A male Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus) sits in a tree with a piece of ice on its beak. It was an unusually cool March day in the small village on the edge of the forest. Residents had hoped that spring was already in full swing, but nature seemed to have not yet made up its mind. A strong wind blew through the trees, while occasional sleet fell from the sky and sometimes formed a thin white carpet on the ground.
In the midst of this changeable April weather there was an old bird feeder in the garden. The feeder was usually a quiet place where the birds gathered to eat while chirping happily and taking turns visiting. But that day was different.
Perhaps the cold weather had made the birds’ natural food sources scarce. The berry bushes had not yet borne fruit, and the worms and insects were hiding deep in the soil. Or the birds gathered together for the migration to the northern breeding areas and had to eat supplies. In any case, the birds depended on the feeder to satisfy their hunger.
As the weather continued to deteriorate, a crowd began to form at the feeder. Birds of all kinds – siskins, Common Chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs), European Robins (Erithacus rubecula), European Greenfinches (Chloris chloris), European Goldfinches (Carduelis carduelis) and Eurasian Tree Sparrows (Passer montanus) and even a few Eurasian Blackbirds (Turdus merula) – gathered in large numbers to look for food. The sight was impressive and at the same time a little unsettling, as the feeder seemed to barely have enough room for everyone. On the ground, the Yellowhammers (Emberiza citrinella) were happy about the leftovers thrown out.
In the crowd, the Eurasian Siskins in particular became really aggressive and sometimes real fights broke out. The birds chirped and beeped, necessarily sharing the available food and vehemently defending the food source so that they wouldn’t be left hungry. In order to rest from the exhausting arguments, some of the Eurasian Siskins chose the branches of a Common Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) that stood directly above the feeder as a place of retreat. It was then possible to take very close photos from the bathroom.
If you watched the spectacle through the window of the cozy living room, you could also see one or two rare guests. So not only a single Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla), but also three Hawfinches (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) came to the feeder. But they quickly disappeared after each visit.
As dusk fell, the crowd slowly diminished and calm returned to the garden. But the image of the mass rush of so many different birds at the feeder will remain in the memory for a long time.
Low temperatures and unexpected weather mean food shortages for many animals. Some unusual behaviors can be observed, especially in early spring or when there is heavy snow.
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