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

WA,

They are talking about poisoning the mice, but I worry about that in case it affects anything else! I am sure RSPB will come up with something though. It can't be allowed to go on. Grey squirrels are fast becoming a real problem here too though perhaps not on that scale.

I am glad you have joined RSPB. You will find their magazine a mine of information and most interesting. Do you have time to birdwatch in your garden much? BTO is always glad of new garden bird watchers, and you can send results in online, giving just a few minutes a week, or whatever suits you. I have found it satisfying and interesting.

We have a lot of blue tits. great tits and robins, the former either being late fledgling or on second brood and we have at least three lots of robins at different stages! I have only seen one Song Thrush this year which is worrying. We had two previously but perhaps they are busy :o)


Websailor

Hi Sailor,

We have the feeders set up so we can see the birds from our lounge so the twitching is after work and at weekends. I find it fascinating and therapeutic.

I've filled in a couple of the country wide bird spotting exercises but I'll have a look at the BTO site.

Not seen any Robins this year and after an early appearance the couple of Thrushes have disappeared. We have only a single pair of Blue tits and Great tits. The Goldfinches have had a good year but the squabbling Starlings can sometimes chase them away.

Hello again! I know the last entry was two years ago, but I can't find how to drop you a note without busting in on somebody else's conversation!

I've just seen a hedgehog!!! A juvenile, standing on the doormat, waiting for me to put out his grub. It's just 4pm, and normally I'd worry that he wasn't well, but he was very spritely. I've put out a dish - thank goodness I had some left from the Autumn, and shall, of course keep watch. I've been dying to say this: Is this a record?????' !!

Love, HicDig

Hi, SD,
You can drop in on me anytime by clicking on my name at the top of any post of my posts You will then get my Personal Space and can either drop in on any of my conversations or start a new conversation from the bottom of my page. You can do that with anyone you fancy talking to.

Butting in on someone's conversation is allowed you know, so long as you are polite

As for the hedgehog he shouldn't be out and about at this time of year, and since you say he is a juvenile he is probably underweight. He should be tucked up somewhere. Please don't give him milk as it will make him ill.

If a hedgehog is under 600 grams during severely cold winter weather it will not have the fat reserves to survive hibernation, and will have to be kept indoors throughout the winter.

If he looks big enough feed him and let him be, but if he is small you would be doing him a favour by contacting your nearest hedgehog rescue centre. He should be going into to hibernation any time now till March or April but in this cold weather won't find sufficient food.

you can find Carers here:
http://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/carers.htm

Hope this helps.

Websailor

Thanks. We have our local Hedgehog Care, and I visited it once. It absolutely stank!! I understand full well that if they're hibernating they probably still have waste products which will Out, but I think Madam should have catered for such. I shall put out a box and blanket if I see him again. I shall now worry. Will it help?
Dig

I am surprised at that. Most people who care for hedgies do it properly. One thing though, I remember someone who did it and was so overwhelmed with the numbers and the work she had a breakdown, Perhaps it is getting too much for this one too?

You could always pick him up and weigh him if you are worried, and if he lets you

Websailor

St Tiggy Winkle's once told me that they should be no smaller than a tennis ball when rolled up. I think 'mine' was just about that size. How on earth has he managed to survive so far? Perhaps he found a warm spot under somebody's tumbler dryer outlet - but /mine/ at least isn't on that often! I've been fairly anxious since we sold half our jungle during the Autumn, and stressed to the purchasers that they could only have it if they promised to feed the spikes. However, this one at least hasn't been marooned by the fence. I wonder how many we shall see in the Spring. I was kept awake last year by a couple who snuffled about under our bedroom window! We bought a couple of new feeders yesterday. One for mealworms, with a 'bonnet' intended to deter starlings. Robin is fairly tame, but may have been puzzled by the bonnet. We'll raise it a bit till he gets used to it. The other is of a similar design but supposedly squirrel-proof. I don't like those with railings round them. Dunno why. Faddy, perhaps!

Your hedgie must have found a food source and a warm place. You are so lucky to have them. We used to have one visit occasionally but haven't seen them for a long time. Of course having badgers visiting from March to December might have something to do with it We can't have it all it seems.

Websailor

PS You will love it when you get mealworms and so will the birds. Which reminds me I should check ours that are growing in a cupboard and see if any more have arrived!

WS

Growing in a cupboard? Like lambs in the Aga? Excellent. We didn't plant any this year. A bit squeamish, you know.
Today I invested in a Whole New Saucer and a tiny ashtray for MiniHedge. He's too low-slung to reach into the dishes I normally use. I hope he appreciares the hand-painted saucer.
Also got some puppy meal, as there isn't much hedgepig stuff left, and it won't be in the shops until the orthodox waking-up time. I hope he also appreciates the extreme expense he's putting me to.
Of course, I shouldn't do it it he wasn't worth it. It's like kids. Most of the time you wonder why you got 'em, then.....

You are right there. I feel the same about the badgers, but I couldn't not do it now

There is nothing the least squeamish about mealworms. I 'grew' them from worm, to pupae, to beetle, to egg, to worm. Fascinating. I just wish I had the right conditions to breed them seriously, it would save such a lot of money.

Hope your little fella appreciates his new dishes and thrives.

Websailor

http://forums.rspb.org.uk/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=278

You probably know this lot quite well! I shall study, and who knows? I may join you. I don't suppose you need a stud male, nor to watch for the girls' cycling. That's one step easier than goats! As for bottle feeding..... (this font has changed, I wonder what I've done Ah, I went into browser Options yesterday. I'm such a dolt. Still, for one who started at 70 - with an Acorn, would you believe - perhaps I can be forgiven? ) Where was I?
Yes, he didn't come last night, but somebody's been this morning, could be the blackbird, he's got the brass neck for it, or it could be that Master Spike fancies being diurnal for a while. Whatever, I wish his aunts and uncles would hurry up and join him! Off to the G Centre in a minute, when the Master's ready.
See you later, as everyone seems to say these days. Dig