Garden inspiration permalink
RE. decline in our Birds.
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Message 1.Â
Posted by cleverelliejo (U13778549) on Monday, 20th December 2010
Does anyone else share my opinion that the decline in our bird population is hastened by the decimation of our hedgerows?
All the hedges in my part of W.Wales hacked back to inches from their bases.
When I was a child the verges used to be humming with insect life and the hedges alive with birds twittering, although you couldn't see them, for the dense growth.
We walk the narrow back roads and we stop and listen and there is nothing, only silence.
The hedges were a source of Food and Shelter.
(We used to make dens and tunnels in them and hide from our friends, we couldn't do so now.)
I think it's a huge loss to wild life. -
Message 2
Posted by garyhobson (U11055016) on Monday, 20th December 2010
Certainly.
But we can all take practical action about this. Simply by planting shrubs in our own gardens, and making sure that the boundary between our house and our neighbours is a proper mixed hedge, if possible. It's not difficult.
This also applies to issues such as loss of wild flowers, and grassland habitats. We can do something about it. If we want to. -
Message 3
Posted by hypercharleyfarley (U7444019) on Monday, 20th December 2010
Hello - am afraid it's mostly down to farmers having to strive more & more for higher levels of efficiency together with changes in farming methods, crops sown & so on. For example, since the advent of grass silage (as opposed to traditional hay) there seems to have been a sharp decline in the numbers of ground-nesting birds in this area. The levels of skylarks round here have decreased to the point where I can't remember hearing/seeing one for many years now. The same goes for plovers - used to see flocks of them, but not now.
However, hedgerows - in bird-evolution terms - are relatively recent, only the last 300 years or so - and there are parts of the country where there never were hedges - moorlands, much of Scotland, Cumbria & so on. Hedges were costly in terms of man-power to maintain and the advent of barbed-wire fencing plus the need to grow bigger acreages of any one crop meant that lots of farmers simply couldn't justify those costs, plus the fact that modern farm machinery can't work efficiently in small acreages. Now, however, I think there are incentives to maintain hedges and the advent of mechanised hedge trimmers (attached to tractors) mean that those hedges which remain round here do provide very good shelter and food for wildlife. In fact, in some ways I think they might even be better than the old hedges in that they become denser and broader as a result of the mechanised cutting/trimming.
There are times of the year when farmers are not allowed under EU Regs to do anything whatsoever as regards hedge-trimming - a fact which I guess might well surprise some people - even though the hedge might belong to them. The DEFRA - RPA Guide to Cross Compliance in England details all sorts of restrictions placed on landowners which the general public are probably totally unaware of and many of these restrictions are meant "to protect sensitive field boundaries and their associated habitats. They apply to you if you have hedgerows or watercourses on, or adjoining, your land" . A pity, then, that suburban hedges are all too often trimmed right back during the time the birds are nesting and also later too when there are berries ripening for winter food. -
Message 4
Posted by punpun (U14553477) on Monday, 20th December 2010
Hi cleverellieo,
I must agree with all thats been sais by everyone on this subject, up until 9 years ago we lived in mid-wales and even as far away from nearest town (7) miles and a mile from the neares road, we noticed the welsh sheep farmers we're as you say chopping the hedges down to just above the ground and the reason was they got paid via the countryside scheme to do this, but when we joined the eec the rules changed and it was the french who said you look after your own land and this payment is to stop, "im not sure of the date but it will be anytime in the near future.
Having said this we now live in the heart of the countryside here in france and we have just about every wild bird you can name here throughout the year and it's all due to people planting hedges and trees and feeding the birds, it's very much like re-cycling here" It's a way of life and everybody does it,
We just dont see litter or old mattreses dumped in layby's etc
and when it comes to wild flowers in the lanes and hedge rows "Well again it's the norm" even apple tree's growing at the sides of some tracks,
Ive said many times to friends who come over from the u,k. Im amazed the fruit shops sell any apples when in season.
But again here when your in the local supper markets you'll always find a large shelf with bird food for sale and i think this may answer your question. -
Message 5
Posted by garyhobson (U11055016) on Tuesday, 21st December 2010
There are a million acres of private gardens in this country.
That's 5 times the total area managed by all of the country's Wildlife Trusts.
Private gardeners cannot criticise farmers for running a tight ship, if their own gardens have manicured lawns, and 'tidy' borders.
