BIRDS
199
Almost all its trees are elms, except for two or three small oak woods,
and the elms are dying rapidly from Dutch elm disease. Many of those
that have not yet caught the disease are being cut down by short-sighted or
greedy persons who have also, admittedly under orders from the War Agri-
cultural Committee, ruthlessly cut low or totally eradicated hedgerows and
substituted wire fences, with the result that there is now scarcely any cover
left for small birds.
Short notes on the local status of a few common species may be of interest,
but I should like to make it clear that these notes are made only from my
own observations ; others with more time for study may have reached
different conclusions.
CORN-BUNTING
From 1930, when I first knew Fambridge from sailing here at weekends,
these birds were uncommon. I considered sight or sound of them worth
noting. There were only three notes in my book. On my return here in
1945 I found that they had become common. This is presumably due to
the increase of arable land. Waste land, hitherto grass covered with bushes,
and neglected plot land has all been ploughed up. Today, one can see
half-a-dozen Corn-Buntings on a short walk.
GOLDFINCH
Much more plentiful since 1939. This to me is inexplicable, since more
land is under cultivation, resulting in presumably fewer thistles and other
suitable food.
KINGFISHER
Wiped out here since the 1946-7 winter. Prior to this there were always
a few to be seen, their numbers increasing in winter, both on fresh water
ponds and on the saltings.
LINNET
Increased considerably since 1939.
MOORHEN
Once one of our commonest birds. Now so rare that the sight of one is
worth recording. I suggest the following reasons for the scarcity, not
necessarily in the order of their importance :
1. The increased child population. Before the war there were hardly
any children in the village, now there are far too many, and they rob nests,
particularly Moorhens' and Mallards', for eggs to supplement the rations.
2. The demand in London restaurants for "gulls'" eggs, which causes
ducks, moorhens, gulls, terns and even coots to be robbed of their eggs to
be sent to London where a good price is paid for each egg. Parties of
youths from near London used, when moorhens were commoner, to come
down for the day to rob the nests. It is common, or was, when the birds
were more plentiful, for one to try as many as three times to bring off a
brood, and for her to be robbed each time.
3. The almost total drying up of creeks and ponds since 1947. Some
were dry before this date owing to widespread draining of marshes. On
the Essex Field Club ramble on October 22nd at Ramsey Marsh we saw no
moorhens and several members remarked their absence. Before the war,
the place would have been full of them.
LITTLE OWL
Very common here until the 1946-7 winter when they became scarce for
a short time. I found three dead ones in my garden alone, when the thaw
came.