Spring has sprung: support the insects and other wildlife
By Ruth-Ann Leak, Birdwatch Mayo
THE meteorological calendar tells us that spring starts on March 1, however there have been the tell-tale signs of spring approaching for a few weeks now.
Daffodils in sheltered areas began to show their heads, the robin changed his song, crows began to collect twigs as they began to prepare their nests, and I saw my first queen bee, fresh out of hibernation, before the end of February.
This made me think about the importance of flowers to insects and how they are the building blocks, the basic foundation of the fauna and fora we all enjoy. Without insects, there would be no flowers, and without the flowers there would be no insects. The balance is perfect, mother nature has got it off to a tee.
Small insects provide food for larger insects who in turn provide food for amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Often underestimated is the role they play on the food web, we all have a role to play in ensuring they thrive. For example, newly hatched birds rely on an insect-only diet to help them grow large enough to fledge from the nest. With the weather so warm recently, the birds we love to see around the gardens are beginning to nest, relying on insects and their larvae to be available to feed their young.
No only are insects vital to the well-being of birds and other animals who live beside us, but their benefit to humans is often overlooked.
Insects can be a great friend to the gardener. Ladybirds love greenfly for their lunch. They are vital for the pollination of our flowers, vegetables and fruit we grow.
Often overlooked is their role in recycling unpleasantries we find lying around. Have you ever wondered what happened to that roadkill you saw last week. Well, after the larger creatures have taken what they need then the insects come along as the clean-up squad. The same applies to animal faeces, dead plants and other yucky things.
The importance of insects is often underestimated. I can’t imagine a world without flowers, freshly fledged nestlings or unsightly, smelly messes that never go away. We all need to ensure that these insects are given as much help as mother nature intended, and this time of year, one of the best ways to do this is to allow the dandelions and other early wildflowers to do their thing.
Don’t cut the grass too early, or if you do then leave a section untouched, allowing the naturally occurring wildflowers to thrive. This is an important time of the year for our wildlife. Just as when we welcome a good breakfast after a night's sleep, then insects are relying on the availability of good food sources from early blooming flowers to sustain them throughout the season. And in turn they will repay us by continuing to be the basic foundation of the fauna and flora we all love.