February 23, 2012

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Doing your bit for Wildlife Conservation may be easier than you think

July 29, 2011 By

A quick glance at some of the world’s leading animal charities will confirm that the world’s unsustainable consumption of its natural resources is a growing problem. If you love animals and you want to see the millions of species kept safe for future generations, it’s up to you and all of us to join the fight to put things right.

It can start with something as simple as solar panels for your home. Hard to believe, but the installation (for only about nine thousand pounds) might yield you a massive saving on your current energy bills – for life. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Environment Tagged With: , ,

Pond Life Nature / Wildlife

February 24, 2011 By
pondlife

pondlife

Not many people realise just how much abundant wildlife we have lurking in our ponds, I was amazed!

I was pleasantly surprised about the many different birds that visit our ponds, apart from the familiar Ducks and Swans. I have seen lots of other birds – Lapwings and Redshanks being two of the more unusual ones.
You tend to find that lots of birds gather in the smaller, more shallow ponds as they can feed on the various insects such as bugs and beetles as they can pick these up from the shallow edges. There are lots of beetles, dragonflies and water snails that live in our ponds but I researched many more insects which, some I had not heard of, such as Caddisflies, Damselflies and Water Slaters.

In some of the cleaner ponds, it is possible to see up to 40 different species of water plants and it was only after researching, I could identify what they were, after often noticing them whilst out walking but not having a clue what they were called, names such as Reed Mace, Floating Sweetgrass, Creeping Bent Grass and Water Mint.
An interesting floating leaved plant that sadly, is not as widespread these days, is a Starfruit, called this as the fruit is in the shape of a star!  Reports say that we can only see it in the Southern part of England these days, mainly in a few ponds around the Surrey and Buckinghamshire areas. It used to live in ponds all over England but due to the changes in our modern world where we find a lot of ponds do not have very clean water and basically, not as many natural, smaller ponds are to be found, it seems to be diminishing altogether.

Water Voles are one of my favourite species to live in the banks of ponds, as well as lakes, rivers and canals of course but sadly, in Britain, the Water Voles have declined rapidly over the last few decades, mainly because of the changes in the way we manage and use our land which has affected the habitat of these creatures leading to the loss of colonies.
Garden ponds however are very important as our frogs depend on them for the survival of the species, along with Toads and Newts.

Filed Under: Pond Life, Wildlife Conservation Tagged With: , , ,

10 Tips On How To Help Nature – In Our Own Back Garden

February 15, 2011 By
Feed The Birds

Feed The Birds

There are so many things we can do to help nature and our wildlife, right from our own back garden:-
1) Simple – provide water for the birds. Most small birds need to drink at least twice a day and not only do birds need water for drinking but for bathing and preening too in order to keep their beautiful feathers in good condition.
2)  Feed the birds.  Again, so simple although there is much information regarding the correct and successful feeding of birds.
3)  Put up a Bird Box in order to help birds rear their families.  There are boxes for different birds you may wish to attract.
4)   Put up an Owl Box – again, different boxes for different owls!
5) Feed the mammals, for example, hedgehogs and squirrels.  Again, there is information at hand, even manuals on the correct and successful feeding of mammals.
6)   Nurture your nettles!  Probably the last thing we think about keeping in our back garden but they actually are beneficial for wildlife as they offer protection to butterflies and hedgehogs
7)   Plant a tree!  When you think about it, each and every mature tree has a legacy as of the support it gives to wildlife, apart from the enjoyment it gives to our future generations.  It is recommended that you choose a native species, for example, Holly, Blackthorn, Hawthorn or Silver Birth.
8)  Make a ‘bug home’.  Again, probably the last thing we may think we want to attract but bugs are vital to keeping the ecosystem working.  The easiest way to do this is rather simple, take a number of bamboo canes or just twigs and tie them together, hang them under the branch of a tree and you will see the bugs appear.  How simple!
9)   Build a garden rockery.  If you plant crocus bulbs for example between the rocks, this will provide our insects with an early nectar and pollen supply.
10)   If you are a cat owner, try and help the wildlife by adapting your cat’s collar with a couple of bells so that the birds have a warning when they approach.  It is advised that keeping your cat in overnight can help keep our wildlife safe as sunrise and sunset are the times of the day when cats prefer to prowl!

