Birds show their fighting spirit

THERE is an increasing amount of bad manners on display at the bird feeders outside my kitchen window.

It’s all to do with the time of year. Towards the end of winter the supplies of wild seeds and fruits that have kept the birds going up to now are starting to run out, which means more and more of them have to use the feeders and things get over crowded.

In addition to this the males are beginning to come into breeding condition and to establish territories. Having to mix with other males of the same species at the soup kitchen leads to testosterone-fuelled aggression.