Do we have a Wildlife/Nature/Conservation topic?

[kinkytoes]

If so, where is it please?

If not, could we have one please?

Yes, I'm the same. I think a dedicated wildlife/nature/conservation board woukd be great, although I do see @ErrolTheDragon point about traffic.

What is this? I get loads of blackbirds in the garden.

Fair enough. I generally prefer smaller more specific boards but I have seen many times over the years that they have failed to gain traction and I know MN tend to lump them all together in the end.

@Catmads there was an article in The Times this morning about the positive mental health benefits of a small moment of awe every day, with the focus being on taking a close look at nature. I find this is so true, I frequently find myself getting that moment of "wow that's beautiful" when looking closely at flowers, leaves, frosty grass or whatever.

Thank you I hadn't spotted this one.

It won't attract armchair fans though I don't think, nor can we really discuss (for example) the plight of hunted whales there..

Thank you! I was hoping you'd see this 😁

Can I just say I've only recently discovered the watch topic button, and am far more active in those topics now. I would totally watch this one, and encourage others to do the same. Maybe an awareness campaign for watching topics would be good for those with a smaller footfall??

I mean FOLLOW topic button of course. 😳

Definitely I would chat more about nature and wildlife! 🕷️🦉🌳

Yes please!

I've just joined. How are you finding it? Is it user friendly? I had a lot of problems logging butterfly sightings with the Butterfly Conservation app in the past, and wondered if this is going to be smoother. 🤞

Time spent in nature is one of the best therapies.

I'm so pleased you found it when you needed it. So many don't.

I think a board like this might be a good springboard for others on MN who are suffering, who may not think it's accessible to them for any reason.

What is the blackbird study? I've haven't seen a blackbird in my garden this year, and there are normally several.

Oo I would love this. And def follow such a board/ topic

Try this link

https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/blackbirds-gardens

For some reason the quote didn't show.

This was in relation to the Great Outdoors board.

The more the merrier!

https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/blackbirds-gardens

(Sorry for the derail)

I'll check out the blackbird survey. For those of you living in areas where stag beetles still thrive, you can use this link to report any sightings (alive or dead).
https://ptes.org/campaigns/stag-beetles-2/
Here's a photo of one I disturbed this weekend. He was chilling on a sheet on my washing line!

I would use it. I do a lot of wildlife photography and a bit of twitching.

I’d be interested in this!

I signed up for the blackbird survey this year and take part in a few other BTO surveys too.

@RainOnTins please let me know how you're finding it? I'm about to dive in!

i'd like this - i love seeing photos of interesting wildlife in people's gardens etc

Yes, this would be a really great topic to have!

@kinkytoes I’m finding it all pretty straightforward to be honest. I have a good view of my garden from my work desk, so tend to keep an eye out during particularly tedious Teams calls. I work for an environmental organisation where this type of thing is actively encouraged!

Data entry is pretty straightforward, as long as as you can tell your male and female blackbirds apart. Binoculars can be handy, but are by no means essential. I use them to double check that the birds are definitely gathering food (one of the things the survey is interested in) and not just eating it.

I started back in April and it’s been really interesting “getting to know” my blackbirds a bit better. I’m pretty sure I’ve worked out where they’re nesting this year, but not seen any chicks yet. The vast majority of blackbird nests fail (9 out of 10 nests are unsuccessful) so that may be what happened in my garden. I’m sure they’ll try again 🤞

Thank you @RainOnTins that's really useful to know.

I love watching the blackbirds they are such characters. We've had some fledglings I feel a bit bad that I haven't gotten into this sooner really.

Does anyone here use Merlin?

I bet we could have a long running thread of 'birds we heard today in one minute or less' or similar. 😃 Including screen shots (location cropped ofc unless you're wishing to show).

Here is one of mine from a couple of days ago. Notable as it's the first time I've heard house martins since using the app!

Yes, use it all the time, I really like it

I got my first house martin a couple of weeks ago in the Cotswolds (I don't live there), I was chuffed too.