The
big miss-hap, or ‘accidents do happen’
Before
the cut …………..
After the cut .....................
Our study site at West Williamston was divided into 2 halves …..
one - an area outside the electric fence consisting of the youngest blackthorn
and surveyed (after the first two weeks) by me, and the other - the area
between the electric fence and the field boundary - surveyed by David (Redhead)
and consisting of 1 to 3 year old blackthorn much denser in nature.
Shortly after the eighth survey session the grass in the
Reserve’s top field (where our survey was taking place) was cut as part of
planned management. Unfortunately the contractor failed to see the tags marking
very young blackthorn in the field on the outer side of the electric fence. The tags, eggs and blackthorn were almost all
lost (eggs right under the fence fortunately avoided the chop).
This was a bit of a disaster from the ‘overwintering egg
predation’ survey’s point of view – or my half of it. David’s half remains safe and intact being
located inside the electric fence between it and the tree-line fence.
On the other hand I have
eight satisfying and illuminating week’s worth of data including recounts,
recording, and the dates new eggs were found. The most interesting outcome to me was
establishing that eggs found in a ‘triple’ were laid as a pair and then added
to days later. This indicates that there was something special about that particular spot – the small bush was surrounded
by extensive blackthorn that
appeared to be just as suitable in every way.
The study will continue thanks to David’s commitment, his half
of the site being intact.
David has continued his counts into November and from now on the
eggs will be re-found between now and the end of April to show which months the
greatest predation takes place.
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