The cold and wildlife

As much as we moan about the cold weather we can at least stay in with the central heating (assuming the muppets that run the gas industry have allowed sufficient supplies) and tuck ourselves under the duvet.

Wildlife doesn't have this option and the cold snap will undoubtedly adversely affect many species. For instance birds like Dartford Warblers are at the Northern most limit of there ranges and a hard winter could decimate numbers (like in 1963).

Feeding birds at this time of year is important and you could be rewarded with some unusual new sitings, Redwings, Redpolls, Siskins for instance.

It was interesting to note that the Scottish Government has announced a temporary ban on shooting ducks, geese and other wild birds yesterday as the cold conditions hits their feeding and migration patterns. Freezing temperatures and snowy conditions are making feeding for wildfowl difficult and threatening their survival.

According to the the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) it is the first suspension of its kind for 13 years.

BASC Scotland director Colin Shedden said:

Some people will be disappointed but most understand the need for these restrictions.