The Wildlife (and Gardening for Wildlife) thread

[HarryMonkey]

Tip: don’t feed dried mealworms at this time of year unless you thoroughly soak them. Nestlings can’t drink and if they are fed dried mealworms they will likely die

 

 

Thanks, I'll remember that.

[6Foot2]

Link: RSPCA warning over item which could be deadly for animals | The Argus

 

The RSPCA has issued a warning to homeowners over a common garden item which could prove dangerous, and even deadly, for animals.

 

The warning comes after a fox cub was strangled to death in a back garden football net.

 

Now, the charity hopes to spread the message about the dangers that everyday netting - like football goals - pose to the wildlife who share our communities.

 

Putting netting away after use to prevent wild animals getting entangled is just one of the many things volunteers can do to help our native wildlife.

 

The animal welfare charity hopes the public can help it spread the message about the dangers of football netting.

 

RSPCA scientific officer Evie Button said “It’s really important that people understand how lethal football netting can be and how often these incidents happen - particularly at this time of year, when the curiosity of young, inexperienced animals gets them into potentially deadly situations.

 

“We’re urging the public to help us spread the message - remember to put your sports netting away after use and never leave it unmonitored, particularly overnight.”

 

Of all our wild mammals, foxes and hedgehogs are the most likely to become tangled in netting.

 

In 2022, the RSPCA took a total of 1,798 calls relating to all species of animals which had become entangled in netting; of those, 315 were wild mammals and included 167 foxes and 62 hedgehogs.

 

Evie added: “Football and other types of netting may be fun for humans but can be very dangerous for wild animals if they are left out overnight.

 

“The RSPCA receives many hundreds of calls every year to rescue animals - often wildlife - who have become tangled in netting on sporting equipment or garden nets.

 

“Our officers are very busy attending call-outs to rescue animals caught up in sports netting and at this time of the year, reports about young foxes becoming entangled tend to rocket. At that age, they’re very curious but unaware of the dangers.

 

“Getting tangled up in netting is very stressful for an animal, particularly one that’s wild. And if the animal gets seriously entangled, netting - whether it’s used for sports, fencing or the garden - can cause severe injuries or - as seen recently - even death.

 

“As wild animals frequently get trapped during the night, they may have been struggling for many hours by the time they are found in the morning and often need veterinary attention and sedation to cut them free.

 

“It's great that people are getting out and enjoying the great outdoors and nature while having a kick-around - and we love to see that. But we would urge those using sports netting to remove and store all nets after their game and put any discarded or old netting safely in a bin. Any garden fence netting should be replaced with solid metal mesh and use wood panels as fencing instead of netting.”

[elsiegee40]

Link: RSPCA warning over item which could be deadly for animals | The Argus

 

They are so right… football goals account for many of our admissions. Hedgehogs in particular get caught in them, but also deer and foxes. Pond and fruit nets are a menace too. In addition to the mammals they also catch birds

[jmak]

They are so right… football goals account for many of our admissions. Hedgehogs in particular get caught in them, but also deer and foxes. Pond and fruit nets are a menace too. In addition to the mammals they also catch birds

Does welded steel mesh have the same problem? Tightly pegged down and protecting my strawberries. Wouldn't be worth growing if they're not covered.

[6Foot2]

Does welded steel mesh have the same problem? Tightly pegged down and protecting my strawberries. Wouldn't be worth growing if they're not covered.[ATTACH]69045[/ATTACH]

 

The problem with netting in this context is the looseness and the "opportunity" for getting wrapped up and tangled. Your mesh doesn't afford this opportunity.

 

However, there could be a risk of getting trapped between the mesh and the ground if there were a gap that could "tempt" an intruder to investigate further.

[Norphy]

My son and nephew found these in the stream behind our house:

 

Edited May 31, 2023 by Norphy

[Norphy]

I tried to get a picture with my DSLR and long lens, but they were gone by the time I got back out.

 

However, there are hundreds of swallows flying about the place at the moment, it’s wonderful to see

 

The downside is, the buggers crap all over your car.

[mikeprice]

Stopped by the side of a canal yesterday and looked up

 

a Buzzard (I presume quite a long way up) was lazily circling over the field opposite

then swooped a bit left and resumed circling the other way round

 

did this for ages

 

must have been something there it was interested in!!

[6Foot2]

Stopped by the side of a canal yesterday and looked up

 

a Buzzard (I presume quite a long way up) was lazily circling over the field opposite

then swooped a bit left and resumed circling the other way round

 

did this for ages

 

must have been something there it was interested in!!

 

It might have just been "for the fun of it?"

[smurfomatic]

Stopped by the side of a canal yesterday and looked up

 

a Buzzard (I presume quite a long way up) was lazily circling over the field opposite

then swooped a bit left and resumed circling the other way round

 

did this for ages

 

must have been something there it was interested in!!

 

Similar story here, this bird is always hovering around my neighbour's garden...

 

[Andrew_C]

We've got something odd flying around us... Don't think it is a buzzard, or kite. Both of which we do get. Big enough, but with swept back, curved wings. Wings a bit gull like, but wrong shape body and colour.

