Yes, I think they do.

Yes, and there's no effective way to stop it unless you can build a large cage with chicken-wire, which isn't practical for most. It's just a fact of gardening life - birds will be birds.

Thanks - not happened before !!!!!!!!!!1

They don't necessarily eat the flowers, simply pluck them off!

CD's on strings are a good deterrent. We had sparrows eating the flowers on ours last year.
This year's problem with the runner beans has been having them chewed off about 6-8" above the root. Don't know if it was jackdaws, slugs or snails.