Suffolk has always been
something of a stronghold for the nightingale with the area
around Alton being particularly important. Recent surveys have
revealed that this species now tends to be found in areas of
scrub rather than the more generally held view that 7-year old
coppice was the preferred habitat. This was certainly the case
at Alton that had little coppice but much scrub.
Specific scrub management is a relatively undeveloped technique
and we have relied on a long term constant effort ringing programme
to help guide us formulate suitable prescriptions. Results confirm
that succession to woodland can indeed be controlled and that
numbers of summer migrants such as nightingales can be maintained
or improved by appropriate management.
Annual surveys
in early May help to pin point individual territories and help
identify suitable habitats. Dense cover from species such as
blackthorn, hawthorn and bramble is essential along with the
ability to forage for insects on bare ground. Scrub is a very
dynamic habitat and lack of intervention allows woodland to
develop that is no longer suitable for nightingales.
