Coal Tit acting strange (1 Viewer)

[Saphire]

Has anyone ever witnessed this strange behavour of a Coal Tit. The Coal Tits are taking the sunflower seeds of my bird table and burying them all over the garden. Also there are more then one that is doing it. They have been doing this for the last 1/2 hour to my knowledge, the bird table is depleting of sunflower seeds very rapidly. Is this normal behavour if so what are they doing it for. :h?:

 

[A CHAPLIN]

Hi Saphire,

This is very normal behaviour for Coal Tits, mine is doing the same. They are the bird world's equivalent of a squirrel, while there are plenty of seeds around, they are storing them for harder times ahead. You will be surprised where you see sunflowers sprouting. Of course as we all have feeders with food in I have never yet seen them retrieving the buried/stored ones and I haven't the heart to take the feeders down to see what happens, what would the Greenfinches, Goldfinches and Blue Tits do.

My Coal Tit's favourite place is in the bark of my climbing hydrangea, but as yet I have not seen any growing up there which I think would be rather nice as once its own white flowers have been and gone I have just leaves, then bare branches. Oh well can't have everything.

They are great to watch aren't they?

Ann

 

[Saphire]

Thanks Ann

I have just found other threads on a similar subject, I should have posted a search first. I was just suprised I have never seen that behavour before, they are acting just like squirrels, I hope I don't get sunflowers sprouting all over the place like I do oak saplings.

 

[Suzy]

I have seen a coal Tit do this as well. It's fun to watch and it also made me wonder if the bird will ever actuely come back to look for the seeds in harder times or does he just forget all about where he has left them?

Sue