Page 9 - Issue 68 Online

MANEA MATTERS
MANEA MATTERS
Springing to Life

Outdoors

Spring signals new beginnings and new arrivals.
Our Manea wildlife cast is changing with the
seasons. Whooper Swans, that graced the fields
and washes through winter, have returned to
Iceland to breed. They will return in October with Wall Butterfly (© Bob Eade)
their next generation. Meanwhile, other birds
are heading north, such as Swallows, which As temperatures rise, keep an eye out for
spend the winter in Africa. Along with their butterflies. Some hibernate in sheds and
close relatives, the House Martin, they nest on outbuildings while others will emerge from their
buildings and feed on insects over water. Look cocoon or hatch as caterpillars from eggs laid
out for them at Manea Pit. last year. We are lucky to have one of the rarer
In hedges and trees - such as at Beart’s Wood - butterflies not far away by the Ouse Washes
our resident song birds will be nesting amongst towards Mepal - the Wall (also known as Wall
the foliage. Pigeons assemble a messy nest Brown). These butterflies have orange wings
of twigs, whereas Long-tailed Tits make an with intricate brown patterns.
altogether more elaborate nest of woven moss Ajay Tegala

Swallow Chicks Long-tailed Tits Male Blackbird

and cobwebs, which expands as the chicks grow. Editor’s Note - check out Ajay’s short film of
Their nests can be lined with as many as 1,500 Manea and the surrounding area on YouTube:
feathers! White Feathers: My Winter with Wild Swans
One of my favourite sounds of spring is the song
of the Blackbird. The males sing their hearts
out from perches in various places around the
village. Their tuneful serenading can be heard in
many a Manea garden. When you’re out walking,
please be mindful that birds may be incubating
eggs or feeding young nearby and will benefit
from space and peace to go about their parental
duties. Ajay - in the field

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DEADLINE for Issue 69 – Friday 21 May 2021 PAGE 9
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