Wildlife -Winter 2008

[Carol Shaw]

How would you like the red siskin coming to your nut feeders?

I think I'll stick with our regular siskins thanks

[David Shaw]

I hate it when I see caged birds like this when we are abroad. Is it in Germany where they take the cages for a walk with them to the park?

[Maggi Young]

I hate it when I see caged birds like this when we are abroad. Is it in Germany where they take the cages for a walk with them to the park?

It is certainly very common in China... I think the idea is that  the caged birds are taken to the park to "meet" other caged birds and be cheered up enough to sing 

[mark smyth]

I think it's China. They have bird song competitions

The red siskin is very rare in the wild so they are being cage bred to try and keep the numbers going

[mark smyth]

great minds!

[David Shaw]

Sorry, no. I have seen it, so not China although I know that the Chinese do this also.

[Carol Shaw]

Sorry but I simply can not understand the idea of caging a bird - I remember a huge row from when I was a child and we ended up looking after next door's budgie for Christmas - I was all for letting the little chappy go !

[mark smyth]

Did anyone watch "Swarm"? Congress Bridge is in Austin, Texas where the city council was planning to close the expansion joint where the bats roost during the day. The looked on them as a health hazard. Word got out about the bats under the bridge and they are now one of the biggest tourist attractions. I've been there also. Lots of photos taken but they are 35mm slides

[Paul T]

The second part of "Swarm" is on tonight on BBC at 9pm. It features bats leaving a cave. My guess is it's Bracken Cave in Texas home to 20 million female Mexican free-tailed bats. I've been there.

Mark,

So are there no males?

[Anthony Darby]

The second part of "Swarm" is on tonight on BBC at 9pm. It features bats leaving a cave. My guess is it's Bracken Cave in Texas home to 20 million female Mexican free-tailed bats. I've been there.

Mark,

So are there no males?

The females go to this cave to raise their young. A sort of "bat crèche".

[mark smyth]

Males live seperate lives in much smaller groups. Each female has one baby, a pup, sometimes twins. This is where the 40 million figure came from.

[Paul T]

Wow!  Thanks for the extra info.  Wish there was something I could do for bats in my garden... I know we do get some around here, at least a couple of native species in this area, but no idea how I could provide them with homes or anything like that.  They're such cool little mammals!! 

[mark smyth]

young waxwings
http://www.birdpix.nl/album_page.php?pic_id=40118

[David Nicholson]

Wow!  Thanks for the extra info.  Wish there was something I could do for bats in my garden... I know we do get some around here, at least a couple of native species in this area, but no idea how I could provide them with homes or anything like that.  They're such cool little mammals!! 

Yes, I see you struggle with bats in Oz at the moment

[mark smyth]

Paul first you need to find out what bats are in your area before you act. There must be a bat group in your area. You can build a bat house for your insectiverous bats
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bat-House-Builders-Handbook/dp/0974237914/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232040154&sr=1-1
If you want a copy I'll buy it and mail it to you.