Wednesday, August 1, was the first open day for the London and suburban birdcatchers. The close time began in March, so that the birds have had a fair chance of increase. The birds this year have never previously had such a chance, as the farmers and landowners have prohibited the birdcatchers from trespassing on their lands.
Mr. Davy, the bird dealer of Camden Town, has brought me his monthly report. He informs me that the Act has not caused any noticeable increase in the soft-meat, that is insect-eating, birds. The blackcaps and nightingales arrived unusually early this spring, owing to the genial weather. The weather having changed to cold easterly winds, caused these birds to go to nest very late; insect food was very scarce. He has spent much time in looking round their old haunts, where there used to be abundance of insectivorous birds. Few are now to be seen, and the young are very poor, and late in moulting.
Out of five young nightingales caught today, only one had started moulting, and two old male birds had but just commenced to moult. These birds take their departure at the end of the month, and to a certainty they will be much later in leaving this year, as they never go away until clean moulted. August and September are the silent months of the year, as the birds are in full moult. The butcher birds had large nests of young, and, unusually abundant and strong, they can be heard in most of the hedgerows round London.
The catchers will make havoc in the Western counties among the young goldfinches by the end of this week, these being the only parts in England where they most abound. This year they are very scarce and prices run very high. The catchers are getting double the price of ten years ago. The reason of this scarcity is on account, principally, of the barren thistle-growing lands being brought under cultivation, and this particular bird being such an easy prey to the catchers, and such great favourites as home pets.
