Feathered friends

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Feathered friends
Topic Started: Dec 16 2014, 11:16 AM (329 Views)
Tytoalba	Dec 16 2014, 11:16 AM Post #1
Senior Member Posts: 7,586 Group: Members Member #36 Joined: Jun 29, 2014	At this time of year I spend money on providing for the garden birds , especially as winter gets wore,, when the days are shorter and they fall on harder times, and there is a shortage of food for them. I am their food bank. I am careful not to put too much out, so that they do not become lazy and to dependent on me ,and they do not lose their ability to forage for themselves. I see it as a balancing act between being too generous, which could easily lead to me spending more than I can properly afford, and them becoming too dependent, lazy, and lacking in personal responsibility for their own needs, so that they just hang around in the trees and bushes quarrelling with each other, waiting for the next hand out . if I go away for a few days I have to make alternative arrangements for them so they don't go without. Once you start being too generous, then they come to expect it as their right, and seem to resent the fact that I am not around to feed them. Its a form of socialism on my part, but I do wonder sometimes if I have made a rod for my own back, and not being as beneficial to their natural way of life as I think I am. There is a moral in the story there somewhere.



papasmurf	Dec 16 2014, 11:21 AM Post #2
Senior Member Posts: 17,280 Group: Members Member #13 Joined: Jun 27, 2014	In my back garden the way to ensure the survival of the birds in it would be to "off" the dozen or so neighbour's cats and feral cats who spend time in the "jungle." But I don't think that would make friends and influence people.



Steve K	Dec 16 2014, 11:22 AM Post #3
Once and future cynic Posts: 33,990 Group: Admins Member #20 Joined: Jun 27, 2014	Tytoalba Dec 16 2014, 11:16 AM At this time of year I spend money on providing for the garden birds , especially as winter gets wore,, when the days are shorter and they fall on harder times, and there is a shortage of food for them. I am their food bank. I am careful not to put too much out, so that they do not become lazy and to dependent on me ,and they do not lose their ability to forage for themselves. I see it as a balancing act between being too generous, which could easily lead to me spending more than I can properly afford, and them becoming too dependent, lazy, and lacking in personal responsibility for their own needs, so that they just hang around in the trees and bushes quarrelling with each other, waiting for the next hand out . if I go away for a few days I have to make alternative arrangements for them so they don't go without. Once you start being too generous, then they come to expect it as their right, and seem to resent the fact that I am not around to feed them. Its a form of socialism on my part, but I do wonder sometimes if I have made a rod for my own back, and not being as beneficial to their natural way of life as I think I am. There is a moral in the story there somewhere. Very true We feed the squirrels as well, in the end the population will swell to just be higher than the available food. There will always be some going hungry, bit sad really but it's really a wonderful sight and more survive if more feed them. There is also the truism that feed birds and you will have rats near your home or maybe that is even more rats. Edited by Steve K, Dec 17 2014, 11:45 PM.



ACH1967	Dec 16 2014, 12:16 PM Post #4
Senior Member Posts: 4,226 Group: Members Member #56 Joined: Jul 24, 2014	People are not birds. In fact sometimes it is easy to get the impression that people are more concerned about the welfare of birds than they are for humans. I think the crux here is people seeing something as there right. For those who have put something in that should be the case. For those who have not it shouldn't. Still, at the end of the day a civilised society should support both. The moral of the story is...what kind of society do you want to live in.



Affa	Dec 16 2014, 12:49 PM Post #5
Senior Member Posts: 11,999 Group: Members Member #58 Joined: Jul 26, 2014	Tytoalba Dec 16 2014, 11:16 AM At this time of year I spend money on providing for the garden birds , especially as winter gets wore,, when the days are shorter and they fall on harder times, and there is a shortage of food for them. I am their food bank. I am careful not to put too much out, so that they do not become lazy and to dependent on me ,and they do not lose their ability to forage for themselves. I see it as a balancing act between being too generous, which could easily lead to me spending more than I can properly afford, and them becoming too dependent, lazy, and lacking in personal responsibility for their own needs, so that they just hang around in the trees and bushes quarrelling with each other, waiting for the next hand out . if I go away for a few days I have to make alternative arrangements for them so they don't go without. Once you start being too generous, then they come to expect it as their right, and seem to resent the fact that I am not around to feed them. Its a form of socialism on my part, but I do wonder sometimes if I have made a rod for my own back, and not being as beneficial to their natural way of life as I think I am. There is a moral in the story there somewhere. I had a blackbird that annually nested in my garden. And it did get very friendly, would come onto the step, into the kitchen, foraging. Weekdays we were up early and Blackie got his morning feed - week-ends we'd lie in and impatient Blackie would tap on the bedroom window to disturb our slumber. There's no moral here.



Affa	Dec 16 2014, 12:52 PM Post #6
Senior Member Posts: 11,999 Group: Members Member #58 Joined: Jul 26, 2014	Birds without wings are unable to fly. Clipping wings keeps other birds grounded. Oh, and if you want birds to lay eggs for you you make sure they are well tended.