Changing the world begins at home! -
Message 6
Posted by nanpickle (U14258493) on Tuesday, 21st December 2010
Although we have fences around our garden, I have blackbirds nesting in the ivy and sparrows nesting in the honeysuckle that I have climbing all over them. We have a large oak tree just over the fence at the bottom of the garden and a lot of birds nest there, I have 3 feeding stations and various hanging feeders around the garden and I also clear a place in the snow and put food down for the ground feeders. I also have 3 bird baths although we have 2 small ponds, so they can get to water. I agree about the lack of hederows, although we are fortunate here as we have a country park/nature reserve just 5 minutes down the road. Nan x
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Message 7
Posted by margaretstar (U14415248) on Tuesday, 21st December 2010
Changing the world begins at home!Â
I couldn't agree more wholeheartedly.
People think all too often that their contribution is too small to count.
It isn't. Add it all up and it will make a difference. -
Message 8
Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Tuesday, 21st December 2010
Rural central Belgium and no hedges between arable fields and not a lot round the pastures but there are patches of woodland and scrub and plenty of streams from natural springs so no shortage of wildlife either. They do spray their crops but they also spread manure and grow green manures so it tends to balance out.
Farmers here use an EU scheme to leave untreated areas round some fields and plant native trees and plants around others. I have also done my bit and planted trees, shrubs, hedges and perennial plants in what used to be cow pasture.
We regularly see owls, herons, buzzards, falcons, lapwings, skylarks, pheasants, partridges, hares, field mice, Eggyptian geese, egrets and roe deer when out walking the dog. In our own garden we have lots of resident sparrows and tits and plenty of visiting chaffinches, werns, robins, blackbirds, woodpeckers and so on.
In recentyears the pipistrelle population has dived and there have been no greenfinches for 2 years which is puzzling but every gardener can do their bit by providing food and shelter for birds and insects. -
Message 9
Posted by Rainjustlearning (U12861332) on Tuesday, 21st December 2010
I had 7 Long tailed Tit's in the garden this morning, that's the first time I've seen them in the garden in the 4 years I've lived here, normally get "Blue" and "Great" so I was well chuffed so have made more suet things for them with meal worms in.
Rain -
Message 10
Posted by hypercharleyfarley (U7444019) on Tuesday, 21st December 2010
Hello Rain - how odd that you saw them today! Me too. No sight for the past month, but hey presto! there they were this morning. Have had as many as 12 blackbirds at once in the garden this week - only 2 females as far as I can see - plus great tits/blue tits/coal tits/various finches/tree sparrow/ spotted woodpecker/wood pigeon/jackdaws/crows/magpie/starlings/robin/wrens - but only one thrush. Haven't seen a fieldfare or redwing at all so far this winter. Wonder where they are. No missel thrush either & the collared doves have gone missing too.
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Message 11
Posted by Rainjustlearning (U12861332) on Tuesday, 21st December 2010
Hi Ma, I get loads of Blackbird's and Sparrows both house and hedge, have been know to have at least 30 of them in one go they are such noisy little bird's as well, 2 Robins, single Magpie, I'm now starting to get Starling's they are so comical to watch, have 5 wood pigeons and 4 Collard Dove's, I think they are so beautiful and so delicate to watch but very nervous which doesn't help when the cat jumps in the window to watch them.
I have on the very rare occasion had a Goldfinch and a Bullfinch I was sooooo excited but that is very rare and I mean very rare, think once this year for the 2 of them, I just like to watch them that's why I feed them 24/7 they give me so much enjoyment, beats the hell out of sat watching TV all the time.
Rain -
Message 12
Posted by punpun (U14553477) on Tuesday, 21st December 2010
Hi All,
I had the radio on while i was in the workshop this morning (Â鶹Éç 4) and it's been reported that the Barn owl is suffering this winter due to all the snow and not much (if any mice etc) for the owl to feed on,
This is another bird we cant do a lot to help because it eats meat and in spite of all our efforts to feed and water the birds, we cant help this bird or can we?
Has anyone any ideas to help?????? -
Message 13
Posted by Paul N (U6451125) on Wednesday, 22nd December 2010
No shortage of birds in our garden. With our peanut and seed bird feeders I've seen just this week a Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Pigeons, Collar Doves, two Pheasants, Blue and Great Tits, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Wrens, Robins, and one solitary Squirrel. Oh and a Fox.
