It’s been a long time since the accident at Chernobyl but the scientific arguments over the long-lasting effect of radiation on the local wildlife continues. Local ecologists claim that the wildlife is flourishing and now humans are no longer living in the … Continue reading
Logging can have big impacts on nature and careful management can greatly reduce the impacts on wildlife. Now a Canadian study could have thrown in another situation that needs to be considered. When a forest is logged the ratio of male birds … Continue reading
A recent decline in ovenbirds (Seiurus aurocapilla), a ground-nesting migratory songbird, in forests in the northern Midwest United States is being linked by scientists to a seemingly unlikely culprit: earthworms. We often think that earthworms come off second best when … Continue reading
England is set to get 12 new wildlife sites following an announcement today by the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The new nature reserves is set to cover hundreds of thousands of hectares of both rural and … Continue reading
All of India’s native wildlife is protected by law but this does not stop traders from taking wildlife from their native habitat. The pet trade is the most highly visible of the buying and selling of wildlife. To help stamp … Continue reading
Tomorrow sees the start of the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) National Nest Box Week. Every year between 14th February and 21st February the BTO wants you to prepare for the return of the migrant birds. This year the target … Continue reading
Another success for the National Wildlife Crime Unit has seen a prolific wildlife trader in Bedfordshire sentenced to 8 months in prison. Greg Turner, 32, from Potton sold over 100 stuffed rare birds on eBay making over £20,000. Turner used fake … Continue reading
The day has arrived for my Big Garden Birdwatch in central Abergavenny. I’ve set aside the time of between 8.30 am and 9.30 am for my watch. I’ve just filled up the bird feeders and scattered some food out on the ground. … Continue reading
It’s a big date for British birdwatchers this weekend – 28th/29th January – as it the time of the annual RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch. Normally the gardens would be awash with birds at the feeders and water bowls but where … Continue reading
A new study published by a team of European researchers have followed the movement of butterflies and birds in relation to a warming European climate. It found that butterflies are responding quicker to the climate than birds – a worrying … Continue reading
As the climate changes and redirects the worlds wind currents one group of birds are benefitting from the new patterns. The albatross appears to be gaining weight despite spending less time foraging and is also seeing better breeding success. A new study … Continue reading
A new study has been proclaimed a classic in its own time and could be the basis of a new Golden Rule for bird ecology. The new study discovered that ensuring that fish stocks remain above a third of the … Continue reading
Sadly there will be no reprieve for some of Britain’s rarest birds next Spring as the UK’s most prolific egg stealer will be out of jail by then and free to continue his decimation of endangered birds. Egg collector will be free by Spring … Continue reading
The days are getting noticeably shorter now and the temperatures are beginning to drop and I’ve noticed over the last couple of days a big increase in garden bird numbers to the feeders. Sadly I also noticed for the first time a brown-reddish growth … Continue reading
A Swede who caught 13,000 birds in 5 years is heading for 18 months in jail after being found guilty of breaking hunting laws, animal cruelty and breaches of Sweden’s endangered species act. Although most of the birds were released … Continue reading
It’s a small boost but one that will be welcome for lovers of one the worlds rarest birds the Great Indian Bustard. In a recent survey at the Bustard Sanctuary in Maharashtra State researchers managed to count 13 birds – that … Continue reading
It’s not just UK farmlands birds that are having problems at the moment. A recently published study shows that farmland bird numbers are falling all across Europe. The pan-European bird monitoring scheme which began in 2002 uses common species of birds … Continue reading
There was a time, not so long ago, when if you wanted anything more than just a few peanuts to feed the birds you would either buy mail order (or online with today’s technology) or you’d stock up on your visit to … Continue reading
Two conjoined robins who were rescued a couple of days ago have had an operation to separate them. The vet who did the operation discovered that the conjoining was caused by plastic litter rather than any birth defect. The two robin chicks were discovered … Continue reading
Gardens are now much more than just a piece of grass and a few plants. For many people it’s just as important for their garden to reflect their personality as it is for any room within the home. There is … Continue reading
