wildlife | Not Just a Granny

Posts Tagged ‘wildlife’

Stop killing insects

Posted in around the UK, gratitude, Health, lifestyle, other peoples blog, tagged buttercups, chemicals to kill insects, chemicals to kill weeds, clover, dandelions, destruction of natural world, destruction of nature, in the garden, insecticide, insects, pristine lawns, save our bees, save our birds, wildlife on July 24, 2024| 1 Comment »

Copied and pasted from a wildlife expert on another page.

Hello everyone, I was on a zoom with a local wildlife expert yesterday and found what she said so alarming that I asked her to put some words together so I could post them. Here they are, please share widely;
‘The thing that’s happening this year is unlike other years. Everything is in deep trouble. The cold wet, April, May and dry but cold June has meant that birds that would normally be done with both and first and second broods have had to start all over again as their babies in some cases starved as insects didn’t hatch or caterpillars (vital food for most baby birds) got washed off the vegetation.
Normally it is okay to cut hedges in mid/late July and to cut meadows in higher level stewardship agreements at a similar time.
Last week I watched a spotted flycatcher feeding new fledged babies. Today I saw a yellowhammer that was clearly feeding nestlings. I keep seeing many species of birds defending nests and carrying food for young (some fledged, some not). As for bats, everyone I speak to who is aware of bats is not seeing them. It is a catastrophe. Insect numbers have fallen off a cliff this year. We need to respond by protecting as much cover and quiet space as possible. All birds need to sit quiet and have plenty of cover through August when they are moulting – which is why this is the silent month. They need as little disturbance as possible’.

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squirrels in the garden

Posted in Fun Stuff, It's my life, tagged it's my life, squirrels in the garden, wildlife on November 27, 2010| 2 Comments »

time for breakfast

one of my ongoing and constant sources of delight are the squirrels in the garden! ever since I arrived at this position last year in February, I have enjoyed the goings on and antics of the squirrels, who have taken up a load of video space on my camera! they are exceptionally funny, very greedy and quite resourceful at getting food, especially when it comes to raiding the bird-feeders.

resourceful is my middle name

I have tried every possible position available to hang the bird-feeders so that the squirrels cannot get to them; to no avail!

if I can just get this damn thing off the wall..............!

They slide down the awning, climb the window frames, shimmy up the walls, jump from amazing distances with hilarious results until they reach their goal!

intrepid little squirrel

A lesson could be learned from them……it’s called determination! and never taking your eye off the end results…..in this instance – food!!!

This morning was no different! I have recently started putting out peanuts along with the bird-seed and breadcrumbs on the verandah in an effort to stop the squirrels raiding the birds feeders and this seems to have quelled their lust for suet/peanut treat and the energy balls, it has also attracted a larger number than usual of the wee pesky critters and this morning there was a mad tussle and lots of jumping and squawking and hurry scurry as we had no less than 6 squirrels on the verandah; all vieing for the same treats…..the word is out!!!

early morning arrival

One of the ways I entertain myself during the very looooonnng and boring mornings of my job is to chase the squirrels! I put the food out in a pile, wait for a few to gather and then I rattle the chain on the door, turn the keys and open the door……. 🙂 🙂 This has the effect of an electric current running through the ground and the squirrels scatter at great speed. There are one or two of the regulars who are no longer perturbed by this and know that I am all steam and no action, so now when I go through the motions they either ignore me or run to just a few feet away, first having grabbed a mouthful, till I go back indoors and before I have even locked the door they are back….looking at me through the glass as if to say ” is that all you can manage?”. they are hilarious!

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