Thursday, 31 October 2013
Westward Ho
Ros and I will be travelling tomorrow to Portishead, to the west of Bristol. We are looking forward to spending some relaxing time with my wife's family over a long weekend. Although birdwatching is on the agenda I am aware that I will be located not so far away from the badger killing fields of Gloucestershire. I acknowledge and support the efforts of our cull protestors. If I can, I will join you for one night....
This Government's Reckless Policy
Read here about the courageous volunteers who battle on for our badgers...
"... I have a background in science and science says this is not the way..."
"... In a former life I was a weapons instructor and I would never allow such excitable people to carry a gun..."
"... the terrible underlying despair provoked by these nights of senseless barbarity..."
"... surrounded by an unknown number of shooters who can see you in their night vision gear... making their contempt for our peaceful protest known by filming us and shouting obscenities as they pass..." This says it all about the kind of contemptible scum who have been let loose to massacre our badgers.
"... the young sow had been shot through the neck , the bullet exiting through her teeth. She must have travelled some distance in agony..."
"... I have been a Conservative voter for most of my life. But no more!..." My feelings exactly. There is no place in government for these despicable ministers and Tory MPs in general.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/mark-jones/badger-cull_b_4177782.html
"... I have a background in science and science says this is not the way..."
"... In a former life I was a weapons instructor and I would never allow such excitable people to carry a gun..."
"... the terrible underlying despair provoked by these nights of senseless barbarity..."
"... surrounded by an unknown number of shooters who can see you in their night vision gear... making their contempt for our peaceful protest known by filming us and shouting obscenities as they pass..." This says it all about the kind of contemptible scum who have been let loose to massacre our badgers.
"... the young sow had been shot through the neck , the bullet exiting through her teeth. She must have travelled some distance in agony..."
"... I have been a Conservative voter for most of my life. But no more!..." My feelings exactly. There is no place in government for these despicable ministers and Tory MPs in general.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/mark-jones/badger-cull_b_4177782.html
Tuesday, 29 October 2013
Defiant Minister Owen Paterson
Owen Paterson pledges "not to drop our spades and run away home". What a despicable analogy. He also says that "sadly a badger vaccine does not work on diseased animals". I believe that to be the case. But then how do you know how many of the badgers you have butchered carry the disease when the carcasses are not being tested for the presence of the virus. Which no doubt means that your arrogant approach is responsible for the slaughter of hundreds of healthy animals.
And DEFRA's definition of humane slaughter is measured by "how long a wounded badger screams"....
Paterson and his Tory bully-boys, rich landowners and the NFU could well become responsible for the extinction of one of our most cherished wild animals. You refuse to listen to reasoned debate and you refuse to consider alternative measures. I despise you.
And DEFRA's definition of humane slaughter is measured by "how long a wounded badger screams"....
Paterson and his Tory bully-boys, rich landowners and the NFU could well become responsible for the extinction of one of our most cherished wild animals. You refuse to listen to reasoned debate and you refuse to consider alternative measures. I despise you.
Monday, 28 October 2013
Three Dead After St Jude Storm
The storm hit the south coast with a vengeance with winds gusting up to hurricane force 100mph. Following the morning's events here there are:
- three reported deaths
- 270,000 homes without power across southern England
- Hundreds of felled trees block road and rail links
- Heathrow cancels 130 flights
My garden shed has been shifted so violently on its foundation it has been twisted from the base up to such a degree that the door will not shut properly. I have had to work up some 'Heath Robinson' repairs to temporarily fix it. Bird feeders were scattered across the garden and my lilac tree has suffered a severe battering. One garden fence panel has been torn apart. The amount of damage is almost as bad as that suffered in the great storm of 1987.
So, I have busied myself this afternoon making a shepherds pie. Comfort food for this evening...
Saturday, 26 October 2013
The Gathering Storm
The barometer is dropping. There is a quiet presently complete with torrential rain. The south of England is bracing for a tumultuous storm, the worst for 20 years. Not as bad as 1987, God forbid. We should expect trees toppling, roof tiles being dislodged, garden fences ripped asunder. The low pressure area is building over the south west atlantic and is headed this way. And I am concerned for my garden birds.
In tree ripping weather accompanied by torrential rain, where can they hide? Birds cannot fly in 80mph winds, as is forecast. It is virtually impossible to roost apart from in the most sheltered accommodation. And where might that be on the south coast?
I watched my garden birds today attempting to hang on to feeders already battered by fresh winds. It is going to get a lot worse, a lot worse. I have nurtured these garden visitors all year. I braved the rain today to top up the feeders. I see my birds lurking in the topmost branches of the lilac tree, waiting for the food to be replenished. I feel responsible for this population of extraordinary wildlife. I attracted them here and I won't let them down so far as food and water is concerned. But I cannot protect them from inclement weather. Where will they go when the storm hits? Will they survive monstrous winds that will no doubt wreak havoc with my garden trees?
Nature is about to throw its worst at the south coast and I will keep a vigil on my garden bird population....
In tree ripping weather accompanied by torrential rain, where can they hide? Birds cannot fly in 80mph winds, as is forecast. It is virtually impossible to roost apart from in the most sheltered accommodation. And where might that be on the south coast?
I watched my garden birds today attempting to hang on to feeders already battered by fresh winds. It is going to get a lot worse, a lot worse. I have nurtured these garden visitors all year. I braved the rain today to top up the feeders. I see my birds lurking in the topmost branches of the lilac tree, waiting for the food to be replenished. I feel responsible for this population of extraordinary wildlife. I attracted them here and I won't let them down so far as food and water is concerned. But I cannot protect them from inclement weather. Where will they go when the storm hits? Will they survive monstrous winds that will no doubt wreak havoc with my garden trees?
