Wildlife News for May

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RachelMC
Posts: 460
Joined: Mon May 17, 2010 1:04 pm
Location: Chester

Wildlife News for May

Post by RachelMC »

Wildlife News for May 2013:

I've not been in the RECORD office for the last couple of months so haven't been posting any news here. But, some recent articles have now caught my eye.

Parkgate marsh fire destroys birds' habitat:
On Sunday 7th April, a fire broke out on marshland at Parkgate that has destroyed the the habitat of many nesting birds and local wildlife. The blaze began near The Anchorage in Parkgate and spread across a large area towards The Parade.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said crews used beaters and hosereel jets to put the fire out by about 17:50 BST.
Police said the fire was believed to have been started deliberately !!!

A Police spokeswoman said: "Cheshire Police are keen to speak to anyone in the local area who may have witnessed anything that may assist the investigation, and they are to contact the Ellesmere Port and Neston Neighbourhood Policing Team."

Colin Wells, RSPB site manager on the Dee Estuary Reserve, said conditions on the marsh were very brittle and dry, meaning the fire spread quickly.

"Part of the reed bed had been burnt and there were substantial areas of rushbeds and saltmarsh vegetation" he said.

"It's always a problem at this time of year if we have a dry spell, and the cold easterly winds had dried the vegetation out."

He added: "The area is important for nesting birds like Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting and Water Rail. They have lost their nesting areas. We have also got Harvest Mice, so they have lost their habitat and probably a lot of them have been burnt or killed."

RachelMC
Posts: 460
Joined: Mon May 17, 2010 1:04 pm
Location: Chester

Bluebells at Burton Mere

Post by RachelMC »

Bluebells at Burton Mere:

There’s a sight to behold at RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands this spring – one of the best bluebell woods in the region.

Each spring, the nature reserve’s Gorse Covert, a 3.4 hectare semi-natural ancient woodland, bursts into colour with a blanket of bluebells and people are invited to celebrate the arrival of these popular flowers.

Despite flowering later than last year due to the long winter, most of the flowers are now beginning to emerge, creating a stunning sight. Hundreds of visitors to the Dee Estuary reserve were delighted last year to see such a pristine area of the iconic British flower.

Duncan Halpin, Visitor Officer Intern at Burton Mere Wetlands, said: “When I came here last May as a visitor, I was blown away by the intensity of the bluebell woodland. The contrast of the deep blue against the greenery of the trees creates a lovely setting for a relaxing stroll. It’s the ideal place to enjoy a walk on a spring afternoon.”

The woodland, Gorse Covert, can be enjoyed independently by all visitors to the reserve, however a ‘Bluebells and Birdsong’ guided walk will be held on Saturday 18 May, from 10am to 12 noon.

Enjoy a stroll into the heart of the bluebell woodland and with the help of a guide, discover more about other interesting flowers and wildlife. The nesting birds will also be in fine voice, adding to the tranquil atmosphere and creating the perfect opportunity to gain tips on how to pick out the songs of different birds.

The cost is £5 per person, discounted to £3 for RSPB members. This includes a hot drink and a snack in the reception hide and covers the entry fee to the reserve for non-members. To book a place, phone: 0151 353 8478 or e-mail: deeestuary@rspb.org.uk.

For more information about Burton Mere Wetlands and the full events programme for the Dee Estuary reserves please see: http://www.rspb.org.uk/deeestuary

Article re-posted from the RSPB

RachelMC
Posts: 460
Joined: Mon May 17, 2010 1:04 pm
Location: Chester

Summer of Wildlife on BBC

Post by RachelMC »

The BBC has announced a special season of programming and showcase events that will celebrate the UK’s unique and extraordinary wildlife.

The Summer of Wildlife season will harness the power of much-loved BBC programmes as well as creating groundbreaking new content. The aim is to inspire and galvanise people to discover more about the incredible species and habitats on their doorstep.

The season will kick off with BBC Two’s Springwatch with three weeks of live programming from Ynys-hir in mid-Wales, presented by Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Martin Hughes-Games. Springwatch starts on Monday 27th May at 8pm

As well as featuring the best of UK wildlife as Spring unfolds, the new series will include ‘Tricks of the Trade’ with the team revealing their wildlife tracking tips; ‘On the Road with the Roving Team’ providing an insight into the wildlife we share our daily lives with; and 'Escape to the Garden' that will discover, meet, and celebrate the wildlife that lives on our doorstep. The series will also help to launch Springwatch Garden BioBlitz, helping draw attention to the importance of peoples’ local wildlife ‘patch’ and inviting the audience to get involved.

Springwatch In The Afternoon, presented by naturalist Nick Baker will broadcast live on BBC Two from the heart of the Springwatch field base in Wales. Springwatch in the Afternoon will be broadcasting across the first two weeks of Springwatch, with live broadcasts from 3pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

The Springwatch Webcams will be online, on BBC Red Button, tablets and mobile, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from Sunday 26th May at 6pm

Wild! is a new commission from CBBC that will encourage children to get out, get active and get hands on this summer. Live from a different location each week, the programme will take on exciting challenges that will look to reconnect kids with nature.

As the summer continues, Britain’s Big Wildlife Revival on BBC One will show what people can do to save Britain’s threatened wildlife. The six-part series will be fronted by Countryfile’s Ellie Harrison.

The Burrowers on BBC Two is a remarkable three-part series that will explore the extraordinary subterranean world of voles, rabbits, badgers and moles.

As summer fades to autumn, the campaign will be drawn to a close with Autumnwatch, outlining the successes, events and findings of the summer.

More information online at bbc.co.uk/summerofwildlife
RachelMC
Posts: 460
Joined: Mon May 17, 2010 1:04 pm
Location: Chester

Orphaned Baby Badgers

Post by RachelMC »

Orphaned baby badgers are cared for at RSPCA wildlife centre in Nantwich

AN RSPCA centre in Nantwich is looking after four orphaned badger cubs too little to survive without help.
The baby badgers have been brought to Stapeley Grange over the past few weeks. Two are just a few weeks old and the size of small puppies, and all have lost their mums and need to be fed and cared for until they are old enough to look after themselves in the wild.

One lost cub followed a dog walker out in the Welsh hills, another was found next to his dead mother by the side of a Northumberland road, and a third was discovered running by a busy road in Staffordshire, in danger of being run over. The fourth and most recent orphaned admission to the centre was found in Sandbach earlier this month underweight and extremely stressed.

Centre manager Lee Stewart said: “These poor little things were not coping where they were but are doing well now. They are just too young to cope without their mothers in the wild. All four badgers are now doing well and are on the road to recovery. With a bit of care and attention they should be ready to be returned to the wild where they can fend for themselves .
“With plans for a cull of badgers looming, the wild animals need all the help they can get at the moment. It is more important than ever that we do all we can to save those that we can.
“It seems crazy that in a few short weeks it is going to be fair game to kill these beautiful animals. For the time being, it is important for us to save as many as we can."

The four cubs will be weaned and brought up at Stapeley until September, when it is hoped they will be big and fit enough to survive for themselves in the wild. Their rehabilitation will be very ‘hands-off’ to ensure they do not become too tame and are able to survive back in the wild.

Badgers live in ‘family’ groups so these four cubs have been grouped together in the same pen and will be returned to the wild together.

All the rehabilitated badgers will be TB-tested and vaccinated before release.

Re-posted from an article in Crewe Chronicle by Will Harris, 22nd May 2013

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