|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2007 13:18:57 GMT
Hi all ... I've just spent an hour completing Dublin City Council's garden biodiversity questionnaire, and was shocked at how few native plants I have - lots and lots of plants that are naturalised in Ireland (e.g. fuchsia), but only a tiny handful of truly native ones  . I also realised that I haven't a clue what birds we have in the area ... how would you rate yourself on biodiversity? ... cheers ... |
|
|
|
Post by Plocket on Sept 13, 2007 13:23:26 GMT
I probably have very few native plants but have a fairly good idea about some of the birds we have in the area, and not just the garden birds. It's not really bothered me before, and I'm now wondering whether it should  |
|
|
|
Post by MamIDdau on Sept 13, 2007 18:39:47 GMT
Well if I eventually get my own house I'm going to try and have a nature corner to attract beneficial insects and birds etc.
We did biodiversity at school but there wasn't really much about native species and to be honest, I couldn't really name any.
|
|
|
|
Post by Shrubrose on Sept 13, 2007 20:22:14 GMT
Well, we've gone for some native planting here - trees-wise but I dont think I'm particularly well versed in it to be honest. I do know what sort of birds we have around. |
|
|
|
Post by jean on Sept 13, 2007 20:29:47 GMT
I think we would all be surprised as to how few really "native" plants we have in the garden but how far do we go back to decide what is native  Heck CC biodiversity what a word, nearly put me off looking  |
|
|
|
Post by Weeterrier on Sept 13, 2007 21:34:35 GMT
I think you would have to go a very long way back, because the Romans would have introduced a good few plants. I think I recognise all the birds that visit my garden, though there is never anything unusual. Some kind of bird of prey is coming in closer to the houses, but I don't know what species he is. Not an eagle anyway.  |
|
|
|
Post by MamIDdau on Sept 14, 2007 18:43:40 GMT
We have a few Buzzards around where my parents live. Pheasants are common too but only cos they're bred for the hunting season which starts Aug 12th (The Glorious 12th!... Apparently).
Where we live, the largest birds we get are seagulls...
|
|
|
|
Post by Barbara on Sept 14, 2007 18:49:51 GMT
we get lots of different types of birds crossbills, jays, tits, a heron, blackbirds, sparrows, robins, doves, makes me think were doing something right, but native plants, well i think of those as wild flowers, and while i like them, they do tend to take over.  so ill stick to mainly cultivated ones, apart from, foxglovesand primroses. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2007 20:31:15 GMT
I am afraid I pull up lots of native plants, I tend to think of them as invasive weeds,I do keep some of the pretty ones though. The birds & insects seem to manage to find food from my invaders.
|
|
|
|
Post by Weeterrier on Sept 14, 2007 22:02:35 GMT
We have a few Buzzards around where my parents live. Pheasants are common too but only cos they're bred for the hunting season which starts Aug 12th (The Glorious 12th!... Apparently). Where we live, the largest birds we get are seagulls... I love seagulls ;D |
|
|
|
Post by MamIDdau on Sept 15, 2007 12:48:06 GMT
You wouldn't love these ones. They mug ya. They dive bomb people and then steal the food they're eating. Naughty birds they are.
|
|
|
|
Post by Barbara on Sept 16, 2007 9:35:20 GMT
You wouldn't love these ones. They mug ya. They dive bomb people and then steal the food they're eating. Naughty birds they are. i've met that type in devon, then they s**t on your head ;D ;D ;D |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2007 11:27:59 GMT
As I sat drinking my first cuppa this morning looking out at the rain pouring down, I noticed how many diffreent birds were in the garden probably looking for worms, in my 30's I am ashamed that I would have difficult in identifying them. Next time in a charity shop will look out for a book on bird id |
|
|
|
Post by Shrubrose on Sept 16, 2007 11:34:10 GMT
Do genie. You wont regret it. And then you'll start to notice their different behaviours - feeding times and locations, singing, breeding etc, etc. Endlessly fascinating. Gardens wouldn't be the same without birds. |
|
. I also realised that I haven't a clue what birds we have in the area 
Heck CC biodiversity what a word, nearly put me off looking 
so ill stick to mainly cultivated ones,