EDITORIAL
On the morning of 15th January, as I stepped out of the front door into the winter darkness on my way to another day's work, I suddenly heard the half forgotten sound of an old friend. It must have been six months or so since the dulcet tones of the neighbourhood Blackbird had filled the air, so it was a real spirit lifter to hear it once again with its promise of Spring just around the corner. Since then Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush and Chaffinch have all added their contributions to the chorus. All species are becoming more vocal as Valentine's Day - the day on which birds traditionally pair up!? - approaches. So if you want to get to grips with birdsong, now's the time, when you don't have to get up too early to hear the dawn chorus, and before the summer visitors arrive, to learn the songs of the common resident birds. Once you know those, you will then realise when you are hearing something new, and you will be able to match a sighting to the new song. Easy! And it's amazing how recognition by song increases the pleasure and satisfaction of birding.
I hope you are all enjoying filling in your garden bird surveys. It looks like being a bumper winter for garden birds, because of the dearth of natural food, so I am looking forward to receiving some interesting returns. Anyway, due partly to popular demand and with the aim of encouraging recording of wildlife by members, we are introducing for this summer, a Garden Butterfly survey, details of which are given on page 10 of this Newsletter. Please take part and get those Buddleias ready for the new season!
| Still on the survey theme, the Lancashire Bird Club in association with Lancashire Wildlife Trust and the RSPB are undertaking a survey of breeding Lapwings this Spring in South West Lancs, part of which falls within the Society's recording area. Further information is included on page 8 of the Newsletter. |  |
Finally, let's keep our fingers crossed that all last year's problems with the Foot and Mouth outbreak are well and truly behind us and that there will be no repeat, so that we can look forward to an enjoyable and profitable summer in the countryside