Filed Under: Feeding Wild Birds, Wildlife Conservation Tagged With: , , ,

Wildlife Conservation

February 12, 2011 By
wildlife conservation

wildlife conservation

The welfare of wildlife and its natural habitat should be at the forefront of everyone’s mind as it is vital that the precious environment that we are so blessed to experience is untouched. Watching and recording wildlife is a very popular hobby and there are access rights.  We must remember that plants can be easily damaged and that some birds and other animals can be easily alarmed or distressed if we do not take great care.

Below are a few simple guidelines for individuals when observing/studying wildlife:-

1) Do not intentionally or recklessly disturb or destroy birds, eggs, plants and other animals or  geological features.

2) If it is clear that your presence is causing significant disturbance to a bird or other wild animal, you should move on immediately.

3) Take extra care to avoid disturbing more sensitive birds and animals, particularly during their breeding season.

4) Take all necessary measures to prevent the risk of fire.

5) When bringing dogs, they must be kept under close control, preferably on a lead.

6) Take all litter away with you.

So, we must remember how important the protection and preservation of all wildlife is and to remember it especially when involving vulnerable and endangered species.  It is too easy to think that other people are looking after our wildlife through conservation but everyone should be involved as many people are unaware how serious the problem of endangerment and even extinction actually is, obviously, this is another matter which is a huge subject to discuss and contemplate.

There are just so many different reasons why we need to conserve wildlife.  Plants and animals act as environmental indicators, providing natural materials for food and medicine for example, therefore necessary for genetic diversity.  All domestic animals and crops descend from wildlife.  All green plants, animals and even humans rely on micro-organisms and many plants also depend on insects and other animals for fertilisation and dispersal. Therefore, we do not really know what the effect would be of losing any of these species.

I was surprised to find that there are many wildlife conservation courses that can be undertaken, it can even be studied as a Degree as a career can be developed in ecology, conservation and habitat management, wildlife management, zoological and botanical conservation and I can imagine such courses involve the learning about natural history and ecological science too – how interesting and rewarding to have such knowledge and make a career out of doing something so vital for the environment and the future.

In order to get involved in wildlife conservation whether it be carrying out your own research or joining Campaign Groups or even participating by making your own back garden more wildlife friendly, there are many ways to save our natural world.  There are many Wildlife Trusts you can join and get involved with and even become a volunteer or join a Conservation Group, there are many of them.

Filed Under: Wildlife Conservation Tagged With: , ,

Bird Feeding Myths

January 31, 2011 By
bird feeding

bird feeding

I didn’t realise there were so many myths regarding bird feeding but over time, I have heard and read about many, as follows:-

The myth that feeding uncooked rice to birds will kill them due to it swelling inside their stomachs is a very popular one and of course, untrue.  Rice is actually nutritious for our birds and can safely be added to Feeders in order for the birds to enjoy.

Everbody seems to feed our Ducks with bread as if this is what they should eat but really, bread has very little nutritional value for them and too much bread in small ponds for example can attract predators, rodents and other pests.  Decayed bread can also lead to diseases that can infect both birds too.  Fresh peas and small grapes are much, much better for them.

Lots of us think that birdseed does not have a ‘sell by / use by’ date but if stored incorrectly and if it is very old, it will mainly attract pests and rodents or become mildewed and eventually old seed dries out and is obviously is not good for the birds.  If however, it is stored properly, it can last for a few weeks/months.  Choose a cool, dry area to store seed and use airtight containers that will deter rodents and insects.

