Less wild life?

RobSun · 21st September 2020, 11:28

I know a lot has been said about us noticing our wildlife more this year due to the virus. However yesterday my son and I were talking about how very many fewer moths, butterflies, bees, wasps, sparrows, but more finches, and even the humble house fly we had seen this year. Last year we were inundated with wasps, this year hardly any, including the more docile solitary breeds. We have had large numbers of Bees, Honey and bumble buzzing around in past years, this year noticeable by how few.

The worst loss has been the massive reduction in bats. We have had a colony of bats coming to roost for years but this year they have failed to arrive. I used to complain about the droppings they left on the cars as the flew out every evening, now nothing. Last year I went out to count them leaving and they were already in full flow so missed the start, but still counted over 300 before I gave up after they stopped for a while and then the second wave departed. We see the odd one flying around hunting but this spectacle is sorely missed.

We can only surmise that wherever they winter the whole colony has been destroyed, deliberately or by disease.

21st September 2020, 11:28	#1
RobSun Gets stuck in MGZTT Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Bradford Posts: 529 Thanks: 148 Thanked 256 Times in 138 Posts	Less wild life? I know a lot has been said about us noticing our wildlife more this year due to the virus. However yesterday my son and I were talking about how very many fewer moths, butterflies, bees, wasps, sparrows, but more finches, and even the humble house fly we had seen this year. Last year we were inundated with wasps, this year hardly any, including the more docile solitary breeds. We have had large numbers of Bees, Honey and bumble buzzing around in past years, this year noticeable by how few. The worst loss has been the massive reduction in bats. We have had a colony of bats coming to roost for years but this year they have failed to arrive. I used to complain about the droppings they left on the cars as the flew out every evening, now nothing. Last year I went out to count them leaving and they were already in full flow so missed the start, but still counted over 300 before I gave up after they stopped for a while and then the second wave departed. We see the odd one flying around hunting but this spectacle is sorely missed. We can only surmise that wherever they winter the whole colony has been destroyed, deliberately or by disease.