Steve K	Dec 16 2014, 03:30 PM Post #7
Once and future cynic Posts: 33,990 Group: Admins Member #20 Joined: Jun 27, 2014	Affa Dec 16 2014, 12:49 PM I had a blackbird that annually nested in my garden. And it did get very friendly, would come onto the step, into the kitchen, foraging. Weekdays we were up early and Blackie got his morning feed - week-ends we'd lie in and impatient Blackie would tap on the bedroom window to disturb our slumber. There's no moral here. No moral? Well imho some good morality



krugerman	Dec 16 2014, 03:32 PM Post #8
Regular Member Posts: 1,152 Group: Members Member #11 Joined: Jun 27, 2014	The present government cuts the hedgerows where the birds feed, cuts the trees with the berries and nuts, then wonders why the birds are relying on handouts, infact they even say that the birds dont know how to forage for food properly. There is a moral to that story too



Affa	Dec 16 2014, 07:33 PM Post #9
Senior Member Posts: 11,999 Group: Members Member #58 Joined: Jul 26, 2014	Steve K Dec 16 2014, 03:30 PM Affa Dec 16 2014, 12:49 PM I had a blackbird that annually nested in my garden. And it did get very friendly, would come onto the step, into the kitchen, foraging. Weekdays we were up early and Blackie got his morning feed - week-ends we'd lie in and impatient Blackie would tap on the bedroom window to disturb our slumber. There's no moral here. No moral? Well imho some good morality Thanks Steve ....... it was a friendly bird, and that bit about tapping on the bedroom window to stir us into action is the real crazy thing imo. I've not known of such before. We have had what I named 'son of Blackie' return but he wasn't as friendly as dad. We have a cat these days, such amusements no longer exist for us. My daughter rescued the cat as a kitten, the litter destined for a short life if no-one wanted them ...... so it was and after a few weeks only, Oscar ended up with me. ...... and that's a whole other story.



papasmurf	Dec 16 2014, 07:56 PM Post #10
Senior Member Posts: 17,280 Group: Members Member #13 Joined: Jun 27, 2014	krugerman Dec 16 2014, 03:32 PM The present government cuts the hedgerows What are you on about?



Tytoalba	Dec 16 2014, 11:48 PM Post #11
Senior Member Posts: 7,586 Group: Members Member #36 Joined: Jun 29, 2014	krugerman Dec 16 2014, 03:32 PM The present government cuts the hedgerows where the birds feed, cuts the trees with the berries and nuts, then wonders why the birds are relying on handouts, infact they even say that the birds dont know how to forage for food properly. There is a moral to that story too There is now a legal restriction on when they can do the cutting, and it is not in the spring at bird nesting time. The roadside verges are only cut to a metre from the edge of the road, to protect wild flowers and plants, the source of food for many of our bees and insects.



Heinrich	Dec 17 2014, 06:30 AM Post #12
Regular Guy Posts: 2,920 Group: Members Member #51 Joined: Jul 22, 2014	Where I live, birds have wings and can fly wherever they want to find food.



papasmurf	Dec 17 2014, 08:49 AM Post #13
Senior Member Posts: 17,280 Group: Members Member #13 Joined: Jun 27, 2014	Tytoalba Dec 16 2014, 11:48 PM There is now a legal restriction on when they can do the cutting, and it is not in the spring at bird nesting time. But is NOT the government who does the cutting, it is the landowner. That accounts for why when I ride my motorcycle from St Keverne to Porthallow I have to ride the last two miles in the middle of the road. If it get much worse Porthallow will have to be supplied by sea.



RJD	Dec 17 2014, 08:56 AM Post #14
Prudence and Thrift Posts: 12,499 Group: Members Member #9 Joined: Jun 27, 2014	papasmurf Dec 16 2014, 07:56 PM krugerman Dec 16 2014, 03:32 PM The present government cuts the hedgerows What are you on about? Thats what MPs do with their tractors at the weekend.



Steve K	Dec 17 2014, 08:56 AM Post #15
Once and future cynic Posts: 33,990 Group: Admins Member #20 Joined: Jun 27, 2014	Heinrich Dec 17 2014, 06:30 AM Where I live, birds have wings and can fly wherever they want to find food. Well I live in the UK where everyday we take away more of the habitat that provides that food. Feeding birds may do little overall to redress that balance but every little helps



RJD	Dec 17 2014, 09:09 AM Post #16
Prudence and Thrift Posts: 12,499 Group: Members Member #9 Joined: Jun 27, 2014	I think there is a case that can be made that the Planet would fare better without humans. My wife feeds on a daily basis, two feral cats, ~5 pheasants, blue tits, chaffinches etc. with nuts and on the window sill grated cheese, three Seagulls and for 4 years a grey wagtail again on cheese. I think the badger must be dead as we have not seen him for 2 years, he was a nasty little bugger. About 80% of the bread we buy goes to the birds. Not seen a greenfinch for 2 years now or a siskin or blackcap for at least 5. She does the NSPB surveys and the small bird population here has been devastated to such an extent that we have not seen the sparrow-hawk pair, that use our garden as part of their territory, for months. A pair of buzzards nest at the very back of our woods every year. The killers are on the up, but the hard winter two years ago saw off our pairs of Magpies and mistelthrushes and the wrens disappeared years ago. Soon there will be 9b+ humans consuming, sh1tting and farting everywhere they can find space and scratch an existence at the expense of all others. Cull the lot of them.



disgruntled porker	Dec 17 2014, 09:36 AM Post #17
Older than most people think I am. Posts: 1,945 Group: Members Member #31 Joined: Jun 28, 2014	If only the initial post had anything remotely to do with actually feeding birds.



