Less than a year ago the Friends of Rawcliffe Meadows commissioned Terry Weston of the York branch of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) to make them a new bird feeder for the Copse. Not your average bird feeder, this one was made out of wood and was around 18 inches by 18 inches by 18 inches and set on four sturdy wooden legs. This device allowed our volunteers to fill it up with seed and this to dribble out on an as required basis for the numerous birds it was intended to attract.

However, in the last few weeks as we got ready to feed the birds we found it had gone! Not only was it pretty heavy but it was located on the fence line out of public view and wired to the fence! So, a pretty determined thief. The feeder had cost us £50 and we’ll have to get another made to ensure the birds get fed in winter. The additional feeding is necessary to support the large numbers of Stock Dove, Linnet, Greenfinch, Tree Sparrow and other birds attracted to the Copse and Cornfield in the winter months.

The photograph below is of an old and green (as opposed to brown) one that we are using elsewhere on the site.

Bird feeder

In terms of theft with us being a small volunteer organization this must rank with stealing collection boxes or from charity shops, so if you see it at a car-boot sale please let us know.