I am very fortunate that I can now spend my time doing what I love the best. That is taking photos and observing birds. The next best thing is being able to volunteer and what better way then to help wildlife. So, I looked at what I could do, especially since I have a back injury, so being able to do much manual work is a bit of a no no for me sadly. So, the next best thing I can do is to help spread the word. That is how I help RSPB by being a social media geek….For all that have not read my profile, I do manage the twitter and facebook account for Middleton and the Solihull Group. I have seen so many wonderful pictures and have interacted with so many great people. It has been a blast and still is. I get so much out of being able to spread the word about what great work everyone does. Its not just the employees of RSPB, but the many voluntary workers, who give up their time weekly in all types of weather. Now, I don’t know an awful lot about birds, but I am learning all the time and that is another great thing about volunteering. You get a free education, what more could you want, eh!..You also meet so many different individuals all from different walks of life, all who have joined the voluntary network with different talents, but one big thing in common….”motivation”…..OK two things, “enthusiasm” …..Oh OK three things, “time”…Ahh, now then, I bet you all thought where is the “bird and nature’ element; well that goes without saying.The one thing I love is to explore all facets of conservation, it is so diverse. I have been looking at the interaction of fungi and trees recently and what surprised me is the interlink of the two. The fungi needs the trees and the trees need the fungi, its a two way relationship. I have now started to turn my attention to mud, you may all groan, especially since we have so much of it at Middleton.I can all hear you cry, “ we need to keep the mud under control and so the water levels. Totally agree, but, we need mud, since it will house various food sources for waders and other birds. Elephants and pigs use it to cool down and it makes a good sun repellent. Not sure I will try it though.
Do often think why do Butterflies hang around mud puddles? - no, well I did and this is why. They take in salts and minerals that are leached from the soil into the mud water. This is mainly carried out by male butterflies, since they need those extra minerals to help produce the sperm.Now, when you are walking in the Middleton Lakes mud you can think, ahhh the local male butterflies will get extra helpings now.To sum it up, mud is a mixture of water, combination of soil, silt, and clay, so contains many nutrients, minerals and nitrogen. Whilst to some its mud, to some its dinner…
References
Beck, J, Mühlenberg E, Fiedler K 1999) Mud-puddling behavior in tropical butterflies: in search of proteins or minerals?. Oecologia (119) 1 140-148
Purves WK, Orians GH, Heller HC, Sadava D (1998) Life The science of Biology 5th edn.. USA: Courier Companies Inc.
Sculley C and Boggs CL (1996) Mating systems and sexual division of foraging effort affect puddling behaviour by butterflies. Ecological Entomology (21) 2, 193–197