Bird surveys.

[Simon Rotheram]

It has taken some time, but arbor ecology is a movement, and it is happening, good on you big boss, it is the future of our industry, and receptive companies like yours will reap great rewards in the future.

 

Thats the plan Tony, its a much bigger picture than that as you well know

 

I have found there is a distinct lack of resources out there that cover a basic understanding of "arbor ecology" that are also priced reasonably, this puts a lot of companies off this kind of awareness course, it can be costly on top of the mandatory NPTC, 1st aid, Chapter 8 etc, etc..

 

The people I initially approached to run the bat course wanted £2000+ for 10 candidates! (Not mentioning any names!)

[Yve_Clark]

A very interesting and important subject imo. I consider myself very priviliged to live in an area abundant with wildlife, but sadly, there are some species that are disappearing. I haven't seen the tree-creeper around for a while and not so many yellow hammers either.

 

Regular bird visitors in my garden are chaffinches, pied wagtails, house sparrows, goldfinches, starlings, bramblings, wide selection of the tit family, fieldfares, the odd lesser spotted woodpecker, rooks, swallows, wrens, thrushes, blackbirds and dunnocks,to name but a few.

 

The RSPB website is a great resource to help identify birds, not only is there detailed information on the birds and their population numbers, but there's also an audio link to their song:-

 

The RSPB: Bird guide

 

Lovely poem Hama

[David oakman]

A derail already - sorry David. Years ago I was corncarting at dusk on my best man's farm near John O'Groat's and a pair of long eared owls were cruising three feet off the ground in front of the tractor looking for small prey that I might disturb. I felt so privileged to see it; could have spent years waiting in hides to see anything similar and there they were unprompted using a tractor for hunting.

 

I had a similar thing i was cutting rides being followed by a barn owl eating all i had killed:001_smile:

 

Yve i have plenty of yellow hammers and i see tree creepers everyday they are all over the estate i will have to send you a pair:lol:

[WeeDee]

What type, Dee? Ive spent several years doing nestbox surveys and assisted on a few Common bird census's for the BTO. Very rewarding work and gets you out and about in some unusual and interesting places.

@David Oakman - A knowledge of birds and their songs/calls is obviously important, but it's never too late to learn if you have an interest. Nothing better (IMO)than being out at the crack of dawn in an oak woodland in early May.

 

I've been taking part in the Breeding Bird Survey for about 11 years now. I've been surveying the same three X 1km squares on moorland / woodland near my home. I also take part in the breeding seabird surveys on the north Irish coast and some general habitat surveys in Donegal which feed data into the Corncrake surveys.

[Doug Blease]

Thats the plan Tony, its a much bigger picture than that as you well know

 

I have found there is a distinct lack of resources out there that cover a basic understanding of "arbor ecology" that are also priced reasonably, this puts a lot of companies off this kind of awareness course, it can be costly on top of the mandatory NPTC, 1st aid, Chapter 8 etc, etc..

 

The people I initially approached to run the bat course wanted £2000+ for 10 candidates! (Not mentioning any names!)

 

Have you found your local Bat group? Try the IEEM for realistically priced courses.

 

I have always wondered how many commercial arbs "honestly" consider Bats etc when pricing up trees. I know in the past I havent, but I have recently started down the bat route and its incredibly intersting.

[Yve_Clark]

Yve i have plenty of yellow hammers and i see tree creepers everyday they are all over the estate i will have to send you a pair:lol:

 

Lucky boy David...I used to enjoy watching the tree creepers darting up and down the cherry tree in my garden looking for insects. If you stick a pair of them on the train, I'll get them off at Lockerbie!

[David oakman]

Bring it on i like being called a boy at 48:lol:

[Danavan]

 

There is something deeply rewarding in sitting still and silent long enough for life to scarcley recognise you at all and go about thier business as per usual.

 

Have you got a treeboat?

 

I spent 5 wks in one in a bluebell carpet wood & found the life I observed from just 3m off of the ground was just magical. ( few hrs after my pit fire had gone out though:001_smile: )

 

Great way to get right in the center of it all though, & keep dry on not so good british summer days..