Wildlife this Month - March 2010

March can still bring severe weather but the days are now lengthening and spring is definitely in the air. After the snow and frost of February the birds should begin singing with vigour and courtship should be under way!

Wildlife Highlights this Month

March is renowned for ‘mad March hares’. Those folk with access to areas of peaceful, flat and open grassland should look out for the seasonal antics of the brown hares as they ‘box’. It used to be assumed that this boxing involved males fighting for social dominance but more recent research has shown it is just as likely to involve females who have lost their patience with over-amorous suitors! Brown hare numbers are estimated to have fallen in Britain by up to 80% in the last 100 years but this is one of the best times of year to view these normally shy animals, while their attention is on other things. Hare numbers across the WildCare farms are increasing in response to improved habitat and considered farm practices, so hopefully the national trend of decline can also be reversed.
The first of the summer migrant birds will be starting to arrive in March, as long as the weather is favourable. Watch out for the attractive wheatear and listen for the distinctive call of the chiffchaff. Named after its repetitive call, the chiffchaff is a small green warbler that favours woods and scrubland but can venture into gardens too.
In undisturbed woodlands the forest floor should begin coming to life in March. Primroses, lesser celandines, wood anemones and sweet violets should all be in flower this month. In suitable woodland areas, such as those found in Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, the ‘true’ wild daffodils should be beginning to flower – a seasonal treat indeed. In old established woodlands stinking hellebore, dog’s mercury and ramsons (wild garlic) can be found.
In the hedgerows and woodland edges the first of the wild shrubs to flower is usually the blackthorn (see photo), which can begin its display in March. In a good season it seems to cover the hedgerows in white foam as its profuse flowers open wide. The blossom will be followed later by purple fruits (sloes), which can be used to make sloe gin – a highly recommended hedgerow beverage!
On arable farmland the skylarks will now begin to declare their territories in earnest, singing as they rise high into the air. Lapwings (also known as peewits or green plovers) will be setting up territories on arable farmland and other suitable ground during March. Their tumbling displays can be spectacular to watch. Lapwings are ground-nesting birds and prefer spring crops for nesting, as the low vegetation allows them to spot potential predators.
The first of the shrubs and trees will be popping their leaf buds during March. On heathland the gorse will be flowering – its sweet perfume can be quite intoxicating on a warm day and its flowers are vital for early insects. Along the riverbanks and in wet areas look for the ‘pussy willow’ flowers of the goat willow, which will be coming into flower this month.
March is the month when the dawn chorus really gets going. For those willing and able to get into woodlands early in the morning, it can be a magical experience listening to all the bird species declaring their territories with song.
Insects will be emerging from their winter hideaways this month. The first butterfly species to emerge is usually the brimstone (see photo). It may be that the word butterfly has its roots with this pale yellow species that can be seen on the wing during sunny spells.

Helping Wildlife

With good weather the first birds will be nesting and nest boxes should be cleaned and ready for blue tits, great tits and other species that favour artificial nest sites. Blackbirds, thrushes and a number of other garden birds may begin nesting in suitable shrubs and climbers so please check carefully before pruning your plants too vigorously.

As winter fades it is still important to feed wild birds and this is particularly so if we get a cold snap. As winter and summer migrants begin to move towards their summer homes keep watch for less common birds, which may call in to take advantage of your hospitality.

Tasks to Consider on the Wildlife-Friendly Farm

The bird nesting season is getting underway in earnest by mid-March, so it is best to complete hedge-trimming, tree and scrub management as early in the month as you can. Where this is not possible, trimming one-third of the hedges on a cyclical basis each year will ensure most areas remain undisturbed during this critical period for birds.

Grass margins and naturalised field corners are important for both ground-nesting birds and brown hares and should ideally be left untended from mid-March until after the young have left in August. If maintenance is required, once again it is best to manage one-third of the area each year to ensure the majority of wild areas remain undisturbed.

Be sure to keep any sprays away from margins and hedgerows. The deadline for use of insecticides in Conservation Headlands is 15th March and wherever possible, the use of broad-spectrum insecticides and herbicides should be avoided to prevent killing non-target species.

Although it may be tempting to get on with working fields with over-wintered stubble, it is ideal to leave them until as late as possible. As the days lengthen and warm these fields are still important for emerging insects, as well as being a source of seeds in a period when food can still be scarce for wildlife.

It is unlikely farmers will be intentionally wasting any fertiliser but it is still important to avoid spreading into ditches, field margins and hedge bottoms. For slurry applications be sure to comply with NVZ requirements and use the T-SUM 200 calculation to work out when it is best to apply nitrogen if contamination of watercourses is to be avoided.

Following a cold and unusually snowy winter it may be necessary in some areas to delay planting of spring crops beyond expected times. Keep an eye on soil conditions and be aware that climate patterns are shifting so that the ‘normal’ dates in the diary for some fieldwork may no longer be appropriate.

The WildCare Team