Grey herons' comeback is remarkable says Sheffield wildlife expert

Like some ancient primeval presence, they seem like a throwback to a prehistoric age and their harsh calls as they sluggishly rise up on broad wings simply reinforce the image.

Herons fly heavily and almost lazily with deeply-rounded wing-beats, but they give the impression of travelling with a sense of purpose and unprepared to hurry.

Nowadays, the grey heron is a common enough sight in both rural and urban areas as they stand motionless by the waterside, or else pass overhead to seek safe places to loaf or to roost.

It seems strange to think that only a few decades ago this was a bird on the edge of local extinction, a victim of persecution, pesticide bioaccumulation, and habitat degradation.

This really has been a most remarkable comeback.

A similar story applies to the common buzzard, as evidenced by one landing in the oak tree at the bottom of our garden.

On a rainy day with heavy mist, maybe the bird was disorientated and didn’t recognise my suburban wildlife garden for what it is; perhaps it just thought ‘woodland’.

Prof Ian D Rotherham, a researcher, writer and broadcaster on wildlife and environmental issues, is contactable on [email protected]

Follow his Walk on the Wildside blog at ukeconet.org

Talking about hedgehogs, he says…

Hedgehogs love piles of twiggy rubbish under which they can nest or in winter, hibernate.

So, when rewilding your garden, it is worth using cuttings of woody shrubs and the like to form low, dry mounds which can be covered with green herbaceous material over the top.

You can buy a pre-made ‘hedgehog house’, but the brash pile is cheaper and equally or more tempting for would-be residents.

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