Some interesting thoughts for the week......
Birds
Couple backed over bird feeding
Couple backed over bird feeding
pa.press.net
A couple who were warned by council bosses to stop feeding birds in their own back garden have won the backing of wildlife charity the RSPB.
Mick and June Dunny, from Belford, Northumberland, were told to stop leaving food on a bird table for birds by Berwick-upon-Tweed Council.
But the RSPB said it was vital that birds were given a helping hand - even in the middle of summer - and said responsible feeding was to be encouraged.
The council acted after a neighbour complained that the Dunny's nature-loving ways were attracting birds, and therefore mess to their pretty rural village.
An official wrote: "Birds cause some considerable problem in forms of noise and dirt. Not only do their droppings damage and contaminate property, the birds also carry various diseases such as salmonella."
The warning letter said nesting birds can block chimneys and gutters, adding: "Food put out for the birds will also attract rats and vermin. If we establish that a nuisance or pest problem does exist, we may have to reconsider further action."
Mr Dunny told the North East-based Sunday Sun newspaper: "Let them put me in jail... It's just crazy. What do they mean by noise? I'd hardly describe the dawn chorus as noise."
An RSPB spokeswoman said: "We would encourage people to feed their garden birds throughout the year. This is an important time when a lot of adolescent birds are putting down fat to see them through the winter, and they need to feed up."
She said responsible feeders made sure their tables were regularly cleaned and no food was allowed to spill onto the ground.
"Over half of adults in the UK feed birds in their garden," she said. "Providing birds with supplementary food brings them closer so that we can marvel at their exciting behaviour and wonderful colours."
Bees
Throughout the ages, bees have been used as weapons. Beehives were dropped or thrown at opposing soldiers. As recently as 1915 in Africa, the German army used bees to delay the advance of British troops.
For centuries, bees have been used to guard valuables. In India bandits used the large Asian honeybee Apis Dorsata to guard loot near mountain caves.
For centuries, bees have been used to guard valuables. In India bandits used the large Asian honeybee Apis Dorsata to guard loot near mountain caves.
Bees are pollinators vital to our food chain. One third of the food we eat would not be available but for bees.
Bananas
pa.press.net
Sunday, 07 September 2008
Sunday, 07 September 2008
Deadly spider found in fruit bunch
A cashier felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end after discovering a deadly South American banana spider nestling in a bunch of bananas.
The highly-venomous arachnid was spotted by Kate Whitmore, 25, as she unpacked a box of fruit to put on display at the Co-Op store in Wayfield Road, Chatham, Kent.
The palm-sized eight-legged creature, otherwise known as Phoneutria nigriventer, ranks alongside the black widow and funnel-web as one of the most dangerous spiders.
Recalling the close encounter during her Monday night shift, Ms Whitmore said: "I lifted the lid off the box, ripped the bag open and in the very first bunch I noticed something.
"I picked the bunch up, held it close to my face and thought, 'What is that?' It wasn't a very nice spider."
After alerting her supervisor, the shop was promptly closed while the RSPCA was called out. They were advised to keep the spider contained and not approach it until the animal collection officer arrived.
Mother-of-two Ms Whitmore said: "He lifted the separate bunch off with leather gloves and put it in a box which had a separate container. He asked to borrow a pen and as he nudged it to try to move it into the container, the spider reared up, hissing and put its fangs out.
"It made us all jump."
RSPCA officer Anthony Pulfer said: "It was very aggressive and trying to go for me when I was putting it in the box. It was really jumping around and trying to attack me."
Ms Whitmore added: "We had customers coming in saying, 'We'll kill it for you, it's only a spider'. We thought, 'If you knew exactly what it was like you wouldn't'."
This week's Thursday Thank You goes to MSN for directing me to these fascinating facts & news items. The couple who had problems with bird feeding are not alone, I seem to be surrounded by people who feel birds have no right to exist along side people. All summer I have watched bees visit our trees, vegetables & flowers & have benefited directly from their activities.Visit the bee site & see what can be done to benefit threatened bees. I thought the "spider in the bananas" story was an Urban Myth - it would appear not!
