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Discover Some Fascinating Insights Into The Avian World!
Birds are remarkable creatures that bring joy and colour to our lives, especially when we provide them with the right environment, using Bird feeders as they play a crucial role in attracting a diverse array of feathered friends to our gardens and outdoor spaces. From the traditional bird feeder to the innovative squirrel-proof bird feeder and the charming hanging bird feeder, these feeders offer a delightful way to observe and interact with our flying companions.
Scroll down to explore more about robins and our collection of fun facts about birds and deepen your appreciation for these enchanting creatures.
Robin
With its vibrant red breast, the robin is a beloved bird in the UK, recognised year-round and strongly associated with Christmas. Robins can be found everywhere, from Christmas cards to biscuit tins, due to their widespread popularity and iconic representation in various forms of art and decor.
Despite identical appearances between males and females, young robins lack the iconic red breast, instead sporting golden-brown spots. Known for singing throughout the year, robins exhibit aggressive territorial behavior, swiftly defending their space from intruders. Interestingly, they are also known to sing near street lights even at night.
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Incredible Ability of Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds are known to be able to hover and fly backwards for significant amount of time as well as forward, due to their unique wing structure and specialised flying abilities. Their wings move in a figure-eight pattern, allowing them to perform these intricate manoeuvres. not only are they able to fly backward these incredible bird species can even fly upside down.
how astonishing !!
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what exactly is figure 8 pattern ?
Hummingbirds achieve their remarkable hovering ability by sweeping their wings primarily in a horizontal motion. This motion creates a figure-eight pattern that pushes air in various directions—forward, backward, and downward—resulting in the generation of lift force during both the forward and backward strokes of the wings.
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How to attract humming bird:
hummingbird feeders will help to attract hummingbirds if there are any in your area. additionally fruits and water is also effective.
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Grow sunflowers:
Sunflowers offer a variety of sizes, shapes, and colours, and are easily grown from seed. They serve as a valuable nectar source for hummingbirds during late summer and early fall.
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Additional plants you can grow:
Bee balm - salvia- penstemon -fuchsia - lantana - columbine, and trumpet vine, can be grown in the UK.
( consider the specific climate conditions in your area to ensure that these plants will thrive.)
Amazing Facts About Crows ​
Intelligence: Crows are known to be highly intelligent birds. They are capable of solving complex problems, using tools, and even recognising individual human faces.
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Mimicry:
Crows are excellent mimics and can imitate the sounds of other animals and even human speech. Some crows have been known to mimic car alarms or the calls of other bird species.
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Social Behaviour:
Crows are social birds and often form large, noisy groups. They have complex social structures and strong family bonds.
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Tool Use:
Crows are one of the few bird species known to use tools. They have been observed using sticks, leaves, and even their own feathers to extract insects from crevices or to access food.
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Longevity:
Crows have relatively long lifespans for birds, with some individuals living up to 20 years or more in the wild.
Overall, crows are remarkable and adaptable birds, with a wide range of behaviours and characteristics that make them truly intriguing to study.
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More Facts
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Chickadees:
Chickadees are small, energetic birds known for their distinctive "chick-a-dee-dee-dee" call. They have excellent memories and can remember where they hide thousands of seeds.
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Homing Pigeons:
Pigeons are known for their incredible homing abilities. They can find their way home from distances of up to 1,100 miles away and navigate using the Earth's magnetic field. they can travel up to 50 miles an hour to up even 90 miles. this ability has made them valuable as messengers
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Goldcrest:
The Goldcrest is the smallest bird in Europe, measuring only about 9 cm long. This tiny bird can weigh as little as a 5p coin adults weigh as much as 20 p coin.
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Lyrebird:
The Superb Lyrebird of Australia is known for its amazing mimicry abilities. It can accurately replicate the sounds of chainsaws, camera shutters, car alarms, and even other bird species' calls.
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Owl Sound Absorption:
Owls have special feathers on their wings and body that help to muffle the sound of their flight, allowing them to swoop down silently on their prey.
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Life Of Blue Tit
February
In February, Blue Tits begin the quest for a secure and cozy spot to construct their nest. The chosen location is crucial, ensuring a direct flight path to the nest's entrance hole and minimal accessibility to predators. Additionally, forming a strong bond with a suitable partner ranks high on their list of priorities during this period.
