They have
been around, but not as often as in previous years when feeding growing
youngsters. I fear a combination of the cool conditions and a lack of food has
badly affected the chicks.
I've
heard of a friend's nestbox with great tits in that all eight chicks died,
mainly as a result of lack of food. This meant the parents were then bringing
in the wrong type of food and the chicks starving.
I'm sure
all types of wildlife have been bewildered by the weather in April and May,
especially after the lovely sunny and warm conditions in March.
There
does seem to be a hint of better conditions next week, but is this too late to
save the inevitable population crash of many smalls birds and of course other
birds that rely on naive fledglings to feed their own hungry youngsters.
Only time
will tell, but I'll be checking my nestbox this weekend and hoping for some
good news.
In light
of the cold weather I've put peanuts out again and fat snacks, but only until
it warms up, then the mealworms will be back on the menu.
Perhaps I
should have bought mealworms earlier, but it would have been quite expensive to
provide all the birds with enough over the recent weeks.
Today I
had the canny magpies and crows visiting, after they spotted I'd left an opened
back of peanuts in the garden.
The crows
were dominant, but even they were scared of the tub holding the fat snacks
which the peanuts were on. It was very amusing watching them dart to get the
peanuts, but close their eyes in panic at being near the tub.
In
positive news I did see a robin chick in the garden this week, although only
one and I've not seen it since.
The
swallows are still about, but I think they've delayed nesting until enough
flying insects are about to feed their youngsters.
This weekend could be pivotal to
how wildlife is able to bring new life in to this world and survive.
Let's hope
the weather is helpful and gives them all a chance.
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