A 'murder' of crows. (Know any other interesting collective nouns for birds? I'd love to hear them!)
Wouldn’t you know it? Summer finally arrived, (and has now left again!) just in time for the autumn equinox. But even with the decent weather there are definite clues that the seasons have changed. For example, all the obvious signs along the tow path – the dome up at the Boat Club (already!), the last few remains of conkers, leaves swirling in the wind. And subtler signs, like the smell of leaves, the abundance of rose hips, or the fact that the sun has dipped so low behind the trees by 6pm that sunglasses are no longer necessary.
But have you also noticed the great gathering, and not just in the Park? I don’t mean the Queen’s students; I mean the great gatherings of birds. Drive home over Albert Bridge in the evenings and the starlings are swarming overhead, like a huge, constantly changing, totally synchronized airborne school of fish. Or the fields full of crows too busy feeding to take notice of you. Or the invasion of the trees by massive rookeries?
The reason? Well, the starlings are arriving from all parts of Continental Europe – looking for food, company and safety in numbers. Birds are feasting on the rich harvest, which is at its peak right around now. Fattening up in preparation for leaner times ahead.
It’s a good social time. The breeding season is over, the young are fledged and everyone is free to stuff their bakes. This will continue through the winter, though the pickings will not be so good. Come spring and the gang will split up into breeding pairs.
A shortage of haws
This has been a bumper year for hazelnuts, although the haws have not been so good. But that does not deter the hedgerow birds – seems like the hedgerows are alive inside and thinning vegetation will let you get a better look at the feeding frenzy within. Squirrels and jays are also busily snapping up the acorns and other nuts around the park, so woodpigeons have to move fast to get their favourite beechnuts. The good weather after so much rain has only helped bring on the ripening.
It’s all happening in miniature in your garden too. If you’re lucky enough to have a hedgerow with haws, sloes, beechnuts and other goodies, or fruiting trees and shrubs, put off the annual autumnal clear up until the end of October. Most of the bounty will have been enjoyed, but it is still safe to prune before the frosts come. And if anyone accuses you of procrastination, tell them its conservation!
Now is a good time to check out the rookeries at dusk at Moorlands meadows and the crows congregating at Belvoir. Or for the expert viewpoint, join the Park’s Roost Ramble walk happening soon! For details, go to www.laganvalley.co.uk.
An abundance of hazelnuts
ALL PHOTOS PROVIDED BY LAGAN VALLEY REGIONAL PARK
The Park has scooped the coveted All-Ireland Environmental Project of the Year!
This huge award is in recognition of all the major work undertaken over the past few years at the Park, which includes the bird recovery programme, woodland management and the start-up of the Park’s volunteer programme. And, of course, the lock restoration. All have been carried out under the umbrella of the Landscape Partnership Scheme which has been funding these special projects.
Birds are at the heart of much of this work, starting with the RSPB survey a few years ago to identify the most vulnerable species. Since then Park staff and volunteers have been heavily involved in habitat creation (including planting Giant Bird Tables) and installing nest boxes for barn owls, swifts and other species around the Park.
The recent good weather has given a boost to all these tasks.
Interested in joining Ireland’s top environmental team as a volunteer?
GET INVOLVED...MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Join the LVRP team and help us conserve over 4200 acres of beautiful woodlands, wetlands, grasslands and heritage sites. You will have the opportunity to experience a wide range of tasks such as wildlife surveying, woodland and wetland management, habitat creation, invasive species control and conservation of your local heritage.
For further information contact:
Jo Boylan
Volunteer Coordinator
Lagan Valley Regional Park
jo@laganvalley.co.uk
028 9049 1922
Lagan Valley is top of the tree!
Photo provided by Lagan Valley Regional Park
The last of the cygnets at Lambeg?
Something’s up with the swans at the Lagan Valley Regional Park.
According to the LVRP rangers, there aren’t as many swans as we could have and it’s a mystery. Over the past 1½ years there has been only one successful brood, with four cygnets making it to adulthood. That was last year. This year – nada, zip, zilch. A lonely six adults now drift along the 11- mile stretch – two pairs and two singles, plus the four juveniles.
Perhaps the best known swan couple, the Stranmillis pair, have never been known to reproduce. We were all starting to wonder when one of them disappeared for a few months. A swan did return eventually – itchy feet, mid-life crisis…or alien abduction?! Meanwhile in Lambeg, one adult died and another vanished this year. The ‘vanished’ swan may have just left if its partner died.
The mystery has Park rangers and regular visitors scratching their heads. Just what is the problem? Something in the water? Could it be disturbance during the spring nesting period? Perhaps too many dogs or people curious about the nests, which can be often be seen from the towpath and are within throwing distance for breadcrusts.
Without some peace and quiet, swans won’t breed, and may move on eventually. Yet other, equally busy, parks are teeming with swans. Swans are generally happy around people, but breeding time is a different story.
So it's even more lamentable, given the circumstances, that people persecute these rare residents. Recently, two swans at Seymour Hill were shot by crossbows. It has been confirmed that they were the two adults who have made this stretch of the Lagan their home for ages. Fortunately the USPCA were able to rescue the swans, and after treatment by their vet and a stay in a safe refuge, the swans will be released in a new location. Outside the Park alas, which means the loss of another pair. These two produced young but not in the past couple of years – makes one wonder!
The RSPB is a member of the Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime (PAW). The PAW working group in Northern Ireland includes organisations such as the PSNI, NIEA, RSPB, USPCA, Forest Service, Countryside Alliance Ireland, British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) and other statutory bodies and NGOs, all working in partnership to raise awareness of, and tackle, wildlife crime.
It can be lonely being a swan.
If you see an incident taking place, contact your local police station on 08456008000 or Crimestoppers 08005551111, or Lagan Valley Park officials, immediately. Staff are at the Lock Keeper’s Cottage 9-5 Mondays to Fridays, or phone 9049 1922. There is an answering service which is checked daily.
You can also report a wildlife crime and learn more about this issue by going to www.defra.gov.uk/paw.
The USPCA rescues and looks after wild and domestic animals injured, mistreated or in distress. To learn more about their work, go to: www.uspca.co.uk and to report an injured animal contact their Animal Information Line 028 9081 4242.
So if you any theories about the mystery of the swans please email us - all ideas, sightings, etc. welcome!
An increasingly rare sight along the Lagan.
All photos provided by the Lagan Valley Regional Park.