Step aside April…May has arrived!
The month of May is named after Maia, the goddess of springtime, fertility and growth. Since the beginning of time, in the Northern Hemisphere, the gentle creep of the warmth of May has given plants and flowers reason to erupt into riotous displays of colour; bright, photosynthesised greens, dusky, pale and bright pink blossoms - I’ll bet you can find all of the colours of the rainbow in May!
Of course, it’s not only flowers and plants that come alive during May. Having been given a bird box with a webcam inside for my birthday, we’ve had a great insight to the life and struggles of our garden birds during this action-packed month. If you’ve not seen a bird box with a camera before and you’re a bit of a garden bird watcher, like me, then this is a brilliant concept. This year I spent much time being entertained as a pair of Great Tits carefully selected nest-building material, including our recently chopped lockdown locks, to add warmth to their nest. It’s so exciting to see these birds up-close and to witness their amazing nest building skills.
Eventually eight beautiful eggs were laid, white speckled with red, and eight scrawny and not exactly pretty, chicks hatched. Whilst the female bird sat on the nest, occasionally popping out to feed herself and find more food for her chicks, the male bird was in and out all day long, returning with various creepy crawlies in his beak, which he shoved into their gaping beaks.
It was fascinating and, sentimental fool that I am, I found myself feeling such love for these tiny, fragile, hard-working parent birds. So it was a sad moment when I turned on the webcam to see how my little family were progressing, to find that overnight all the chicks had died. Those poor little birds who had worked so hard to feed them, how could that have happened?
I wondered could it be to do with climate change, a mild winter followed by the frostiest April on record? I have read that as the climate warms it affects the supply of food that birds like Great Tits need for their survival during a critical stage in their lives. If this was the case, then I am so sorry little Great Tit family that us humans have caused this terrible thing to happen to you. In tribute I made a small drypoint etching, which you will be able to find in my shop soon.
“A Lucky Find” By Jill Poole
In memory of our Great Tit visitors.
Climate change and the never ending use of pesticides definitely doesn’t help these poor creatures, but also, it’s quite often just nature’s way. If you are reading this and feel inspired help our feathered friends chances of survival then here is a small guide from the RSPB about how to look after a bird box.
Anyway, despite my sad tale, there is the promise of cheer around the corner. May is one of the best months in my opinion, how can all of that colour and long summer evenings not make you feel more cheerful?
Have a lovely day!
Jill x