Insects and the elephant in the room

APRIL brings us hope of rising temperatures and sunny days – not many of those in March – and, if this happens, many familiar birds will start to re-appear across our open grassland and woodlands. So, who will see the first swallows? Who will hear the first chiffchaff? These are just two birds to look for or listen out for on those warmer April days, along with the classic wildflowers and insects; for me all are signs that spring is fully upon us.

By CHRIS SPERRING MBE

Swallows, as we know, overwinter in South Africa and begin their journey north in February, an almost two-month trip which will see them stopping off at many places en-route to feed.

Chiffchaff is a member of the warbler family and is easily recognisable by its song which it sings normally from scrub or woodland edge; a clue to its song is in its name. We mostly hear the two notes delivered at high pitch and quite rapidly; to me the song always reminds me of the sound of “Newton’s Cradle”. Many people, particularly on the warmer Somerset Levels, will now know chiffchaff as a bird that stays for the winter. But I wonder if, like blackcaps, these wintering chiffchaffs have come from more northerly breeding areas and coupled with the fact that our winters (not springs) are so much milder they just don’t need to keep moving further south?

The chiffchaff, like the swallow, is insectivorous and they will take flying insects. But your best chance to see a chiffchaff before the leaf canopy of late spring closes over is now as they will literally comb the bare branches of trees on sunny days looking for insects. Occasionally you might see them hovering as they attempt to catch a flying insect.

It's said that male chiffchaffs arrive ahead of any females and begin singing to mark their territory. Then, of course, the song is used to attract the female once they are back. You may be lucky enough to witness a male using his display flight of exaggerated bat-like flutters in front of his potentially mesmerised female. l My next Shapwick Moor walk is on Friday, April 28th at 10am. The theme for this walk will be birdsong and spring flowers. Booking is essential via: https://members.hawkandowltrust.org/Event-Search

Whilst chiffchaff will be operating amidst the vegetation, the swallow will be hunting low across the fields in the open countryside. April can be cold at times so these swallows will be desperate to feed up and get ready for the breeding season that, for them, hasn’t started yet.

The many farmers I visit throughout the year are often proud of the swallows that nest in their buildings, some even keeping notes on nesting numbers and how many broods.

So, your wildlife homework throughout April is set; all you have to do is find and listen out for chiffchaff, observe if you can, and also watch and marvel as the swallows return from their epic journeys; also try to catch them hunting.

Where is the elephant in the room? One thing over the past few years that farmers have unanimously agreed with me upon is that swallow numbers are down. I suppose it's unsurprising when we think logically about the demise of insects, particularly flying insects; just think about your car journeys 20 years ago compared to today and how 20 years ago you might have had to stop to wash the insects off the windscreen?

If you have a garden, don’t forget to do something to attract insects; these birds depend on them. Although this article’s about two species of bird, it’s also about that large elephant of climate change and loss of habitat.