Dead birds

[WhattheFishappening]

Our garden has quite a few large shrubs, bushes and densely planted areas, different areas on different levels so not just flat grass and borders if you see what I mean.

It seems to be a garden where birds go to die or be killed and I can’t cope with it.

AIBU to think this is not normal or does everyone have this problem?

Every time I go out I find another dead bird.

We don’t have cats but neighbours do.

I have a bit of a phobia when it comes to birds. Actually, more than I bit. I hate them & can’t go near them.
It’s a problem I’ve had for as long as I can remember so I’m wondering if the fact that we have dead birds in our garden regularly bothers me more because of this.

What I want to know is:
Is it normal to have weekly bird deaths in your garden? Does this happen to everyone?

Adopt
Thank you for that! One thing about lockdown is that I have been watching the seasons change in the garden.
I have noticed exactly that. More ‘live’ birds over the last few weeks. Lots of different bird song.

I wish they didn’t frighten me.
The only one I can watch is the robin.

OP, do you have some large trees nearby? If so, maybe there are nesting birds above your garden, and some of the fledglings have fallen to their death when they left the nest for their first flight. Spring and early summer is the time this will happen, so hopefully the numbers will decrease soon.

Do you or your neighbours have cats? If so, they will use your shrubs as cover when hunting birds. Domestic cats can be prolific hunters, no matter how well fed they are, but don't often eat the birds. It's a shame, but there's not much you can do about a cat's inate instinct.

Birds freak me out a bit too, so I understand your feelings, to a point. I particularly dislike the crows that live nearby - they are noisy and very aggressive to other birds. The way they behave always reminds me of that old Hitchcock film, The Birds. (If you've never seen it - don't watch it, it'll make your phobia 10 times worse!) So, you'd think I might have been glad when I found a dead crow fledgling in our garden one day, but I found it really disturbing, as though the bird was quite large it had lots of patches of bare skin, with just a few feathers, so was nowhere near ready to fly. I felt suddenly sad, to see it struck down before its life had really begun. I had to get DH to dispose of that one.

Most birds are very unlikely to harm humans, and are often frightened of them. Perhaps you could remove a few shrubs and have an open patio/gravel area, so that you have a clear ooen space with no cover for cats to hunt? Also, you'd be able to spot any bird there very easily, and could get DH to remove it.

Sunbathing
A sprinkler! That’s a good idea.... Now - doe an intermittent sprinkler need a plug?

I wonder if you make the garden cat-unfriendly if that might help.

My cats are belled & still take birds. :(

Id look into as many cat repellants as possible. Cut up oranges or other citrus fruits scattered around, lion poo pellets, sprinklers, those things that emit noises only cats can hear - whatever works. Block up any routes you notice cats using into your garden. I hate my neighbors cats, if it isn't dead animals and birds it's shit everywhere.

Defen
Thank you!
They seem to be adult birds. Tonight’s is a blackbird. The noise coming from other birds (I’m guessing when it happened) was awful.

I thing getting rid of the shrubs is the answer because I think the cats must be lying in wait -as you say, hidden.

Chewchew

I’m definitely going to look at the sprinkler idea.

No, I am SO SO sympathetic re the bird thing. Dead birds, doubly so! There seems to have been a recent flurry of young fledglings. Do you ever hear them in your garden? Parent birds will usually make a screeching noise if they see a cat/other predator (it is quite hard to miss).

I have tried really really hard since having kids and I can just about cope with dealing with a dead bird with a dustpan and brush (and gloves).

I hope the summer improves for you.

Are they whole dead birds as cats tend to play with them but leave them fairly in one piece, if a sparrowhawk gets them it’s more like a bloody massacre with bits, blood and feathers strewn around

OP, my friends cat could easily cause the amount of dead birds you're describing, she's lethal. She's tried everything - so many bells at one point I wondered how puss could even lift her head. This is the latest idea - and, touch wood, it seems to be working: www.birdsbesafe.com/
Doesn't help you I know, but if you do find the cat/owner could be something to suggest.

madcats
I have tried really really hard since having kids and I can just about cope with dealing with a dead bird with a dustpan and brush (and gloves).

I just can’t. Birds are my biggest fear/problem but Unfortunately it extends to all animals. I can’t hold cats, rabbits, Guinea pigs. I can’t stroke dogs, hold lambs, feed chickens... I guess I have a big problem.

I can avoid all of the above but I can’t avoid the birds. Especially the dead ones in my garden!!!!

Seconding making your garden less easy for the cat to hunt in. Bells don't work.
I have two cats who are ferocious hunters. They still get very many rodents but only one or two birds a year.
Sprinklers operate from the pressure of the water from the tap. No plug needed. But it is a bit wasteful of water.
Look up cat deterrents. Apparently lion poo is a good one!

Loving
Yes they’re whole.

My six year old went outside the other day to look at the pigeons nest in one of our trees. A dead baby pigeon landed right next to him...yours sounds like cats though. Evil fuckers.

Sprinklers operate from the pressure of the water from the tap. No plug needed. But it is a bit wasteful of water.

So I could run it during the day?
Stupid question number 2: Are birds high up (in trees) at night? Away from cats? The sprinkler could be turned off?

We had the same problem. The were all under my newborn daughter’s bedroom window. I thought I gave birth to Damian.
We had installed mirrored sliding cupboard doors just on the opposite of her window. Poor birds they thought was a passage as it reflected the trees opposite.
When we covered them, we had no dead birds.

I am aware how thick and odd I’m sounding here!

You are all talking me down from hysteria though! Thank you!

My NDN has used a similar decoy to deter the birds from landing in at part of his garden, perhaps this would be worth a try to keep the live (and subsequently dead) birds out of your garden:(www.<a class="break-all" href="https://amazon.co.uk/Defenders-Lifelike-Deterrent-Gardens-Outdoor/dp/B00116R05A?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-am-i-being-unreasonable-3965260-Dead-birds" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">amazon.co.uk/Defenders-Lifelike-Deterrent-Gardens-Outdoor/dp/B00116R05A

Henry

Quite normal. Our garden is full of birds because we provide lots of food to attract them . The garden birds attract hawks who swoop down to hunt kill and eat them. (I've often watched it happen or found the tell take piles of feathers). Hawks have to live too.

Faded
Just looking at that now!

It’s because you hate birds so you notice them more. How often have you noticed dead mice? Or dead wood lice? Or dead flies or wasps? I bet hardly ever. I guarantee they are also everywhere. Look, this isn’t a sign, it’s just nature is all- you have birds because you have trees and you have a cat that likes to kill them. That’s it- circle of life and all that jazz. It’s natural and it’s normal. Has a dead bird ever harmed you in any way, shape or form?
No? Then you can exhale. It’s ok!

Has a dead bird ever harmed you in any way, shape or form?
No? Then you can exhale. It’s ok!

I agree and the voice of reason in my head is telling me the same. However, I suppose as with any phobia, the physical and emotional reaction I have seems impossible to overcome. Barmy as it sounds!!!

@LovingLen - sparrowhawks are pretty tidy. They pluck a bird, so the biggest giveaway of a sparrowhawk kill is a circle of feathers. They eat everything else.

It’s not balmy, that’s phobias for you. They work because you use your emotional lizard brain the amygdala (fight or flight reflex) rather than your rational brain. What helps is to look for evidence. Find some evidence that you have been badly harmed by a dead bird, try really, really hard. If you can’t find any then this helps to switch over to your more rational side. Always look for the evidence- that tends to rip the curtain away and you can see there really is nothing there behind it at all. Kinda like the wizard of oz was terrifying until you saw it was just a tiny bald wee man!