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