MORE mistle thrushes are singing their loud, wild-sounding song from the treetops. They are not deterred by strong winds. They are early breeders, and most of them have already set up their spring territories. In six or seven weeks’ time, some of them will be building their nest in a fork in the branches.
They are also fighting more with each other in hawthorn and yew trees that still have berries on them.
Like many birds, mistle thrushes fight in a curiously leisurely way. One flies at the other, churring loudly, then they settle some way apart and eye each other for a time before grappling again. One of them usually accepts defeat after a little while, and flies off.
These fights are over food, and indicate that the berries and seeds are running out on the trees and bushes, most of them already eaten by the birds. Cotoneasters and hollies seem to be bare of berries unusually early this winter.
For people who have not yet put out food for the birds, it is not too late to start. In fact, it is from now until March that most birds find it harder to get food, and may starve. DJM