Wildlife May2010

[christian pfalz]

hi, looks pretty in sun 

cheers
chris

[mark smyth]

It's a quote from ? and means when the swifts arrive it's time to empty the greenhouse of plants

Stephen have you thought about nest boxes? I put up six new nest boxes last year and have birds in them already.

Your swifts are not as far as we know north Africa or Israeli birds. Last year 9 Swedish birds left for Africa carrying a geolocater back pack. This is carried much the same as we carry a back pack except theirs is around their legs. Last year these finally became small enough, 1.5g, to be attached to swifts and similar sized birds. The geoloacter has a tiny light sensor on the tip that records sunrise and sunset every day. So far 5 of these birds have arrived back at their nest box colony and have had their back packs removed. The added weight didn't affect their weight and they arrived back in peak condition. It will take a while for the reseachers to work out where the swifts have been. Maybe northern European swifts breed further south first. Time will tell.

[Anthony Darby]

It's a quote from ? and means when the swifts arrive it's time to empty the greenhouse of plants

Bedding plants? What other kind of plants would you take out during the summer? Certainly not bulbs or orchids.

[Stephenb]

It's a quote from ? and means when the swifts arrive it's time to empty the greenhouse of plants

Stephen have you thought about nest boxes? I put up six new nest boxes last year and have birds in them already.

Your swifts are not as far as we know north Africa or Israeli birds. Last year 9 Swedish birds left for Africa carrying a geolocater back pack. This is carried much the same as we carry a back pack except theirs is around their legs. Last year these finally became small enough, 1.5g, to be attached to swifts and similar sized birds. The geoloacter has a tiny light sensor on the tip that records sunrise and sunset every day. So far 5 of these birds have arrived back at their nest box colony and have had their back packs removed. The added weight didn't affect their weight and they arrived back in peak condition. It will take a while for the reseachers to work out where the swifts have been. Maybe northern European swifts breed further south first. Time will tell.

Nest boxes: I put up a swift box up on my house over 25 years ago, it's still there and has never been used  Likewise a House Martin next box I bought off the RSPB in the 80s.

I was inspired to put up a box when, as a member of the local RSPB or SOC group in Edinburgh, we had a field trip to the Borders (about 1979) including the Hirsel (the home of the Douglas-Hume family) – I remember the house being covered with occupied swift boxes… I haven’t thought of this for years. Googling the net now, I see that a certain design of Swift boxes are nowadays known as Hirsel boxes! See http://www.concernforswifts.com/Opportunities.asp

Satellite tracking: Yes, will be interesting to see where they’ve been (not hibernating at the bottom of a local pond?). The technology has certainly changed. I work as an oceanographer and we use satellite tracking to monitor our equipment and I remember scientists beginning to use the same system in the 80s to track first Whales and, then, sensationally, Albatrosses. I once provided wind and wave information following an Albatross to a group of scientists trying to interpret its satellite track in the Southern Ocean! 

[Stephenb]

It's a quote from ? and means when the swifts arrive it's time to empty the greenhouse of plants

Bedding plants? What other kind of plants would you take out during the summer? Certainly not bulbs or orchids.

Well, I actually do empty my greenhouse at this time of year. I grow a multitude of vegetables/ salad crops sown early April and over by the end of May/early June (Cress, Radishes, Mustard Greens, Rocket etc.) - they thrive in a cold greenhouse as they are all plants of Mediterranean origin liking cool conditions. They are chucked out about now and replaced by Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Yacon and other wierd and wonderful warmth loving vegetables... Good advice I say, Mark!

[mark smyth]

Stephen we have learnt so much about swifts in recent years. They have difficulty finding hidden nest entrances but when they do they literally have practice runs to get in and out. What we think is obvious isn't to them.

The BTO crescent entrance is no longer the best type.

Swifts don't know your box is there until you tell them. PM me your address and I'll put the CD in the post for you

[Stephenb]

Stephen we have learnt so much about swifts in recent years. They have difficulty finding hidden nest entrances but when they do they literally have practice runs to get in and out. What we think is obvious isn't to them.

The BTO crescent entrance is no longer the best type.

Swifts don't know your box is there until you tell them. PM me your address and I'll put the CD in the post for you

Thanks for the CD which arrived today. In the meantime, a pair of House Sparrows have taken up residence. Haven't seen a swift near my house this year yet, just in the town. Still very cold here and it hasn't reached 20C at all....