Woodlands.co.uk
Is Spring on its way ?
They are on the move! Who ? The Norfolk cuckoos that were fitted (last Spring) with solar powered 5G satellite tags. Through these devices, the cuckoos were followed back to their ‘winter homes’ in Africa. The tags transmit for about 10 hours at a time, then they go into 'sleep mode' whilst they are recharged by the light - ready to broadcast the position of the birds some time later ☆. Read more…
The Robin
Season's Greetings.
The robin, frequently pictured on Christmas cards, is making something of a “come back”. Its numbers have increased by roughly 50%, compared to when it was first recorded back in 1970.
The RSPB has suggested that milder winters and earlier Springs have contributed to its increased numbers; and it is estimated that there are now some 5 – 6 million breeding pairs of robins in the U.K. However, its populations can be ‘knocked back’ by hard winters – such as we have experienced recently. A small bird, such as the robin, can rapidly lose much of its body mass through a short succession of cold nights and days – burning its reserves (of fat) to generate heat energy to maintain its body temperature. They also use up energy in the search for food, which is often in very limited supply under cold conditions. Read more…
Finding and encouraging reptiles in woodlands
Reptiles and woodland
The first time I came across a Grass Snake in our newly bought wood I almost trod on it, it was a real surprise and I was so lost in my own thoughts it really startled me. I had not thought the woodland provided a very suitable habitat for reptiles and in many respects, it didn’t. Read more…
European Red List
Many insect species are under threat – butterflies , dragonflies, beetles; according to the Red List. In most cases, this can be associated with habitat loss. Read more…
Cuckoo Trouble
Compiled in the UK by organisations such as the RSPB and the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO ), the Red List records birds that are considered critically endangered. Over the last few years the number of birds on the Red List has grown from 40 to 52, including the yellow wagtail, the lapwing and the wood warbler. A recent addition is the cuckoo. Read more…
Sparrows
In the 1970’s, the house sparrow population of the UK was estimated at 12 million, but over the last 25 years it has fallen dramatically. So much so that the sparrow has now been added to the Red Data List (August 2002). Sparrows do not generally fly far – rarely more than 2 miles from the point where they hatch and can produce 3 or 4 clutches of eggs per year.
Many different reasons for their decline have been suggested. Read more…