ED Nature Watch

[snowdrop47]

Swifts currently circling over our garden in Fellbrigg. Welcome back !!!

[MissDumpling]

We spotted our first swift of the year on 8th May in The Gardens

[sspringer]

Time to bell the cats. Especially the owner of one in GILKES CRESCENT !

Us and our neighbours gardens have lots of birds nesting at present because we all have hedges and other foliage. The chirping of the fledglings attracts locals cats. We are visited regularly by a large ginger/white male cat that is intent on robbing the nests.

If I see it I scare it off but I cant do this 24/7.

So if you live in Giles and you have a beige/white cat be aware that I will take more robust measures in future. I suggest you put a bell collar on it otherwise otherwise you killer feline is at serious risk.

[Sue]

😮😮😮

I love cats, and I love birds, but FFS the cat going after the birds is instinct.

Nature, innit.

[first mate]

I'd be very careful about making what may be construed as threats to harm an animal on a public forum. It would be illegal to intentionally cause harm to the cat even if it is a known bird killer. I understand your upset but making threats is not the way to go.

sspringer Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Time to bell the cats. Especially the owner of one

> in GILKES CRESCENT !

>

> Us and our neighbours gardens have lots of birds

> nesting at present because we all have hedges and

> other foliage. The chirping of the fledglings

> attracts locals cats. We are visited regularly by

> a large ginger/white male cat that is intent on

> robbing the nests.

>

> If I see it I scare it off but I cant do this

> 24/7.

>

> So if you live in Giles and you have a beige/white

> cat be aware that I will take more robust measures

> in future. I suggest you put a bell collar on it

> otherwise otherwise you killer feline is at

> serious risk.

[sspringer]

https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/animals/2020/09/the-232-animals-in-this-photo-were-killed-by-house-cats-in-just-one-year

[Jenijenjen]

Three adorable fox cubs with their mum last night in my garden. I wish they?d clear away the debris from their picnic.

[first mate]

I know it is awful. I had wondered if owners might keep cats indoors until fledglings are flying and off the ground. It is those couple of weeks when they are on the ground and being fed by parents they are most vulnerable.

sspringer Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/animals/2020/

> 09/the-232-animals-in-this-photo-were-killed-by-ho

> use-cats-in-just-one-year

[sspringer]

first mate Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I'd be very careful about making what may be

> construed as threats to harm an animal on a public

> forum. It would be illegal to intentionally cause

> harm to the cat even if it is a known bird killer.

> I understand your upset but making threats is not

> the way to go.

>

Get a grip Mate. No harm was mentioned or implied. There are several effective ways of deterring cats and none will harm them but will give a real fright. Problem is not every neighbouring garden can deploy such tactics.

If the owners fitted a bell collar. it would help the situation but it is not a completer solution.

[Waseley]

I've posted/discussed this before. No scientific evidence that cats are responsible for the decline in bird populations. There are too many of them judging from our street, but that is a separate issue.

Google rspb cats, which discusses the matter further

[Nigello]

I agree with those that say all cats should wear a bell on a collar. It?s not a great hardship to thr cat and it could save wildlife. Cats can still prowl and pounce but at least the birds will have the chance of being alerted.

[Jenijenjen]

I may be missing something here but fledglings aren?t able to fly so I don?t see how a cat warning of its approach with a bell would help. It?s not just cats that they are at risk from, I?ve seen some horrible incidents involving larger birds such as magpies and crows.

[diable rouge]

Fledglings can jump though, well, Great Tits certainly can, have watched them numerous times jumping up onto low branches and then making their way up the branches to safer territory...

[Jenijenjen]

Thanks, I was missing something

[alice]

Does anyone know what that huge fish is in Peckham park just under the bridge. It barely moves and is partly above the surface.

[Waseley]

Hooray saw my first swifts today. I put a swift box up but not sure if the likelihood of a best. I've got 7 tit nesting boxes up too but only one appears to be used. No doubt constant building work in the street doesn't help

[first mate]

They can, but in the first few days of leaving the nest they are really vulnerable. I think their main defence is simply freezing and hope they won't be seen. Movement will give them away and most cats will catch them if they want to.

Agree with Jenijen though, corvids and other predatory birds are a further problem and let's not forget foxes.

diable rouge Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Fledglings can jump though, well, Great Tits

> certainly can, have watched them numerous times

> jumping up onto low branches and then making their

> way up the branches to safer territory...

[first mate]

Look forward to hearing more. Could it be a koi carp? Any chance of a photo?

alice Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Does anyone know what that huge fish is in Peckham

> park just under the bridge. It barely moves and is

> partly above the surface.

[alice]

Hope this works 1st

[AC1964]

It?s a carp?

[Nigello]

Saw a Large Red damselfly (caps to show it is a species, not just my description) in front garden, not near a big pond or stream. Quite a few Holly Blue butterflies - I think they were as the other blues don't fly so high or come out so early, it seems https://butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/holly-blue

[Asset]

I?ve put a swift box up. It?s prob not in optimum place for swifts but I read that sparrows are attracted to swift boxes too. Either would be great.

For those doing loft extensions/house refurbs you can buy swift bricks to create nesting spaces.

The decline in swifts I believe is mostly down to lack of nesting places as people convert properties and remove the eave spaces they traditionally nest in.

[exdulwicher]

  Quote

The decline in swifts I believe is mostly down to lack of nesting places as people convert properties and remove the eave spaces they traditionally nest in.

RSPB were suggesting putting "mud pies" out as well - with it being so dry recently, the swifts have trouble finding mud to build their nests with.

https://www.rspb.org.uk/about-the-rspb/about-us/media-centre/press-releases/mud-pies-for-house-martins/

[IlonaM]

This unfortunate little one has been coming into my garden for the last few days - eating & flying well, but almost completely bald head! Dr Google suggests mites or stress might have caused this, and apparently it should clear up in a month or so or during next moult.

Thought I would post just in case anyone else in Underhill/Horniman area spots him.

[Sue]

😮