Page 24 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • November 1995
1 v2 long warm days of summer Migration - time to move on wander to the Antarctic ocean to
leaving us and it's time for the edge of the packed ice.
ids to start moving. Birds such Lydiard Countryside Ranger David Swift, watches the birds take off There are other birds to think
the insect-eating Hirundinidae Migratory birds are born with compass. There is one bird which about and one of those is the
:.mily and Warblers have flown an instinct to travel and this is stands out from the rest when it cuckoo. You would presume that
i'uth to warmer climates of Af- triggered by daylight hours all comes to migration and that is the they would be guided back to Af-
ca, while other birds arrive in around the world which also af- Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea). It rica or Asia by their parents but
:itain for the winter months. fects their breeding cycle too. is said that this species of bird en- this is not the case. The adults
Redwing (Turdus Iliacus) and Many species of bird travel at night. joys more hours of daylight than depart approximately one month
ieldf are (Turdus pilaris) arrive in This can be an advantage prevent- any other creature. The northern earlier leaving their young to be
-1ge flocks from Scandinavia ing them becoming a victim to pre- limit to its breeding range is high looked after by foster-parents. The
vhilst geese, swans and wading dation but it means that they have inside the Arctic circle, about 700 young cuckoos then migrate to
irds travel from their arctic nest- to feed during daylight hours. miles from the North Pole. The Africa or Asia only to return the
rig grounds. Most birds start their Birds navigate by using the sun Arctic tern spends its winter off following season to exactly the
3lrnies before there is a shortage or the night constellations but if the coast of South Africa and many same area that they were hatched.
'f food and once they have built night navigation is obscured by The adults are even cleverer be-
ip their reserves of body fat to cloud they can sense the earth's Tree for peace cause they can return to the exact
,ustain them during their epic magnetic field and use it like a The Mayor of Swindon 's German twin spot where their young were
light. town Salzgitter Oberburgermeister hatched.
Hermann Struck joined Thames- So, when you see a thrush or
down's Mayor Coun Bert Smith in even a robin in the park or garden
THE NEW MARKET HALL planting a maple tree in the Salzgitter just think it may not be a resident
glade at Lydiard Park on 6 October bird but may have travelled hun-
MARKET sTREErswINDoN dreds of kilometres to get here.
DO YOU KNOW
Wildlife gatherings
Link Centre is the venue for
monthly meetings of the Wiltshire
Butcher • Baker . Newsagent Shoe shops Co.. ers
Sports goods • Plants • Fashion • Fabrics • Rugs • Computer games Wildlife Trust Thamesdown
Nursery goods Cards • Flowers Pet shop . Tools . Jewellery Group and anyone interested is
Sweets • Kitchen wear Wallpapers Watches • Books welcome to attend.
Baby Clothes • Bathroom wear • Crafts • Cafe The next two meetings in the
Community Suite will take place
Your everyday shopping and much much more
from 730pm on:
New Market Hall (just behind MacDonalds) Tuesday 21 November
An audio/visual mystery tour with
Monday - Saturday 9.00am - 5.30pm
Tony Bennett
Tuesday 12 December
Tim Roger will give an illustrated
presentation on 'Talking Flowers.'
ZPINFO$€ Putting wood to good use

A day of coppicing at Peatmoor
Now the group had started to
Copse at the beginning of October cut down areas in the copse which
expatlEke marked an anniversary for the vol- had been worked when voluntary
unteers who have been working work first started. "The trees are
over several years to bring the tall enough to provide wood for
Mead Way, Sparcells, West Swindon woodland back into useful life. hedging stakes, thatching spars or
Peatmoor Copse group organ- fencing. We are working to a man-
Enjoy some of the best iser Liz Curd said volunteers had agement plan which means we will
been coppicing (clearing and cut- move around the copse to work on
Chinese cuisine in ting back trees) on the edge of different areas as trees reach the
Peatmoor Lagoon for eight years. right size," said Liz.
The Peatmoor Copse Group
Swindon making trees commercially pro- welcomes people who would like
Coppicing is an ancient way of
ductive whist keeping woodlands to take part in the ongoing mainte-
At home with the environmentally friendly for wild- nance work. Call Ross or Liz Curd
life. on 876654 for dates and times.
Chinese Experience Cutting and trimming, from left, Liz Curd, Dee Atkins, Simon Gathercole,
takeaway service Ann Clitheroe, Ross Curd

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To place your order
to book a table, telephone
(01793) 877888

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