We helped put out some dormouse boxes in the wood yesterday. Put up on hazel where there is good connectivity between trees. Some in the bottom of the wood, some at the top and some across the top part of the bottom (the wood is L shaped). The bit between the cross and upright parts of the L has been fairly well investigated and found to be ideal for dormice when surveyed for the pylon work. Surveys will be carried out monthly during summer to see how things are, but the boxes are suitable for hibernation I think, so won't be disturbed then. Hoping son and I will be able to get training on dormouse surveying and may end up with a licence for handling them perhaps.
Think the Romans used the edible dormouse; ours are a bit small, and rather too lovely. There is plenty of room for expansion. Although the rest of the woodland isn't hazel, there are plenty of nuts, seeds and berries, and insects, so good food and good shelter. Hoping we find some as apart from anything else I rather like them. A bit twee, but they are rather sweet.
gz
Joined: 23 Jan 2009 Posts: 9098 Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
Posted: Tue Apr 29, 25 7:39 am Post subject:
Just seen the goldfinches going for the dandelions ❤️
a quick reminder that even if you do not feed birds and other wildlife providing water will be a massive help to them.
it has been dry and warm, now it is getting hot and warm
the things here are making good use of the big flat dish
dirty feathers but a bit thirsty as well, the very local ones that are nest based at the mo do not have to go far to get wet here, elsewhere is fraught with dangers and extra effort
my hand feeder and his wife are having a bath, less disturbing to watch than their spring fever pigeon porn, shameless does begin to cover their modesty
the daws are feeding and drinking much closer to them than usual, hard to slap somebody with wet wings (and perhaps a warm glow)
a couple of mins after that observation , the pigeons have recovered enough to intimidate the daws into keeping far more distance
the power balance surprised me, the pigeons are tops
gz
Joined: 23 Jan 2009 Posts: 9098 Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
Posted: Wed Apr 30, 25 8:31 pm Post subject:
Collar doves on a polytunnel frame....how they don't fall off I don't know
there are a few insects
i put enough in the dried mealworm feeder for my "domestic flock"
it was odd to find an aphid and wish it well
three daws, maybe feeding helps
the pigeons might be as swinging as sparrows, i am fairly sure there has been non monogamous pair pige porn and violence in response
one of the daws has right now worked out tht there is a stem to stand on to get mealworms, very clever critters i like em a lot, hope i get to know the family
if i can get these comfortable it might happen
of all the avian spp round here the extended daws family are doing "challenges" far better than the extinct and five percenters like the sparrows or blackbirds
i do have one blackbird family, im not sure how they are doing at the mo
data is data, this anecdote is a small bit of data
but a bit thirsty as well, the very local ones that are nest based at the mo do not have to go far to get wet here, elsewhere is fraught with dangers and extra effort
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