Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)

A winter visitior to the UK, this member of the thrush family can be found in fields and open country. Flocks feed in open formation across fields looking for slugs and insects.They are unusual because they often nest in small colonies of 5 to 20 pairs, possibly for protection from predators

 They breed in woodland and scrub, largely in Scandinavia, Central and Eastern Europe and Siberia and are a strongly migratory bird.

The Fieldfare could not be described as a garden bird but in harsh winters they will come to bird tables for berries, seed and bird cake.

Fieldfare facts:
Lifespan 5 years
Not on the endangered species list
Wingspan 40 cm
Migatory

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Turdidae
Genus:	Turdus

On the Red List: Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)

Widely distributed across England, Wales and the eastern side of Scotland, they are found on farmland, hedgerows and woodland edges. They have chestnut-brown crowns and backs, white cheeks and a black cheek-spot.  Although the male and female look almost identical, they can be distinguished from the male House Sparrows by the brown cap and by presence of the black cheek-spot. Tree Sparrows don't associate with man. 

They feed on weed seeds, corn and insects and although they can be found in the garden they are relatively shy birds and form less attachment to habitation. However, if you see them in your garden and wish to encourage them you could put up an enclosed nest box.  It should have an entrance hole of one and one eighth inches in diameter and an inside depth of at least six inches and a floor around four inches square.

The Tree Sparrow have a lifespan of only around 2 years and usually produce two broods of four to six eggs which are smaller, browner and darker than those of the house sparrow.  These birds have been placed on the Red List of endangered birds

On the Red List: Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)

The Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) also known as the Yellow Bunting is a bright yellow bird similar in size to the sparrow and is a year round resident in Britain. You can find them on farmland with hedgerows, bushy commons, heaths and the edges of woodland.

They feed mainly on the ground so their diet is corn, weed seeds,spiders, worms and wild fruits.  Interestingly, they appear to like blackberries which most birds won't touch.  Occasionally they are to be found in the garden but as a general rule they could not be classified as a garden bird.

you find their nests in the bottom of hedgerows or bushes made of straw and grass and moss lined and lay up to six eggs and have two to three broods.  However, there has been a severe decline in the yellowhammer population to such an extent that they have now been placed on the red list of endangered species.

Garden Bird Recipes: A Simple Basic Recipe

That's recipes for food for garden birds not recipes that call for garden birds as an ingredient!

The basic recipe
Put a mixture of seeds, peanuts, oatmeal, cake and scraps into a container and pour hot fat over the mixture until it's covered.  Leave this to set then turn it out onto your bird table. Alternatively, prepare it in a yogurt pot or empty coconut shell and hand it out upside down when set.  You should expect to use one pound of mixture to half a pound of fat.

Treating Casualties: Orphaned Birds

There's some great detailed advice on looking after wild birds and treating orphaned birds on the Wild Bird Center website

Treating Casualties: Orphaned Birds

Before doing anything, make sure the bird really does need your help.  The young of some species leave the nest before they are able to fly and usually stay out of sight waiting to be fed.  So be as sure as you can be that the bird is not being fed because every year lots of young birds are rescued before they have been lost.


If you do decide to foster the bird be prepared for very long hours and a tedious routine for which you are going to need lots of patience.  If you can't commit to this then simply report it to one of the animal or bird welfare groups in your area.  If you do take responsibility for a very young bird then you will also need a suitable place to keep it, which must be warm and draught free. 

If you can't face swatting flies and killing smooth caterpillars then feed the bird finely minced raw meat from the end of a matchstick.  You must never feed the bird live food and always kill insects before offering them.  Feed them every hour and make sure the crop is full, which you can tell from a swelling at the base of the throat. It is difficult to overfeed a young bird but the most important thing is to feed it regularly.  It doesn't need water so you shouldn't try to offer any.

Don't pick it up if at all possible and never try and make a pet of it because it will be independent of you within a month and your job is to give it the best possible chance of survival. Apart from feeding keep the nest warm and clear away droppings as quickly as possible.

There is other advice I could give about care as it gets older but bird care organizations would probably condemn me as irresponsible and remind me that it is illegal to keep a wild bird without a permit.  So, I would advise that you you should look after the bird until one of these bird or animal rescue organizations are ready to collect it from you.

Nest Boxes

There are endless birdwatching secrets and tips to encourage birds into your garden but here we look at the important points to consider if you are thinking of providing nest boxes for your garden birds.

There are two basic types of nest box. The first is an enclosed space with a small entrance hole and the second type is a tray or ledge with a roof. Whichever you decide on, it is important that the box does not warp which will expose the nestlings to wind and rain. To make sure that doesn't happen, the box should ideally be made from three-quarter inch hardwood which is a better option than softwood as it is more resistant to the weather. Three-quarter inch hardwood should also be thick enough to insulate the interior temperature from extremes of heat and cold.

It is a sad reality that rain kills many nestlings in natural nesting sites, so it's important the nest box excludes rain as far as possible when we invite birds to use them. Whether you buy a ready to use box or build your own, always check that the roof fits flush to the walls. To make sure it is as watertight as possible, seal the wall joints with a sealing compound before you nail or screw the box into place. Use a wood preservative on the outside of the box if you wish but never on the inside. The entrance hole in the enclosed boxes must be at least five inches from the base to prevent cats from fishing for young bird and to stop other predators seeing them as they stretch up for food.

Another good tip is to make sure there is no peg that acts as a perch under the entrance hole. These pegs are not necessary and in reality all they do is give an extra foothold for predators to use. If you want to discourage certain types of birds such as starlings, a one and one-eighth inches (3cm) diameter entrance hole is required. Equally important are the inside floor measurements which should give the young birds room to stretch their wings and a small drainage hole in the floor.

Many nesting boxes are sold at the start of the New Year but one last tip is they should ideally be fixed into place in October or November. This lets them weather into their surroundings and gives time for the gan birds to get used to the boxes and accept them as part of their environment. In this way you will dramatically increase the chances of occupancy.