Garden Birds April / May 2009
This a great time in the garden for birds! Since early March, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and Robins have been singing early in the morning to proclaim their territories. Now all the other birds are joining in- from the “squeaky shopping trolley” of the Great Tit to the explosive bursts of the Wren and Dunnock. Early morning is filled with birdsong, the lighter it gets the earlier they start! All are looking very smart and bright in their breeding plumages - male Chaffinches in particular.
By now Robins, Blackbirds, Dunnocks and Song Thrushes will be well into their first broods and by the end of April will be fledging their first chicks.
This is a very important time to feed birds, as the adult birds need to be in excellent condition to be able to breed. Particularly in April, as there is still little natural food for many of the birds, especially if the weather is cold, as this limits the amount of available insects. When chicks hatch the adult birds can visit feeding stations for high energy fats and seed for themselves, giving them time and energy to search for insects, worms and caterpillars for their chicks. It is important, however, to put out peanuts in feeders only, as an inexperienced Blue or Great Tit may try and feed a whole peanut to its chicks, especially if caterpillars are in short supply, and this would kill them.
Another visitor to the garden, who has been putting in regular visits, is the Sparrowhawk. If you have garden feeders with lots of birds, then this opportunistic hawk, will put in an appearance. As young fledglings start to emerge, they make an easy target for this garden predator, who will have chicks of their own to feed. Some people find this upsetting, but I love to see this Hawk flash through the garden and they only rarely make a kill. If you are really lucky the adults may bring one of their chicks into your garden, where they just sit and look at the other birds!
The exciting part of these two months, is the return of the summer migrants. By early April the Sand Martins are back and I eagerly await the arrival of their cousins. Swallows usually arrive in the first half of April, followed late in April by House Martins and lastly; when Swifts are screaming around the garden, I know summer has arrived! Many Warblers are also arriving here to breed and travel right across the country, so it is possible that anything may drop into your garden for a rest, food or drink. Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers Whitethroats and Blackcaps are most likely.
