missing birds and bees

[gavilan]

recently there was an article about the lack of bees around the village of Colmenar in the Axarquia ... that place is known for its bees and honey ...but the drought and heat of this summer has meant that wild flowers have died ... and so no pollen/nectar for bees ... made me realise I havent seen bees here either ... then I also realised that I havent seen the usual many small birds around either ... blackcaps, gold finches, redstarts, stonechats ... maybe they have gone elsewhere searching for the seeds from wild flowers etc

[El Cid]

They're probably English birds and bees, so they have to go home after 90 days.

Sid

[gavilan]

if they were English birds and bees this summer heat would have driven them away long before 90 days!

[Wicksey]

We've noticed an increase of garden birds here. We never used to have blackbirds and sparrows in the campo but the trees and bamboo is full of them in the evening. Sardinian warblers and other LBJs too which I think are some kind of warbler. We have a Little Owl that sits somewhere nearby and goes hooo all night long, and the occasional nightjar as well. We've seen far less eagles and buzzards though.

[olive]

Bamboo……water……insects , like mosquitoes…

Elsewhere less water. Farmers have had it all.

Could be hunters have shot too many.

[anyroads]

Could use the odd buzzard here in old Hampshire.

I counted nine pigeons in my garden yesterday. This area is overrun with them.

I have seen one neighbour put up those spiky things on fences that are popular in Spain. It won't make any difference unless you have a dog or a cat patrolling the garden as well.

anyroads

[spanish_lad]

As well as the heat, would the parrots have something to do with it? They have to eat.