silent spring

I've never read the book Silent Spring by Rachel Carson...are common birds going the way of the Dodo, extinct?

In a previous post I asked the question 'were are the birds?', and in this issue of Canadian Gardening magazine I got the shocking the answer…
The North American Audubon Society reports, quite some time ago, a decline on average of 68% of common birds, yes common birds, not over the course of a 100 years but, in the past 20, 30 or 40 years, our lifetime right here right now. The article states that in U.K. the common sparrow is now on the endangered list, what!? Shocking really to say the least, basic needs that’s all they require, not cars, not the latest and greatest or funky cool gadgets, or 4 home depots and wal*marts all 10 minutes from our house in any direction.

Most agree that even the smallest of urban lots (just like mine) can provide all these little creatures need;
Little spaces to touch down on, shrubs and trees
Food, especially in the spring when the pick’ins are slim, I have never tallied my spend on bird seed but would hazard to guess that's its less than I spend on coffee.
Shelter and a place to nest, quite simply a home
hmm, amazing how trees & shrubs can easily accomplish all of the above in one fell swoop if need be
And of course water to drink and bathe in

Maybe in my garden it could be as simple as changing the seed, to lure them back to help them flourish.

Most of us who garden easily provide habitats, knowingly and unknowingly, for many creatures. The natural world is the sum of its parts meant to work in whole we see it everytime we're in the garden, a lovely relationship and in my relationship it includes the birds and yes even the odd squirrel!

where have the birds gone?

We filled this feeder just before Christmas, and its still full. Sure we see the odd squirrel as always lope along the fence, and just the other day 'the' two morning doves huddled on the fence for a few moments. But where are my Chickadees, Junco's, the odd screaming Blue Jay and the Hawk that came swooping in last year and grabbed a morning dove for breakfast to all our surprise!
I like to blame it on the all the development around us, the farmers field literally on the other side of the houses in this picture will be gone by Fall 2009, so it said in a flyer sent a few weeks ago, thanks for letting me know. Did you know that there is a Beaver over there, Pheasant, Crane or Heron, Deer, all to be pushed out. Or is it that there is just too much to tolerate, development, noise, is too cold, too mild, not hungry because everyone feeds the birds? In the spring we see 'our' Cardinal couple happily feeding their baby, a annual event this year they had two!
I really hope that 'my' birds will come back.

Apparently Walt Disney said this was his favourite song,
it certianly influenced me.
from Mary Poppins 'Feed the Birds'

Early each day to the steps of Saint Paul's
The little old bird woman comes.
In her own special way to the people she calls,
"Come, buy my bags full of crumbs.

Come feed the little birds, show them you care
And you'll be glad if you do.
Their young ones are hungry,
Their nests are so bare;
All it takes is tuppence from you."

Feed the birds, tuppence a bag,
Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag.
"Feed the birds," that's what she cries,
While overhead, her birds fill the skies.

All around the cathedral the saints and apostles
Look down as she sells her wares.
Although you can't see it, you know they are smiling
Each time someone shows that he cares.

Though her words are simple and few,
Listen, listen, she's calling to you:
"Feed the birds, tuppence a bag,
Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag."