SCARCITY OF BIRDS IN ENGLAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5949, 20 March 1880, Page 3

SCARCITY OF BIRDS IN ENGLAND.

• Under this heading Mr H. T. Fletcher, of Bicker, Lincolnshire, write* to the Tims Sir,—Bird* may be placed in two classes, those which readily change their locale, and those whose habitat is wholly or almost entirely hied. Of the latter cuts* there has been a great destruction. The wet nesting seasons and . the sudden cold of two winters, with scarce and ill*matured food, hare been very fatal. Of thrushes, blackbirds, robins, ana hedge sparrows I hare found more dead birds during 1878 and 1879 than in the aggregate of 20 previous years. : I hare also ascertained that ground vermin, especially weasels, which have been unusually numerous, have been driven, from the scarcity of game, to prey more than commonly upon these smaller birds. Yet in this district sufficient remain to afford hopes that a favourable, season would give us sufficient supply of friends, whose numbers have in some past years made them rather too exacting. For the other class X have no fear at all. They have simply changed their locale , or have wisely faded to make their appearance where sustenance could not be found. Of the three sorts of plover we have had more than in any previous year of my long experience. Bor the larks 1 should have had some such fears as you express, but for a very singular occurrence which I'witnessed a few days before the late, severe weather set in. Ope morning, ps day broke, a flock of these birds, which might well represent the lark population' of this great county, passed my house, travelling in a continuous stream south-east by south. Thousands must have passed in a minute, and for above an hour the stream, though not always equally dense/ continued to pass. Their course was'so direct that though every bird passed within 20 yards of my church tower, not one of , them passed to the north side of it. It was a strange sight, and enabled me to predict the severe weather which speedily set in. Whither they went I know not. For a while we had none, but a goodly number have returned, and • still they cbihe. ’ Starlings have not packed so much as they usually do, but have remained very . much about .then; breedingplanes, and are quite numerous enough. ..The visits of thefiriohes and tits hive been transitory and at unusual periods. Like ourselves they have Bad to deal with an exceptional state of thiflgs; but of our usual visitors 1 have seen all my old friends except the- goldencrested wren, and he may put in his appearance any day; House sparrows are quite at numerous os ever. The noise outside my window assures me that they will not cease out of the land. I may say that visiting the south and south-west of England last summer 1 was greatly struck with the. scarcity of small birds there, as compared with this county. I can fully bear out Mr Carmichael’s Statement as to sterlings. I have Irequently seen them bring pigeons’eggs from the dovecot and eat them,, and have also watched them taking those of the missel thrush. They also frequently devour their own eggs, as the domestic hen will eat hers, if she be too old, or have not proper food.