The Minkey

"I think I heard something on the radio last week about ?blackbirds learning new behaviours so as to use the feeders. Any pioneers sighted locally?" Last year I had a male blackbird which learned to flutter up at the fat feeder and knock bits off with its beak, also a magpie balancing on top of it and a robin hovering like a humming-bird to get at the fat - though not all at the same time.

It wouldn't bother me in the slightest if someone took something from my skip or something I'd left out on the pavement, nor would I think any the less of them. If someone can make use of something I no longer have a use for then that's great, good luck to them. On the other hand, taking something that is clearly within the boundaries of someone's property is theft.

It's lucky my neighbour has 2 large green bins as she doesn't bother with recycling so they're stuffed full to overflowing every fortnight.

Ball

I agree about the 999 call - it's strictly for emergencies.

Yes, with this cold snap the local wildlife is certainly beginning to home in on my feeders again. The garden has been positively flowing with squirrels today, six at one point. No idea about the Yew berries - I found a link which said that the Reds can eat them but the Greys can't, which seems to be disproved by your observations. Interestingly, they're able to identify which cats are dangerous and which are not. They run rings round a pretty tortoise shell visitor known in our house as Crap Cat as it has absolutely no concept of stalking or pouncing. A pair of Greater Spotted Woodpeckers have claimed the fat feeder, while the Blue Tits and Great Tits dart in and out grabbing sunflower seeds. The parakeets are in daily now, a stunning sight against a backdrop of hard frost.

If he liked d.i.y sort of stuff, doing something with his hands might be good. Would he be allowed a craft knife to do something like whittling/carving?

boom

There's only one way to settle this..

In a cemetery?

So, the Jay has become a daily visitor thanks to the peanuts. This morning I watched it more carefully - it nabbed 35 peanuts in one go!

I hang mine off the washing line in a cage thing made for suet cakes. It's not so hard to prevent foxes getting it, just dangle it from something higher up, squirrels are a different matter because they can climb vertical surfaces and jump a few feet horizontally. My lot haven't yet worked out how to make their way along the line but I've seen footage of squirrels navigating quite sophisticated assault courses to get at something they really want. Best take any netting off because birds can become trapped by it.

Whoops, just re-read your post, Louisianna and realised you mean it needs to be transplanted further than 2m from the house. I grew one in a pot for few years and it did quite well - like a bonsai oak - until I forgot to water it one particularly hot summer :-( The birds are back in my garden at last. This morning I looked out to see fourteen parakeets, one greater spotted woodpecker and the jay :-)

I'd plant an oak a lot further than 2ms from the house if I were you, Louisiana. They grow very big and the roots will play havoc with your foundations. On the subject of Jays, I have one who comes daily to gather the peanuts on the ground feeder. Although the feeder has a cage to deter pigeon action, it hops straight through which I didn't think it would being quite cautious birds (or so I thought). It's quite interesting to watch as it fills its gullet all the way through to the end of its beak until it looks for all the world like its sporting a fine set of red teeth. I did an idle count today and it had managed to cram in 14 before being disturbed by a squirrel.

The sort community-minded people who would clear up their own snow/leaves etc most probably already do so. Excluding those who are unable to wield a shovel, the rest would appear to prefer to run the risk of breaking an arm/leg during the daily slip-slide to and from the house to spending a little time dealing with it themselves BECAUSE that's what they pay their Council Tax for. Crazy but true, folks.

Rebecca was the only flawless performance - what a beautiful cover. Both Matt & One Direction started off wobbly and picked up. Of the latter two, Matt's was the better vocal performance, imo.

What is this strange language in which you speak?

Seems appropriate to also put out a warning that people should count the cash that comes out the machine. I've always assumed it will be correct and haven't always checked it, but last week I withdrew ?100 from an HSBC cashpoint and found only ?80 had come out. A quick investigation revealed a note stuck in the machine - luckily there was just enough protruding to get grip on it and pull the rest of it through.

That boy can hold a mean tune. Lovely performance.

Also 'day time' should be one word i.e. daytime. Sorry - nothing else constructive to offer apart from to wish you well :-)

Ditto - straight into recycling.

Meanwhile, a certain herb used in Chinese medecine has been proven to be effective against malaria: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn4079-chinese-herb-reveals-vital-malaria-weakness.html "Derived from the Chinese herb qinghao, or sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua), the extracts have already saved millions of patients in south-east Asia who would otherwise have suffered or died when conventional drugs failed." And Neem, used extensively in Ayurvedic medicine, has been shown to have broad health applications: http://www.springerlink.com/content/w098358005m2q087/

Not to mention the child allowance..

Still knocking round my way - don't despair!

Not seen it, but what a good idea. I've only ever seen a kingfisher once in this country, down by Beverley Brook in Richmond Park.