March
In March, as the breeding season commences, birds must be in optimal condition. By offering bird food in the garden, such as sunflower seeds, a crucial source of nutrients and energy is provided. This sustenance is essential for females to lay eggs and ensures both parents maintain good health to adequately feed their chicks.
April
In April, the female Blue Tit constructs the nest independently, receiving minimal assistance from the male. She collects materials such as moss from garden lawns, shaping them into a cup structure. The nest is considered finished once it is lined with soft feathers, fur, or wool.
Blue Tits are capable of completing a nest within a few days, yet typically, the process lasts between one and two weeks.
Early May
During early May, the female Blue Tit undergoes a taxing period, laying one egg daily. Blue Tits exhibit one of the largest clutch sizes among birds, with clutch sizes reaching up to 16 eggs; however, most clutches consist of 8 to 12 eggs. The eggs are characterised by a smooth, glossy white surface adorned with patches of reddish-brown spots of differing densities, measuring about 16 mm by 12 mm in size.
Mid May
In mid-May, the female Blue Tit plucks feathers from her abdomen to form a bare patch known as a brood patch, rich in blood vessels. This specialised patch aids in keeping the eggs warm while she begins incubation. She initiates incubation one day before the clutch is fully laid, and she remains on the eggs for approximately two weeks until they are ready to hatch towards the end of May.
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Throughout this incubation period, Provided she partnered with a good mate , the male will provide her with food deliveries. similarly if adult female tit made the wrong choice she will have to get her own food...However, despite this assistance, the female will still need to venture out of the nest regularly during the day to feed herself. ( hanging Garden bird feeders have helped many Blue tit in the process of finding foods in the uk in the nesting periods )
Late May
Towards the end of May, Blue Tit chicks hatch without feathers and with closed eyes. This delicate stage leaves them highly susceptible, particularly to cold temperatures, prompting the female to frequently brood them for warmth. Harsh weather conditions, characterised by cold and rain, can pose challenges in locating sufficient caterpillars to nourish the growing chicks.
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Furthermore data indicates a trend of earlier springs attributed to climate change, leading to early leaf growth on trees. This early emergence provides an early food source for caterpillars, resulting in their peak abundance occurring sooner in the year compared to previous years.
Although Blue Tits have adjusted their breeding habits to align with the earlier spring, their timing has not fully synchronised with the peak caterpillar abundance.
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Although in this article ( Nurturing Nature ) we wrote some bird population is soaring in Britain due to bird lovers taking care of them, there are many bird species population declining due to the climate change. ( click here ) to view the article on this topic.
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End of May to June
Feeding the new chicks can pose a challenge for the female Blue Tit, as each chick can consume up to 100 caterpillars per day. If you multiply this by the 10 chicks in the nest, the female needs to provide a total of 1,000 caterpillars daily, which is incredibly demanding on her.
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Furthermore, maintaining nest cleanliness is another responsibility for the adult Blue Tit.
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With ongoing care and feeding, by the end of May, the chicks begin to develop feathers, reaching a length that nearly enables them to take flight.
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During the months of May and June, Blue Tits experience a period of high activity. They diligently care for rapidly growing chicks, leading to a constant need for food. These months also signal the conclusion of their breeding season.
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in early June chicks will start poking their heads out, making an entrance to the world outside the nest. At this stage ( early June ) they are approx 18 to 22 day old.
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from June to end of July the chicks continue to stay with the parents learning to find food and avoid predators.
So watch out if you do notice small chicks at your feeder just know that your feeders are helping the new born chicks !! ( remember clean hanging bird seed feeders are essential, if you truly care for wild life birds . . .
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Rest Of The Months
Blue Tits typically exhibit sedentary behavior, often remaining in the vicinity where they were hatched during the winter months. Nonetheless, some Blue Tits do partake in migration, meaning that those observed during winter may have originated or bred in other regions of northern Europe.
Winter proves to be a challenging period for numerous species, with Blue Tits being no exception. Urban-dwelling Blue Tits heavily depend on the supplementary food provided in gardens during this season, while also utilising nest boxes for shelter, particularly during night time.
Other Similar Species
Creating a Haven for Blue Tits
A Guide for Bird Lovers
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Having a bird house for blue tit is like having a pet without taking its freedom, allowing them to roam the nature and returning to the bird house. Furthermore since in most cases they remain in the area they hatched, we can safely assume that hatched eggs in your back yard will probably remain in that area. ​
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If you'r feeding them in your backyard in addition to having a bird house, you will probably be feeding the same family for many years....
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