For the Birds

The weather here in Maynooth was very mild until a couple of weeks ago and with the arrival of inclement conditions I started out out the bird feeders in my garden. I can see the level of the seed from my kitchen window so know when they need filling up. I had one out for a couple of days before the arrival of Storm Claudia with associated torrential rain, but when it passed I was surprised to see the feeders were still half full so I left them.

Last weekend it started to become very cold so I was surprised there were no birds at the feeder. When I went out to look I realized that owing the heavy rainfall some water had got into the seed container, with the result that some of the seeds had started to germinate. This formed a tangled mass of shoots that blocked the gap through which seed is dispensed. The reason the feeders were not empty was not that the birds weren’t hungry, but that no seed was coming out.

I took the feeders inside and cleaned out all the matted seedlings. Then I took them back to the shed to fill up, at which point I knocked over the jar in which I stored the birdseed, scattering the supply all over the floor. There wasn’t much left anyway, but my clumsiness reduced the stock to zero so I was unable to feed the birds despite having functioning feeders.

Yesterday I finally had time to buy some more birdseed. I filled up the feeders as soon as I got home. It was quite interesting to watch the sequence of events. The first to arrive were sparrows who, being small and agile, were quite happy taking terms perching at the feeders. Not long after, however, starlings arrived, squabbling and squawking as they usually do. Starlings are much larger then sparrows and are extremely messy and noisy eaters, their attempts to perch at a feeder causing it to swing and scatter seed all over the ground.

(Incidentally, the term for a large group of starlings is a murmuration, a congregation, a cloud, or a constellation, but there are alternatives for a smaller group like the dozen or so that arrived in my garden. These include a clutter, a scourge, a vulgarity and, my favourite, a filth…)

Some starlings and sparrows started to feed on the ground, as did a very bonny collared dove, walking around calmly amid the flurry of other birds and paying them no attention at all .

At this point the feeder was almost empty.

The last cohort to arrive were the rooks and jackdaws. These are too big to even attempt to perch so their modus operandi is to crash into the feeders to try to break them or knock them down to the ground where they are easier to attack. They didn’t succeed, so they left.

Now the feeders are empty, the birds have gone, and all is quiet. I think I’ll put more food out tomorrow before I go to work. I imagine they’ll be empty by the time I get back home.

#birdFeeders #birds #birdseed #collaredDove #jackdaws #rooks #sparrows #starlings

#Hemp cultivation contributes to the European Green Deal objectives

Excerpts:

"Hemp has a number of #Environmental benefits.

- #CarbonStorage: one hectare of hemp sequesters 9 to 15 tonnes of CO2, similar to the amount sequestered by a young forest, but it only takes five months to grow.

- Breaking the cycle of diseases: hemp helps to break the cycle of diseases when used in #CropRotation. In addition, weeds are not able to grow due to the fast growth and shading capacity of hemp plants.

- #SoilErosion prevention: dense leaves of hemp become a natural soil cover, reducing water loss and protecting against soil erosion. Hemp covers the ground just three weeks after germination.

- #Biodiversity: flowering cycle usually occurs between July and September, coinciding with a lack of pollen production from other crops. Hemp produces large amounts of pollen. It also provides shelter for birds and hemp seeds are a food for animals.

- Low or no use of #pesticides: hemp is susceptible to few pests because of the lack of natural predators, which means that the use of #insecticides, #herbicides, and #fungicides can be avoided in most cases."


"Uses of hemp

1. Textile industry (#HempFibre)

Hemp fibre is very similar to linen and the interest of the textile industry in using hemp fibre is growing. The European Commission, in its circular economy action plan, considers the textile sector as one of the cornerstones in the transition towards a greener and more sustainable economy and it has encouraged stakeholders to seek new materials and new economic models. To this end, the EU has adopted a strategy for sustainable and circular textiles aiming to create a more sustainable, innovative, circular economic model.
Hemp fibre and textile material
Hemp fibre is a sustainable raw material for the textile industry.

2. Food and feed (#HempSeeds)

Hemp seeds contain high levels of protein and considerable amounts of fibres, vitamins, Omega-3, and minerals. As a result, de-hulled hemp seeds serve as a food for human consumption, while whole hemp seeds are used as feed for animals.

3. #Construction (#HempFibre)

There are three main hemp-based products used in construction: #lime hemp concrete (#hempcrete), #HempWool, and fibre-board insulation. The construction sector is responsible for 40% of energy consumption and 36% of GHG emissions, and 75% of that energy goes to waste. This has led to a search for construction practices and materials that are carbon neutral or carbon sequesters. Hempcrete is a carbon sequester as the amount of carbon stored in the material is higher than the emissions generated during its production, and it continues to store carbon during the building’s life. Improving energy efficiency in the building sector will play a key role in achieving carbon-neutrality by 2050, a goal set out in the European Green Deal. Hemp can play a significant role in reaching this objective.

Hempcrete, hemp wool and fibre-board insulation are used in the construction sector due to their energy efficient properties.

4. #Paper production (hemp fibre)

There are multiple advantages to using hemp fibre to make paper: hemp stalks only take up to five months to mature, #HempPaper does not necessarily require toxic bleaching chemicals and hemp paper can be recycled seven to eight times.

Hemp fibre paper is a more sustainable alternative to paper made from wood pulp.

5. Other uses

Hemp-derived products are used in different industries and for different purposes. Negative environmental effects of plastic have pushed manufacturers to seek alternatives. Hemp is a good option given its light weight and durability. As a substitute for plastic, hemp-derived products are used in different sectors such as car manufacturing, railway, aviation and aerospace.

Other uses of hemp include #cosmetics (oils, lotions, shampoos, etc.) and energy production (#biofuels). There is also interest in the production and marketing of hemp extracts, notably cannabidiol (#CBD), due to its possible uses in cosmetics, health products and food. These possible uses are, however, subject to the relevant EU requirements. In November 2020, the Court of Justice of the European Union determined that the marketing of legally produced CBD is permitted under EU law."

Read more:
https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/farming/crop-productions-and-plant-based-products/hemp_en

#SolarPunkSunday #HempFiber #HempUses #EUGreenNewDeal #EuropeanGreenDeal #Birdseed #HempFiberBoard #Cannabis

Turkey Mullein (Croton setiger) is toxic to some animals, but its seeds are eaten by birds. Several of its common names reflect the affinity of doves and wild turkeys for its seeds.

#Nature #Wildlife #California #LearnAboutNature #DiscoverPlants #NativePlants #WildPlants #BirdSeed

LOL what's the best way to attract squirrels and rats to your garden?

#birdseed

Photo a Day 6: Seed Eater

Shop: https://mike-smale.pixels.com/featured/seed-eater-mike-smale.html

#Photography #Seeds #BirdSeed #Birds #Feed #Abstract #Oddities #BuyIntoArt #GiftShop

Why is it so hard to find birdseed made from native plants? This is literally the only option I've found so far:

https://livinglands.org/shop/native-wildflower-bird-seed-northeast-us

Is it that people are not growing native plants in sufficient quantities to feed them to birds instead of planting to grow more native plants? Does it not occur to people that birds help spread the seeds that they eat?

Paging @loren

#NativePlants #birds #birdseed

Ugh, I HATE this. I NEVER know which wine to get. Which wine pairs with sunflower seeds, millet, corn, dandelion greens, grass, AND worms?!? I wish they just TOLD me red, white, or rosé. I'm definitely tweeting about this later.

#bird #birds #birdseed #birdfood #food #wine #winepairings #Friday #funny #humor

Thank you for breakfast

#Crow #Birds #Wildlife #BirdSeed #Photography #Vogel #Krähe