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Changes in nature due to stayathome

  • 03-04-2020 9:57pm
    #1
    John_Rambo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,057 ✭✭✭✭


    Hi, lots of stress anxiety for a lot of people with restricted human activities. I'm wondering is our wildlife impacted.

    I'm Dublin, coastal suburban, so aside from city centre the hardest hit by the pandemic. My observations are...

    Foxes roaming much further in my neighbourhood, I'm guessing less food opportunities from discarded rubbish & casual human effluence, less injuries and death from cars and added bravery from a lack of human presence during certain hours.

    Increased presence of buzzards in my area (right on the East coast) presumably ranging further from a lack of roadkill on the motorways in the mid and North East. I've seen seven soaring where it would be normal to see one or two.

    A serious lack of herring gulls. (what some people consider a scourge) The shrieking big boys are flying high, but not as obvious at ground level. Probably due to the lack of chippers and (again) discarded rubbish.


Comments

  • #2
    a148pro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,207 ✭✭✭a148pro


    That's really interesting re the buzzards. Only thing i've noticed is the bird song, but that may just be the reduction in ambient noise, plus being forced to be more appreciative of what's around us


  • #3
    GinSoaked
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,049 ✭✭✭GinSoaked


    SE, on the coast, same numbers of buzzards but they have been getting closer. The fox has been down to the hen houses a few times even though its not in his best interests as the dogs love a chase. Bird song is stunning but road noise is also very limited.


  • #4
    John_Rambo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,057 ✭✭✭✭John_Rambo


    Not exactly the loved ones of nature! But I'm guessing the rat and feral pigeon population will take a monster hit from the restaurant and fast food closures in the cities. I'm hoping the city peregrines, owls, kestrels, sparrowhawks, foxes and other city predators are making fun while the cats (humans) are sleeping and they're surviving well.

    No evidence, just guessing and projecting.


  • #5
    John_Rambo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,057 ✭✭✭✭John_Rambo


    Looks like my prediction of the rats taking a hit was almost there. Unfortunately they've moved from their usual haunts to human habitation areas.

    https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2020/0603/1145282-rats/

    Aside from that I'm seeing a huge surge in urban wildlife in my area due to parts of my local park not being preened as much as usual. In our garden alone we've seen a spike in insects, nesting birds, moths and butterflies. I also notice people in the community planting bee friendly plants everywhere now, the lockdown has us tending to our gardens much more than usual.


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