h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Monday 26th July 2005

Today I had a close encounter with a Stock Dove. We have three visiting our garden daily, but this morning one was sat on the path, totally still for ages. When I investigated it didn't move even when I touched it with my foot. It had blood coming from its' beak, though not much and there were feathers all over the lawn.

It seemed stunned so I left it for a while to see if it recovered. Eventually I noticed it had perked up, so I got my gardening gloves and went to see if it was able to fly. Two cats shot out of the undergrowth and ran down the garden! I got a box and put a sheet of bubble wrap in it. The dove really had a go at me, and fluttered across the lawn into some brambles. It was a feisty one! It clearly wasn't up to flying though and I didn't fancy seeing it mauled by two cats, so I went and got an old cloth, covered it over and grabbed.

I put it in the box in my shed still covered with the cloth and left it. This would be about 10am. I checked periodically through the day and it was still breathing. I also saw a fox prowling and looking to where the bird sat originally. Now, was it a Sparrowhawk taking on too big a challenge, cats out to "play" or a hungry young fox without enough gumption to do the job properly?

I still don't know. About 4.25pm I took the box down the garden and opened it. Slight reaction, so I took the cloth off it gently, intending to tip the bird into the undergrowth near some brambles to give it cover. To my shock and delight it hunched its' wings, and took flight straight out of the box, over some small trees and high into the air and away!! It went in the direction in which they roost, so I think it might have a fighting chance . It certainly deserved it. My husband says he hasn't seen such a big smile on my face in ages!!

Part of me hopes it will come back with the other two, and part of me hopes it will stay away. Feeding the birds is such a joy, but the feeling that I am luring them to their death does not feel comfortable. I can cope with fox and sparrowhawk, that's natural, but there are so many cats lying in wait "to play" I do wonder what their chances are.

After a very quiet period wildlife is coming back to the garden with a vengeance. Foxes, jays, goldfinches, greenfinches, nuthatches and willow tits have all made a reappearance this week. I thought with the rain and cooler weather they would find more natural food, but it is clear they need an extra boost after the busy breeding season.

It is so satisfying to record all these birds and animals and to take part in a national recording project. I know for certain my eyes and ears are much more attuned and observant than they were before I started the BTO Garden Bird Watch about three years ago.

Websailor

Traveller in Time on the steer
"Nearly forgot, cycling down the road I passed a pedestrian crossing, no one walking and cars driving the other direction.

Scared the as suddenly a dove appeared to be crossing, flying low over the street. It nearly hit me ! Or did I nearly hit it ? Anyway also lucky escape

Do you not use a table to feed the birds? "

That's fantastic, cats are always a worry though....

I don't do the BTO Garden Watch myself, due to a lack of a garden, but it's a great idea. The problem with traditional survey has always been the time and resources they consume, and it's great that the BTO have come up with a simple way to involve thousands of people and up the number of records without putting anyone out too much. I've just finished a territory map of a local Wildlife Trust reserve, which involved ten visits - two at dusk, eight at dawn - each of a minimum two hours' duration. A lot of work for volunteers, regardless of how the results look. Garden Watch is a fantastic idea, especially as you can record mammal sightings too - very forward looking.

Seeing as you're a bit of a twitcher, i have an entry in Peer review at the mment - A4473092 Owls of the British Isles - would you mind having a read and make any suggestions you feel appropriate?

Thanks, and I really enjoyed reading your journal

Lucky to have a caring person close by to help out!

*flaps wings at Skanky, aren't you supposed to be in bed by now?*

zdt

Yes, I am, doing drying and ironing.... and posting

Ah ha, a man of many multitasking talents, make sure you dont post your laundry in the computer & send your emails via the dryer.

BASILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!

zdt

Yes I do have two bird tables but these do not deter cats etc. and some birds prefer to feed on the ground - pigeons, doves, blackbirds etc. I also have lots of feeders scattered around to reduce the fighting among the birds.

I haven't seen any of the Stock Doves this morning which was unusual. Perhaps they all had a fright and won't come back

Websailor

Rich, I am afraid I am with Bill Oddie on this - I am not a twitcher - just an avid "armchair" birdwatcher. I have no car and the idea of running round the country in the hope of seeing a rare bird is not for me and I couldn't compete with numbers of species in one year that seems to interest many.

That is not to say I am still hopeful that I haven't seen ALL my garden and the surrounding area has to offer. So far it has been a delight living as I do on the very edge of the city.

