Hampshire Sparrow Survey

A MAJOR survey of Hampshire house sparrow population begins next Monday. Ornithological organisations and Hampshire County Council are behind the three-month study – aimed at reversing declines in the species and discovering where they thrive best. Experts says the sparrow population has halved in the past 25 years. Across South-East England there has been a 65 per cent drop in house sparrow numbers, say ornithological groups.

Changes in farming practices and modern house building methods are being blamed for the sparrow’s decline Wildlife expert and TV presenter Chris Packham, chairman of the Hampshire Ornithological Society, said: “The House Sparrow is a great British bird, it would be terrible if we did nothing to stop its disappearance.”

Hampshire’s cabinet spokesman for the environment Mel Kendal, said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for Hampshire to do something very positive for our local wildlife which might help safeguard the future of a familiar visitor to our neighbourhoods.”

Sparrow watchers are asked to log sightings online at www.hants.gov.uk/housesparrow where there is also advice on how to encourage sparrows and other birds into gardens and other places.

Report from Salisbury Journal, 10th March

Eagle Owl Loose in Wiltshire!

An escaped owl may now be so hungry it could resort to killing dogs and cats. The three-foot European eagle owl, with a wingspan of about six feet, has been missing from its Lower Stratton home since 9pm on Sunday. But despite being bred in captivity, the giant may resort to natural instincts to satisfy its hunger. A Wiltshire police spokeswoman said: “As the owl has been missing since Sunday it will by now be very hungry and could attack small dogs or cats in order to eat. Our advice to owners of small dogs is to keep an eye on their pet and to keep it on the lead.” There is no suggestion that the bird of prey would swoop on children, especially as it has been familiar with children since it was a chick.

However unlikely it may be to attack humans, police have warned members of the public not to approach the bird if they see it. Instead they should contact the police or RSPCA.

Report taken from Wiltshire Times website dated 12th March

RSPB Nature Project in the New Forest

THE RSPB’s Date with Nature project returns to the New Forest on April 1, giving visitors the opportunity to get a closer look into the lives of the birds of prey that nest there.

The project runs from April 1 to August 31, with live footage being beamed from cameras on the birds’ nests into the Forestry Commission’s New Forest Reptile Centre, near Lyndhurst.

Visitors will be able to observe the birds’ behaviour and watch events unfold as they breed, hatch eggs, feed chicks and teach their young how to fly.

Dan Parkinson, of RSPB South East, said: “The technology used really gives people a privileged peek into the fascinating lives of these birds. We’ll be at the Reptile Centre every day to explain what’s happening in the nest. Seeing people’s reactions as they watch the raptorcam is just priceless.”

First in the spotlight will be a pair of Goshawks who get busy with nest building in March. The female is due to lay eggs at the beginning of April, with chicks likely to appear in May. From June, a pair of Hobbies will take their turn in the limelight.

Last year the project saw more than 19,000 people visit the centre, and the project’s website clock up 581,000 visits.

People can also watch the action unfold live online at www.newforestgateway.org

Report from Salisbury Journal

Are predators to blame for songbird declines?

In the biggest ever analysis of songbirds and their predators, published today in the Journal of Applied Ecology, scientists look at the role of predators in the decline of species such as Bullfinch and Yellowhammer. Whilst a small number of associations may suggest significant negative effects between predator and prey species, for the majority of the songbird species examined there is no evidence that increases in common avian predators or Grey Squirrels are associated with large-scale population declines.

Report from  BTO

http://www.bto.org/news/news2010/marapr/Are_predators_to_blame_for_songbird_declines.html

Dead Starlings Mystery in Somerset

A mystery killer has struck in Coxley and its victims number over 100.

On Sunday evening, scores of starlings started to fall out of the sky over one house in the village, and no one can understand why. The deaths all occurred at the same time, and the bodies of the birds covered an area 12 feet across.

All the birds had blood coming out of their beaks, and their feet curled up as if in agony. The birds all fell in the front garden of Julie Knight, who lives in the village. She returned home at 4.15pm on Sunday to find the tiny feathered bodies in her front garden. She said: “One of my neighbours saw them. They seemed to just fall out of the sky. About 70 were dead straight away.

“We called out the RSPCA, and their animal welfare officer took a few away in cages and euthanised the rest. There must have been over 100 birds in total. I’ve been a country girl all my life and I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Some of the bodies fell into the boughs of a tree and some surviving birds perched there as well. After having the incident described to him, Lloyd Scott from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said: “This is one of the oddest things I’ve ever heard about. We’ve certainly never come across anything similar.” He said it was unlikely that the birds had flown into each other hard enough to cause the deaths. “Starlings have natural habits and behaviour, when flying around in a murmuration they relate each movement to the seven birds closest to them. They are hardwired into doing this and on instinct they stay away from each other.”

Initially, Mr Scott thought that the birds might have flown into a glass conservatory while taking part in a murmeration – the apparently coordinated sky-dance of the starlings that takes place on nearby Shapwick Moor. But Mrs Knight said that the birds had not flown into anything – they simply fell out of the sky and into the garden.

The RSPCA are carrying out tests to try to find out the cause of the deaths.

Story dated 9th March

WOS featured on BTO website

The BTO has featured WOS on their website as a BTO partner. To see the item, follow the link:

http://www.bto.org.uk/aboutBTO/birdclubs/wilts.htm

Celebration of the life of Lady Scott

Following the sad death of Lady Philippa Scott on 5th January, 2010, there will be a celebration of her life at St Mary’s Church, Berkeley in Gloucestershire at 12 noon on April 14th and later at WWT, Slimbridge.

