chris pp

""I wasn't aware that they cause so much damage"" They don't. None of the bees that use existing holes actually open them up or dig them in undamaged wood. The different types of mason bees simply use an existing hole to lay their eggs in and then seal it. The Carpenter bee, Xylocopa violacea, only uses existing holes and then creates galleries deeper in the wood, but this would need to be damp or damaged wood. Photos? Chris

I'd be quite interested to know as well just to add to my information store. Strictly speaking you can't move them from one departement to another without first obtaining authorisation. Sorry I can't help with a supplier in Lot but I think there is a big supplier near Montpelier, you would need to collect, I'll try and find their details. Chris

It will be one of the species of mason bees, in this case the red mason bee. In a nutshell they lay an egg, pack it with a bit of pollen and nectar, then lay another and another repeating the process, finally they seal it. The eggs have their own food source for when they hatch which is sufficient for them to develop and pupate, finally hatching next year to repeat the process and continue the cycle... but I suspect that you knew all that.[;-)] Chris

Many of you will be aware that we have had what can best be described as difficulties with the people that hosted http://www.planetepassion.com This has meant that I have had to re build the web site, (still not finished), under a new url http://www.planetepassion.eu If anyone has links to the old site I would really appreciate it if you would take the time to change them, in addition if anyone participates in other French related discussion groups etc it would be really helpful if you could make this information known. If anyone wishes to know the names of the people that have involved us in this fiasco and the other businesses that they are involved with in France please contact me by PM or e-mail. Thanks, Chris Luck

I don't know anything at all about them, sorry. Chris

Rats are everywhere, simple as that, most people simply aren't aware of their presence outside. Cats can and do deal with them easily. Chris

No, I'm not saying that it is alright, I'm saying that where an individual is concerned that messes up a nest in their house it is better to try to explain the plight that these birds are in, how much their population numbers have declined and the reasons for it and how easy it is to live together with a bit of ingenuity and thought. The law is a very blunt instrument and only causes resentment in such cases and no one wins. What the law does is provide a basis for prosecuting people that know what they are doing and do it with intent, it also sets a standard that the majority abide by. This is something on Planete Passion that I hope is useful. http://www.planetepassion.eu/Media/BirdsandBuildings.pdf Chris

Are you sure it wasn't Stone marten, (Fouine)? Now they do stink and would make stains where urine etc soaks through walls or ceilings. Of course you may have had both which can cause confusion. http://www.planetepassion.eu/MAMMALS-IN-FRANCE/Pine-marten-and-Stone-marten-in-France.html Chris  

Well, a little correction, as a local representative for the LPO I can tell you that it isn't the organisation to contact, it should be the Gendarmes, (big joke), or primarily the ONCFS except that they have been outsourced in many parts of France to a "Garde Chasse" or to the Gendarmes. So, yes it is illegal to destroy any birds nests or to deliberately disturb them during the nesting season but in practice it is not the most constructive route to take unless this is a serial situation where someone is going round the countryside deliberately knocking of nests left, right and center. It would be far better to explain about the scale of the population declines, the causes and the simple things that people can do to make space for birds in a manner that won't impact negatively on their lives or property. Chris

We have, and the answer is "nothing". They don't cause any damage, they don't chew our electrics, they don't smell or piss everywhere, they do make a bit of noise, but so what? So do the birds.... which brings me neatly to a story, a true story.....I'll keep it short. Last summer I arrived home one evening about 9.30 pm after a long day out with a group. Lynne greeted me with "Your going to love this one, someone at  xxxxxx  has got four baby barn owls that some other person has left in a wheelie bin, the phone numbers on your desk" Fine says I, I'll sort it. Make me a quick cup of tea and a snack while I phone up and get instructions to find the house. On arrival at the house the person greeted me with the story. It seems that the person next door, a Brit, has a holiday home that they were visiting at the time and in the chimney was a family of Barn owls, but as he couldn't stand the f....ing noise he had decided to evict them, which he did, put them in the wheelie bin and took them next door saying to the person that called me "Do you want some owls? If you don't want them I'm going to dump them in the woods". The person that had evicted the owls had gone out for the evening and there in the bottom of the rubbish bin were four baby barn owls. Needless to say I rescued them and all four were fine. So, you tell me, Brits a Nation of animal and wildlife lovers? I think not. Back to the Loir, no worries, all a lot of froth and myth. These house have stood here for hundreds of years with Loir, bats, mason bees, birds nesting in the walls, untreated oak and chestnut timbers, all with no structural damage what so ever, but lets not let the facts and evidence get in the way. Does that answer your question? Chris      

Cheers Clair.[:D] It's a shame that so many French wildlife groups still don't have a basic web site that would give them a window to a much larger section of the public Il faut employer tous les moyens de comunication. Chris

Only three types of rat in France and one of them is the introduced Musk rat - a water rat for lack of a better term. Link to List of Mammals in France in English / Latin / French, hope it comes in handy. http://www.planetepassion.eu/MAMMALS-IN-FRANCE/List-of-Mammals-of-France-in-Latin-English-French%20.html Chris

Thanks, it should work now. Chris

Any chance of a name, an organisation or a source for that information? It would be useful.[:)] Chris

It's a long story and one that I'm not to pleased with, (understatement).... but.. the new site is now http://www.planetepassion.eu (should be the link under my posts). I've spent a large part of the last 6 weeks doing it, still not complete but getting there. Please let me know if it's working OK for you.[:)] If you know anyone that has links to it, please ask them to change them to .eu  and not  .com Cheers, Chris

Some forum have a method to "subscribe to this topic" which means you receive an e-mail notification when a new post has been made, this one doesn't, therefore you need to make a token post to get notifications, that's all.[;-)] Chris

Is it coincidental that we have several nesting green woodpeckers in and around the copse? Probably, although I'm sure they will welcome the extra food. As far as I know they will take any grubs, eggs or larvae that are in the soil. We need an expert. Chris

Just watching.[;-)] Chris

Thanks Kathy, that's very interesting, well found. Also worth noting is that.. ""Natural predators are: Crested tits that will eat the eggs and very young caterpillars. Cuckoos that will eat the caterpillars. Hoopoes that will eat the pupa from the ground and most bats that will eat the moths."" which is now on http://www.planetepassion.eu/WILDLIFE-IN-FRANCE/Pine-processionary-moth-France.html Chris  

I think if it was me and they were in my garden I would consider getting rid of the pine trees, ideally around August. Chris

Weasels have to eat at least once a day or they starve to death. This is the most common reason for finding a weasel simply dead somewhere without any signs of an injury. Pile of pigeon feathers is quite possibly the remains of a Goshawks snack.[:D] [IMG]http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q73/unautremonde/Oddments/Weasel.jpg[/IMG] Photo Weasel. Planete Passion. Chris

Barn owls look like the ones below, they are juvenile but the facial characteristics are the same for adults, the markings and shape of your "Barn owl" are all wrong in my limited opinion, it is also "perched" in a somewhat strange posture. [IMG]http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q73/unautremonde/Owls-20th-Oct.jpg[/IMG] There you go, just my opinion. Chris  

Yes, I read that as well, I'm sort of assuming that was to mislead us and we have to guess what it is. Chris

Simple enough question Weedon, I don't know what it is and therefore asked.[:D] So what is it, go on, tell? Chris    

What on earth is that in your photo Weedon? Chris