Gone Soft Again- Birds.

Mollers · 15 July 2014, 19:42

I'm sitting here in the kitch, watching freshly fledged swallows playing in our front porch just a few feet away. When we bought the place, it was semi derelict and birds of differing species had been nesting here for years. Now that the place is refurb'd, still they return. Every year we have at least two swallows nests and one Housemartin's in the apex under the soffits. It's amazing when they return each spring from Africa to repeat the cycle. Even the amount of sh*t that they produce, doesn't put me off of my little feathered pals.

A1an · 15 July 2014, 20:05

I quite like them too, the same pair has used the nest in my porch for the last 3 yrs.

One of the chicks fell out the nest one morning just before they fledged, poor thing landed in some melted lard on the doorstep, I took it in to the sink, washed it with fairy liquid then popped it in my shirt pocket to dry and keep warm and went to work, I placed it back in the nest when I got home and it flew the nest a few days later.

I should've ringed it to see if it came back to the same area.

mick · 15 July 2014, 20:13

Plenty for them to eat this year never seen the flys so bad

Mollers · 15 July 2014, 20:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by mick

Plenty for them to eat this year never seen the flys so bad

When I'm mowing the grass, my little pals love it. As the mower throws up insects, the swallows go into 'Red Arrows' display mode, coming in from all angles. .

mick · 15 July 2014, 20:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollers

When I'm mowing the grass, my little pals love it. As the mower throws up insects, the swallows go into 'Red Arrows' display mode, coming in from all angles. .

Yup was at some stables the other week with loads of swallows it was like the Battle of Britain they amaze me when they fly past me into a stable over the horses etc

kerny · 15 July 2014, 20:32

My father in law who is a retired builder was converting his loft into a bedroom and while up there he found bats nesting or roosting "not sure of the correct terminology" in the rafters and his next door neighbour told him that he would have to leave them be, as bats are a protected species, so my father in law being a bird / bat lover, did the right thing and dispersed them through the party wall into his neighbours part of the loft and bricked it up saying that if he likes them that much they can sh*it and stink his loft out instead

Straight as a dye my father in law

willk · 15 July 2014, 22:55

A Council Waller came to my place of work a few years back and spotted a swallow's nest over a service door:

"There is a nest over a service door, birds are health hazard - have them removed and destroyed"

So, I sent a nice letter back confirming that contrary to the laws protecting nesting birds and their eggs/chicks, we would destroy the nest and it's contents but could we have the Authorising Officer's written permission first.....

.....still waiting for that reply

bedajim · 16 July 2014, 06:27

"Gone Soft Again- Birds"

There was me thinking you'd run short of the blue pills

HughN · 16 July 2014, 06:38

Pretty amazing that Swifts almost never land and sleep on the wing.

Did someone mention coconuts?

Pikey Dave · 18 July 2014, 07:46

We've got swallows & they nest right over the boat,,,sh1t everywhere, BUT not half as bad as the Little Owls, I think that Little Owls are big owls until they have a dump, then they shrink. I've had to put a 1t bulk bag over the console to stop them roosting on the windscreen grab rail.
As an aside, just found this

willk · 18 July 2014, 07:52

Bl@@dy jays have started attacking my apples early this year - while still green! There must be six of the damn things at them. It's unlikely that plastic raptors will deter them at this stage as they have a taste for it now. I may have to resort to more drastic measures

Mollers · 18 July 2014, 12:05

Jays are recognised vermin. Give 'em some lead.

Mollers · 18 July 2014, 17:09

Fortunately, we didn't have a bat issue ( Mr. Bat Protection Officer). We only had 3" of guano over the ceilings in the lofts.

Boatnomad · 18 July 2014, 18:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

We've got swallows & they nest right over the boat,,,sh1t everywhere,

Neighbours have an open car-port and every year their car is destroyed when the Swallows arrive

Mollers · 18 July 2014, 18:26

Phone struggled with the light a touch.

willk · 18 July 2014, 20:25

Member of our Upper House gets a bit exercised by seagulls: BBC News - Dublin seagulls 'have lost run of themselves', says Irish senator

Tw@t!

kerny · 18 July 2014, 20:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Member of our Upper House gets a bit exercised by seagulls: BBC News - Dublin seagulls 'have lost run of themselves', says Irish senator

Tw@t!

Daft bat.......

Cookee · 19 July 2014, 07:49

Lovely wife puts out bird food and we had a pair of Jays last year, they're back and have a couple of babies this year - very entertaining and good looking birds.

Downhilldai · 23 July 2014, 23:31

Load of Red Kites turned up here a few years back. They seem to have frightened off the Grey Herons we used to see but the jackdaws don't seem bothered at all. Saw an airborne battle a few weeks back where a jackdaw wasn't keen on a Red Kite in his territory. David v Goliath stuff!

Boatnomad · 24 July 2014, 19:04

Ravens are harassing the Peregrine at the moment..................