Hi Everyone

I am sorry to tell you that I have some bad news for you all.  Perry Cornish, who contributes to the site regularly, is very ill.  Her partner contacted me to tell me that Perry  had a stroke last week and needed an operation to repair an anyurism.  She is still in hospital and yesterday she needed another operation to drain fluid build up which was causing her intense pain.  She is currently very poorly.  I know that she has not been feeling well for some time and did wonder where she was as she has not been around but had no idea that things were so bad for her. 

Perry's partner, Alison, gave me permission to tell you all, as she feels that Perry needs all the help and people rooting for her she can get and I have promised to pass on any messages of support that you send.  This is very sad news indeed and I am sure that you will all join me in wishing Perry a speedy recovery.  I know we do not all know each other personally but we have a nice little community here and it is dreadful to hear of something so awful happening to one of us.

I am so sorry to be the bearer of such sad news.

 Judith

Really sorry to hear that Perry is ill, Judith. Best wishes to Perry and Alison and I hope Perry does recover well. She's been a long-standing member of this site, often giving valuable advice on the forum. If you haven't come across Perry yet, you can read more in A bit about me...

Hope to see you back soon, Perry.

Sarah B

(web ed)

Thank you Sarah, I will pass this on.  It is so sad because Perry seems such a nice person - although it would be sad for anyone, it just seems worse if you have had contact with someone if you know what I mean.  I am sure that Alison and Perry will be pleased to get your message.  I know that she goes on other threads and was wondering if it would be possible to put a general message out as I am sure there will be many contributors who would like to pass on their messages of support.

 Judith 

Thank you Sarah.  I have already passed on your message to Alison and Perry.

 XX

Thanks Sue, I will pass this on.  Sarah B is going to put a new thread on for Perry so that I can give details to Alison and she can read them for herself to tell Perry.  I am sure they will be pleased with your best wishes and comments about her conributions.  Lets hope she will be back soon.

Judith

Morning all

The thread about Perry is in Soapbox Latest Posts.

Thanks Sarah and Inbal.  I will let Alison know.

Judith

Hi all

I have a trapped nerve in my shoulder and could not do a lot, so have not been here for some time. Getting better now though.

I have had the results from the big bird watch if anyone is interested.

Top ten birds per county and average per garden.

Sparrow           5-05

Blackbird          3-05 

Blue tit             2-83 

Chaffinch          2-51

Starling            2-43

Great tit           1-72

Robin                1-57

Goldfinch          1-54

Collared dove   1-51

Wood pigeon    1-31 

400,000 counted more than six million birds across 228,000 gardens. For the first time the following birds have made it in to the top ten, Siskin..Redpoll..Goldfinch. This is thought to be because of a poor supply of natural tree seed and so they have been forced in to gardens to find food. There was also noted an increase in Song thrushes by 80% compared to last year. However over the last thirty years Song thrushes have declined in numbers by some two thirds of population.

Top three birds House Sparrow..Starling... Blackbird. Overall the birdwatch results show a decline of one fifth since 2004 of the average number of birds seen in gardens.

That's what you get for using averages, its just guessing is there any point??

Bazza                                                       

Hi Bazza

 This is interesting.  But it is all a bit worrying to think that - if it is true - the garden bird population has declined by one fifth since 2004, even if it is an average figure.  Does this mean that the bird population overall has declined?  It is a bit worrying also to know that there is not enough natural tree seed to feed the siskins etc.  Although having said that, we have trees all over the place and I have to admit I have seen siskins in the garden for the first time this year, feeding from the seed we put out for them. I suppose the point of these surveys is to alert us to the fact that we need to take more care of our environment and what and who lives in it.

Years ago, in 1984 I think, as a mature student studying for A levels to enable me to go to college, I had to write an essay on what I considered to be the worst threat to the  world: destruction/civilisation etc.  For some reason, which escapes me now, I wrote about volcanic activity and the Pacific Ring of Fire.  Amazingly I got an A grade for it and I was crowing about it to my hairdresser when he told me that I was completely wrong and that it was mankind who was/is the greatest threat.  Somewhat arrogantly I fell about laughing and told him he was a wally (we had that kind of a relationship).  But the older I get, the more I think he is right.  We don't take care of what we have properly.  We pay lip service to the gloom about climate change, fuel running out, the threat of food shortages etc but we don't take any positive, decisive action to change things.  We have all these subtle little warnings, shake our heads sadly, and then ignore them.  I am not sure if it is arrogance, stupidity, laziness, fear of not being able to do anything anyway or what - but I do think it is high time we woke up and smelled the coffee so to speak.  The sad thing is that even when we know what is happening we won't do anything about it.  We are supposed to be of higher intelligence than animals and birds.  Excuse me?  I don't think so.

What do the rest of you all think?

