Recently, there was a tweet from the Wildlife Trusts about feeding birds at this time of year. Just as it is the hunger gap for us, so it is for them. I asked what I could do for blackbirds and the answer came back that I could put an apple on the end of a branch where I had done some pruning. This I did.

I somehow had my doubts about the blackbirds taking any interest in fruit stuck on a tree, though. They were already finding plenty of worms in the ground, by the looks of things. So, not surprisingly, the apple is rotting, untouched.
I often wonder what birds are thinking about humans and our antics. Perhaps they think the apple is one of our bizarre rituals. In any case, methinks it will be going in the compost bin now.
I put two apples on the Bird table. I had an enjoyable half hour watching a squirrel steal all four halves. Goodness knows where he stashed them.
I hope he eats them before they rot!
Well you tried. I guess the apple wasn’t on their menu.
Iβm sure fresh worm is more appetising than rotting apple π
You made me smile, Helen.
Thatβs good, Alys π
We had a pony who loved to eat the apples from the huge tree. Unfortunately he also like to eat them when they started to turn and get drunk! Oh that and eating magic mushrooms that grew in his field. Honest to goodness, that pony was a case! I could tell one day that he was out of his noggin, when I called him and he ran π straight past me. π€ͺ π€¨ Yup, he was a case!
Clearly was π
The blackbirds, usually, eschewed our crab apples this winter.
Maybe apples donβt taste good to them this year!
That should have read ‘unusually’
My brain automatically corrected π
π
Ys, another of these ideas that doesn’t necessarily work out. At least you tried. π
Indeed – and maybe it would have worked better in earlier months.
I always think of December- January being the hungry gap. They seem to have been finding plenty round here for a month or so.
Same here!
Great minds etc… π
π
I don’t feed the birds because the cats think it is just me organising an easier hunt for them!
Yes, no reason to make it easier for the cats!