Sunday, March 08, 2009

Collared Dove on nest.

Here at home. I think there's probably eggs/ an egg, but haven't seen the nest unoccupied yet to look. (Found one in late January once.)

Invitation.
All birders/ naturalists are invited to attend Halifax Scientific Society's monthly indoor meetings.

This Tuesday, 10th March, the title of the talk and slide show is "Humbugs and Honeybees" to be given by John Phillips of the Beekeepers Association. 7.15pm for a 7.30 start at the Calderdale Central Library, Halifax, downstairs.

Recent publicity about the plight and the paramount importance of wild bees to our ecosystems (inc. birds ) and our agriculture makes this a topical subject. It only struck me lately that if there were no bees, we would have not only no fruit, but hardly any plants which depend on bees to pollinate them. That is we would only have wind-pollinated grain and grass crops, a few nut trees, etc.
It follows that many species of birds that rely on seeds and insects which live on flowering plants
would also go extinct.

2 comments:

Nick Carter said...

Steve Downing is a keen beekeeper and often comments on the importance of bees to the rest of life.

Steve Blacksmith said...

Further to the Collared Doves' nest, I checked it today, Monday, expecting to find the egg/2eggs they usually lay, but found a chick! Not just hatched , its primaries were "in pin", with no feather showing yet - so possibly around a week old.