I couldn't do any of the Reserve watches that BTO asked for help with, again 'cus no car! However, I am able to watch our garden very closely and I have learnt such a lot.

I will definitely look at your entry, and if I feel I have anything to contribute I shall be happy to do so. We get Tawny, Barn and Little Owls around here - but generally I only hear them but don't see them. I haven't succeeded in seeing one since I started with BTO

Off to read your entry

I could just do with one now, but it's too early

Websailor

Hi Ya Websailor, long time no chat,

I've got a dilemma with cats. I had two of those sonic cat scarers and they work, but they don't weather the winter too well and they're expensive both to buy and for batteries. Also I was using a ground feeder, sited pretty close to the house, for the Blackbirds when shock horror a bl**dy rat started feeding from it in broad daylight.

OK so sorry Blackbirds the ground feeder has gone and maybe I can tolerate the cats if they beat up the rats.

The song birds seem pretty smart when it comes to spotting the cats including the ground feeders like the Collared Doves and Blackbirds. Might try just putting a little bit of softbill mix out at a time for the Blackbirds. Maybe I should get motivated and buy a couple of dogs. Any ideas

Hi, WA,

I have seen one of my Stock Doves this afternoon on the birdtable. I have no idea which one it is though

I was wondering whether to try the cat scarers, but I have heard mixed reviews and as I get anything up to 13 tramping through the garden I don't think it would be much good. They are expensive too.

Glad to see you haven't been eaten by the "mices" WA!! . Just in case you haven't seen it here is the good news first and then the bad news

http://www.falkland-malvinas.com/Detalle.asp?NUM=6100

I think our problems are small in comparison, although I read today that the grey squirrels are becoming a huge problem in the Forest of Dean. I don't ground feed in the winter i.e. from October to early May which is when we are most likely to see rats.

What I put down in the summer is a very small amount thrown over a very large area. I find the ground tables leave a concentration of food underneath. I put chopped apple, pear and raisins for the blackbirds, cheese too occasionally. My other half says they are better fed than he is

Nice to hear from you again. Not sure about the dogs they need a lot of TLC and time if they are to be looked after properly. Then again, birds claim a huge chunk of my time !!



Websailor

Traveller in Time bringing the garbage out
"And again a strange pigeon, now one skimming low over my head and leaving a stroke feather just in front of me. "

You could try that cat repellent stuff. It comes in a tin. Don't knwo if you've got it over there though.

Ferret.

Small, easy to feed, highly amusing,happy to walk on a lead, very clean. will run a mile at the first whiff but it doesn't bother going for ; much prefers or rat.

Cannot recommend them highly enough. Every home should have one. And no, they don't attack mens wotsits!

zdt

Traveller in Time too many s in the garden
"Where can I find one ? ? ? <?> "

Where do you live?

zdt

This is useful if you live in USA, i can hunt down other stuff for Uk if necessary.

http://www.petdoors.com/links/ferretlinks.html

zdt

British ferrets!!

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/ferreter/

zdt

Funnily enough Terri, I was stood next to a stall at a recent event where they had ferrets. They looked so cute and beautifully clean. Unfortunately we can't have pets which is why we feed the birds!

I will look in to some of the other suggestions. Thanks folks. I have trimmed bushes up to 2ft. rom the ground to remove their hiding places and it seems to be working a bit.

Websailor

Very dear Websailor,

What a wonderful story!1. I have pigeons which come to my bird table but they cannot get inunder the roof. And I think they frighten everything else off. Cats as well, but I shoo them off from my wheelchair - and they just stand their ground and look balefully at me. It seems a good idea to cut the bushes to two feet above the ground. Thanks for your missive. Will reply. I just seem to be so BUSY!!

WQith affection
Christiane
Also Ran1

Mornin Sailor,

Yes I saw the articles about the mice nibbling my hind quarters. The problem is the Albatross chicks are left alone, on the nest, for long periods while the parents are away fishing. I would imagine the mice will be culled as they are an introduced species but the terrain doesn't help. Mind you if the Albatross evoloved a bit faster it could help itself by eating the mice.

We seem to have had a very productive year in terms of broods of chicks. I think the Sparrows, Chaffinches and Greenfinches must be on their third brood. They are going through two large seed feeders a day. The Starlings also seem to have had a good year. Not sure about the Thrushes though.

I will try your tip for the Blackbirds and just scatter a small amount of softbill food at a time.

ps I also motivated myself and joined the RSPB and now proudly display an RSPB sticker in the car.