Image Credit: RSPB Images
The old rhyme may tell us to remember ‘gunpower treason and plot’ today, but you should also remember our wildlife when you’re lighting bonfires and setting off fireworks! In fact, we see no reason why gunpower treason OR wildlife should ever be forgot(ten)!
There are some simple things you can do to make sure your Bonfire Night celebrations have a minimal effect on animals:
Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images
Hibernating animals such as hedgehogs may have inadvertently settled down to sleep in the pile of logs you’ve been collecting for your bonfire! Checking the pile before lighting will stop these creatures getting trapped. It only takes 5 minutes, and it can save a life.
Loud and sudden bangs are usual on bonfire night. Many people and pets find this very distressing. This is also true of wild animals. The levels of stress caused by the noise of fireworks can disrupt sleeping and feeding habits, causing detriment to the animal in question. Low-noise and silent fireworks are now available in a wide variety of online and in-person stores; low-noise fireworks mean you can still enjoy a spectacular visual display, minus the bangs!
Sky lanterns look lovely as they float away from their release site. But what goes up must come down, and this is when they become deadly to wildlife. Animals can get trapped in, and injured by, the wires holding the lantern together. Sky lanterns can also start fires if they land before the flame is extinguished.
Redcar and Cleveland Council have actually banned the release of sky lanterns (and helium balloons) after a number of incidents including a farm fire.
This has several advantages: it’s usually much cheaper for you, and you get to see some fireworks that you definitely wouldn’t be allowed to let off at home. Having a few large fireworks displays produces much less noise, litter and disruption than lots of ‘back garden displays’, so it’s also better for wildlife!
With this in mind, have fun and stay safe!
News from the Estate:
A wider variety of plant species improves the health of a habitat; a greater number of species can live in that area, making the ecosystem more robust. Image Credit: David Chandler, RSPB Images
If you read this blog regularly (which we hope you do), you will notice there is a seasonality to the work of the Estates Team; autumn is all about mowing and cutting. This week is no exception- the Jubilee Mound has been trimmed, shaped and, after Wednesday’s weather, blow-dried. Managing the slopes of this mound as a series of mini meadows increases the variety of flowers and other plants we will see in Spring. This in turn boosts the number of insects on the reserve, many of which are pollinators. And where you have pollinators, you get more plants!
What’s On:
With November landing with unerring accuracy, it’s time for Soup and Starlings to return!
Running every Thursday and Sunday throughout November, this event is the perfect opportunity to see the reserve as the sun sets over the wetlands. As well as spectacular starling murmurations, you may also see roe deer, hares, foxes, various owl species and much more! Our Sunday sessions are now sold out, but we still have spaces on Thursdays for you to come along and experience Saltholme as you have never experienced it before. Just book your tickets here!
Can’t make it this year? Not to worry. As long as Thursday 10 November doesn’t bring driving rain and/or a lack of starlings, we will be LIVESTREAMING the Soup and Starlings event through our Facebook page! For the full experience, watch this whilst sipping a comforting cup of vegetable soup.
Recent Sightings:
The yellowhammer is a red list species, meaning its UK population is declining rapidly. Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images
The first few yellowhammers of the year have been seen in our car park. With their bright yellow head and underparts, it’s easy to see how this species got its common name. To be honest, even its scientific (latin) name mentions the lemon-yellow colouring: Emberiza citrinella.
The pintail can be distinguished from other ducks by its tapering tail. In flight, its wings are curved and back-pointed. Image Credit: Ben Hall, RSPB Images
Another sign that cold weather is on the way is the arrival of pintail on the reserve; there may be fewer than 30 pairs breeding in the UK, but in winter over 20,000 of these birds grace us with their presence. Keep an eye out for them when you visit our Saltholme Pools hide.
Whooper swans make a distinctive call during flight, whereas mute swans make no noise. It’s a good way to tell them apart. Image Credit: Ben Hall, RSPB Images.
They not planes. They’re definitely not superman. But these birds get a ‘whoop whoop’ every time they fly into the reserve. Ok, most of the time it’s them making the whooping noise (another inventive name from the ornithologists of past generations), but they’re still always a wonderful sight (and sound). What are they? Whooper swans!
Well, that’s everything for this week. As usual, we have simply scratched the surface of what has been seen on the reserve over the past few days (watch this video, filmed by Ian Robinson, for a more complete overview of our species). But we thought we would let you go early to enjoy the fireworks. Just please do so in a way that causes minimum risk and disruption to the people and wildlife around you!
References and Additional Reading
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2022). Mute Swan [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/mute-swan/ [last accessed 03/11/2022].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2022). Pintail [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/pintail/ [last accessed 03/11/2022].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2022). Starling [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/starling/ [last accessed 03/11/2022].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2022). Whooper Swan [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/whooper-swan/ [last accessed 03/11/2022].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2022). Yellowhammer [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/yellowhammer/ [last accessed 03/11/2022].
The Wildlife Trusts (2022). Brown Hare [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/mammals/brown-hare [last accessed 03/11/2022].
The Wildlife Trusts (2022). Red Fox [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/mammals/red-fox [last accessed 03/11/2022].
The Wildlife Trusts (2022). Roe Deer [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/mammals/roe-deer [last accessed 03/11/2022].