Helping The Birds
Many of us will have wanted to help our familiar garden birds by putting up nest boxes for them to use in the spring. We rightly love the sight of the blue tits and robins taking advantage of our help.
But beyond our gardens, out on our beautiful heaths, there are other birds which cannot be helped by putting up nest boxes. This is because their specialist lifestyle involves nesting on the ground amongst the heather and bracken. So, these birds need our help and thoughtfulness in another way. They very much need us to think constantly about not disturbing them as they keep vigil on their eggs or chicks when we go out on the heath. We, or our dogs, only have to stray a very short distance from a path for a rare woodlark or nightjar to be scared off its
vulnerable nest – quite possibly causing the bird to fail to breed successfully. A failed year is very signifi cant to such rare birds, which can only breed on this rare habitat that we are so lucky to have around us. This is why it is so important that we stick to the paths and keep our dogs on a lead from March, when the nesting season begins, right through the summer, when it ends.
None of us would deliberately destroy the nest of a robin or blue tit, but it is terribly easy to unwittingly destroy the nest of a woodlark or nightjar just by leaving the paths or not keeping our dogs on a lead in the spring and summer. If we follow the ‘Heathland Code’ in this and other ways, we can both protect the special wildlife of the heath and enjoy its beauty to the full.
For information about DWT’s nature reserves to visit this summer, and where nesting birds are likely to be, visit:
www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/ reserves.
Lesley Haskins The Erica Trust
36
DORSET WILDLIFE TRUST
Dartford Warbler © Steve Davis The Heathland Code
Explore the heath: However, please keep to the main paths to avoid disturbing the many heathland birds, insects and reptiles that nest on the ground and can be easily harmed.
Dog walking: Please keep your dog under close control. Use a short lead during the nesting season March-August and when livestock are present (CRoW Act 2000).
Keep the heathland healthy: Take rubbish and any mess your dog may leave away with you.
Cycle or horse ride only where allowed: Please use the permitted routes to avoid harming wildlife and damaging the ground.
Fire destroys heathland and its wildlife: Fire can also be dangerous for people and property, so please avoid dropping cigarettes or matches and don’t ever start a fi re, bonfi re or barbeque on the heath.
Keep Grazing Animals Safe: Please close gates behind you when grazing animals are present.
To advertise, please contact 01202 657317 or email
karen@broadstonelink.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
