The Ecological Crisis
The ecological crisis has been highlighted in many ways it is not just climate change that is having devastating effects on our wildlife and countryside. […]
Honiton Community Action Group
Honiton Swift Project
We are working with local swift experts and the RSPB to increase nesting sites for this iconic Summer visitor. Swifts are now on the RED list. (endanger of extinction) Please contact us if you would like to volunteer a local site for a nest boxes. We will be doing the survey work May – August this year. The Honiton Scouts have built six boxes for their new roof and will be in place for this season.
Topics of Interest
Climate Change
The need to declare a climate emergency was prompted by the 15th. Special Report from the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warning of the effects of a 2 (DEGREE) rise in global temperature […]
Wildlife Gardening
Beaver are a native British species. They were found throughout the British Isles until 400 years ago, when they became extinct hunted for their fur. […]
Wildlife Gardening
There are 4 basic areas to consider when creating a garden that will come alive with wildlife after a very […]
Honiton a Hedgehog Champion Town
From our wildlife survey, it emerged we have a relatively large urban population in Honiton. Over the last forty years or so both rural and urban populations have declined drastically. […]
Bird Migration movements: – While many bird species fly south for the winter from the UK and Northern Europe, other species come to winter here particularly from more northern climates. Bird migration is the regular seasonal movement usually North and South between breeding and wintering areas. Although this varies in other parts of the world. Swallows, house and sand martins are probably the best known migrating birds in Britain. Arriving in Spring to nest and raise their chicks and flying south for the winter for warmth and feeding grounds.
Changes in bird migration due to climate change is becoming far more noticeable, more birds are staying in Britain over the winter. Now the song of the chaffinch can be heard particularly in woodland all year round. The winters are becoming less cold this has to be wieghed against the perilous flight across oceans and mountains that many do not survive.
Many species fly in from much further north to enjoy the more moderate British climate, these include some geese and coastal birds. Blackbirds fly north from Spain to join our own masters of song.
The Autumn and Winter are ideal times to go bird watching in a variety of locations. Estuaries and coastal areas are particularly good bird watching areas whether snuggled into a bird hide or watching while walking along a beach.
Some butterflies also cross the channel to Southern Europe, red admirals are known to make this incredible journey returning the following Spring, some now over-winter here.
In other areas of the world birds fly from East to West and return. Therefore containing illness such as strains of bird flu are almost impossible.
Get in Touch
Please contact us with your ideas or suggestions or if you would like to volunteer or donate to Honiton Community Action Group.