The Big Garden Birdwatch
Created | Updated Feb 6, 2006
Over the weekend of the 28th and 29th January 2006 we were supposed to record all the birds feeding in the garden, or the park, for a period of one hour to submit data to the RSPB. Well, I have to tell you that I did not send any details in. I will not be a party to the great avian conspiracy.
Normally, when I put out the bird bread, fat scraps and other delicacies on the lawn I get a whole flock of starlings. Minimum thirty, usually nearer 40. I also get interesting birds like woodpeckers, nuthatches, goldcrests, a wren, great tits, bull finches. This weekend the best I could see was ten starlings, a robin, a blackbird and the resident pied wagtail. Where were the rest of them?
I have considered this carefully and can only find one answer. The starlings, led by their leader Josef, are clever. They have worked out that if they make themselves scarce over the weekend they will be seen as seriously reduced in numbers. This will result in "special measure" - extra funding for food and nestboxes, funding for an enquiry into starling well being, press articles raising starling profile.
Please do not call me paranoid. I am not. First thing last Monday morning the weekend's crusts went out with the trimmings from the joint and some bacon rinds. Back they came, more birds than I could count, a carpet of starlings along with their friends.
Readers, we've been had. I have informed the RSPB but have not had a reply.
