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Ohh I may have to check them out. They sound interesting. Shall add them to my never ending kindle backlog. I really enjoyed the Chris Packham programme on bees a few months back. Poor male bees who get the chance to reproduce. Ouch. Anyway, there is a campaign for a national bird to be established. What would you choose. May be a bit... Obvious, but leaning towards the barn owl. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-31904842 Edited by JoelStinty at 18:47:17 16-03-2015 |
The all things Natural HIstory thread • Page 8
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JoelStinty 9,530 posts
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Immaterial 2,626 posts
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Registered 14 years agoEither the kestrel or the buzzard for me. Get loads of both in my neck of the woods.
Edit: Bugger. Neither are on the list.
Edited by Immaterial at 20:04:42 16-03-2015 -
Dipper for me. Really great looking birds.
Dipper RSPB -
JoelStinty 9,530 posts
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Registered 8 years agoWhat i like about the dipper is that it is a product of its environment if that makes sense. I havn't seen one for a while though. -
JuanKerr 37,710 posts
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Registered 15 years agoI voted for the Hen Harrier. Might raise its profile a bit and help conservation efforts. -
First day out in the garden this year. Saw a peacock butterfly. No bumblebees yet. Spring is definitely under way now. -
mattshark 821 posts
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Registered 8 years agoRecently moved to Ceredigion, lots of red kites here -
Saw my first bumblebee of the year today. -
The results of the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch have been published:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdwatch/results.aspx -
JuanKerr 37,710 posts
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Registered 15 years agoSome positive news in there, but I really don't like seeing Song Thrush, Starling and Greenfinch numbers drop so dramatically 
Luckily, we still get plenty of Greenfinch visiting our garden and we've recently had a single Starling popping in for a feed most days. There's also a local Song Thrush who has just starting singing in the evenings - such a beautiful sound, never tire of hearing it.
I've just started volunteering at my local wildlife trust reserve. Spent Sunday as a wildlife guide at their 'Sounds of Spring' event. Absolutely loved it - felt like I was doing something actually useful instead of sitting in front of a computer like a twat. -
JoelStinty 9,530 posts
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Registered 8 years agoYeah I often think of volunteering at mine, or the national trust or something. But I'm too shy to approach them. I be alright once I'm there, but it's just that getting there process.
Anyway, finally got the bee hotel up. Look forward to seeing how it changes things up in the garden. -
JuanKerr 37,710 posts
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Registered 15 years agoGive it a go - the people who work at those sort of places tend to be really decent and they'll only be too pleased to welcome someone - they'd be screwed without volunteers.
I've had a bee hotel up for ages and it seems to attract everything except bees. Fortunately, there are loads of natural places in our garden where bees can create their nests. That's probably why they don't use the hotel. -
Also put up a bee hotel but nothing happening yet. I've seen a few bumblebees and ladybirds in the garden, but nothing really feeding from the few flowers that are there. -
BreadBinLidHero 10,803 posts
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Registered 12 years agoI haven't yet seen a great deal of wildlife since arriving in NZ, probably because I've mainly been in urban areas.
I have seen plenty of native seabirds at the beach, mainly gulls, but a few oystercatchers and terns. The most interesting thing I've seen is the fantail - a small bird with a colourful tail and a bizarre zig-zag way of flying. I've also seen Australasian harriers eating roadkill.
I need to get out of the towns and see some more interesting things. -
JuanKerr 37,710 posts
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Registered 15 years agoI read some interesting stuff about how native NZ wildlife was absolutely decimated by early European settlers introducing non-native species (mammals and loads of birds) from Europe. They basically wiped out pretty much all native wildlife in many parts of the country. -
David Attenborough did a piece about some of NZ's birds. The kakapo is one of the most interesting. Possibly it was Life of Birds. -
JuanKerr 37,710 posts
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Registered 15 years agoA lot of the common birds in NZ were introduced.