 Judith

I think the bird figures probably go up & down in cycles but do agree that the natural sites seem to be disappearing as more land is built on. Fortunately there are still 'set aside' schemes & hedgerow management schemes on a lot of farms which are trying to put this right. There is a farm not far from us in Cheshire which is working towards preserving natural habitats for birds & wildlife & it seems to be working there as the farmer writes regular reports on what has moved back into the area.

We seem to be getting more large birds such as wood pigeons & crows coming into our neighbourhood & I'm sure it's because a large area of trees, shrubs, hedges & scrub land has just been cleared a few miles away to build a new rugby stadium on what granted was considered 'brownfield' & although they have promised to maintain a wildlife corridor much of it must have had to move on. This will probably have an effect on the smaller birds in the neighbourhood in relation to competition for food, nest sites etc.

We can all only do our bit to try & help by providing nest sites & food & campaigning to preserve wildlife habitats & I do agree Judith that your hairdresser was right & the greatest threat to the world is man but also the only thing that can save it is man, every individual one making an effort.

Well said Sue - I do think that just because there is not much chance is no reason not to try.  Our children will not thank us for what we are leaving behind.

Your farmer sounds wonderful.  Wish there were more like him (or her!).  Shame about the Rugby Stadium -  I am sure most men will be after my blood for saying it but I do think that preserving areas for wildlife is far more important than stadiums with all the resulting mess and litter they  always bring. 

Judith

Hi all

Well not only do I have a blackbird mate that chases starlings away, this blackbird I have now discovered has a nest at the back of one of my cordyline trees, but I now have a big fat pigeon that tidies up the garden. He/she goes around collecting twigs and removes them from my garden. Ok I know he/she is making a nest somewhere but isnt it a nice thought that the birds are paying me back for all the food and looking after them that I do.!! The biggest thrill for me and I do mean thrill is that a song thrush comes for a feed everyday. It must be five or six years since I last saw one in my garden and at that time they would come in a group of five of six. I would watch them smashing up the snail shells so they could get some dinner. Its brill to see one again in the garden I cant find its nest but hope to see its family come here as well. Fingers crossed.

Bazza 

That's lovely Bazza, they must know they're welcome in your garden! I haven't seen a thrush in the garden for years although I have seen one or two in the park nearby so they must still be around, I don't think there are as many as there used to be.

We have a starling which is trying to build a nest in an airbrick just under the eaves of the roof outside the back bedroom, it's sqeezed in through a gap left in the brickwork when we had the windows replaced. It makes a heck of a noise when it's arranging the leaves & twigs in there but keeps changing it's mind & leaving for a few days & then coming back. Luckily no one sleeps in there so I'm not too worried if it does decide to stay.

SueA

Hi

Well pleased especially about the thrush. I have two or three starling and sparrow nests in the back of the house. They seem to use them every year and just sort of top the nests off with new stuff. They perch on the bend in the drainpipe and then squeeze up between the wall and the roof space. Before we had tons of lagging put in the attic I could actually see the nests when I went up there. Only time I hear any noise is when I am on the patio and the babies are getting fed. The one thing that bothers me most mornings is the stupid doves that start coo cooing at what seems to be half way through the night.

Bazza 

Hi All 

Glad to hear all the birds are back.  It's lovely to hear them in the morning and sets me up for the day!  If I wake up early I lay there and listen for them to start.  We had a couple of jays on the patio last weekend - they are really beautiful birds.  I think they live in the conifers round our orchard.  I can never find their nests or any others come to that but think that they must be there somewhere.  We are lucky to have a lot of trees and the birds never ever use the nest boxes, although they do shelter in them because I have seen the droppings on the boxes.  Clearly their own are better than my humble offerings! I have never lived in the country like this before and have always had a garden in quite a built up area so I suppose their boxes were more welcome there.

Sarah B

Thank you so much for the books!  I have never won a prize like this before so am thrilled with them.  I shall lay in bed reading them while I listen to the birds.  Hope you are well.

Judith

XX

Hi Inbal 

Know what you mean about the financial low!  We are currently well into the kitchen renovation and thought - don't stop there - have a couple of ceilings replastered while you are at it, why don't we!  Aaaarrgh!  The house is in chaos and we will have no money left but on the plus side, they have laid all the riven slate 2' x 2' tiles in the living/dining room and it looks fabulous!!!!  Just like a real farmhouse floor. We are going to have them all through the ground floor so it will make the house look bigger.  Grit your teeth and go for it, I say. 

Why don't you try frrecycle for old posts and wire to fence off your borders?  It won't cost you a thing and might yield some useful items.  It is also environmentally friendly as it stops useful things going to landfill sites.  We got a lot of old stone boulders to make raised flowerbeds with and they look terrific.  There is bound to be a group in your area somewhere - they are everywhere now. 

I think in my next reincarnation I am going to be a bird - fed for free and I can eat as many fatty things as I like without worrying about the consequences.  All I will have to do is sing for my supper and who minds that!! lol! 

Judith