Serious issue.....no gender wars but something struck me while I was exercising the dogs down by the canal, I have to walk across the playing fields to get to the canal towpath the field was covered with Carrion crows ( I counted 55 ),so I carried on to the canal,and as I walked along I was made aware by their cackling that the trees were alive with magpies and the dogs constant chasing in and out of the bushes heads looking up gave away the presents of grey squirrels,it was like this the whole journey , Crows,Magpies,Grey Squirrels, Crows,Magpies,Grey Squirrels...........then it struck me,where were all the other birds,where were the Blackbirds,Thrushes,Robins.........I can't remember the last time I saw a Thrush(Mistle or Song) or heard one.
I know this has been highlighted as a problem by the RSPB and I believe they are currently investigating but I know why our song birds are indecline and the way these vermin have breed this year makes me wonder that if we have a mild winter what chance have the finches,tits,songbirds have next year.
I live in Birmingham and wondered if this was the same picture elsewhere

Same here in Sheffield too:(

Stacey x x x

Hi Craig I Posted like you a couple months ago the sparrows have all but gone in London
and crow's and Magpies in abundance, a neighbour said she read the council have introduced the crow's to keep the poor old pigeon's down .Seen a few squirrel's not many
though in the park.

Pat x

Same where I live to Craig (Kent) not so much squirrels, but we have a high percentage of feline friends. Another reason why I enjoy going to the shoot. At this rate it will be the only place left that we will get to see any small birds at all :-( That's until people who *no nowt* get shooting banned too.

Got to agree with you, The only time I see any wildbirds is when I am out shooting,the only problem with the Crows and Magpies are they are very gun shy and we really can't make any dents in the population.

Definitely the same in the market town we live in but not on the grouse moors above where they do shoot crows etc.

Helen

I have "disposed" of a few Crows recently, the noise from them is becoming unbearable, especially very early in the morning, their numbers seem to have quadrupled, they are everywhere. My "big game" hunting cat bought me a lovely large adult Squirrel this morning too, just seen it in time, before the dogs did!!
Dawn.

If you ad 9in Seagulls and pigeons, and hordes of Starlings in the Autumn, then yep, just like in sunny Bristol!

Never seen a 9 inch seagull before

It's them stubby fingers again, hitting more than one key :D

Can someone tell us what are the crow's and magpie's predator ?
all animals have a predator ?

Pat xx

Malamutes ;)

Melody - Failing that I would assume the usual suspects ..foxes , cats etc

Melody Great programme on Malamutes last night on sky ,

and thank's for the information Pat xx

There was??

Did any of the Mal people know about it?

Have you got the Programme name Pat?

Melody

Melody yes a rescue programme, I turned over in error was so interested kept watching
something about how they're rescue sense is different [wish I could remember ]

Pat x

One of Sam's birds;) :D

Stacey x x x

Crow and Magpie's main predator is my 12 bore or airrifle.

or my Larsen trap

Christine

I could do with something here because for the last week one wakens me early with the racket it makes crawing.:(
Dot