effects of wet july on species

[AnnMercia]

Hi all

I was trying to find a thread on this one - sorry if there is already one going along! Basically was just commenting on all the rain and the effect it might be having on our native wildlife. My prime example is vole numbers effecting owls - particularly the barn owl/ I know on average around the north west they were only producing one or two chicks a season - which is not good for their already declining numbers - that was last year, and we had a very good july - I am a bit dubious therefore of what's happeing to them this year! This weather must be having such a bad effect, and doubtless we won't find out the real effect uintil a survey is carried out next year. It's just a perfect example of how flooding, and resultant depletion of insectivores and animals lower down the food chain can devestate those at the top!

[Dogghound]

Sometimes this causes the opposite effect next year, if the voles are doing well, then next year there will be more so maybe the owl population will have a better year next year for example. Areas devastated by floods quickly become recolonised by species, it opens up niches. I'm sure this weather is having an affect of wildlife but i arnt convinced it is as big as we think, will be interesting to see where we stand when the surveys etc are carried out.

[AnnMercia]

i hope so - i've just seen all the flooded countryside on the news - and although houses business etc have been hit attrociously by the recent weather (my friends business is out for 6 months at least) i also think that british wildlife is going to be effected - does anyone know if the wildlife trusts or government wildlife bodies are taking any action or are going to? I suspect they will do, i just haven't heard anything about it yet.

I hope that, like you say next year will be better for wildlife - and better for me (am not enjoying sitting in sodden fields at 6 a.m!)

[Dogghound]

Think im just trying to be positive , i have read afew papers which were carried out in america on the affects of flooding on small mammals, it has a large affect on them, causeing them to decline in number. Although recolonisation does occur gradually after the flood. Not a very studied subject to be fair, i just hope it doesnt have a massive affect on our wildlife.

[AnnMercia]

hmmmm i've just had a google and the consensus seems to be that it is devestating in the local area - but like you say niches are created and recolonisation happens relatively quickly. Hope so - but it's just a shame that what could have been a brilliant July for wildlife has more or lesss been ruined. So sad