As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Friday, 2 November 2012

University campus bursting with wildlife - study


A UNIVERSITY campus is bursting with wildlife, a year-long study has found.

The results of a year of monitoring the biodiversity of Durham University’s campus around Durham City have delighted conservationists, with rare birds thriving.

This summer saw the first successful breeding on university land by barn owls, a pair of which fledged three young this year.

At least eight Red-listed bird species, those with the UK’s highest conservation priority, have been spotted on the grounds, along with 14 Amber-listed species.

The University’s full bird list runs to 100 species, including five birds of prey and three owl species.

There are also more than 200 species of flowering plants including four species of wild orchid and woodlands full of bluebells.

Roe deer, badgers and foxes have been regularly sighted and eight species of bat have been reported, although red squirrels were replaced by their grey counterparts over a decade ago.

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