Sharp-eyed residents may have noticed some new nest boxes gracing the Willow trees in Bourton Park. The boxes have been built and installed by Buckingham’s wildlife volunteer Michael Hunt, who has worked for years alongside the Railway Walk Conservation group and an active member of the Buckingham Tree Wardens. The three new boxes contribute to bird conservation by providing additional nesting sites for wild birds such as blue tits, great tits and nuthatches.
All year-round volunteers, such as Michael, keep an eye on the birds at Railway Walk – monitoring them so we can find out which birds visit, which are resident, and which breed on the site. As well as telling us the health of the local bird population, the data also contributes to national bird recording schemes and helps the site to be managed for conservation. Every year, hundreds of volunteers across the UK submit observations of nests they have monitored. The data is used to assess the impacts that changes in the environment, such as habitat loss and global warming, have on the number of fledglings that birds can rear. (A fledgling is a young bird who is ready to leave the nest). It is hoped that the new nest boxes in Bourton Park, that carry individual reference numbers, will contribute to the growing numbers of the UK’s bird populations.
Chair of Environment Committee, Cllr. Warren Whyte said: “We are very grateful for the public spiritedness of Michael Hunt in making these wonderful nest boxes and making a really positive contribution to the town council’s climate action plan to protect and enhance our native species and habitats”
For some top tips on putting up your own bird box, visit the British Trust for Ornithology.
Notes
- For enquiries, please contact Paul Hodson at Buckingham Town Council on 01280 816426, communications@buckingham-tc.gov.uk.