They are a delight to watch, especially the squirrel. He ran across the snow covered roof of the workshop and jumped on the trunk of the Robinia pseudoacacia scaring the woodpecker and pigeons. Then ran up and down the trunk trying to worry the pheasant who just ignored him and carried on feeding off the ground. The squirrel then gave up in a huff. Fascinating. -
Message 14
Posted by John Moodie (U14353581) on Wednesday, 22nd December 2010
Over here in Alberta and Saskatchewan in the southern shared border apparently our Sage Grouse is in real trouble. On the TV yesterday they said 20yrs. ago there was about 2000 pairs and today they estimate it's about 20 pairs. They're in real trouble.
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Message 15
Posted by margaretstar (U14415248) on Wednesday, 22nd December 2010
Are those the same birds you said you were missing John? (can't find that thread/response). Were any reasons given for this on the programme?
Loss of habit? Just too many people, even in Canada? -
Message 16
Posted by John Moodie (U14353581) on Wednesday, 22nd December 2010
Hello margaretstar,
No, the sage grouse is a bigger bird. They live further out on the treeless prairie along the Sask. Alberta, Montana and North Dakota borders. About 100 miles from me. It's a sparsely populated country but the ranchers and farmers are putting more and more land under cultivation. My little spruce grouse flock still haven't been in to visit. -
Message 17
Posted by John Moodie (U14353581) on Wednesday, 22nd December 2010
margaretstar,
If you google sage grouse there is some pictures. They're a pretty amazing looking bird. I'm going to go down the hill today and see if there's any sign of my friends along the creek. I'll know because of the terrible shrieking they make when they see me.LOL! -
Message 18
Posted by margaretstar (U14415248) on Wednesday, 22nd December 2010
Just had a look at the sage grouse, yes a pretty good looking bird!
I hope your grouse will turn up.
My brother has lived off and on for the past five years in Canada. He takes on teaching jobs in Cree communities. He likes it because he's left to "do the job', which means teaching things of use first, curriculum if possible (maths and general science).
He's recently been working in BC, up north of Terrace - looks beautiful country, I must try and visit him sometime! -
Message 19
Posted by John Moodie (U14353581) on Wednesday, 22nd December 2010
It's a small world margaretstar,
I'm a Plains Cree living in enemy territory (Blackfoot country). They are one of our traditional enemies but that ended about 120yrs. ago. Most of my buddies come from the Blackfoot confederacy. It is beautiful country over here. If you ever visit your brother he must take you to my home town Banff and up to the Columbia ice fields. -
Message 20
Posted by margaretstar (U14415248) on Thursday, 23rd December 2010
That would be quite a detour to Banff, though maybe Canadians concept of what a great distance is is a bit different to here.
I know of Banff though as it has a very international Arts centre (amongst other things) that has all sorts of residency programmes - expensive unless you can get Funding from somewhere. But not for me, I think I would just be off everyday walking and looking at the beautiful scenery!
Yes where my brother teaches - he was also for a couple of years way up north in Manitoba - is quite remote. They have a two month winter break and 6 weeks in the summer. That suits him fine as he can travel back home for a long break. He's a vegetarian, which I find a feat in itself living up there. However I know he's succumbed to the eating of wild salmon when it's on the run, mainly because everybody keeps giving him their own freshly caught and smoked ones as a gift, he can't refuse! -
Message 21
Posted by jo4eyes (U13654107) on Thursday, 23rd December 2010
Having spent the last 3-4months down in a NWorcestershire village & getting out for a good walk sometimes have been pleasantly surprised at the numbers of birds that are now obviously thriving down there. Lots of Jays, long-tailed tits, which i dont remember from my childhood, plus all the usual garden birds visiting the feeder. Surrounded by farmland, but lots down to pasture for grazing- huge increase in stables/horses.
Here in my garden west of Manchester central we have all sorts nowadays. We back onto non-maintained ground, which is now a mini woodland- Jays, Woodpeckers, L-T Tits, Bullfinches (Grr), Goldfinches (1st time this year), coal tits as well plus the usual robbins, wrens, blackbirds, thrushes & sparrows. No starlings though. J. -
Message 22
Posted by John Moodie (U14353581) on Thursday, 23rd December 2010
margaretstar,
I have to remember about the different concept of distance. When I was about 9yrs. and my siblings and I had just been told by dad that we're all going to Southern Ireland and the UK, my oldest sister pulled out some maps to show us younger one how many times we could fit the UK into our province.
Yes a northern vegetarian is a rare breed. Produce is very expensive the further north one goes. In many places up north and especially in the arctic the school schedule revolves around the hunting and fishing seasons. A Chinook is forecast for Christmas day. That's something to look forward to.
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