The Woking Peregrine Project was featured on That’s Surrey TV on 18th May. The four chicks are still going strong – even a sandwich tern was caught as prey by the parents. The chicks will be ringed on Tuesday to help understand where they travel as adults. They should fledge in early to mid June, so keep an eye out if you’re in Woking! Learn more at http://www.wokingperegrines.com/.
Bee-eaters eat bees, black birds are black, woodpeckers peck wood. Easy to see where those names came from. But a new book explores some of the more unusual names of birds and their origins. Puffins, hobbies, turtle doves, redstarts….. Read more in The Guardian story or buy Mrs Moreau’s Warbler: How Birds Got Their Names, by Stephen Moss.
As is often the case with nature, there is good news, but also sad news from the Woking Peregrines. The good news – all five eggs were hatched. But sadly this morning one chick became estranged as the parent began to brood again after feeding. It sadly didn’t make it in the cold.
It’s worth remembering that five surviving to fledge, as they achieved last year, is uncommonly good. Our hopes continue that the other four will survive to adulthood.
You can do your part, maybe not for the peregrines directly, but for the birds visiting your garden who will also be struggling in this cold and rainy spell. Keeping your feeders full will help ensure avian parents have one less thing to worry about.
Watch the peregrines live at http://www.wokingperegrines.com/
Photos from Woking Peregrine Project / Woking Borough Council
2017 was the seventh worst year for butterflies in Britain since records began more than 40 years ago. Grayling and grizzled skippers had their worst year on record.
Habitat loss has caused the long-term falls in butterfly populations. However, scientists say the recent dramatic declines are due to climate change, pesticides such as neonicotinoids and nitrogen pollution.
Grizzled skipper numbers have more than halved since the 1970s while the grayling’s population has shrunk by 63% in the last decade. The large white – once so common it was a pest – fell by 19% in 2017.
Read The Guardian’s story for more information.
The 2018 results for the RPSB’s Big Garden Birdwatch have been released. The headlines:
The rankings:-
Do look at the results from the RPSB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) for more detail and explanation. And do consider participating next year. An hour of observation provides valuable information for understanding trends and guiding conservation efforts. And it’s a great excuse to just sit and enjoy your garden for an hour!
It’s annoying when something breaks and you’re not sure how to fix it. No need to give up and throw it away. Learn to repair your broken items for free at the Guildford Repair Café. Volunteer experts are on hand to help you repair a whole variety of items. Save money and the environment – save on waste and reduce the manufacturing of replacements.
Please visit the Guildford Repair Café website for more details. At time of writing, the next session is the morning of Saturday 7th April, 10-12, at the Park Barn Community Centre, Cabell Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 8JH.
We’re delighted to share with you the news that there are now five eggs laid by the pair of peregrines in Woking. Last year the pair managed to fledge all five of the eggs they laid. Let’s hope they can have the same success this year – watch out pigeons of Woking! Visit the Woking Peregrine Project to watch their progress.
[Photos by Woking Borough Council / Woking Peregrine Project]
The Woking Peregrine Project celebrates the second egg laid by the peregrines under the watchful eye(s) of the web cameras. Peregrines have already successully bred here in 2016 and 2017.
Even better news – there may be another egg due on Wednesday as peregrines usually lay in 48 hour intervals. Do have a look at the live webcam videos and Twitter feed on their website for the latest updates – it’s fascinating and addictive!!
[Photos by Woking Peregrine Project / Woking Borough Council]
Freezing temperatures brought on by the ‘mini Beast from the East’ just days before the start of spring could have serious consequences for wildlife, experts have said according to the Daily Mail.
Whether sand martins and wheatears returning from long migrations who need to restore their energy, or frogspawn and insects who thought the earlier warming temperatures were a sign spring was coming, the cold and snow this weekend could have a massive impact on our wildlife.
Feeding our garden birds can provide vital energy resources for our feathered friends, but we are also responsible for making sure it doesn’t have unexpected harm. The BBC report on research by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) on the risks of disease in wild birds from garden bird feeders.
ZSL and the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) recommend:
Learn more about what you can do to help Normandy’s wildlife.
