Is it me or are the birds behaving strangely?

[username108]

I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but the birds seem to be much more tame and less afraid. When I went for my daily walk yesterday, there were a few blackbirds in my path that didn't seem that bothered i was there- when normally they would fly off or move a fair distance. They also seem to be singing and fighting a lot more. It's fucking weird. It all feels like Alfred Hitchcock's 'the birds'.

Its called spring

No, I haven't noticed. The only the I've noticed something similar, there was an earthquake the next day (probably a coincidence)

Haven't they just had their batteries changed?

Ethel is right. With fresh batteries they don’t have to go into ‘energy saving’ mode yet. Enjoy!

Haven’t they just had their batteries changed?

Brilliant. I was going to write the same thing. Some people are just bonkers but to answer your question OP, no, it was just one bird. As another poster rightly pointed out, it’s Spring and they’re either mating, feeding young or fighting for food.

It's their hormones, they're preoccupied with thoughts of sex and babies .
There were 2 collared doves fighting in the garden yesterday, viciously slamming into each other with claws out. They were totally oblivious to me and the dog a few feet away.

They've been weaponised by the 5G masts.

The pigeons round here have become cocky little buggers. Driving to work the other day (essential obvs) and I approached one in the middle of the road expecting it to do the usual last minute dodge but it just sat there till I beeped it.

I think they’re preparing to take over the world... or protesting about the lack of usual scraps they get from littering.

We are surrounded by new crows. Very odd

I have noticed the same. Loads more birds in our garden and around. I was able to get some pretty close up pictures before they flew away which I’ve never been able to before!

Maybe they’re happier because of the cleaner air, They can breathe better.

They can smell and hear because the level of pollution and industrial noise has dropped.

Hopefully insect populations might recover a teeny bit (they are down around 80% from 40 years ago) and give the birds something to eat.

Enjoy the clean air and clear skies while they last.

Less traffic on the roads to scare them. You’d be amazed the difference something apparently small can make. Plus you are at home and probably just noticing them more. Take off your tinfoil hat.

I have noticed a difference though, there’s two little finches that are nesting nearby and they are coming to the window looking in at us. I think it’s to remind us they want feeding. They don’t fly away when we go outside.

Yeah, it's spring. All that singing is either to attract a mate or to proclaim their territory.
Basically they're shouting 'fuck me' or 'fuck off'.
(Apologies, I rarely swear in writing but in this context it's apposite).

You're probably noticing them more because there's less background noise.

We have a pigeon that’s been coming in to eat the cat’s food. First time it’s happened in the nine years we’ve had the cat. With the cooler weather though we will close the door.

I think you probably notice it more because there’s less traffic and noise in general.

I noticed they seem braver too. Let u get really close! Also where I live loads of crows suddenly and the crows are fighting off the seagulls.

Contagion came true . Now it’s the turn of Zoo.

They are definitely louder. We are surrounded by woodland and it’s really noticeable, it’s not just the time of year. I think it’s a combination of not competing with traffic noise and maybe the air being cleaner?

I would think that lockdown will affect he behaviour of much of nature. Less people around, less pollution and noise from cars. I think it will be fascinating to look back on all this and see all the long reaching effects it all had. Look at the goats in the welsh village! So yeh, I imagine there is a change in the birds 🙂

They are in mating season and it may just be the first year you have had chance to stop and be so aware of what is going on around you. A daily walk has never been party of most people's routine and it is making people more mindful of things.

We were saying the same yesterday. We have been in our house quite a few years and I cant remember there being quite so many around or them being quite so noisy in previous years. DH thinks it's because there is less traffic around to drown their noise out