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'.

Red Kites are doing REALLY well at the moment

now we just need the shooting estates to stop poisoning Goshawks

There are more birds in the garden: robins, parrows, thrushes, blackbirds, finches galore and the birdsong is awesome and very noticeable. There are also clearer skies and brighter and more obvious stars.

Notably we live 11 miles from central London and whilst the area is urban e re lso close to many many wide open spaces. We are also equidistant from LGW and LHR an 20 mins from the M25.

I have also noticed more bees and butterflies.

Less traffic, less pollution lead to a slight increase and exponential awareness.

Also I usually leave the house by 7.30am and return at about 7.45pm and dash about all weekend.

there are more feral pigeons in our suburban garden and that they are looking a lot healthier

We have a pair of wood pigeons nesting in some ivy that grows up an old post in the garden (I haven't the heart to do anything about the post or the ivy, as I don't want to make them homeless).

They are really plump! One of them has a body that's so round, it looks like he's been inflated. I think he has trouble taking off, he's so fat.

OP, I had a similar experience with some crows yesterday. They were seeming to want to communicate with me in an unusual way. I put it down to them not getting their usual treats from people.

My DS loves birds! After I took this picture he was running around between them all and they barely moved. We both got within touching distance of one and it just hopped off along the fence. Was quite surreal

Can't say I have noted the sparrows whom I put a feeder out for behaving any differently to be honest .

It's the sound of spring! fighting and fucking everywhere you look! I delight in showing my teenagers - look at those Robins fighting over a girl - give them an asbo! Look look pigeons at it in the garden the dirty beasts - call 101!

Not really- our garden is always quite busy with birds- but I think that I can hear them better because less traffic etc.

I tell you what I have noticed though- and that’s the number of bees- big fat bumble bees particularly. Far more than I’ve seen any other year living here- we’ve had at least two pop into the house every day for the last four days- and the garden is packed.

Obviously they haven’t suddenly been born in the last month, so I don't know if it’s just the combination of good weather and the forget me nots doing well this year- but it’s been lovely to see.

Please do not confuse Wood Pigeons with street pigeons (Rock Doves) or Collared doves.

I have wood pigeons in mt garden but the city centre rock doves do not come to gardens at all

The juvenile white crows are quite impressive

It's spring. Birds will be paying loads of attention to mating, fighting over territories and building nests and not really focusing on human presence.

You are probably more aware of their behaviour because there are less people around, there are fewer distractions and it is less noisy with a decreased level of traffic.

Less people around , less traffic. To scare them away

Yes I think you’re right OP we’ve noticed them quieter and not eating all their food which is normally gone in a day.

There's one species of bird whose call (to my daughter) sounds like a the noise a lorry makes when it's reversing.

Blackbirds mimic sounds they hear and incorporate them into their songs. This includes reversing lorry sounds!

https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/ask-an-expert/previous/mimichumann_whistle.aspx

Cornet - interested in your comment that birds are planning to take over the world. Do you think that we might have a fat, lazy bird-brain running the country? Oh hang on a minute.....,.

We are in London and most birds are doing well but I haven’t seen as many parakeets this year.

We had a load of clueless juvenile magpies in the garden a couple of days ago.

We feed all winter then I stop feeding in the spring as the food runs out but keep a water bowl.

I have also seen more butterflies as we have been watering prior to planting and they are attracted by the damp soil.

Have seen a few dead birds. Like they just dropped, not mauled or anything. Batteries must've gone.

Also squirrels, racing about, seemingly less nervy around people, allowing people to get a bit closer than (seemingly) usual.

They’ve been darkened on once too often and they’re banding together to defend against marauding spiders and their willies

Not only is it Spring and the good weather has got the wildlife out and about while the sun lasts, but you have also got more time to notice them.

In addition, wild birds and animals react much better when the air is cleaner and when there are far fewer people about, and life is quieter (less traffic, aircraft noise, factory and road noise). I wish it would last but sadly it wont.....we'll go back to our usual lives which impacts badly on the natural world.

I’ve noticed loads more birds - it’s lovely. I keep on seeing some lovely little yellow-ish ones I’ve never noticed before.
I think the fact there are no planes / cars could be having an effect and making them braver.

@LyingWitchInTheWardrobe Your daughter might be right! In the eighties, starlings used to do a perfect imitation of the trim phone. It was very annoying to rush indoors to answer the phone, only to find it was the local starling again!

We had grouse/partridge/something fat and birdy on our drive this morning.

We don’t live on a grand country estate or anything.

They're desperate for food right now I know that much. Especially the town birds, pigeons etc whose main source of food came from people dropping fast food litter etc. Obviously the abundance of food (( litter )) caused the birdie population to grow and now all that's gone. Our local wildlife page has.put an appeal out for people to leave food.

Our back garden is alive with birds at the moment. I think the 'au naturel' approach we take to gardening encourages them as they have lots of bramble and bushes to hang out in.

There are definitely more birds than previous years and the garden is no messier than usual.

Gulls must be missing the tourists

I've noticed a lot more dead animals on the main roads, just like there used to be years ago. I think it's because there's so little traffic again, that they are not warned to keep away, and wander out to be hit by a car.