Our Longshaw
and Eastern Moors Explorers ventured over the moors to Shillito Woods to see
and have a go at bird ringing this morning as part of the Eastern Moors “Flying
Start” event. The RSPB launch their Big Garden Birdwatch next weekend, with
this event getting people prepared to help with this important nationwide
survey. Details of the Birdwatch can be found at https://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch.
The morning
gave us a fantastic, hands-on opportunity to get up-close to birds we usually
see from a distance. Some of our young Explorers even got the chance to hold
and set a bird free once they had been ringed.
 |
| Yellow hammer |
On the
Eastern Moors we saw many birds including: nuthatch, lesser redpoll, goldfinch,
blue tit, great tit, coal tit, yellow hammer, blackbird and treecreeper.
The event was
a great success, with a turnout of over 50 people coming to experience the art
of bird ringing. I even got to hold and release three kinds of birds, an
amazing first experience for me! As well as the bird ringing demonstration,
there were a number of other activities going on. A bird ID trail through the
woods, bird box making for Curbar Woods, pine cone bird feeders for the garden
and building recycled binoculars all helped to shape the family event.
Back at
Longshaw, another bird ringing session was underway. Once we had finished at
the Eastern Moors event, we met with the bird ringers at Longshaw who had found
blue tits, great tits, nuthatches, and a greater spotted woodpecker.
Our next
Explorers event is on Saturday 22nd February, which will see us
tracking wild animals around Longshaw. Meeting at the Moorland Discovery Centre
at 10am. Don’t miss it!
The Longshaw
and Eastern Moors Explorers is a family group who meet once a month to
experience wildlife and the outdoors. Find out how to join the Explorers by
contacting us at Longshaw.Explorers@nationaltrust.org.uk,
or call us on 01433 637907.
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