Chalara – Ash tree die back disease - An urgent call to all wildlife watchers
An updated map has been published on the Forestry Commission website shows an increasing number of sites across England and Scotland where ash trees are affected by Chalara dieback. As of the 8th of November the number had risen to 135 Sites
We can all play our part by getting out and checking the local ash trees and reporting any suspected cases to
For more information and a video with practical advice on how to spot the symptoms of Chalara fraxinea please visit the Forestry Commission website.
A pictorial guide can be found here http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/Symptoms_guide_Chalara_dieback_of_ash_2012.pdf/$FILE/Symptoms_guide_Chalara_dieback_of_ash_2012.pdf
To help prevent the further spread of the fungus, make sure that you clean any leaves off footwear and car tyres before moving to another area of trees.
The AshTag app for IOS and Android devices allows users to submit photos and locations of sightings to a team who will refer them on to the Forestry Commission, which is leading efforts to stop the disease's spread with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
The harsh winter took its toll not only on the local
Barn Owl population but also on boxes provided by the Pang Valley Barn Owl
Project. Terry HEMMETT of the project approached the Theale Area Bird
Conservation Group for help to replace boxes. TABCG secretary Cathy McEwan says
“The group has a Conservation Fund for such projects but we quickly realised
that we could purchase material to make 6 boxes for the cost of one
commercially made box. We are fortunate to have group member Walter Pope who
can make nest boxes of all shapes and sizes. They are usually made from
recycled wood, which would otherwise end up in landfill, but for Barn Owl boxes
we knew we needed sheets of marine plywood. When member Maryanne THOMAS
approached Laffords at Theale and we were delighted when manager Paul Barton
said they would donate some boards. This generous gesture has enabled us to not
only provide 6 Barn Owl Boxes but, as Walter was able to use the off cuts, also
4 Little Owl Boxes for the price of some wood glue and screws. The last box was
recently completed, and will replace a life expired box in the autum. The
others have already gone up in time for this years nesting season. ” Both
Groups would like to publicly thank Paul and Lafford Buildbase for supporting
this project.
Black-headed Gulls Ringed
In an effort to understand more about the survival and movements of local Black-headed Gulls we colour ringed 100 chicks at Hosehill in June - these birds have white rings engraved with a 4 character code on the left leg and a metal BTO ring on the right leg. A further 54 chicks this year were ringed with just a BTO ring.
These birds are already fledging and beginning to disperse - the first bird has already been seen away from Hosehill - one reached Midgham within about 5 days of fledging!
If you see any of colour ringed birds can you please report your sighting - even local sightings are useful as we would like to build up a picture of when birds leave the area and return again each year. Whilst we have only started ringing the gulls this year this is actually part of an ongoing project across much of the Severn and Thames Basins which is already starting to build up fairly detailed life histories for a significant number of birds. Sightings can be reported to me at [email protected] or the scheme coordinator, John Wells, [email protected]
Thanks
Tim Ball
Meadow Pipit Ringing Project.
The Meadow Pipit roost at Padworth Common is being ringed with the support of West Berkshire Countryside Service. The data gathered will be used in the management plan of the site. Each bird is being marked with a unique combination of rings so each there will be a metal ring over a colour ring on the right leg and two colour rings on the left leg. If you see any Meadow Pipits can you please check to see if they are colour ringed and if they are can you pass details of when and where you saw them and the exact combination of rings to Tim BALL [email protected] or 0118 9543580. He will reply promptly with ringing and sightings details of the birds concerned