Would be nice but, as a by-product of getting ready for the new CES season, certain jobs have to be undertaken at the site.
The latest one is the reduction of certain beasts of the trees, known to eat all the berries in autumn but preying on nesting birds, their eggs and young during the summer. As food is in short supply during spring, bait is put out and, once found, is put in and around a trap, securely pegged to the ground.
There are three or four pairs that come into "the rough" from surrounding plantations, so the target will be six or eight specimens. This amounts to six+ tails. Which brings us back to the morris; the ladies will adorn their chapeaux with said items.
When we started our long-term scientific study some twenty years ago, there were no "beasts". They arrived in the park some eight or nine years ago and have spread to all four corners since. So much for being surrounded by water. This is not a long term solution - it will have to be repeated next spring. But it does prove effective over the summer months ... and gives the warblers some respite.
Has your study shown much definite predation by squirrels, Errol? Most studies seem to indicate that squirrels aren't really a big problem. They will rob a few nests, but then so will wood mice, brown rats and badgers. Weasels, Stoats and Great Spots seem to be the major nest robbers in most studies. I've had a stoat 10 m up a tree sticking its head in a tit nest!
ReplyDeleteOur three predators at this site are - wood mice, grey squirrels and occaisionally weasel. There are no stoats, badgers in the area, and rats are a rarity. And the great spots only attack the wooden nestboxes, overflying our scrub and bramble site.
ReplyDeleteThe squirrels have runways everywhere that they use to move across/around the site (c.2 acres)
Roger. I've looked at the number of Blackbird young caught (CES figures). It was 6.2 young p.a before and 4.4 ypa after squirrels appeared. As you know, the "Long Hedge" is covered in ivy and the Blackbirds prefer to nest in it - and the squirrels to 'hunt' in it.
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