DEFRA's Smoke and Mirrors Campaign

Mike Rigby is a County Councillor on Somerset County Council. Previously Mike had not held a strong view on the badger cull. His thorough investigations however have uncovered a determine 'smoke and mirrors' campaign by DEFRA in trying to justify the badger cull. Read his blogpost, link below. If you had ambivalent views about the cull this should convince you that it is futile and unjustified:

"Defra is completely incapable of holding the line on the justification for the badger culls....."

I will also be sending a link to Mike's blog to my local MP, Simon Kirby, who signed the motion in favour of the cull. I will be interested to hear his response.

http://mikerigby.org/2013/09/27/badger-cull-2-update/ 

Police Accused of Bias over Culling of Badgers

More disquieting news about the behaviour of the police and their involvement in action against badger cull protesters. Further evidence on the lobbying power of the NFU and the Countryside Alliance and our weak coalition government that decides to ignore genuine scientific evidence that the cull will not work.

The groundswell of public opinion against the cull continues to gain momentum. Long may it continue.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/sep/24/police-accused-bias-culling-badgers

Urban Birds Take a Lie-in

According to the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) our urban birds tend to arrive at garden feeders somewhat later than their countryside counterparts. The rationale is that in urban areas the amount of heat loss from the average home is such as to keep the surrounding environment somewhat warmer than country areas. Urban birds then take a 'lie-in' as they have not expended so much energy to keep warm through the night unlike birds in more rural areas.

I am up most weekdays at 6:30am and I notice that my garden birds are at our feeders soon after first light. No lie-in for them it appears. Greedy little so-and-sos!

A Halt in Decline of House Sparrows

Wild gardens seem to have helped to halt the decline in number of House Sparrows Passer domesticus. Monitoring has suggested a severe decline in the UK population with a drop of 71% since 1977, that's a fall from about 12 million pairs in the 1970s to between 6 and 7 million pairs today. However, the latest data from the British Trust for Ornithology's (BTO) Garden Birdwatch (a survey conducted by birdwatchers and householders across the country) reckons that the decline in gardens has stabilised since 2009.

Male House Sparrow

The report shows that in 1995 the proportion of gardens recording one or more house sparrows was about 80%. This fell steadily to 60% in 2009 and has remained at the same rate since. News to be cautiously welcomed. Clare Simm, BTO's Garden Birdwatch development officer, said: "It is too soon to say that they are increasing but the decline has definitely levelled off since 2009 and hopefully this means they will start to increase again".

The house sparrow is a "Red-listed" conservation species which has been in long-term decline, particularly in urban and suburban environments. Greater London lost 70% of its sparrows between 1994 and 2001. House sparrow populations across Britain have been hit by a loss of nesting sites and food sources, particularly a lack of insects to feed their young. Air pollution and the use of pesticides are also being blamed. 

But we are a nation of wildlife lovers and many of us are now managing our gardens for wildlife, which certainly benefits our house sparrows. A few days ago I was astonished to count no less than twelve juvenile house sparrows perched in my lilac tree, where most of the feeders hang. Astonishing because these twelve were all juveniles.

The BTO has recommended five measures for gardeners to encourage house sparrows:

• Let an area of garden go wild to encourage insects
• Plant species such as hawthorn and ivy which provide thick vegetation
• Provide a house sparrow terrace or a group of nest boxes near the eaves of your property
• If you feed birds, provide them with seed mix that includes large grains
• Regularly clean feeding stations to prevent disease

And one from me: provide clean drinking water daily.

The Red-backed Shrike

Hard to imagine a world without birds, isn't it? We take their presence for granted as the most obvious and permanent manifestation of nature in our lives. But we should never be complacent, for our birds and the rest of our wildlife are under threat as never before. I appreciate the number and variety of birds I see and hear, many in my own garden, helped along by my own modest efforts to keep them well nourished.

The Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio is one of many birds on the Red List, with its dramatic decline to virtual extinction as a UK breeding species. This species is best looked for on passage in Spring and Autumn. But it is also good to know and welcome news that in the past few years the red-backed shrike has gained a toe-hold here once again, with several pairs breeding on Dartmoor.

Lanius collurio

These birds are under 24 hour guard against the menace of egg-collectors, whose mindless vandalism threatens to nip this recolonisation attempt in the bud. I can only hope that this little gem of a bird will make a permanent return to our shores.

The Big Issue Seller

I buy a copy of 'The Big Issue' every week from a street vendor at one of the locations in Brighton. Robert is 62 years old and lives on the streets. Not because he wants to but because of circumstances that caused his dilemma, like so many other of our homeless folk.

Selling The Big Issue is a business. The vendor has to buy his copies for £1.25 each and sells them for £2.50. You need to sell many copies each week just to keep yourself fed. But, it's a leg up, not a hand-out. I always spend at least five minutes talking with Robert and discussing his welfare and his love of cats. Today I gave him my copy of the book about Dewey, the cat that lived in a library in the USA and touched everyone's heart who came to know him. Robert loves to talk about A CAT NAMED BOB, the book that tells the remarkable story of a cat and the street person who came to 'adopt' him and certainly the most heartwarming story of love and redemption that I have read in a long while.

Big Issue vendors are human like you and me. Don't pass them by in the street or worse still, cross the road to avoid them. All vendors that I have come across are friendly, polite and love to chat. And buy a copy of the publication. You might be surprised to learn that it is full of excellent journalism and you will be helping someone to regain their self esteem, which just might help towards their securing somewhere to live.

A small act of kindness can work wonders.

Starlings Gulp, Goldfinches Sip...

Being retired has enormous benefits, not the least that I am able to spend considerable time watching the antics of birds in my garden (without feeling guilty that I have nothing better to do!) I have a number of strategically placed feeders and two bird baths - one hangs in the lilac tree and the other stands on a pedestal. I replace the water regularly.

Watching birds take a bath can be highly amusing, particularly the Starlings Sturnus vulgaris, who can empty a bird bath with their enthusiastic ablutions. Their drinking habits are noticeably different to other birds. Stick their head in the water, throw their neck back, beaks open - and gulp.

Sturnus vulgaris

The Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis on the other hand is rather more dainty, taking gentle sips. And strangely enough I have not yet seen a Goldfinch taking a bath.

Carduelis carduelis

It has been a pleasure this year to see a significant increase in the number of juvenile birds visiting the baths and feeders. Mind you, it's a costly pastime keeping the feeders replenished!