rob190364 2,594 Posted June 25, 2011 Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 Anyone else find it wierd that the rabbit is a non native species of this country? because of the sheer number of them and the amount of animals and birds that prey on them you can't imagine them not being here. I didn't know rats and the house mouse aren't native either, bizarre! This is quite interesting: Top ten invasive species 1. House mouse – Brought over unnoticed by Neolithic man, the first records are from around 1,000 BC 2. Rats – Although originally from the steppes of Central Asia, rats spread over Europe quickly arriving on ships in Britain during the Saxon period. 3. Rabbit – The Romans first brought rabbits to Britain but they were not established in the wild until the mid to late 12th Century. 4. Goldfish – Samuel Pepys was the first person to write about Asian goldfish in Britain in 1655. 5. Muntjac deer – Brought in from China in 1838 by the 11th Duke of Bedford and soon escaped into the wild. 6. Parakeets – Despite rumours they escaped from film studios during the filming of the African Queen, ring-necked parakeets actually arrived from India much earlier in 1855. 7. Red-necked wallaby – Escaped from private collections as early as 1865 and soon became established in the wild. 8. Grey squirrel – Introduced from America in 1876 and released by landowners in England. 9. American mink –First imported to fur farms in Britain from Canada and Alaska in 1929. 10. Red-eared terrapin – A popular pet during the 1980s due to the ‘Ninja Turtle’ phase that escaped into the wild. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mackem 26,326 Posted June 25, 2011 Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 6. Parakeets – Despite rumours they escaped from film studios during the filming of the African Queen, ring-necked parakeets actually arrived from India much earlier in 1855. Maybe a small number in 1855,but they are or rather were very localised around west london/shepperton area,I saw probably 100+ when I was out first thing this morning,I think the shepperton theory is where the current population came from. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
"Earth!" 503 Posted June 25, 2011 Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 Anyone else find it wierd that the rabbit is a non native species of this country? because of the sheer number of them and the amount of animals and birds that prey on them you can't imagine them not being here. I didn't know rats and the house mouse aren't native either, bizarre! This is quite interesting: Top ten invasive species 1. House mouse – Brought over unnoticed by Neolithic man, the first records are from around 1,000 BC 2. Rats – Although originally from the steppes of Central Asia, rats spread over Europe quickly arriving on ships in Britain during the Saxon period. 3. Rabbit – The Romans first brought rabbits to Britain but they were not established in the wild until the mid to late 12th Century. 4. Goldfish – Samuel Pepys was the first person to write about Asian goldfish in Britain in 1655. 5. Muntjac deer – Brought in from China in 1838 by the 11th Duke of Bedford and soon escaped into the wild. 6. Parakeets – Despite rumours they escaped from film studios during the filming of the African Queen, ring-necked parakeets actually arrived from India much earlier in 1855. 7. Red-necked wallaby – Escaped from private collections as early as 1865 and soon became established in the wild. 8. Grey squirrel – Introduced from America in 1876 and released by landowners in England. 9. American mink –First imported to fur farms in Britain from Canada and Alaska in 1929. 10. Red-eared terrapin – A popular pet during the 1980s due to the ‘Ninja Turtle’ phase that escaped into the wild. your missing one, it has 2 legs, 2 arms, 2 eyes, a nose, a mouth, most have short fuzzy curly hair 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mackem 26,326 Posted June 25, 2011 Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 Your right,a small number in Norfolk in 1855 but the population "Did not persist" in other words died out,theres a massive number of these birds locally,thousands,I pass shepperton most days and the general census of opinion is the local flocks are descendents of the african-queen releases. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paid 935 Posted June 25, 2011 Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 6. Parakeets – Despite rumours they escaped from film studios during the filming of the African Queen, ring-necked parakeets actually arrived from India much earlier in 1855. Maybe a small number in 1855,but they are or rather were very localised around west london/shepperton area,I saw probably 100+ when I was out first thing this morning,I think the shepperton theory is where the current population came from. 20 or so were released when an aviary was vandalised in Sunbury village when I was a kid, maybe 20 years ago, and have been spreading ever since, runnymead is there main strong hold now, you can see hundreds in the winter roosting in the trees around the gravel pits there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mackem 26,326 Posted June 25, 2011 Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 runnymead is there main strong hold now, you can see hundreds in the winter roosting in the trees around the gravel pits there. Theres a truly massive roost at Esher Rugby grounds,theres an old guy locally,lives in Ashford I think,I met him at queen mary reservoir once when he was bird watching,he estimates the Esher roost as 2000+ strong. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lunita 57 Posted June 25, 2011 Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 i didnt know there were wild wallabys!! where are those then? ..you learn something new everyday Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stewie 3,387 Posted June 25, 2011 Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 i didnt know there were wild wallabys!! where are those then? ..you learn something new everyday ive seen footprints of wallabys up the roaches in leek this was a good few years ago think they have all died out now tho http://www.roaches.org.uk/wallabies.htm Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paid 935 Posted June 25, 2011 Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 Talking of invasive species Mackem, theres another pocket near you, bull frogs, chubs corner at the start of faggs lane, feltham, there are two rivers, the longford and the duke of northumberland, both hold good numbers of european bull frogs. The story is that a crate of live ones, destined for french restaurants broke open on the tarmac and as both rivers flow through heathrow, some frogs made there escape and have flourished. They have been there since the early 80s You can catch them with a fly on a line. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JoeD 24 Posted June 25, 2011 Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 i didnt know there were wild wallabys!! where are those then? ..you learn something new everyday Dunstable downs....f*****g nuisance, if you go at certain times of the day there are more wallabys than rabbits visible and there are loads of rabbits there! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rob190364 2,594 Posted June 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 i didnt know there were wild wallabys!! where are those then? ..you learn something new everyday Dunstable downs....f*****g nuisance, if you go at certain times of the day there are more wallabys than rabbits visible and there are loads of rabbits there! hmm, I wonder what they taste like Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JoeD 24 Posted June 25, 2011 Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 i didnt know there were wild wallabys!! where are those then? ..you learn something new everyday Dunstable downs....f*****g nuisance, if you go at certain times of the day there are more wallabys than rabbits visible and there are loads of rabbits there! hmm, I wonder what they taste like Ive not tried dunstable wallaby steaks haha, but I have tried wallaby steak and they are lovely! I have permission for ferreting on part of the downs, and I always watch them, dog big holes though! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mackem 26,326 Posted June 25, 2011 Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 bull frogs Theres some in Lower Feltham as well Paid,down near the remand centre,the sound they make on a warm summer evening as the suns going down is rather tuneful Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paid 935 Posted June 25, 2011 Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 I grew up in a house that backed onto the longford rive, I know that sound well. But then, when runway one is 1 mile away, the bull frogs weren't so bad Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lunita 57 Posted June 25, 2011 Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 i didnt know there were wild wallabys!! where are those then? ..you learn something new everyday Dunstable downs....f*****g nuisance, if you go at certain times of the day there are more wallabys than rabbits visible and there are loads of rabbits there! hmm, I wonder what they taste like bet the australians eat them..worth a try ...imagine how long a leg would last Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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