Disturbingly Quiet

[woodelf]

I know the birds have got lots to do to ready themselves for the coming season, but don't you find it disturbingly quiet where you are? All we've got here is the brief delight of a robin or two, the seemingly ever-present collared dove and the repellent and repugnant magpie, all else is silent, especially our "alarm clock" of a blackbird, which usually manages to sing the whole day through!...very disturbing, the silence I mean, not the song! Anyone else notice it? Ta Muchly and Keep Well All.

[Barsel]

I heard some pigeons coughing in Manchester this morning.

[Tilly2]

All the young sparrows and starlings have stopped begging food from their parents. No more chirpy chirpy cheep cheep.
Quietness descends on our garden when the sparrow hawk is about.

[woodelf]

Yeah Barsel, it's all dem Woodbines - and that awful shadow which haunts the garden is very creepy Tilly, eh!

[Tilly2]

I don't mind the sparrowhawk but I wish she would go somewhere else to eat her dinner. Those feathers and bits of bony blood are a pain to clear away.

[carolegif]

I have noticed a distinct lack of birds (apart from seagulls and magpies) in our garden in the last couple of weeks. I wondered if it was the warm, dry weather. Have they all decamped to the local stream? It is rather worrying. Our bird feeder has been deserted.

[david small]

We’ve still got sparrows, crows, pidgins, and a robin. Plus innumerable seagulls who delight in targeting my car.

[ferlew]

Aren't they all just recovering from the breeding season, and growing their new feathers?

[woodelf]

Yes they have Ferlew, but it's been a very long time, more than usual and the influx of seagulls here too doesn't help either!

[Canary42]

The tweeting of birds has one of two functions - warning or courting. The courting season is over, so inevitably birdsong declines.

P.S. To validate this analysis, I would claim the youngsters crying for food is a warning of their hunger ;-)

[melv16]

Birds sing to attract a mate or to proclaim a territory. As they have bred there's no reason to sing.
Flocking birds usually have a contact call or an alarm call to warn of predators.
Robins keep their territory all year round, hence the singing.

[rowanwitch]

Sitting in the local park, mostly alarm calls but the buzzards were still calling, and robins and blackbirds singing. Heard wrens, jays, magpies, crows, blue, great and long tailed tits, also nuthatch, Canada geese calling as they flew over, as well as herring and black headed gulls. Greater spotted woodpeckers were drumming too. Less than I heard a month ago but still a fair bit of activity.

[woodelf]

Blimey Rowan, how lucky for you - where were you?...as if you'd say, of course...smile!

[Hopkirk]

Plenty of birds where we live, including a little wren who takes pleasure annoying our cat.

[rowanwitch]

Happy to give a general location, South West Birmingham, on the outskirts, so many green spaces nearby I am spoiled for choice. Close to a large Country park, and two reservoirs, so very good local birding most of the year. It will go quiet in a few weeks when the house martins and swifts leave, but then it's not long til we get redwings, and fieldfares. The tawny owls will be calling soon as the young females start establishing territories so it will be all keewik, and no whoo hooo

[burlyshirley]

I always notice this at this time of year. The birds who come to feed in my small garden tail away for a while. The two blackbirds I had have totally disappeared, I even think the male came on the last day to let me know he would be gone when he's had a feed ! He did something he had never done before, he hopped along the fence almost up to my kitchen window as if to ask for some mealworms (his favourite) and I immediately went out to give him some. He came down to eat, had a drink of water and I haven't seen him since. I ALWAYS miss the blackbirds when they go, get a bit teary if I'm honest ! Not seen any tits for a while and the sparrows are starting to get more scarce. I don't worry any more though as I know once winter starts to kick in, they'll be back.

[woodelf]

What a wonderful place Rowan, totally envious - and it's good to know the birds are fighting back, Hopkirk!

[Barmaid]

It is certainly quieter, but I sat outside all day yesterday and there was still the robins and the wrens, the house martins twittering above after a fly hatch, goldfinches squabbling on the feeder, great tits and blue tits around, the green woodpecker yaffling away at the end of the garden, Phil the drummer (the greater spotted woody) bashing his brains out in one of the ash trees. Hundreds of blinkin wood pigeons and collared doves. Buzzards mewing overhead together with red kites.

[woodelf]

I must be living in the wrong place - possibly wrong era!...and I'm not mistaking that for area!...smile!...don't worry Shirl, he'll be back!

[Arksided]

I'm not a twittered enough to notice. Ravens (Hang around me all the time and still about) Magpies get more salutes than any officer ever has, more instinct than superstition.

I have noticed the lack of racing pigeons (I'm ooop north) thank flock staying off my roof etc..