This week we decided it was time to carry out some essential stone-curlew plot management. A bit of warm and sunny weather has meant the “weeds” on the fallow plots have gone in to a growing frenzy. Stone-curlew can have several breeding attempts within a season but the plots need to be in a suitable condition if they are to do so – that is, bare and open. It also makes our life much easier when we are trying to monitor them!
The management was carried out with a cultivator, with Michael at the wheel of the tractor. But before any cultivating could take place, we needed to locate the stone-curlew chicks so that we can lift them off the plot and out of harms way. Some of the stone-curlew parents had taken the chicks off the plot to feed in the grassland, making our jobs much easier. However, some were on the plot, and this is where a bit of intervention was needed!
While I was walking along one of the plots, I saw a movement in the wild bird seed mixture, so decided I should investigate... and I was very surprised to see a badger looking up at me. I think it must have been as surprised as I was, at it took it a few seconds before it realised it should be running away! I also disturbed several Roe deer which appeared to be resting in there, and half a dozen brown hares.
Keeley