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Welcome Home John & Marie Christine
Posted Jun 17, 2004
Thursday 17th June 2004
THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO SIGN "THE SAVE THE ALBATROSS" PETITON before John takes it to Rome. Petition extended to 20th June.
http://www.forest-bird.org.nz/petition/index.asp
For more info. see:
http://www.savethealbatross.org/
STOP PRESS John Ridgway did his BBC Radio 4 interview this morning at 8.50am. He sounded in much better health than when I spoke to him some weeks ago .
They will be passing under Tower Bridge at 11am precisely today (Thursday 17th June 2004). The English Rose Vl will be moored at St. Katherine's Dock till 23rd June. If you are within reach please go and give them a wave and some encouragement 
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Latest reply: Jun 17, 2004
Albatross Petition Update
Posted May 24, 2004
Monday 24th May 2004
I hope the following information will encourage more people to sign 
Carol Knutson, of the Forest and Bird Protection Society, New Zealand (hosts of the Petition), tells me that:
" the thermometer image(on the website), indicating the number of signatures, was updated on the 9th of May. We have collected more signatures since this time so the number has gone up. We will update the image within the next two weeks to show another jump in the tally.The date for the collection of signatures has extended out to June 10 for the presentation at the UN FAO meeting in late June. The petition will also continue to run after the UN meeting. As we have had such a great response we have decided to keep the petition open for people to continue to support the issue. The website will be amended towards the end of June to reflect this and explain why.
Carol Knutson
Websites/Promotion
Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society"
Please continue to support John Ridgway's efforts, and email your friends, family and colleagues. This issue will not be resolved unless we fight for changes.
Websailor
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Latest reply: May 24, 2004
Bird Strike
Posted May 23, 2004
Sunday 23rd May 2004
The last three weeks have been hectic but satisfying which is why no entries. However, yesterday something happened, of note.
Having fed the birds 
through the winter and encouraged them to feed in our garden, I was very upset yesterday to see a juvenile Great Tit hit the kitchen window with some force. I went outside to find it on the floor, in great distress.
I settled it down in my hand, hoping the warmth would alleviate the shock, as I did once before successfully. However, after about 20 minutes the poor little thing breathed its' last. I buried it last night, in my garden, after other the birds had all gone to bed.
Such a beautiful little thing, and I feel so bad 
about losing it. They put their trust in us, and we let this happen. I must get another Sentinel for the window, as this has been a problem once before.
Websailor
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Latest reply: May 23, 2004
Litter Kills!
Posted Apr 28, 2004
28th April 2004
If anyone is in any doubt that litter kills, take a look at these pictures on the Operation Migration site:
http://www.operationmigration.org/PJ_2004spring-litter.htm
One of the year 2003 re-introduced Whooping Cranes got this aluminium drinks can top stuck over its' long beak and could no longer feed!
Had one of the Op. Mig. team not caught it and removed the offending object one of these highly endangered Whooping Cranes would have died. With only about 430 in existence, in total, this would have been a disaster.
Why, 
oh why do people do this? This kind of litter draws the very creatures that birds and small mammals feed on - slugs, snails and all kind of insects. Cans, yoghourt pots, rubber bands (dropped by our postmen) and many other kinds of litter are deathtraps to birds and animals, both wild , farmed and domestic.
Websailor
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Latest reply: Apr 28, 2004
On a Lighter Note - Birds in my Garden
Posted Apr 22, 2004
22nd April 2004
I have been enjoying the lighter nights and sunny weather (between the showers). Kat asked what birds I had visiting my garden so I thought I would share my list. If anyone has anything really unusual visiting their garden I would be most interested. While English birds are not as vividly coloured as tropical exotic species, they are just as loved and precious.
We have daily visits from Blue Tits, Robins, Blackbirds, House Sparrows, Starlings, Dunnocks, and Collared Doves throughout the year, and more seasonal visits from Chaffinches and Greenfinches, though some of them do stay all year.
Blackbirds are there every morning, at my feet, waiting for raisins and cheese. The Robins come looking through the window if the food is late coming, and when they are looking for more mealworms they pop into the house looking for me. They give me such a scolding 
They all 
so beautifully and the 
are such a lovely sound. Mind, the Starlings are copying mobile phones now, and the other day one sang "oubla di, Oubla da, love goes on" if anyone remembers that tune 
Then we have Bullfinches (on the Red List) but we have several, one or two Coal Tits, lots of Crows over the past few winter months and glorious Goldfinches. The Great Spotted Woodpecker puts in an appearance for a few weeks for the peanuts, and the Willow Tits are regular visitors.
Magpies are about all year round, but are particularly strident in the nesting season and they chase the Blackbirds off which is upsetting. Unfortunately they like to take other birds' eggs which is a pity, but that's nature <> A Jay occasionally puts in an appearance in the Autumn for acorns and peanuts.
It is very hard to choose a favourite bird but the Long Tailed Tits - all feathery, chattering little bundles of energy are such a joy, flying inches above my head as I put food out. They like 
and biscuit crumbs. Another is the Nuthatch, which is such a funny shape - it reminds me of the very old fashioned baby feeding bottles ( like a boat with a teat at each end )
We get the occasional Song Thrush, lovely Stock Doves, a gorgeous Wren, and Siskins in the early spring. An occasional visit from the Sparrowhawk causes wholesale panic, but fortunately they only succeed in catching one of my little ones occasionally
It is really a to see the Grey Squirrels freeze wherever they happen to be, as if by staying still the Sparrowhawk won't see them. It is true in a tree, as they blend in, but on the top of a fence or a brick wall they stick out like a sore thumb 
. They are a bit of a pest as they eat all the food, as do the Wood Pigeons, but there is not much we can do about them without starving the other birds
All year round my garden is seething with activity, and we even get the occasional Wood 
. The Grey Heron flies over, but takes no interest in our garden as we have no 
, and the Canada Geese honk away on the way past in the early morning and evening.
I am so looking forward to Mums and Dads bringing their quivering offspring to our fast food restaurant, to show them off, and ensure they know where to find food. The Collared Doves in particular bring their babies to me, and fly off for about 20 minutes. The babies stayed still on the fence, 2ft. away from me last summer, as if they had been told "stay there, don't move till I come back and you will be safe". Such a privilege
Websailor
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Latest reply: Apr 22, 2004
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