Affa	Dec 17 2014, 10:49 AM Post #18
Senior Member Posts: 11,999 Group: Members Member #58 Joined: Jul 26, 2014	ditto Edited by Affa, Dec 17 2014, 10:50 AM.



Steve K	Dec 17 2014, 10:31 PM Post #19
Once and future cynic Posts: 33,990 Group: Admins Member #20 Joined: Jun 27, 2014	disgruntled porker Dec 17 2014, 09:36 AM If only the initial post had anything remotely to do with actually feeding birds. IMHO the OP intended theme got the attention it deserved



Tytoalba	Dec 17 2014, 11:21 PM Post #20
Senior Member Posts: 7,586 Group: Members Member #36 Joined: Jun 29, 2014	disgruntled porker Dec 17 2014, 09:36 AM If only the initial post had anything remotely to do with actually feeding birds. Subliminal messaging can be quite effective



Marconi	Dec 18 2014, 12:05 AM Post #21
Regular Member Posts: 775 Group: Members Member #37 Joined: Jun 29, 2014	I recently spotted the rarest of rare birds in my area. A white woman driving a taxi. No moral, just a crap joke.



RJD	Dec 18 2014, 01:16 PM Post #22
Prudence and Thrift Posts: 12,499 Group: Members Member #9 Joined: Jun 27, 2014	Marconi Dec 18 2014, 12:05 AM I recently spotted the rarest of rare birds in my area. A white woman driving a taxi. No moral, just a crap joke. What was her parking skills like?



Marconi	Dec 18 2014, 11:23 PM Post #23
Regular Member Posts: 775 Group: Members Member #37 Joined: Jun 29, 2014	RJD Dec 18 2014, 01:16 PM Marconi Dec 18 2014, 12:05 AM I recently spotted the rarest of rare birds in my area. A white woman driving a taxi. No moral, just a crap joke. What was her parking skills like? Terrible. She ran over two Chinese people and got a ticket for parking on double yellows.



Tigger	Dec 18 2014, 11:47 PM Post #24
Senior Member Posts: 20,106 Group: Members Member #18 Joined: Jun 27, 2014	Tytoalba Dec 16 2014, 11:16 AM At this time of year I spend money on providing for the garden birds , especially as winter gets wore,, when the days are shorter and they fall on harder times, and there is a shortage of food for them. I am their food bank. I am careful not to put too much out, so that they do not become lazy and to dependent on me ,and they do not lose their ability to forage for themselves. I see it as a balancing act between being too generous, which could easily lead to me spending more than I can properly afford, and them becoming too dependent, lazy, and lacking in personal responsibility for their own needs, so that they just hang around in the trees and bushes quarrelling with each other, waiting for the next hand out . if I go away for a few days I have to make alternative arrangements for them so they don't go without. Once you start being too generous, then they come to expect it as their right, and seem to resent the fact that I am not around to feed them. Its a form of socialism on my part, but I do wonder sometimes if I have made a rod for my own back, and not being as beneficial to their natural way of life as I think I am. There is a moral in the story there somewhere. FFS! You turn the perfectly harmless pastime of feeding the birds into a parable about politics and the evils of socialism! How about this then, I might decide that some birds are pushing the less fortunate ones out of their way and taking far more food than they really need, I might also consider this an example of greed and decide that the sight of half a dozen bloated starlings is offensive and bad for all the other birds, to solve this problem I reach for my air rifle! Quack quack!



Tigger	Dec 18 2014, 11:51 PM Post #25
Senior Member Posts: 20,106 Group: Members Member #18 Joined: Jun 27, 2014	Tytoalba Dec 17 2014, 11:21 PM disgruntled porker Dec 17 2014, 09:36 AM If only the initial post had anything remotely to do with actually feeding birds. Subliminal messaging can be quite effective My message to you after that cheap shot opening post would contain no subliminal messages at all and be in perfectly plain English!



Steve K	Dec 19 2014, 05:10 PM Post #26
Once and future cynic Posts: 33,990 Group: Admins Member #20 Joined: Jun 27, 2014	Marconi Dec 18 2014, 11:23 PM RJD Dec 18 2014, 01:16 PM Marconi Dec 18 2014, 12:05 AM I recently spotted the rarest of rare birds in my area. A white woman driving a taxi. No moral, just a crap joke. What was her parking skills like? Terrible. She ran over two Chinese people and got a ticket for parking on double yellows.



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