Wildlife April 2011

[annew]

Well done Mark and co!

[mark smyth]

Thanks Anne. I didnt get the final photos and footage because I've had a pounding head most of today

[mark smyth]

Well done Mark and co!

what I found very annoying was only one person from the local RSPB group volunteered to help. Two different people from 50 miles away, in different directions, offered to help but I though it wasnt fair to let them drive so far for a couple of hours work

[mark smyth]

Gary your set up should look like this.

If you are planning to set up a camera in the future this is what I do

[scatigaz]

Thanks for that Mark. Wont be setting a camera up this year but may in the future.

[Anthony Darby]

A small flock of sparrows and goldfinches on our front lawn.

[mark smyth]

Anthony were you feeding them seeds?

[annew]

Are they native or imported?

[annew]

Mark, what's the set up at the other end of the wires?

[mark smyth]

Mark, what's the set up at the other end of the wires?

The cable can be plugged in to the TV via white and yellow connectors or via a scart adapter. If you will be watching on a computer you need an EasyCap. Make sure the one you buy comes with the software
http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=easycap&_sacat=See-All-Categories

[mark smyth]

here's the finished 13m bank
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaWgqkiMTRo[/youtube]

[Maggi Young]

Well done indeed, Mark and Friends for your effort for the restoration of the Sand Martin's bank. 

[Anthony Darby]

A tour de force Mark. Remember that pain is temporary but the results of your labours last longer.

Here's what I've been spending my time building: an outdoor cage for keeping and breeding New Zealand geckos. This is bigger than the minimum required to obtain a licence for keeping these (it allows me to obtain geckos from licensed breeders). This one is 150cm tall (including 30cm legs); 90cm wide and 60 cm deep. I have yet to fit the feeding door centre left. The cage has an inner aluminium fly screen mesh to keep the geckos and food in and an outer plastic coated 1cm grid wire mesh outer covering to keep the cats from getting through. Cats account for a huge percentage of lizard etc. mortality in New Zealand. Personally I would exterminate them unless they were confined indoors. The mesh allows for ventilation and allows UV rays to penetrate.

This morning I had three yellow admirals (Bassaris itea) emerge. These had been, as caterpillars, on one of the nettles I had bought. I let them fly off. One spent a bit of time on my finger before flying onto the fence where it stayed for a couple of hours.

[mark smyth]

that's an excellent cage and looks like the maker knew what he was doing. I suppose it is too late in NZ and Aust. to bring in a law about cats. Too many ferals?

[Anthony Darby]

Some of the wildlife laws are weird Mark. I cannot purchase a blue-tongued skink and have it delivered to Auckland as they are potential pests (of what?), but I can buy one elsewhere in New Zealand and bring it here, yet the pet shops round here sell red-eared terrapins which could destroy pond ecosystems if released.