Nature is about to throw its worst at the south coast and I will keep a vigil on my garden bird population....
Wednesday, 23 October 2013
UK's Wild Bird Population Continues to Decline
The number of wild birds in the UK is still falling despite efforts to protect them by changing farming practices. Conservationists have urged the environment secretary, Owen Paterson, to use the money newly available from the EU's common agricultural policy to step up protection measures.
Since 2003 there has been a 13% decline in the population of farmland birds. In the five years to the end of 2012 the decline was 8% overall. The decline has slowed according to the Wild Bird Indicator statistics released by the government last Thursday and some species are in better health than they were in the 1970s when data began to be comprehensively collected. However, conservationists (including me) are concerned that the drop in numbers is continuing with a halving of farmland bird numbers in the past 40 years. Woodland bird numbers are down 17%.
Turtle Doves have had their lowest level of sightings since records began. Lapwing numbers are down by nearly two thirds since 1970, while Corn Buntings are down 90% in the same period and the number of Skylarks is down by well over half. These are truly alarming statistics.
Farmland birds suffer from intensive agriculture as farmers often remove or drastically cut back the hedges and trees where many of them live. Pesticides can leave them with less prey and a lack of wide field margins cuts down on habitat.
The decline in farmland birds has slowed and wildlife friendly farmers who put conservation measures in place on their land are to be congratulated for their hard work. But funding must be there for these measures to continue. Under reforms to the CAP that were agreed this summer our government has the ability to divert some of the millions of pounds available (which come ultimately from taxpayers) to environmental stewardship schemes to reward farmers for good practice. Needless to say, Owen Paterson has still not said how he intends to allocate the funding and given the governments freedom of action under the new rules, much of it could go to farmers not based on their practices but on the amount of land they farm, as other subsidies are. Without Paterson's help farmland wildlife will continue to struggle along with those farmers trying to help.
Since 2003 there has been a 13% decline in the population of farmland birds. In the five years to the end of 2012 the decline was 8% overall. The decline has slowed according to the Wild Bird Indicator statistics released by the government last Thursday and some species are in better health than they were in the 1970s when data began to be comprehensively collected. However, conservationists (including me) are concerned that the drop in numbers is continuing with a halving of farmland bird numbers in the past 40 years. Woodland bird numbers are down 17%.
Turtle Doves have had their lowest level of sightings since records began. Lapwing numbers are down by nearly two thirds since 1970, while Corn Buntings are down 90% in the same period and the number of Skylarks is down by well over half. These are truly alarming statistics.
Farmland birds suffer from intensive agriculture as farmers often remove or drastically cut back the hedges and trees where many of them live. Pesticides can leave them with less prey and a lack of wide field margins cuts down on habitat.
The decline in farmland birds has slowed and wildlife friendly farmers who put conservation measures in place on their land are to be congratulated for their hard work. But funding must be there for these measures to continue. Under reforms to the CAP that were agreed this summer our government has the ability to divert some of the millions of pounds available (which come ultimately from taxpayers) to environmental stewardship schemes to reward farmers for good practice. Needless to say, Owen Paterson has still not said how he intends to allocate the funding and given the governments freedom of action under the new rules, much of it could go to farmers not based on their practices but on the amount of land they farm, as other subsidies are. Without Paterson's help farmland wildlife will continue to struggle along with those farmers trying to help.
Monday, 21 October 2013
Autumn Wildlife to Watch Out For
I am already seeing an increase in the variety of wild birds visiting my garden as Autumn deepens and those foggy, damp days of November will soon be with us. The most numerous bird to the feeders is still the Goldfinch; the Dunnock is now back after several months' absence along with the Robin, several Starlings and Woodpigeons and an occasional pair of Collared Doves.
I am now anticipating the arrival of Blackcaps, those wintering warblers that are fans of high-energy fatballs and suet pellets. In winter, increasing numbers of blackcaps now make the journey here from Germany, while most of our breeding birds head off to Africa. I also love to see flocks of Long-tailed tits. These beautiful humbug-striped tits can often be seen clinging to hanging feeders as they forage in flocks of six or more. One winter I counted fifteen in my garden, albeit briefly.
Visits to deep freshwater sites around Sussex should result in sightings of the delightful Pochard, a duck that arrives here from eastern Europe. The flocks are mainly comprised of males because most females migrate to southern Europe.
Ros and I will be travelling down to Bristol soon for a long weekend and I hope to get some time birding on the Somerset Levels and, if time allows, along Severn Beach.
I am now anticipating the arrival of Blackcaps, those wintering warblers that are fans of high-energy fatballs and suet pellets. In winter, increasing numbers of blackcaps now make the journey here from Germany, while most of our breeding birds head off to Africa. I also love to see flocks of Long-tailed tits. These beautiful humbug-striped tits can often be seen clinging to hanging feeders as they forage in flocks of six or more. One winter I counted fifteen in my garden, albeit briefly.
Visits to deep freshwater sites around Sussex should result in sightings of the delightful Pochard, a duck that arrives here from eastern Europe. The flocks are mainly comprised of males because most females migrate to southern Europe.
Ros and I will be travelling down to Bristol soon for a long weekend and I hope to get some time birding on the Somerset Levels and, if time allows, along Severn Beach.
male Pochard
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)