News archive

Thursday, 18 February 2010

A Freezing Winter, and the Supplementary Feeding of Birds.

I refer very briefly in my 'hello' in the Local Group newsletter to the importance of feeding garden birds and this winter has underlined the importance attached to this. There is little doubt that many bird species will have suffered population losses as a result of the unusually cold winter, and one only has to look at figures following the bitter winter of 1963 to understand the effects this can have upon our wildlife. The RSPB was certainly aware of the problems and took some appropriate action.
I would like to highlight some local action which has taken place recently. I'm sure as a member of the Local Group that you will be delighted to know that committee took a proactive stance and purchased bird seed to the value of £60 and this has since been used to feed birds in the area of The Rising Sun Country Park, Holywell and Killingworth. The cash used for this project was taken from the members' account and used on behalf of members.
Quickly following on from the above decision, Northumberland and Tyneside Bird Club announced a massive scheme whereby they were to transport seed from storage depots to relevant areas in Northumberland where it was known large flocks of birds were congregating. I had heard some very sad instances during the freezing weather of birds dying in these areas through inability to find food in the snow and ice-covered areas. NTBC have since been joined in this project by Durham Bird Club and North Northumberland Bird Club. The size of this project must not be understated and is to be applauded. It will mean that there will be ongoing supplementary feeding of bird flocks from Tweed to Tees over the coming weeks. It must be remembered that whilst the ice and snow may have gone, the effects upon birds is long-lasting, so this ongoing supplementary feeding is most important, in that it will give the birds a better chance come the breeding season, and populations will certainly benefit from any help that is available in their efforts to re-build.
Those of you who were on the Killingworth walk on 2nd January will remember the distressing scene of a juvenile Mute Swan in a weakened state on the ice. I was pleased to note that North Tyneside council had since arranged regular feeding of the birds that frequent the lake.
I'm sure all members will have played their part in feeding the birds this winter. I view it as an important role of the Local Group to help to inform the general public of these types of issues, and each one of us has a role to play in this. For my own part I like to ensure that I put something back into the wildlife which has over many years given me so much pleasure. At the time of writing we are not sure whether or not our services will be required, but Carmel McGrath, Mark Smith and Brian Moorhead have offered their services to NTBC as helpers with the supplementary feeding over the coming weeks.
Brian Moorhead