Hungry Birds Writing from Diss, Norfolk, Mr. R. R. Scott
remarks how the exceptional tides of January have altered the life of resident and other birds on the east coast, and goes on to mention that he witnessed exceptionally large numbers of starlings and gulls feeding on the shore. At Minsmere sanctuary and Sizewell large quantities of hard fat were washed up by the tide, and heaps of the fat were pecked into the shape of rough pyramids and imprinted with the beak-marks of hundreds of birds. Many of the birds were so ravenous that they could be approached to within a few yards before they would stop feeding. I have often marvelled at the apparent tameness of hungry, birds and remember walking among a flock that included snow buntings feeding among domestic fowls in a stackyard on a cold winter's day. The buntings fluttered up and settled again in a few seconds, as sparrows might have done. That night the pump froze, and we had snow-drifts such as I have not seen since.
Previous page
