hiya bucks in Bourne End, Flackwell Heath, Marlow, Wycombe, Wooburn December 2018 | Page 12

FAMILY CHANGES PART 1 The natural world is ever-changing; sometimes these developments take the form of long-term evolution, while other changes are more short-term, as we can see and monitor in our lifetimes. The behaviour of long tailed tits (referred to as ‘tits’) is one of these exciting short-term changes that I have analysed and monitored at the Millstream Fork wildlife garden. garden. When they did so, it was mainly in winter when hungry birds were desperate for food. Even then bird tables normally had to be situated well away from the house, perhaps It is a predominantly creamy white due to their dislike of being too bird with streaks of black feathers close to people. However, since the millennium whole families and flashes of reddish brown have regularly displayed different along its sides. One unusual habits, especially at Millstream feature is its tail, which is over half of its body size, and gives the Fork. bird its name. Sometime ago, one late autumn afternoon at about five o’clock, In the late 20th century it was unusual for these tits to visit the I noticed these tits in a crowded town centre. I found this unusual but again saw them in the same place a little later during Christmas week. On this particular occasion there was a flock of more than a dozen of them, making a high pitched racket in a bare tree right outside some busy shops. I’m sure many Christmas shoppers were unaware of these whole families above their heads as they had more important Making a brighter, warmer future. Local family business providing a friendly and reliable service. Offers domestic and commercial services Fully qualified and insured All electrical work carried out by Paul Smale Electrical Services Ltd is guaranteed by ELECSA. Call us on: 01494 482668 or 01628 898989 Mobile: [phone] Email: [email protected] www.paul-smale.co.uk 12 | hiyabucks.com