Survival (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Survival

11:26am Friday 5th February 2010

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Sir, – I refer to your January 22 article entitled “Fears for wildlife after harsh weather”

which highlighted the plight of small garden birds during the recent bout of Arctic weather.

So, it was with great pleasure that during the hour spent “twitching” as part of last weekend’s RSPB Big Bird Watch, a flurry of nine long-tailed tits paid a lively visit to the bird table, together with three redbreasted robins who had by and large put aside their territorial differences and made every effort to hop along, while in and out of the garden wall darted a wren.

It would seem that despite the weather, these most vulnerable birds have survived the past few weeks and also, I’m glad to say, the sweeping visit from a Sparrowhawk who could have easily have had a detrimental effect on the bird count.

The snowy season may well not be over but it appears that in temperatures in which few of us would wish to find ourselves caught in, these birds have found what they need, giving them every opportunity to welcome the spring and provide us with something to look forward to.

ANDY BOTTOMLEY Low Row, Richmond.

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