Decline in wildlife

Curioso

This year we have noticed a sharp decline in wildlife numbers in our local Coillte woodland - Camolin Park Co. Wexford (650 acres). The squirrels, pigeons and small songbirds have all become very scarce. Even the magpies are reduced in numbers.

Has anybody any ideas on what has happened or suggest who might be interested in investigating this further?

magicbastarder

what sort of woodland is it?

dodderangler

Pine marten numbers are well up this year and especially in Wicklow.

dodderangler

I know you're in Wexford but they travel.

Curioso

Commercial spruce, scots pine, oak, some spanish chestnut - in several areas.

Curioso

There are pine martens here but only a small number, rarely seen.

vandriver

Anecdotally,of course,but my back garden has barely anything in it anymore.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

iFundraise.ie wrote: »

I blame the magpies. Their number are certainly not down. They are total scavengers and should be culled. They kill more your birds and attack more nesting birds than any other creature.
Am I the only one that has a problem with magpies.?

This old nonsense has been debunked for years. I'm not even going to start to explain how wrong that thinking is as we have been through it too many times.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

BTO.org
For many people the Magpie is a villain, responsible for the widespread decline of songbirds. Research examining the question of whether Magpies have been responsible for songbird decline has failed to find any evidence to support the notion that they are to blame.


RSPB.org The study found that songbird numbers were no different in places where there were many magpies or sparrowhawks from where there are few.


Plenty more from The Songbird Trust, Bexley et al.

AnthonyCny

In donegal here, I've never seen more wildlife. From small songbirds, to medium to large birds of prey.

Huge amounts of rowan berries right up to about a month ago definitely helped the smaller birds.

magicbastarder

even if magpies were to blame - and i don't accept that they are - why do we celebrate sparrowhawks, which prey on smaller birds, and detest magpies? it is because magpies are more cunning?

Birdnuts

magicbastarder wrote: »

even if magpies were to blame - and i don't accept that they are - why do we celebrate sparrowhawks, which prey on smaller birds, and detest magpies? it is because magpies are more cunning?

Magpies are far more common and raid nests - so do more damage. They are heavily culled at Boora and the results speak for themselves. Female spars go for pigeons/crows mainly anyway.

PS: On the continent magpie numbers are naturally thinned by the likes of Goshawks and eagle owls. Species that are scarce or lacking on this island

OpenYourEyes

magicbastarder wrote: »

even if magpies were to blame - and i don't accept that they are - why do we celebrate sparrowhawks, which prey on smaller birds, and detest magpies? it is because magpies are more cunning?

As well as what Birdnuts has said, I think the fact that Magpies are a generalist species with large numbers, and Sparrowhawks are a specialist species with low and much more sensitive numbers, plays a large part in how we think about them, as well as to how we deal with them from a wildlife management perspective.

Again, as Birdnuts alluded to, we wouldn't have the same problems with mesopredators (e.g. magpies) if we hadn't wiped out most of our top predators (e.g. raptors). Similarly, if we hadn't destroyed so much sensitive habitat then our populations of sensitive species would be better capable of dealing with the impacts of species like Magpies.

Grolschevik

Kai Attractive Hoe wrote:

BTO.org For many people the Magpie is a villain, responsible for the widespread decline of songbirds. Research examining the question of whether Magpies have been responsible for songbird decline has failed to find any evidence to support the notion that they are to blame.

Kai Attractive Hoe wrote:

RSPB.org The study found that songbird numbers were no different in places where there were many magpies or sparrowhawks from where there are few.

Incidentally, the RSPB has concluded the same about cats.

It's on their site; a search will find it easily.

magicbastarder

Birdnuts wrote: »

They are heavily culled at Boora and the results speak for themselves.

is that partly due to the reintroduction programs going on down there, where there are populations of other species which need protection in general?

_Brian

Neighbors did a cull on magpies a few years ago here and the numbers of small birds increased big time.
The mags were also going into the hens roost and carrying off eggs, I can easily see how they would clear the nests of all birds in the locality.

Hope it's done again soon as I see a few about again.

Mother had half a dozen chickens killed last week, they trapped a huge pine martin. Massive yoke and real nice animal, brought to woodland few miles away and released.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

_Brian wrote: »

Neighbors did a cull on magpies a few years ago here and the numbers of small birds increased big time.
The mags were also going into the hens roost and carrying off eggs, I can easily see how they would clear the nests of all birds in the locality.

Hope it's done again soon as I see a few about again.

Mother had half a dozen chickens killed last week, they trapped a huge pine martin. Massive yoke and real nice animal, brought to woodland few miles away and released.

That's one of the most inconsistent views on Nature I've seen in some time. Cull the Magpie but release the Pine Martin.


BTW. A few miles would not stop a Pine Martin returning.

_Brian

Kai Attractive Hoe wrote: »

That's one of the most inconsistent views on Nature I've seen in some time. Cull the Magpie but release the Pine Martin.


BTW. A few miles would not stop a Pine Martin returning.

Well we had no control over mag cull...
And guy that brought trap for pine martin did so on understanding that he would bring whatever was trapped and release it far enough away..

Also arent Pine Martins protected where I don't believe the same protection extends to mags, or am I wrong on that ??

Birdnuts

magicbastarder wrote: »

is that partly due to the reintroduction programs going on down there, where there are populations of other species which need protection in general?

Yes - heavy control of mags, foxes, crows and mink ongoing there

Birdnuts

_Brian wrote: »

Also arent Pine Martins protected where I don't believe the same protection extends to mags, or am I wrong on that ??

Magpies can be trapped/shot year round if causing problems. Pine Martens in contrast are fully protected.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Birdnuts wrote: »

Magpies can be trapped/shot year round if causing problems. Pine Martens in contrast are fully protected.

It's a bit more specific than that. Magpies and others are protected unless causing commercial damage.

Capercaillie

Birdnuts wrote: »

Magpies can be trapped/shot year round if causing problems. Pine Martens in contrast are fully protected.

stoats also culled under derogation at Boora.