Wildlife -Winter 2008

[mark smyth]

from wikipedia ..

The entire world population of the Noisy Scrub-bird was estimated at 40 to 45 birds in 1962. Conservation efforts succeeded in increasing the population to around 400 birds by the mid-1980s, and they have subsequently been reintroduced to several sites, but remain endangered. In 2002 the population had recovered to around 1,200 birds.

[Paul T]

So where are they located?

[David Shaw]

We are getting a good range of garden birds on the feeders at the moment. All the usual finches and sparrows along with goldfinches and siskins. Joy of joys we have just had a green woodpecker on the peanuts about six feet from the sitting room window. This is the first year that we have seen a woodpecker in our garden.
Of some concern is the observation that a week ago we had plenty of tits in the garden but with this extreme weather, for us, they are no longer coming. I hope that they survive.

[mark smyth]

I'm sure they are Ok, David

Paul I Googled for the noisy birds

[Paul T]

Well David, tits really should be undercover in extreme weather. 

[Anthony Darby]

No-one has mentioned the bird of the moment - namely the robin. It comes in many forms in different parts of the world. The Jamaican robin (Tody) is green and red and related to kingfishers. Remember that impostor in Mary Poppins. Supposed to be the middle of London and they used an (albeit mechanical) American robin  - a type of thrush. Must have been smuggled in along with the skunks and raccoons that turned up in the last 'Dalmatians' film, or the Californian sealions you saw on that beach in 'Local Hero'.

[mark smyth]

and the Chatham Island robin

[mark smyth]

and the pekin robin

[Anthony Darby]

Yeh Rockin' Robin!

[Paul T]

David,

Actually I should have qualified my statement by saying undercover in extreme cold weather.  At certain beaches here in Aus extremely warm weather seems to bring them out into the open. 

[Maggi Young]

Gentlemen! ( And I use THAT term loosely).... I hope you will not continue this lowering of the tone of our august forum   

[Gerard Oud]

Guess what i spotted this morning in my backgarden, a rare Snipe and so close!

[Maggi Young]

Wow! Gerard, that must be one of the most unusual birds to see from anyone's house! 

[David Shaw]

Do you have a wet garden, Gerard, or was the snipe just exploring? Congratulations, anyway.

[Paddy Tobin]

Snipe are very common in the fields around our garden here. A walk through any of the fields is sure to raise a few but they have never come into the garden. What a treat, Gerard.

paddy