Pinging back from the brink.

The past couple of years has seen breeding bearded tit numbers fall quite markedly on Radipole in particular. Last year we could only confirm one pair for certain on the reserve although Lodmoor fared slightly better. The reasons for these declines are likely to be meteorological with the atypically cold recent winters doubtless impacting upon these little reed dwelling treasures.

However, cold was unlikely to have been the main cause of bearded tit mortality on Radipole but rather the arrival of floods in both January 2010 and 2011. It is around the end of the year that most of the reed seed falls to the ground - hence the more frequent sightings at this time of beardies foraging on the ground as opposed to their usual reed top larder. With the seed on the ground and the ground submerged, the consequences for the 'beardies' needs no spelling out.

Despite these repeated population crashes a productive summer, allayed to autumnal recruitment from Lodmoor (or beyond?) has seen a fairly healthy population survive through this comparatively mild and unnaturally dry winter to now arrive on the cusp of another breeding season. Luke identified at least 5 pairs at the top of Radipole yesterday and there is reliable beardy activity to be sought in the Spit, in Buddleia and in the reeds opposite the viewing platform.  

Interestingly the bearded tit undergoes an alteration in its constitution allowing it to digest a high calorie invertebrate diet through the breeding season before reverting to seed as insect populations fade into winter. Another possible problem of this genetic adaptation is that once their constitution alters they cannot switch back, so a cold snap in spring with an associated drop off in insects numbers can see them go hungry – a case of seed, seed everywhere but not kernel to eat…

Fingers crossed for a beardy breeding bonanza in 2012 and beyond - as Luke's wonderful shots yesterday attest, they are stunning little birds.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/beardedtit