We put some of your questions to RSPB Cymru:| "I saw what appeared to be two seagulls chasing a heron over the cliffs. Would they have been chasing it, and if so, why?" M. Rose, Carmarthen. |
Herons will eat chicks, along with other small creatures such as mice, voles, frogs etc, so it's quite likely that the gulls were chasing the Heron away from their nest site. It is possible though that they were just flying in the same direction.
| "Which is the most aggressive or territorial bird in the region?" R. Smith, Narbeth |
Birds tend to be aggressive to their own kind in relation to nesting sites and food; for example Robins will attack something red, thinking it may be a rival on its patch. Some birds will live quite happily together out of the breeding season, but not during it. Birds of prey such as Owls are probably the most aggressive and will not tolerate others of the same species on 'their patch', which is also the case out of the breeding season with their mates if food is scarce.
Tawny Owls in particular are especially aggressive and have been known to kill rivals and even attack tape recordings of their own calls. Owls of different species (in the UK) will live in the same area quite happily, but larger owls may sometimes eat the smaller ones.
| "Which resident of our skies travels furthest to get here, or travels furthest before coming back?" J. Owen, Neath Port Talbot |
Conventionally, the furthest travelling breeding migrant is the Arctic Tern - as birds from Ynys Mon will spend our winter as far south as the Antarctic. Of the breeding small birds, our swallows will winter in South Africa.
There are migrants that touch down in Wales that travel greater distances - these include Arctic Terns, Knot, Sanderling Whimbrel and Turnstone, which breed around the Arctic Ocean coasts and winter as far south as South Africa.
However, if the question is read literally, Swifts are completely aerial and although they only go as far as the Congo Basin, they will travel a huge distance each year. Similarly, some of our seabirds such as Manx Shearwaters and Storm Petrels are totally marine once they've left our coasts, and can travel vast distances in the Southern Oceans.
Ever wondered why Robins sing in the winter? Find out what scientists think in this article from BBC News
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