Frustrated in France

[frenchbird]

When I lived in England I was a member of BTO and did the birdwatch survey but there does not seem to be any equivalent in France. Or does someone know differently?
I import, at considerable expense, CJ's excellent bird food - which is highly appreciated by the French birds, who are thronging to my garden in increasing numbers. They are obviously informing all their mates that there is this soft touch from England. French bird food is absolute rubbish.
It is a joy to see so many - I counted 25 goldfinches recently scoffing the nyger seed. The only problem is that the kestrels come shooting in to try - understandably - to get their snack too - unfortunately that is usually a blue tit.

[Shamal]

Hi, I only know of the French ornithological society http://www.mnhn.fr/assoc/seof/accueil.htm and their well respected Aluada magazine. I think they tend to be more on the serious side, but probably more comparable to the BTO than the RSPB.

Good to hear that the French birds are enjoying CJ birdfood.

Shamal

[Barbara Jane]

Hi and welcome

Here in the South West France, you can get in the larger stores, plenty of sunflower seeds and grease balls for the birds, havn't seen much else. Bird tables are not frequently seen and people don,t seem to take the same interest as we do in England. However, one can always improvise with bacon rinds and bits of fat etc.
I was surprised when I first put my bird table out to
see that two/three weeks by and not a bird insight, then the first sparrow and blue tit ventured on the table. Since then I've been inondated with all sorts of lovely fellos! Maybe they didn't understand the Englsih notice "to keep the place tidy"

Barbara Jane

[frenchbird]

Dear Barbara Jane,
Many thanks for your reply. Luckily I have visitors quite often who come by car and bring large quantities of CJ feed, as importing it incurrs a £15 carriage cost.
My biggest frustration is that I have masses of birds in the garden and would like to do something like the BTO birdwatch. I belong to the LPO - Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux - but there does not seem to be anything like the BTO, although Shamal has put me onto an organisation, which sounds Very scientific, but I shall contact them and see if they are interested in any contributions from amateurs.
I live between Le Mans and Tours, where there is a lot of hunting of wild boar and deer, but they don't seem to go in for killing everything that flies. What is it like your way in that respect?
Regards Gay

[Barbara Jane]

Yes they do shoot here and there is a special period for ducks as well. When out cycling I 'm not keen on going during this time as when a gun goes off, as it does very frequently, I often wonder if the bird got away! So I keep the cycling until Februuary when all guns are put away and I don't get quite so upset!

Barbara Jane