When I moved into my present home several years ago I looked forward to having loads of wildlife close by with lots of photography to do. It started well with plenty of bird life and animals coming into the garden I thought I was in my element. Two years ago I noticed a decline, the village pond the herons vanished, the cormorants went and the swans there now are artificial in an effort to keep the canada's away. Of the 40 odd swallows that nested every summer in the local houses this year just one pair were seen with no record of a nest. The feeders in my garden are rarely touched and I often throw the seed away before it rots. I paid a visit to the RSPB at Pulborough Brooks which is just 3 miles away at the week-end and in one hour I saw just 2 rabbits and a crow. I spoke to a photographer who was just leaving and asked what kind of day he had and all I got in reply was a shrug of the shoulders. The ponds had dried up, the feeders had gone. I have been a visitor there for more than 30 years and it has been high up on my photography sites list and a large proportion of my 40,000plus photo's have been taken there and to see the area like this hurts. This has nothing to do with the virus, I am sure it is air polution.
Wednesday 26 August 2020
Where has all the wildlife gone.
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About Me
- Mike Attwood
- Evacuated during the second world war to a village in Yorkshire where I lived in the home of a good photographer for more than five years who taught me the basics and a great deal about nature. Well past retirement age I have been a wildlife photographer for more than 30 years. Red Kites have been my speciality for much of this period. I did spend several years snapping wheelchair athletes and organizing the British Road Race Championship. In the year 2000 I was awarded a distinction by the Royal Photographic Society for my portfolio on wheelchair athletes. Most of my pics are digital, using Sony cameras and Sigma lenses. I used to spend many weeks each year with friends in Wales which is close to the Elan Valleys where I got many of my raptor pics. I now get these pictures more closely to home, specially red kites and peregrines. I support my pension by selling my pics, cards, coasters, fridge magnets and key rings etc. at craft fairs, something I wish I had done much earlier in life. I give illustrated talks to clubs and societies on wildlife and other branches of photography that I have been involved in.
The wildlife is still there I'm sure but maybe in lesser numbers. I know a lot of photographers who just turn up for the prize and can't be bothered to put the time in. Sometimes just sitting and waiting for a while enables us to see wildlife that is around us. If you put the time in, the rewards are there to be had. Take care.
ReplyDeleteHi Marc, I am not inexperienced in these matters. I joined the junior section of the RSPB at the age of 12 when I was given my first camera. I have been a member all my life other than 3 years which I spent abroad serving my country. I keep a photographic record of my sightings which show a vast decline in the bird population in my part of Sussex. Several common species have vanished and many migrants have not appeared over the past 4 years. I am very concerned.
DeleteStay safe. Mike.
Hi Mike
ReplyDeletesad sad, but this observation is no different here with me in Germany, here it is the strong hunt now that the forest is slowly breaking down it means ... forest before game ... shoot everything ... I can't understand it
greetings Frank
Hi Frank, It is very sad because the average person does not notice this. It is only when its pointed out to them they then realise that something is wrong. Missing from my garden in the last 2 years are:- blackbird, starling, chaffinch, bullfinch, sparrow, great tit, wren, song thrush, dunnock. These were regular to my feeders 4 years ago. Not one of these has been seen in the last month. Latest is my animals have vanished too. Stay safe. Mike.
DeleteHow sad Mike. Wonder how that might be... Here in my part of the world, western Sweden, I have not noticed any difference in the population, except from the greenfinch which I see much less of now.
ReplyDeleteHi Lasse, The problem seems to be due to heavy air polution. The village has been listed as one of the worst in England. A lot of heavy traffic passes slowly through often stationary because of the traffic lights and junctions. A by-pass is out of the question because we are in a national park. Stay safe. Mike.
DeleteThere are many and varied answers Mike. For a few try - insecticides, changes in farming, concreting over green land, overpopulation etc, etc. It is very sad but who will stop the madness?
ReplyDeleteWe have farms close by and they could be partly responsible but it is more obvious in the village. The heavy traffic uses the road as a short cut to Portsmouth and Southampton so we get the continental 40tonners day and night. Stay safe Phil.
DeleteMike.
Such a sad situation, for you Mike, and for the wildlife that should be all around us too. As Phil says, the reasons are numerous, but they mostly come down to one factor - the rape of the planet by selfish and/or ignorant humankind! Such a pity that one of your rare trips out should be so unrewarding and depressing. Don't lose hope, and continue to do your best to attract the wildlife to your garden - you are already succeeding with the mammals!
ReplyDeleteTake great care - - - Richard
I do my best Richard but the animals visits seem to be dwindling, The hedgehogs (5) have gone, the foxes have gone from 3 down to 1 and I havn't had a badger in weeks. We have a wood which is looked after by staff from Warnham nature reserve not 200yds from my back door. We could hear tawny and barn owls, red kites flew over our house and all the small birds fed in our garden but I am afraid that is no more. I live in hope. Stay safe. Mike.
DeleteMe entristece oír noticias así, la contaminación es peor que cualquier virus y los políticos se encargan de ocultarlo. Espero que lo que pasa en tu zona sea temporal y que la fauna salvaje vuelva a su sitio. Mike un fuerte abrazo desde el norte de España, te deseo todo lo mejor!!!
ReplyDeleteThankyou Germaan, I travelled to a new area and found that there was much more wildlife there. The place looked much healthier and I realised birds were feeding in the fields. At the moment I think it is the use of a powerful substance put on the soil while it was bone dry from the weather we have had lately. The farm lands had animals on and not crops. Just a thought. Stay safe. Mike.
Delete