Some people are of the thinking that feeding birds makes them dependent on handouts which is not a good thing but while the same birds may regularly visit the Feeders daily in our garden, studies have shown that wild birds only get an average of 25 percent of their food from them, therefore, there are many wild food sources that birds prefer and while they will visit Feeders out of convenience, naturally, they will find other sources of food if Feeders are unavailable.

This may sound like an odd one but I read somewhere that birds’ feet will freeze to the metal feeder perches in extreme weather. This is not true as birds’ feet are actually well protected against cold weather. An interesting fact is that birds do not have sweat glands in their feet to provide moisture that would freeze to metal and their feet and legs are made up of scaly tissue with a low blood flow to minimise cold damage.

A lot of people believe that birds will starve if you stop feeding them during the Winter but as birds have evolved over time, they have naturally become very adaptive and mobile creatures so unless a bird is sick or debilitated, it can use its wings (or legs) to range far and wide in search of food.

Filed Under: Feeding Wild Birds, Wildlife Conservation Tagged With: , ,

How and What to Feed Birds

January 27, 2011 By
birdfood

birdfood

When I first took an interest in birdwatching and decided to help and attract the birds into my garden, I was amazed at the large amount of information available giving advice on how to feed birds!  I thought I would share with you what I do, which has been so successful.
Providing nuts for bird feeding is the first and obvious choice but please remember that salt is very bad for birds, so whatever you do, please don’t use the roasted/salted variety. Stick to natural unsalted nuts (specific for birds), seeds, dried fruit and finely chopped bacon rind.
Lard is good too. Most of our native garden birds will benefit from pecking away at a seedy, nutty lard-cake.   You can either melt some lard in a pan, mix in your chosen ingredients, then simply pour into half a coconut shell. Let it set before you hang it out.
I was surprised at the many different kinds of bird feeders too which attract different birds also!  There are so many, so I have listed a few below:-
Hanging Feeders:  These can be hung these from a tree or from a wall bracket, anywhere that is high so the cats can’t reach them.
Mesh Feeders:  To attract Tits and Woodpeckers, use a wire mesh as birds can get tangled or trapped in nylon mesh.  Fill with whole peanuts but do not do this during the breeding season as whole nuts can choke baby birds.
Seed Feeders:  These are made from clear plastic with perches below the holes. Finches are the popular birds attracted to these Feeders.
Fat Feeders:  These attract Tits in particular.  There are special holders you can buy for fat balls.
Coconuts:  Again, fat mixtures can be put into an empty half coconut and can be hung from a tree.
Below, I have listed a range of certain foods for our birds:-
Peanuts – again, not the salted variety, the peanuts especially for birds.  I find it is best to crush them as this is safer.  Robins and Dunnocks will enjoy them very much.
Seeds – either Sunflower Seeds or a mix.  Nyjer Seeds for example are loved by Finches.
Live food (perhaps best in the Spring when birds are raising their chicks) such as mealworms, which can be bought from suppliers and again, are loved by Robins, Blue Tits, Finches and Siskins and they will feed their chicks with caterpillars and insects which also can be encouraged in your garden with the right plants.
Fats – these are so important for our birds to survive. As mentioned earlier, lard/suet and  leftover unsalted bacon rind or grated hard cheese are favourites for our Blue Tits.
Natural food of course is always ideal.  If you have the correct shrubs and trees in your garden, our birds will be lucky enough to have supplies throughout the year. Holly and Ivy are great for winter berries and therefore Thrushes and Woodpigeons love them. If you plant Spindle, over the Winter time, Robins will receive their vital source of energy through the berries.
Breakfast and Supper are the most important meals for birds, especially in the Autumn and Winter as they need a boost of energy before and after their rest.
It is important that all Feeders are maintained and cleaned; boiling water is best, do not use detergents.  It is also important to remove stale food from the seed trays too.
You will be amazed at the abundance and different birds you will see in your garden just by providing the right Feeder and the right food!

Filed Under: Feeding Wild Birds, Wildlife Conservation Tagged With: , ,