Within living memory

[Deb London]

I went out walking with someone at the weekend and we visited the open spaces of North Finchley, London, where he grew up. I was asking him about the birds and other wildlife that he had seen in the area over a period of 50 or so years. I was really shocked to hear about the decline in just about everything, with the exception of Speckled Wood Butterflies, Ring-necked Parakeets and Pigeons.

Species that have left the area include the common and the not so common. Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers, Spotted Flycatchers, Nightingales, Willow Warblers, Tree Sparrows, Marsh Tits and Wall Brown Butterflies were all seen or heard regularly, but now no longer visit. Species that are rarely spotted now, such as Common Toads, Tawnies and Kestrels, used to be predictably common. House Sparrows, although still around, were far more common a few years ago than they are today.

I was spell-bound by this man's description, knowledge and enthusiasm. It was nice to hear about a time within living memory when people who visited the area were almost tripping over creatures that are rarely seen nowadays. But of course I was saddened and a little angry. And then I vowed to spend the rest of my days trying to do something about it. It was a range of powerful emotions felt in a short space of time.

I wanted to write down the list that I remembered as a record that I hope other people will find interesting, especially people that know the area.

I wondered what changes other members have seen in a lifetime.

[Burko]

Used to think nothing of seeing and hearing the Cuckoo, now it's a big event.

[STYRBJORN]

Not a lot of nightingales in Berkely Square

[bigdave60dog]

Where do I start. i was born on farm in rural Warwickshire. Occasionally in Mat My Father would wake me at dawn to hear "the Birds" He got up at that time every day to milk the cows and wanted to share the experience of the Dawn Chorus. I was amazed. It seemed that every tree and bush was full of birdsong.
It was impossible for while to think about anything else but "the birds". It was not a thing the could easily be "put into the back of ones mind " to concentrate on other things. As has already been said Cuckoos called from Dawn to Dusk -and beyond Dusk at Times. At this time of year at dusk it seemed that Red Legged Partridges called all around with their strange "Creeeaking" call. Grey were abit less frequent but still present in good numbers as well as the odd Corncrake which I heard but never saw.
There were maybe 30 pairs of nesting swallows in our buildings as well as 3 or 4 pairs under the open front porch of our house. One used to wake me every day by singing on my open window frame.
Wall butterflies were perhaps the most common species on many paths. ALL nettle patches in woody rides had Peacock larvae on them whilst the same was true of Small Tortoiseshell in the more open places. As I grew up to work on the farm. I well remember mowing hay with a Knife-bar Mower which drove all insects to middle of the field as I went round and round cutting as I travelled. As I got to the centre on the meadows the ever decreasing grass patch would get darker and darker as the Meadow Browns were driven to the centre. I could go on forever on this subject.
It is unfortunate that the Wildlife Recording Schemes were not in place then as todays naturalist think that we who remember are exaggerating.
I went to agricultural College and learnt to "Improve" the grassland -and won prizes for the results- Then a book called "Silent Spring" changed my way of thinking. I joined in, and became a part of the "New Conservation Movement" and became a part of developing the Wildlife Records Schemes.
I have been campaigning ever since. I think that todays naturalists are to "divorced" from the countryside and seem to see it as laboratory to be measured and observed in an almost professional, clinical manner. Always looking to "experts" who will guide us, never really getting involved in case "we do it wrong". We began as a part of the countryside. It is as we need to let our hearts or spirits take over instead of always looking to someone else`s mind.
Dave

[Deb London]

Originally Posted by STYRBJORN

Not a lot of nightingales in Berkely Square

ROFL

[Adam Cheeseman]

In Surrey since 1970 we have lost Cirl Bunting, Red-backed Shrike, Wryneck as breeding species (so I've been told). Cuckoos, Grey Partridge, Turtle Doves, Marsh Tits, Willow Tits and Yellowhammers have nosedived. In recent years I've also noticed a dip in Willow Warbler numbers too. Could probably think of more with a bit effort.

Cheers,

Adam

[Deb London]

Please do Adam.

Dave, you sound like you had a fantastic childhood!

[Burko]

I don't see many Cinnabar Moths about round this way. I suppose Ragwort gets weeded out pretty quick with all the horsey lot around here.

[rogpow]

The most noticeable losses I've noticed in my garden are hedgehogs and frogs. Haven't seen either in the garden for several years now.

On the positive side, I now have buzzards flying over most days, peregrines nest nearby, and ravens are also a regular fly-over. All species that in the past I only ever saw on trips to Wales.

Rog

[darrenm]

in the area i grew up 35 years ago there were Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer in every hedge, Tree Sparrow were a common sight that you took for granted, Lapwing would be breeding on every suitable bit of land and the hedgerows were alive with birdsong both early morning and evening and the air litterally hummed with insects. The sound of Cuckoo and sight of early Turtle Dove would be added reminders that spring had fully sprung.

Now through continued use of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, planting crops earlier than ever and outside traditional planting times, little in the way of winter stubble, removal of hedgerows, water abstraction and tidying up every bit of scrub and 'marginal' land and trying to bring it into production etc,etc,etc...the area is now virtually barren.

I dont blame the farmers but i do blame the supermarkets clammering for cheaper and cheaper products (consumer and supermarket led) and globalization and now virtually every country on the planet is now undergoing these massive declines of once common species we took for granted. I often wonder when people will wake up and if it is too late to things back and with the rise in human world populations i doubt it can be. You always have to try and maintain optimisim though and keep putting pressure on governments and lobbying for change.