Ridge Workday 28th January 2006

Continuing on from the last workday, the bird box survey was successfully completed in a busy day.

Bob, Mike and Paul from BTCV had the task of first of all finding the boxes. Bob brought his extension ladder so that the boxes could be accessed. The boxes were then marked with a unique number using a permanent marker, cleaned up and checked to see whether they'd been used.

Maureen and Elisabeth meanwhile recorded all this information including the location and box usage so that the Friends would be able to compare future results.

It will also enable us to find the boxes again more easily next time as it wasn't an easy job finding where we'd put them all in previous years! Elisabeth also took photographs of each box in its environment as well as marking the position on an aerial photograph.

The results of the bird box survey can be viewed by anyone. This shows the location of each box, by means of a description together with a location photograph. We also recorded whether the bird box was used, and if possible, what species of bird had last used it.

Meanwhile Pete and Lee laboured on making a number of new bird boxes to supplement the existing ones as well as making the odd repair or two on old bird boxes. In general though, most of the boxes had survived admirably.

Around 6 new boxes were added to the collection and these were installed by the others and recorded appropriately. We'll be looking forward to seeing how well these do, especially since the apparent successes of all the other boxes surveyed.