answer my e mail then I am not doing anymore surveys for them narna na narna.!! 

The birds are still very scarce even having added that high protein suet stuff to the menu.

Ah well, I was going to put cae la vie but I don't know how to spell it??       

Bazza 

Baught my hubby a gift today - "Birds in your garden" of the wildlife trust.  Made him happy anyway and its got some good advice in it.

Inbal Bland

Hi

You old softy you!!  Nothing to do with Valentine's day coming up has it.?? Return gift of maybe some romantic trip to some far off destination. You hope.

Bazza 

Who you calling old?? I'm 24 I am  Oooh I wish he's organize a romantic trip but I doubt it, I know what I'm married to . And his excuse would be that I had enough money spent this month for plants.

By the way, we don't celebrate Valentines, our anniversary is on the 19th.

Inbal Bland

Hi

Ok you youngish softy. Next time you go shopping pop in to the travel agents and leave a few brochures around the house,like in the bedroom bathroom kitchen and by the tele. He may just get the hint and you could wake up on the 19th in some exotic paradise. But then of course you will wake up from your dream darn it!!

Anyway congratulations for the 19th hope you have a nice time where ever you are.              <bottleofwinesmily>

Bazza