Weather up north

[Bangersanmash 2,361]

Feeling abit down in the dumps. Last week the birds were gathering nest material together a few of the bullys courtin due to the sun being out and it feeling like spring. Now they seem to have just knocked off with it being dull an gloom the past few days and the temperature seems to have dropped back down. Anyone feeling the same guys.

[gnipper 5,944]

My canaries are starting to build up one by one but it's knocked my goldies off a bit, they were courting and playing with material.

[Bangersanmash 2,361]

It's mad because theres a pair of wild native goldies going hard at it in my back yard in conifers in an out with mouths full of material pal.

[gnipper 5,944]

I've seen wild ones paired up gathering material but it makes you wonder if it's because they are proven breeders, found a good food source or even if finding a good safe nest site can bring them on?

[Bangersanmash 2,361]

14 hours ago, gnipper said:

I've seen wild ones paired up gathering material but it makes you wonder if it's because they are proven breeders, found a good food source or even if finding a good safe nest site can bring them on?

True I've got 3 feeders up full of nigers seed lol. And a row of conifers up back of my yard. Gold crests ,goldfinches ,Blue titts grey titts , coal titts  ,robins , woodys , doves. But many magies that are waiting for the pick offs of the smaller birds young. But that's nature's ruthless ways I guess. But your right food source an habitat is good here mate.  

Edited April 1, 2020 by Bangersanmash

[fireman 10,774]

On 31/03/2020 at 19:12, gnipper said:

I've seen wild ones paired up gathering material but it makes you wonder if it's because they are proven breeders, found a good food source or even if finding a good safe nest site can bring them on?

They may well be older pairs as such but there is also so much more live food out there to help with the protein needs of producing eggs and rearing young,most finches will feed more life food than they will seed food as there ain't many seeds about this time of year.The dandilions ae nearly ready and there's a few buds blooming but it's the live food access the wild birds have that put them ahead of captive birds..Go out with a umbrella and shake some branches and long grasses,nettles,dock's etc and collect all that falls into it into a tub and just chuck it all on a tray and watch the birds feed on the tiny insects and spiders that you will catch,it may well surprise you how much a seed eater eats live food..

[gnipper 5,944]

21 hours ago, fireman said:

They may well be older pairs as such but there is also so much more live food out there to help with the protein needs of producing eggs and rearing young,most finches will feed more life food than they will seed food as there ain't many seeds about this time of year.The dandilions ae nearly ready and there's a few buds blooming but it's the live food access the wild birds have that put them ahead of captive birds..Go out with a umbrella and shake some branches and long grasses,nettles,dock's etc and collect all that falls into it into a tub and just chuck it all on a tray and watch the birds feed on the tiny insects and spiders that you will catch,it may well surprise you how much a seed eater eats live food..

The old boy I got my first dog off used to drag a butterfly net through long grass and tip it in his aviaries, I don't even know what birds he had as i wasnt into them back then but I remember there was some british in there. Also bringing loads of green stuff back from along the marsh bank.