COUNTRYSIDE, WILDLIFE & FARMING
Isle of Wight Poultry Club
wants more members!
Dunnock
Blue tits, Great tits and robins nest
in any small hole at eye level or
below. The starlings who where
absent for many years have reestablished themselves under the
eaves of the stone barn increasing
in number and noise level.
I rebuilt a wall some years
ago making a deep shelf part
way up as a feature. Ever since
then, a pied wagtail has taken
to requisitioning it, on a yearly
basis, to rear it’s family.
Wrens are happy to build a nest
in the most obvious of places, a
hanging basket by the front door
or a pile of flower pots leaning
against the garage will do.
Every spring, a blackbird makes
it’s nest on top of an old acro-prop,
right next to the doorway at eye
level, as we go into one of the
stables. Scowling and sinking as
low as it can into the nest, as we
walk past her, a dozen times a day.
Goldfinches, one of the
- life
more striking garden visitors,
love nesting in the overgrown
leyland trees, which they share
with the collared doves and
pigeons, at the back of the
garden, offering them plenty of
shelter and high song perches.
These are some of the more
common garden birds that we
can all expect to see. It doesn’t
have to cost much, and with a
little experimenting of foods and
creation of shelter around your
garden, the variety of birds, will
increase, giving you more colour
and entertainment for your home.
Don’t forget, to get the most
from your ‘habitat creation’
means you must have time to
appreciate it. Watching wildlife
is one of the most therapeutic
and educational things you can
do. Sitting in your garden or by
a window should be a rewarding
experience, so go out and enjoy.
The
Isle
of
Wight
Poultry
Club
was
founded in
Februar y
2004 by a
group
of
enthusiasts
whose aim
was to promote chicken keeping
as a worthwhile and fun hobby,
to educate, and to preserve the old
and in some cases, rare breeds. The
Club is affiliated to the Poultry Club
of Great Britain.
It has grown into a very active club
with over a hundred members, some
of whom, including our Chairman,
Mr Rob Whittington, are very well
known in the poultry world.
We have many young members
who are both enthusiastic and
knowledgeable. In fact, one of
them, Jed Dwight, aged 15, has
recently passed his Judging Test to
become a Panel D judge.
The Club is open to anyone with
an interest in poultry, whether
they just keep a few birds for eggs,
amateur or serious breeders, or just
like chickens but for one reason or
another are unable to keep them
themselves.
This year we are holding 4 shows
which are, 30 June/1 July, Afton
Park, Freshwater - 11/12 August,
County Show - 15th September
The Ploughing Match, Arreton
As well as the shows, we regularly
hold meetings throughout the
winter months. These normally
include a talk by one of the
members or from someone from an
outside organisation involved with
Poultry.
Should anyone wish to join or
would like any further details about
our Club and its activities, please
contact me, Fran Kenure on 01983
754848/07732 529312 - Website:
iowpoultryclub.piczo.com
Young Swallows
Island Life - www.isleofwight.net
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