In response to B. Wheeler's letter about vanishing birds.

It is great to hear he is feeding birds in his garden through the summer, especially this year. There could be several reasons for not seeing so many birds at feeders at the moment:

Firstly, many garden birds moult when they have finished breeding. At this time they are less agile than the rest of the year, so may stay under cover for as much time as possible making it less likely they will come to feeders where predators are more likely to be watching.

It may also be that a predator (perhaps a sparrow­hawk or cat) has increased it's interest in the feeders and the smaller birds will quickly realise the risk has increased and find somewhere else.

The third possibility is that there is a good food source elsewhere. There may be a crop field nearby, or a lot of bugs somewhere where it is humid. Fruits are also beginning to appear on some plants. All of these make a great meal for birds, or it may be that someone down the road is feeding through the summer, meaning less of a concentration on your feeders.

All of these are normal and, hopefully, temporary so Mr Wheeler may soon have a flock back in his garden to enjoy watching.

– Hannah Morton, RSPB, Parkend.