SPRING:
Spring has indeed arrived, and by next week, once the clocks have moved forward an hour in the U.K., we will have much more daylight to enjoy.
I am fortunate to live in an area where there are plenty of birds and quite a bit of wild life, and obviously trees, plants and vegetation which provide raw materials to make nests and habitats and also supply food.
This is such an important and interesting time of year for birds, as they reproduce and rear their young against increasing stresses, many being the human related kind.
We think we are incredibly smart, inventing things, especially technological things, and then relying on them to carry out tasks for us, to save time and effort. It seem we are happy to hand over our skills to a new robotic world.
Birds on the other hand, can show us that they have amazing talents and built in skills, which they use daily in order to perpetuate their species and way of life.
We are exploring outer space to convince ourselves that there may be other worlds out there, when we don`t understand our own incredible complex world, and certainly don`t maintain it in the way we should.
ENVIRONMENTS:
I am not a fanatical environmentalist, being somewhere in the middle, as I realize that the world keeps on turning and there will be many reasons which influence how different countries treat their surroundings.
However, to completely ignore looking after the planet, and slowly strangle and poison it just to satisfy the greed of many, and call it progress, is indeed a foolhardy and dangerous approach.
Regardless of the many viewpoints, the reality is that our particular planet has managed to survive and sustain life in many forms for millions of years.
In order for life to be possible and flourish, the basic elements of air, water, fire and earth are needed. Everything on planet earth is derived from these elements, together with many other support minerals and gasses.
There are many forms of life, from tiny living particles on the sea bed, to massive trees in the Amazon forests, and of course the human race. They all have a part to play.
They are each unique in their own way, and require different living conditions, such as climate and environment, in order to thrive and continue to multiply.
All living species, whether plant, animal, marine or human, will go through a cycle of birth, reproduction and death.
This may be a very speedy life cycle or a long one, and during that cycle, will be a fight for survival, which can be easily lost.
Threats are never far away.
CHANGES:
Huge climatic changes such as fire, flooding, volcanic eruption, or disease which spreads through the animal, bird or human world could be culprits.
Changes in the environment such as chopped down forests, disposal of plastic waste and pollution from chemicals into rivers and the sea, alter the habitats and health of birds, marine and wildlife and humans too.
Unfortunately, humans have been responsible for a large part of these activities.
BIRDS:
My observations of the birds which I can see, are full of surprises.
For a start, the sheer variety of sizes, colours and behaviours are amazing. From handsome pheasants and magpies, down to tiny little chaffinches and blue tits.
Their cheerful bird song as they communicate with each other, certainly brightens the day.
Bit by bit, one can learn to identify the birds with their distinctive song.
Immediately one is struck by the purposeful nature of their behaviour.
Many birds will have returned from spending the winter in a warmer climate, Africa for example.
It is indeed one of life`s miracles that a tiny bird, such as a swallow, can fly thousands of miles, and to arrive at the same spot each year.
No map or compass, no sat-nav or technological device, the ability to navigate such an arduous flight and arrive at the correct destination, is inbuilt. Truly remarkable and amazing.
Once birds have found a mate, they are totally focussed on finding a secure and safe area in which to build a nest.
THE NEST:
Great care is taken to build a substantial base where the eggs will hatch out and the young remain whilst the parents provide them with food, and eventually teach them how to fly and to deal with the world at large.
The world is a dangerous place for birds, as there are always predators around, in the form of other birds, wildlife or humans.
Designing a nest is a serious business.
A suitable place must be found. It may be where previous nests were built, or trying somewhere new.
A NEST IS A WORK of ART:
It must be constructed to withstand frequent activity, between the young chicks and the frequent trips by the parents bringing food.
Usually the female will sit on the eggs until they hatch, then return to the nest at night when feeding is over for the day.
BLACKBIRD EGGS:
Chicks can eat an enormous amount of food, so a constant supply must be available to satisfy their hunger. Worms, insects and other juicy morsels are devoured by the chicks.
SWALLOWS NEST :
Some nests may look fragile and precarious balanced on a tree branch, but the site will have been well researched, and the necessary standards applied to produce the end result.
Nests can be `constructed from all sorts of materials. Twigs, moss, leaves, sheep wool and other interesting bits are woven or stuck together with mud to form a home for the year.
The construction of a birds nest is another of nature`s miracles.
For a bird to create such an architectural work of art using only its beak, legs and feet is remarkable.
RAPID GROWTH:
As the chicks grow rapidly, they soon outgrow the nest.
Any weaklings are ousted and don`t last long in the natural world.
Chicks must grow into healthy birds, fit to tackle life in the wild.
They learn to fly and forage for food through discipline and trial and error, under the watchful eye of the parent birds.
No gentle parenting for these young birds! It is the survival of the fittest, and they must be physically fit to negotiate life in the natural world.
A LONG JOURNEY FOR SOME!
In the autumn, many birds will prepare for a long dangerous journey to spend winter in a warm climate.
BIRDS PREPARING FOR FLIGHT TO WARM CLIMATE:
A familiar sight is seeing hundreds of birds lining telephone wires as they prepare to depart for warmer countries.
Sadly, many birds are having their habitats destroyed by lack of consideration and the pursuit of greed by humans.
FUTURE OF THE PLANET:
We must realize that we all share the same planet, and we must live in harmony with everything on it and in it.
If we don`t, we may find our own habitat and lifestyle are under threat!
We have so much to learn from the natural world, It just takes some time out of a busy day, to look around and appreciate the wonders which surround us.
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