 

Never got a camera to hand when it is about.

[Dos_Box]

We've got something odd flying around us... Don't think it is a buzzard, or kite. Both of which we do get. Big enough, but with swept back, curved wings. Wings a bit gull like, but wrong shape body and colour.

 

Never got a camera to hand when it is about.

 

Could be a Perigrine. Did it make a call like a rubbish seagull? Perigrines call out when hunting to spook prey.

[Dos_Box]

Out for my lunchtime bike ride and the swans on the Lancaster canal near me had the youngsters out

 

[Andrew_C]

Haven't heard anything as yet.

[Dos_Box]

Haven't heard anything as yet.

 

What colour is it, and how high was it flying? Sorry to be prodding, but these can help with identifying

[Andrew_C]

Dark, soaring, well above tree height, but not "out of sight" high.

[Dos_Box]

Dark, soaring, well above tree height, but not "out of sight" high.

 

By your earlier description I would say that it is a peregrine. If you are where I think you are then you do have them nesting on a local high landmark.

Have a silhouette:

 

[Andrew_C]

Indeed we do; but I'm seeing this around home. Around and about ///establish.outlines.humid

 

That does seem to fit the profile of the wings - I'll read up on them. Thanks.

Edited June 6, 2023 by Andrew_C

[Techykev]

Speaking of peregrines, last Thursday evening me and my better half were eating our tea when we heard something in the rear garden. On glancing through the kitchen window there was a hawk sitting on a dead, (well I hope it was), pigeon spreading feathers all over the lawn. As it seemed to be enjoying its meal we left it to it while we finished our own meal. Afterwards I had the pleasant job of clearing the mess from the lawn, only feathers and the head was left, it must have taken the carcass with it. Pretty sure it was a peregrine and there are peregrines roosting in nearby Cromer (on the church steeple).

 

https://www.cromerperegrineproject.co.uk/live-cams

Edited June 6, 2023 by Techykev

[Dos_Box]

Speaking of peregrines, last Thursday evening me and my better half were eating our tea when we heard something in the rear garden. On glancing through the kitchen window there was a hawk sitting on a dead, (well I hope it was), pigeon spreading feathers all over the lawn. As it seemed to be enjoying its meal we left it to it while we finished our own meal. Afterwards I had the pleasant job of clearing the mess from the lawn, only feathers and the head was left, it must have taken the carcass with it. Pretty sure it was a peregrine and there are peregrines roosting in nearby Cromer (on the church steeple).

 

https://www.cromerperegrineproject.co.uk/live-cams

 

Could well be a Sparrowhawk, they can look similar and are more likely to be eating prey in your garden. My parents have had this happen several times now.

[Ditto]

Speaking of peregrines, last Thursday evening me and my better half were eating our tea when we heard something in the rear garden. On glancing through the kitchen window there was a hawk sitting on a dead, (well I hope it was), pigeon spreading feathers all over the lawn. As it seemed to be enjoying its meal we left it to it while we finished our own meal. Afterwards I had the pleasant job of clearing the mess from the lawn, only feathers and the head was left, it must have taken the carcass with it. Pretty sure it was a peregrine and there are peregrines roosting in nearby Cromer (on the church steeple).

 

https://www.cromerperegrineproject.co.uk/live-cams

 

Just went to the site at about 16:17. I saw one 'fledgling' with a few down feathers remaining at about 16:17 and it hopped out, walk along the ridge tiles, exercised it's wings then disappeared out of sight down the roof tiles! How many was the adult rearing?

[jmak]

Just spent the afternoon at Rutland Water looking at their ospreys:

https://www.lrwt.org.uk/rutlandospreys

 

Saw the male dive and catch a trout and take it back to the nest where it was fed to the three chicks.

 

The trout thrashed around for a surprisingly long time.

 

Very impressive birds and fishing skills.

[elsiegee40]

Just spent the afternoon at Rutland Water looking at their ospreys:

https://www.lrwt.org.uk/rutlandospreys

 

Saw the male dive and catch a trout and take it back to the nest where it was fed to the three chicks.

 

The trout thrashed around for a surprisingly long time.

 

Very impressive birds and fishing skills.

 

We were at Rutland Water a couple of weeks ago. Amazing reserve. We really love it

[Dos_Box]

Just spent the afternoon at Rutland Water looking at their ospreys:

https://www.lrwt.org.uk/rutlandospreys

 

Saw the male dive and catch a trout and take it back to the nest where it was fed to the three chicks.

 

The trout thrashed around for a surprisingly long time.

 

Very impressive birds and fishing skills.

 

You get a much bigger nest for your money up here - https://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife/cams/osprey-cam

Will have to get up there and see them this weekend.

[6Foot2]

You get a much bigger nest for your money up here - https://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife/cams/osprey-cam ...

 

If you're in the market for big nests, I saw this a couple of months back:

 

 

Bald eagle nests are generally 5 feet wide and 3 feet deep. The largest recorded bald eagle nest 9.5 feet in diameter, 20 feet deep and weighed almost 6,000 pounds!

 

😮