Amazing that we still don't seem to learn from mistakes made hundreds of years ago. -
Load_2.0 33,582 posts
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Registered 18 years agoThelzdking, Muriwai Gannet Colony is worth a look, it is about an hours drive from Auckland and a really beautiful spot.
A lot of the rarer species are on the smaller islands where the predator populations can be controlled but if you ever go on a bush walk you will certainly see and hear a lot of native species.
My old man is a birding guide in NZ so takes groups around to see rare species. Mainly sea birds. So is always off on expeditions, he got back from a boat trip to the Antarctic recently.
Shame it didn't rub off on me, city life yo!
Keep an eye out for the Silvereye, it is one of my favourite little birds. See them in residential areas. -
JuanKerr 37,710 posts
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Registered 15 years agoBirding guide in NZ? What an awesome job that is! -
Load_2.0 33,582 posts
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Registered 18 years agoYeah he loves it, was always his passion, think he enjoys it as much as the groups he takes out. -
JoelStinty 9,530 posts
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Registered 8 years agoJuanKerr wrote:
Give it a go - the people who work at those sort of places tend to be really decent and they'll only be too pleased to welcome someone - they'd be screwed without volunteers.
I've had a bee hotel up for ages and it seems to attract everything except bees. Fortunately, there are loads of natural places in our garden where bees can create their nests. That's probably why they don't use the hotel.
Hopefully I will have better luck than you and Mr zoo.gif)
Even if I get insects crawling around I be happy. I do have a bird table in the same garden which might deter any potential house movers. I have moved it to the other side of the garden though.
Talking of sub continent birds. Watching Australian crows in puzzle solving action is pretty spectacular.
Edited by JoelStinty at 10:51:37 15-04-2015 -
JuanKerr 37,710 posts
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Registered 15 years agoLoad:
Nice to hear. I'd love to do something like that for a living, but have to make do with volunteering for the time being.
Edited by JuanKerr at 10:51:53 15-04-2015 -
JuanKerr 37,710 posts
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Registered 15 years agoJoelStinty wrote:
Most corvids are incredible at problem solving. They have proportionally larger brains than you'd expect in an animal of that size (much like humans, chimps, dolphins, etc).
Talking of sub continent birds. Watching Australian crows in puzzle solving action is pretty spectacular. -
Read an article about bees in urban environments and the type of flowers they need. Turns out that many popular bedding plants used in municipal planting schemed are almost useless as food sources and they may as well be plastic for all the good they do.
Some recommended plants for long tongued bees:
Vipers Bugloss
Red Clover
White Dead Nettle
Black Horehound
Borage
I sowed some Red Clover seeds a couple of weeks ago. Might try the others and see what they attract.
Another thing to note is that many garden centre plants are treated with various chemicals that are often harmful to insects so you might be doing harm by introducing them into your garden. Even seeds collected from these plants may still be harmful. -
JuanKerr 37,710 posts
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Registered 15 years agoYep, I read something similar about municipal planting schemes. Probably because they use things like pansies which are absolutely useless for pollinating insects.
Didn't know that about garden centre plants. Useful info that. -
MrFlay 4,670 posts
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Registered 13 years agoJuanKerr wrote:
See also Australia. And it wasn't just native animals they wiped out either.
I read some interesting stuff about how native NZ wildlife was absolutely decimated by early European settlers introducing non-native species (mammals and loads of birds) from Europe. They basically wiped out pretty much all native wildlife in many parts of the country. -
The Great British Bee Watch will run during May. I tried to look at the web site but couldn't access it. Very much along the lines of the garden bird watch. Apps are available for ios and android. -
JuanKerr 37,710 posts
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Registered 15 years agoNice one. I'll be taking part in that -
Have any of you guys heard about the BTO Cuckoo tracking project?
It's brilliant to follow - I check it daily to see how they're getting on. I sponsored three last year, but only Chris is still active at the moment.
.gif)
Even if I get insects crawling around I be happy. I do have a bird table in the same garden which might deter any potential house movers. I have moved it to the other side of the garden though.Sometimes posts may contain links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. For more information, go here.
