Is this strange?

[steve duffy]

I work at a 24/7/365/year papermill in North Wales.It is a massive site with many lakes used for water treament.During the night it is illuminated to daylight standards with huge floodlights.The birdlife seems to exist on a 24 hour rota.At any time of the night you will see them going about their business as usual.Coming off nights at 05-30am on the 2/2/08 I watched a male blackbird collect a huge beakfull of worms and fly off.Does this mean they have youngsters to feed.? I don't buy into this global warming carp etc etc so is it because the site is abnormally warm, or is it because of the 24 hour life they have to endure??

Edited February 4, 2008 by steve duffy

[medwaygreen]

I also work nights not in such a well lit site as yours and i have witnessed the dawn chorus starting earlier and earlier over the last few years.

I do not believe it has a link to temperature, but i do feel that light and the effects of lighting would influence this.

 

PS. Paul McCartney may be able to shed some light on this.

Edited February 5, 2008 by medwaygreen

[Leon Roskilly]

I remember reading of concern expressed about sites that are lit all night.

 

Apparently the birds just don't get enough sleep as their body clocks, normally triggered by the light fading at dusk and breaking at dawn, are sent awry.

 

see: http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&i...yUK%7CcountryGB

 

It's not only birds, but insects and mammals are affected too, disrupting normal patterns of hunting and prey, courtship etc.

[chesters1]

robins do as well and theres no lights here .i'v seen our chickens come out on bright nights so perhaps its more common than you think.

[rob.imk2]

Its not unusual where I live the strreetlights are like floodlights.blackbirds robins and wrens act asif it is daylight yet the finches and tits dont seem to bother

Edited February 5, 2008 by rob.imk2

[steve duffy]

The thing that really suprised me was the collecting of worms.Surely it would,nt have a clutch of young so early on in the year?

[Peter Sharpe]

The thing that really suprised me was the collecting of worms.Surely it would,nt have a clutch of young so early on in the year?

 

It could just be that the sodium lights are not bright enough to prevent the worms coming up onto the surface, but is bright enough for the birds to see. They probably can't believe their luck.

I have heard birds singinging very nearly all through the night in the summer, so they must be able to cope somehow.