Wildlife confused by mild weather
The mild winter weather has prompted UK reports of flowers blooming and trees bursting into bud weeks ahead of schedule.
AS temperatures fall after an unseasonably mild spell fears have been raised over the welfare of wildlife in the province.
With the thermometer hitting double figures a regular occurrence in recent weeks, birdwatchers have recorded hearing early morning singing normally associated with the spring.
There are also reports of flowers and plants budding much earlier than normal in the countryside and in people’s gardens.
However, with the onset of frosty conditions and more seasonable winter weather there are concerns “confused” birds breeding early may put their offspring at risk.
Stephanie Sim from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) in Northern Ireland said there was anecdotal evidence that many birds are already nesting weeks earlier than usual and are not availing of garden feeders because food has been readily available.
Ms Sim said she had spotted two jackdaws attempting to nest on New Year’s Day, something she described as “completely insane”.
“This should not be happening until late February-early March,” she said.
DUP MLA Jim Wells, a keen environmentalist, said he has heard birds singing while walking his dogs in recent nights.
He is also aware of a report that a swift was observed in the Donaghadee area.
“I suspect the recent mild spell is confusing birds,” said Mr Wells.
The South Down representative said he fears for the wildlife if temperatures were to plummet in the days ahead.
“Wildlife generally reacts not to time but to climate.
“The temperature is telling them it is time to get back into the nesting season. If they do that and there is a sharp spell of cold weather, they could be caught out quite badly,” said the MLA.
“The problem is that anything that does settle down and starts to breed now, the chances of what they produce surviving is very small unless we get an incredibly warm period between now and the proper spring.”
Meanwhile, Kaye Coates from the Woodland Trust said they had received reports of flowers blooming and trees bursting into bud weeks ahead of schedule because of the milder conditions.
She said: “If we do get a cold snap with frost, the danger is that those plants that have been fooled into flowering early will be very vulnerable.
“For example, if there is early frogspawn and it freezes there is a good chance it will die.”
The Met Office says it will remain largely dry in the province until the middle of next week, although it will feel much colder than of late with nighttime frosts prevalent.
Many parts experienced temperatures in and around freezing early yesterday morning with temperatures not reaching double figures throughout the day.
Met Office spokesman John Wylie said the fresher conditions were due to the presence of high pressure replacing warm air emanating from the central Atlantic.
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
