Last year, more than 23,000 people enjoyed a ‘Date with Nature’ in the New Forest – visiting Lyndhurst’s Reptile Centre to view live footage taken from the nests of breeding birds of prey. Many more followed the story of the magnificent aerial predators and their chicks via an internet video link.
However, preparations for such a popular attraction take much time and effort and, with this year’s ‘Date with Nature’ due to start on 1 April, the Forestry Commission has already been hard at work identifying possible goshawk nests for filming and assessing the impact of this year’s particularly bleak winter.
The Forestry Commission’s Head Keeper, Andy Page, explained:
“A severe winter can have a detrimental effect on goshawk numbers. The birds hunt mainly avian prey and if, for example, bad weather affects quantities of acorn and beech mast in the forest, this in turn will also affect the number of pigeons they can hunt. Also, a cold winter may result in squirrels ‘hibernating’ for longer periods of time – again reducing the goshawks’ potential food source.
“This said, we have been steadily building the numbers of goshawks in the New Forest from just one pair in 2001 to about 15 pairs now calling the New Forest their home. As a result we’re confident that we can identify active nests in time for the April launch.”
Goshawks are early nesters which means Forestry Commission staff have been out in some very cold weather recently to witness the large birds ‘displaying’. From vantage points on hillsides, Andy and his team view the birds flying over an area of woodland to attract females and deter other males from their ‘patch’. From here, the team focuses in on which point in the forest the goshawk is coming and going from and then rely on their knowledge of the New Forest to pin point that spot to search for nests.
Andy continued:
“The difficulty we have is that goshawks will often have two or three nests in an area and we have to determine which one will become this season’s preferred nest for breeding. The male goshawk may refurbish one nest with sticks but then their female mate may opt for a less obvious, more sparse nest at the last minute - the avian equivalent of the saying, ‘It’s a female’s prerogative to change her mind’! There are also other factors for us to consider, such as the distance of a potential nest from the Reptile Centre and also the height of the tree it’s in – particularly as I’m not the one climbing it to secure the filming equipment!”
Each year, the Forestry Commission team ‘rings’ the goshawk chicks. Indeed, the team are optimistic that this year the chosen adult pair may well be birds ringed several years earlier as chicks themselves.
A Date with Nature is a joint venture between The RSPB, the Forestry Commission, New Forest National Park Authority and Carnyx Wild. It will run daily from 1 April to 31 August (10am to 4.30pm) and will follow every move of some of Britain’s most secretive birds of prey – from eggs hatching, to prey arriving and chicks finally leaving the nest. Entry to the New Forest Reptile Centre will be free (although donations for parking will be welcome) to all visitors, who will be able to watch live pictures (and recorded highlights) from the goshawks’ nests on a large screen TV.
NOTES TO EDITOR
1. The Forestry Commission is the government department responsible for forestry in Great Britain. It supports woodland owners with grants; tree felling licences, regulation and advice; promotes the benefits of forests and forestry; and advises Government on forestry policy. It manages more than a million hectares (2.5 million acres) of national forest land for public benefits such as sustainable timber production, public recreation, nature conservation, and rural and community development. For more information, visit www.forestry.gov.uk/newforest
2. The website www.newforestgateway.org is a community resource and image library.
3. Carnyx Wild provides a media section for journalists and broadcasters, which includes downloadable screen-grabs and video www.carnyxfilms.co.uk
MEDIA CONTACTS
Paula Quigley or Louise Perfect at Grayling PR, tel 02380 382970 or email louise.perfect@grayling.com or paula.quigley@grayling.com
Libby Burke at the Forestry Commission on 02380 286832