Third Year of Monitoring
~
After a successful 2010 season we went into our third year full of optomism.
Recent cold winters and the provision of Nest Boxes providing secure
shelter from predators, have combined to show an increase in recorded Dormice
numbers. The 2009 survey found an average of 8.7 dormice per survey, 2010 12.7 and over the same period in 2011 14 dormice per survey.
Survey Data 2011
Month
Nests
Dormice
♂
♀
J
Y
April
5
7
3
2
2
-
May
10
12
4
6
2
-
June
20
14
3
4
5
2
July
18
13
5
5
2
1
August
23
26
3
5
1
17
September*
10
16
2
1
13
-
October
20
14
-
-
14
-
November
17
3
-
-
3
-
♂ = Adult Male, ♀ = Adult Female, J =
Juvenile, Y = Young
Box Surveys
~
Eight monthly surveys were conducted, April to November, with the contents
recorded and registered with CCW and NDMP. In
April Blue and Great Tits had nested in 33 of the boxes a Wren in another with
four hosting Solitary Wasp nests. *September's survey had to be curtailed
due to rain, 27 boxes were checked. In October 17 boxes were occupied by
woodmice. Dormice activity was found in all areas of the reserve.