If you would like to attend, please apply by 19th March,

either send an sae to:

Lady Scott’s Memorial Service

WWT Slimbridge,

Gloucestershire GL2 7BT

 

or email:  memservice@wwt.org.uk

Help RSPB to help Swifts

 

The population of the common swift (apus apus) in the UK has fallen by more than 47% during the last ten years and they have moved from green to amber on the lists of British Birds of Conservation concern, 3% more would have seen them red listed!

 

The RSPB, BTO and Swift Conservation groups in various parts of the Country have been working on the problem for a number of years but there has been no concerted action in the South West.

 

We don’t know all the reasons why numbers are falling, but we do know that their nest sites are at risk. Our Swifts nest in buildings, mostly built before 1940 tucked into gaps under eaves or cracks in walls. When we renovate and improve our properties the temptation is to seal the roof space and block any gaps in brick or stonework, some have been demolished entirely.

 

Swifts share our towns and villages and whilst their nest sites are unobtrusive and easily missed, their aerial acrobatics and screaming parties are unmistakeable.

 

Nationally the Species Conservation Team at RSPB HQ Sandy initiated a survey last year to try and ascertain the whereabouts of nest sites and/or screaming parties, thousands responded and the resulting inventory will be available on the National Biodiversity Network website shortly, the work will be ongoing.

 

It is hoped to extend this campaign to architects, developers and the building trades to try to ensure that nest sites are not disturbed during the breeding season and that urban biodiversity is enhanced by incorporating nest boxes for swifts in known sites or in suitable new build projects

 

In the Southwest the RSPB have been advocating the above and are in discussion with Exeter City Council and Devon Wildlife Trust on Swift conservation incorporated in the Exeter Wild City project. We have also agreed to co-operate with Dorset Wildlife Trust and their Swift conservation project.

 

Our first priority on their return in May is to make sure that the inventory in the South West is as comprehensive as possible and we hope that everyone who welcomes Swifts in the summer will help.

 

Surveying swift populations is an inexact science and all we need to know is the location of known nest sites and/or screaming parties, it shouldn’t take much time and details can be submitted on line at www.rspb.org.uk/helpswifts or by completing the questionnaire in the RSPB Swifts Information Leaflet and returning it by free post to us at Sandy.

 

It would also be extremely useful to be advised if any actual or potential cases of disturbance are taking place so that appropriate action can be taken.

 

Further information, leaflets etc from Stephen.fitt@rspb.org.uk or ‘phone 01392 432691.

Indoor meeting: talk by Dominic Couzens, Wednesday 10th Feb in Devizes

James Ferguson-Lees, president of WOS, writes:

 I met Dominic Couzens back in the 1970s when he joined a birdwatching group that I was leading around Morocco. Only 15 at the time, he already showed enormous enthusiasm and a considerable knowledge.  He reckons that he ‘remembers almost every bird we saw’, not least the Bald Ibises and Houbara Bustard – both now threatened species.  

Since then, I have followed the development of his ornithological career with interest. After gaining a BSc in Biology, Dominic turned free-lance as a writer and lecturer. He is perhaps most widely known for his frequent articles in the magazine Bird Watching, as well as from time to time in BBC Wildlife, the National Trust Magazine and elsewhere, but has also written about 20 books, the most recent being My Family and 50 Other Animals — a travelogue of his family’s attempt to see 50 species of British mammals in a year — and 100 Birds to See Before you Die.

Recently he has appeared on the BBC’s ‘Autumn Watch’ and ‘The One Show’, and was a consultant on ‘Snow Watch’. He has also worked for the RSPB Film Unit and for the National Sound Archive (Wildlife). The recording of bird songs and calls has long been one of his special interests and he has published several cassettes, most notably in his ‘Teach Yourself Bird Sounds’ series.

He is not, however, using recordings in his talk to WOS this coming Wednesday (10 February). Entitled ‘Vive la difference – Birds across the Channel’ and illustrated with slides, it will cover differences in the behaviour of various species in the UK and on the Continent, compare related species, and then extend more widely in Europe.

In Dominic’s own words, “The talk is pretty light-hearted, but there’s lots of science too”.  

It should be a very interesting evening.

Please note the talk is at the Wiltshire Heritage Museum, 41 Long Street, Devizes (NOT the Crown Centre), starting at 7.30 pm.

Sad news of Julian Parfitt

Geoff Dicker wrote this about Julian Parfitt who has sadly died: 

 

“It is with a great deal of sorrow that I have to tell you all that my friend and fellow birder Julian Parfitt passed away on 28th January after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Julian was known to many WOS members for the work he did on Salisbury Plain, monitoring rare breeding and wintering birds. He made several significant discoveries in this area. He had the sharpest pair of eyes that I have ever known and could spot a Merlin or a Harrier long before others noticed the bird. Latterly he had developed a passion for “twitching” and we enjoyed many a dawn to dusk rush around the UK chasing rarities. He did manage a couple of successful trips abroad to Spain in search of raptors before his illness became too much.

I am sure that all of Julian’s friends in Wiltshire will wish to convey their condolences and best wishes to Julian’s wife Caroline and his daughter Olivia.”

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