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Understanding Bird Nesting Season in the UK and What it Means for Garden Maintenance
Wild

Understanding Bird Nesting Season in the UK and What it Means for Garden Maintenance

Bird nesting season in the UK runs mainly from March to August, with peak activity between April and July. Wild birds and their nests are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, so active nests and eggs must not be damaged or disturbed. This affects garden work such as hedge cutting, tree pruning, mowing and clearing dense vegetation, so always check for nests before you start and stop work if you find one. Landlords, contractors and gardeners may need ecological checks or surveys for larger projects during nesting season. If you accidentally disturb a nest, stop work, leave the area and contact a local wildlife rescue organisation for advice; do not move the nest. Support birds by leaving some areas of your garden slightly wild, putting up bird boxes, providing water, avoiding pesticides and planting native shrubs. Work can usually resume once chicks have fledged and the nest is inactive, often after a few weeks. Following these steps helps protect wildlife and avoids fines or prosecution.

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  • Wild Swans You’ll Find in the UK
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    Wild Swans You’ll Find in the UK

    A simple guide to UK swans: mute swan, whooper swan and Bewick's swan. Learn to identify swans by bill colour and shape. Mute swans are large, white, have an orange bill with a black knob and a curved neck. Whooper swans are winter visitors from Iceland and northern Europe with a yellow and black bill, no knob, a straighter neck and a loud trumpeting call. Bewick’s swans are the smallest winter visitors from Arctic Russia with a smaller yellow patch on the bill and a shorter neck. See swans at wetland reserves, RSPB and WWT sites, lakes, flooded fields and estuaries in winter. All wild swans in the UK are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, so watch from a distance and enjoy watching their size, colour and behaviour.

  • Field Voles in the UK
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    Field Voles in the UK

    Field vole (Microtus agrestis) is a common small rodent in the UK and an important part of grassland life. It has a short tail, round face and coarse brown fur, and moves in runways through thick tussocky grass. Field voles eat grasses, sedges, herbs and sometimes bark in winter. They breed fast from March to October, with several litters and young that can breed at three to four weeks. Predators include barn owls, kestrels, foxes, stoats and grass snakes, so predator numbers often follow vole numbers. Look for winding grass runways, small round droppings, stems cut at a 45 degree angle and tiny burrow holes. Managing rough grassland, field margins and hedgerows helps keep vole numbers up and supports birds of prey and other wildlife.

  • Wild Geese You’ll Find in the UK
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    Wild Geese You’ll Find in the UK

    Learn about the different types of geese you can see in the UK. Some, like the greylag and Canada goose, live here all year. Others, such as the barnacle and pink-footed goose, visit in winter. You can spot them in places like coastal estuaries, wetlands, and park lakes. Winter is a great time for birdwatching, especially in eastern and northern UK.

  • Wildfowl in the UK
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    Wildfowl in the UK

    Wildfowl in the UK include ducks, geese, and swans found in wetlands, rivers, and coastal areas. This blog discusses common species such as mallards, mute swans, and pink-footed geese, as well as their habitats, feeding habits, and seasonal movements. Wildfowl are indicators of environmental health, with their presence showing wetland ecosystems’ condition. Threats include habitat loss, climate change, and human disturbance. Conservation efforts focus on protected areas, wetland restoration, and international cooperation. Key sites to see wildfowl include Slimbridge WWT, Norfolk Broads, and the Ouse Washes.

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