Your Local Animal Trends

[Bactrian Deer]

Hello all!

I have started this thread to hear of your local animal population’s trends in the past years. I have been thinking of this thread for a long time and I’d like to point out a few basic points…

1. Please do not mention humans, although it may get a kick out of someone once of twice it isn’t the point of this thread
2. No domestic mentioned please, but I am open to feral animals being listed
3. These animals should be near places you spend a considerable amount of time in (I don’t want places that you go to once every year or season and stuff like that)

For example, I will start

At my residency I’ve noticed a trend of a rapidly increasing amount of Red-Winged Blackbirds and a major decrease in American Robin as I’ve only seen 2 nests. I’ve also noted a steady increase in both Fox Squirrels, Brown Creepers, and Mallards, and the complete absence of Eastern Gray Squirrels as the last three I’ve seen had died of a disease, fallen off a tree after being spooked from a bird, and captured from a goshawk (which I see one every 3 years).

Sorry if this is already a thread moderators,

And I am happy to here all of your animal trends

 

[Ava Miller]

Cool idea for a thread! Around my neighborhood, I've noticed a surge in raccoon sightings lately, and a decline in the number of rabbits hopping around. Also, there's been a noticeable increase in the local hawk population, which is pretty fascinating.

 

[birdsandbats]

In the past few years Tufted Titmice have been increasing dramatically in my area.

 

[Strathmorezoo]

Definite increase in the fields around our house of Kestrels, Roe Deer, Fox and Barn Owl in the last 12 months

 

[KevinB]

Speaking about my local area here. Fewer house sparrows, more great tits and grey wagtails, and European robins during the winter. Western jackdaws and common wood pigeons have also been substantially more common. Feral geese (Canada and Egyptian) also seen more frequently, especially in wet periods/years. Ring-necked pheasants and Eurasian collared doves have become rare.

 

[DesertRhino150]

In my area, common buzzards have increased massively - twenty years ago, I'd have to go on a holiday to the West Country to see them at all, whereas now I can easily see four at once from my bedroom window. House sparrows also seem to have recovered from a decline around ten years ago; I'd say now three to four out of every five birds I see in the garden is a house sparrow.

In the past year or two, jackdaws seem to have discovered our area and there are several pairs. Some rare butterflies seem to have become more prevalent and I have even seen some in my garden (silver-washed fritillaries and white-letter hairstreaks). Given the trends slightly further afield, I suspect that nuthatches may be an incoming colonist - for whatever reason, there were basically none within around ten miles of my house until a few years ago.