El Annie
Wednesday 23rd April 2003, 00:06
Arriving one by one, the swallows that make summer
One of the great wonders of the natural world is suddenly visible for the first time – heralding a transformation in the understanding of ornithology. The miracle of bird migration, when millions of summer visitors pour into Britain to nest from their winter quarters in Africa, can now be watched as it happens. An unfolding picture of the return of each species, from the swallow to the cuckoo, from the first trickle of early individuals to the final tide weeks later, is being played out before a worldwide audience on a remarkable website.
More information -
Independent
BTO - Migration Watch
Help wanted for dirty lodgers
Bird-lovers are being urged to make houseroom available this spring for a mysterious - but none to clean - lodger. The first house martin to arrive in Britain for the summer has just been reported to the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) in a most unlikely spot - Yorkshire's East Riding - and many more will be with us soon. House martins are, however, messy lodgers which build their nests on walls and their droppings can cause a problem. The BTO is appealing to bird lovers to take a lenient view - and perhaps put down trays underneath the nests.
More information -
daelnet
BTO
Reserve digs building site for birds
A nature reserve is being churned up by mechanical digger to encourage the Lapwing, a breed of bird, to nest there. Wardens now hope that by digging up a section of the site, the bird will set up home there. The Lapwing, also known as the peewit because of its song, has been declining in numbers across the UK for the last 25 years. "Its an ideal place for birds to live," said warden Alan Davies. "But unfortunately the Lapwing doesn't like this special nature reserve we have created and the numbers we have may decline if we don't do something about it.
More information - BBC
Osprey plays the mating waiting game
All eyes will be focused on the skies over Bassenthwaite Lake in the next few days looking out for the return of the female osprey that has successfully nested in the area for the last two years. One pair of eyes will be the keenest of them all - those of a male osprey, which arrived back at Bassenthwaite Lake last week and is now waiting expectantly for the return of his mate. The pioneering pair made history in 2001 as the first of the fish-eating birds to nest in the Lake District for at least 150 years, and one of the first to naturally recolonise England.
More information - Forestry Commission
Seal of approval for the fisherman they could not catch
A grey seal trapped in waters teeming with salmon south of Loch Lomond was yesterday awarded an official £150 fishing permit by the angling club that threatened to shoot him less than a week ago. Salty the seal, who is also known as André, enjoyed his first day of legal fishing since becoming trapped in a shallow stretch of the River Leven, near Balloch, while attempting to make his way back to sea. For the past year he has been feeding on salmon in the loch, annoying local anglers, who wanted him shot to protect fish stocks.
More information -
Times
Herald
Bats roost in building work
A colony of bats returning to its summertime roost in a Monmouthshire church have settled down among builders carrying out repairs on the roof. The rare bats' presence forced churchwardens to put work on the roof on hold until they had left for the winter last year, although they hoped to finish before the bats came back. But unexpected problems have meant the builders are still on site at St Cadog's Church in Llangattock Lingoed near Abergavenny as the bats start settling back in. It also means churchgoers will be holding their Easter celebrations away from their parish church.
More information - BBC
http://www.habitat.org.uk/news1.htm
Annie
:t:
One of the great wonders of the natural world is suddenly visible for the first time – heralding a transformation in the understanding of ornithology. The miracle of bird migration, when millions of summer visitors pour into Britain to nest from their winter quarters in Africa, can now be watched as it happens. An unfolding picture of the return of each species, from the swallow to the cuckoo, from the first trickle of early individuals to the final tide weeks later, is being played out before a worldwide audience on a remarkable website.
More information -
Independent
BTO - Migration Watch
Help wanted for dirty lodgers
Bird-lovers are being urged to make houseroom available this spring for a mysterious - but none to clean - lodger. The first house martin to arrive in Britain for the summer has just been reported to the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) in a most unlikely spot - Yorkshire's East Riding - and many more will be with us soon. House martins are, however, messy lodgers which build their nests on walls and their droppings can cause a problem. The BTO is appealing to bird lovers to take a lenient view - and perhaps put down trays underneath the nests.
More information -
daelnet
BTO
Reserve digs building site for birds
A nature reserve is being churned up by mechanical digger to encourage the Lapwing, a breed of bird, to nest there. Wardens now hope that by digging up a section of the site, the bird will set up home there. The Lapwing, also known as the peewit because of its song, has been declining in numbers across the UK for the last 25 years. "Its an ideal place for birds to live," said warden Alan Davies. "But unfortunately the Lapwing doesn't like this special nature reserve we have created and the numbers we have may decline if we don't do something about it.
More information - BBC
Osprey plays the mating waiting game
All eyes will be focused on the skies over Bassenthwaite Lake in the next few days looking out for the return of the female osprey that has successfully nested in the area for the last two years. One pair of eyes will be the keenest of them all - those of a male osprey, which arrived back at Bassenthwaite Lake last week and is now waiting expectantly for the return of his mate. The pioneering pair made history in 2001 as the first of the fish-eating birds to nest in the Lake District for at least 150 years, and one of the first to naturally recolonise England.
More information - Forestry Commission
Seal of approval for the fisherman they could not catch
A grey seal trapped in waters teeming with salmon south of Loch Lomond was yesterday awarded an official £150 fishing permit by the angling club that threatened to shoot him less than a week ago. Salty the seal, who is also known as André, enjoyed his first day of legal fishing since becoming trapped in a shallow stretch of the River Leven, near Balloch, while attempting to make his way back to sea. For the past year he has been feeding on salmon in the loch, annoying local anglers, who wanted him shot to protect fish stocks.
More information -
Times
Herald
Bats roost in building work
A colony of bats returning to its summertime roost in a Monmouthshire church have settled down among builders carrying out repairs on the roof. The rare bats' presence forced churchwardens to put work on the roof on hold until they had left for the winter last year, although they hoped to finish before the bats came back. But unexpected problems have meant the builders are still on site at St Cadog's Church in Llangattock Lingoed near Abergavenny as the bats start settling back in. It also means churchgoers will be holding their Easter celebrations away from their parish church.
More information - BBC
http://www.habitat.org.uk/news1.htm
Annie
:t: