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SWALLOW NESTLINGS JUMPING OUT OF NESTS – HOW TO HELP

Posted on July 10th, 2010 in General by Trish

One sad fact is some pairs of swallows have not learnt it can be disastrous to place their nests right under felt and tin roofs especially in a hot spell as we are now having.

It becomes so hot the nestlings are forced to jump out of the nest and then possible die hitting a hard floor.

If any of you have this happen it is possible to put up a container slightly lower down with an old swallow nest or hay in it, and move the young down. I did this recently when I found two dead and one just alive. It was the best thing to do as the last one would have died anyhow, so was worth a try. The parents recognise the chicks “peeps” for food when they fly in and feed them

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 Garth, thanks for this.  Garth does a lot of recording for the British Trust for Ornithology and I’m really pleased he has taken the time to contact us.

A MEMORY OF CHILHOOD PAST

Posted on July 9th, 2010 in Poems and Nursery Rhymes about birds by Trish

A journey from the city,
To the narrow country lane.
A memory so pretty
Of some playful childhood games.

The packing of the welly boots
Bought excitement in itself.
The sounds of the barn owl hoots
A few days in a secret world,  I felt.

The panoramic viewsfrom the cosy farm house.
What ran in front of me – wow a field mouse.
Cobwebs on the barn doors.
Hide and seek in bales of straw.

Rounding up cows in thick splodgy mud.
Smells you don’t forget, some would say are good.
Creeping into the house of the hens.
To me this was a heavenlyden.
The emotionwhen finding an egg freshly laid.
To touch its warmth, nature made.

Calves sucking my hands felt weird.
They were eager for their feed.
Early rise for cows milking.
Tired  eyes woul not stop blinking.
Seems like the middle of the night.
Keep away from the bull, could give me a fright.

Barns and sheds, doors led to doors.
Lets go in here, somewhere new to explore.

Long summer days.
The harvests dusty haze.
Running along the tractor trails.
Corn so long, in the wind it sailed.

An adventure to the village church.
The yard, the stones, the flowers, the smell of earth.

To the country town shop.  Oh! what a pleasure.
In the shop’s smooth paper bag, I held on to my treasure.
To open the bag up, back at the house on the farm,
More excitement before the calm.

The calm of the bath and the supper at night.
I hope Ican stay for another days delight

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I am so glad she remembers.

Sparrowhawks killing every swallow

Posted on July 6th, 2010 in Bird Eating Bird by Trish

Hi Trish,
Did you get my desperate email re the Sparrowhawk taking all our swallows out of their nest and roost and also in flight.

I have made holes in all the barn doors so hopefully the hawk will not get in…what size gap could a hawk get through ?

I am still worries he will get through the gaps as the swallows were very reluctant to go through the gaps instead of having an open door which they much prefer..I had to make the gaps bigger than i wanted just to get them to agree to fly in and out of them.

I know hawks are clever and a male sparrow hawk is not that big..he flies into a barn gap that was made years ago for swallows when the garage doors are shut. He was not afraid..I hope the gaps are small enough.

I can ‘t bear the carnage any longer…just too heartbreaking to see the swallows valiant struggle against such a bird…

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This is the first email that was sent to me -

Hi, I need help regarding sparrow hawks killing all the swallows we have nesting here!
 
It’s awful. I am a nervous wreck from trying to keep him away.
 
Up at 5am to help them and hate leaving the house in case he strikes.   Usually 5 times a day or more.
 
Such carnage my heart is breaking for them.
 
He flies into the barns and just takes females nesting and the young. Then any fledglings in flight. I shut the doors and cut openings for the swallows to come in and out. But am worried the hawk could still get in if he wanted as I had to make long gaps for the swallows to even consider flying through them.
 
They seemed upset they no longer had open door entrance! I wish I could help them more . i think he will take them all eventually.
 
Day by day there are fewer and fewer. The swallows mob him but he still can take them in flight if he wants…what else can I do?
 
Why is there no protection against these birds of prey to help the defenceless. Swallows have such a hard life now made even harde by so many sparrowhawks in uk.
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I replied –
I’m sorry I have been having internet and computer problems  and that I didn’t see your email until now
 
I don’t think there is anything else you could have done.  It is brilliant you have tried so much to help.
 
I know swallows can get through very small holes,but  I also think that sparrowhawks can as well.
 
It must have been so horrible for you seeing it and being so close to it
 
But we must tell this story so people understand sparrowhawks more and the damage they can do.
 
I have emailed a group called SongBird Survival
www.songbird-survival.org.uk   and I have asked them.  They are a lot bigger than I am and are also doing their best for birds.
 
Here is what the RSPB say about sparrowhawks    http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/features/sparrowhawks_songbirds.aspx
 
  If the swallows were frightened and disorientated by the sparrowhawk then they maybe would not fly as well.
 
What is happening now?  Has the sparrowhawk gone.
 
Could the swallows rear another brood or will the sparrowhawk return
 
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These two emails were sent to me over a short period when I was having computer problems.
 
Does anyone know how to keep a sparrowhawk out?  What size holes can sparrowhawks fly through.
 
It is so good of you to spend time and effort and my heart goes out to you.  You’ve done all you could and more.  Let me know what has happened.
 
 
 

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-07-04

Posted on July 4th, 2010 in Uncategorized by Trish

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BADGERS DIG OUT BUMBLE BEES AND EAT WASPS

Posted on July 1st, 2010 in Uncategorized by Trish

Britains Horse chestnut trees are under threat.  The ‘leaf minor’ caterpillar is attacking them.

The leaf minor caterpillar’s numbers are controlled naturally by wasps  – who eat them.

Wasps nests are being eaten by badgers.

So, indirectly badgers are destroying our lovely chestnut trees.

Badgers also dig out bumble bees.

Is this a case of protecting one species, which then spreads and reproduces so much that it destroys other species and plants?

Do the conservationists know these facts?

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