75-554: Titnore Wood is an area of ancient woodland to the north-west of Worthing in West Sussex . With neighbouring Goring Wood it forms one of the last remaining blocks of ancient woodland on the West Sussex coastal plain . Since 2006 land in and around the wood has been the site of a proposed major urban extension to the Worthing suburb of West Durrington . The proposed development has prompted environmental protestors to tree-sit within
150-528: A phylogeny based on examination of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA of 21 nuthatch species. The group europaea is related to the two nuthatches of rocky environments, the Western rock nuthatch ( S. neumayer ) and the Eastern rock nuthatch ( S. tephronota ), and these two clades diverge from each other by thirteen million years. Within the group europaea , the white-tailed nuthatch ( S. himalayensis )—and consequently
225-505: A family of similar-looking birds with short tails and wings, compact bodies and longish pointed bills. They have grey or bluish upperparts, a black eyestripe and strong feet. All are in the single genus Sitta . Within the genus, the Eurasian nuthatch forms a superspecies with the chestnut-vented , Indian , chestnut-bellied and Kashmir nuthatches and has in the past been considered conspecific with all of these. The Eurasian nuthatch
300-542: A loss of ancient woodland to forestry. Eurasian nuthatch The Eurasian nuthatch or wood nuthatch ( Sitta europaea ) is a small passerine bird found throughout the Palearctic and in Europe. Like other nuthatches , it is a short-tailed bird with a long bill, blue-gray upperparts and a black eye-stripe. It is a vocal bird with a repeated loud dwip call. There are more than 20 subspecies in three main groups; birds in
375-454: A mere 3,090 square kilometres (760,000 acres), representing less than 20% of the total wooded area. More than eight out of ten ancient woodland sites in England and Wales are less than 200,000 square metres (49 acres) in area. Only 617 exceed 1 square kilometre (250 acres), which is a relatively small number. Forty-six of these sites exceed 3 square kilometres (740 acres). Most ancient woodland in
450-422: A paler area on the base of the lower mandible , the iris is dark brown and the legs and feet are pale brown or greyish. Most other members of the S. e. europaea group differ only in detail from the nominate form, often with respect to the hue of the underparts, but S. e. arctica is quite distinctive. It is large, pale, has a white forehead and a reduced eye-stripe, and it has more white in
525-428: A plantation structure, characterized by even-aged crops of one or two species planted for commercial purposes. Many of these ancient woodlands were transformed into conifer plantations as a consequence of felling operations conducted during wartime. While PAWS sites may not possess the same high ecological value as ASNW, they often contain remnants of semi-natural species where shading has been less intense. This allows for
600-458: A poor mast crop, but the number of juvenile birds falls in the autumn as they are lost through starvation or emigration. In areas where common hazel is the prevalent tree species, there is a similar pattern of adult survival and loss of juvenile birds in years with poor nut production. Across most of its European range, the most important predator of the Eurasian nuthatch is the sparrowhawk . Other species known to prey on this nuthatch include
675-416: A separate species. The adult male of the nominate subspecies , S. e. europaea is 14 cm (5.5 in) long with a 22.5–27 cm (8.9–10.6 in) wingspan. It weighs 17–28 g (0.6–1 oz). It has blue-grey upperparts, a black eye-stripe and whitish throat and underparts. The flanks and lower belly are orange-red, mottled with white on the undertail. The stout bill is dark grey with
750-416: A straighter culmen, and more white in the tail than any other subspecies. The Eurasian nuthatch calls frequently, usually with a loud, sharp dwip normally repeated twice, sometimes more often if excited. It has a shrill sirrrr or tsi-si-si alarm call, and a thin tsit pre-flight call. The song is a slow whistled pee-pee-pee with many variants, including a faster version, and may be intermingled with
825-674: A third group of subspecies, the "Eastern nuthatch," includes the Asian subspecies living further south, in North and East China and in Taiwan. The fossil record for nuthatches is sparse, and in Europe is limited to the extinct Sitta senogalliensis from the Lower Miocene in Italy and somewhat later material from France; the family appears to be of relatively recent origin. There are more than 20 subspecies , but
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#1732884448776900-489: A type of ecological indicator . The term is more frequently applied to desiccation -sensitive plant species, and particularly lichens and bryophytes , than to animals. This is due to the slower rate at which they colonise planted woodlands, which makes them more reliable indicators of ancient woodland sites. Sequences of pollen analysis can also serve as indicators of forest continuity. Lists of ancient woodland indicator species among vascular plants were developed by
975-615: A variable quality and availability of data across regions, although there are some efforts to standardise and update it. A variety of indirect legal protections exist for many ancient woodlands, but it is not automatically the case that any given ancient woodland is protected. Some examples of ancient woodland are nationally or locally designated, for example as Sites of Special Scientific Interest . Others lack such designations. Ancient woodlands also require special consideration when they are affected by planning applications. The National Planning Policy Framework , published in 2012, represents
1050-404: A white throat and cheeks. The other western forms mainly differ in the exact shade of the underparts, although some southeastern forms also show a white forehead and supercilium . S. e. sinensis and S. e. formosana , of China and Taiwan respectively, have buff underparts like the western races, but have buff, instead of white, throats. The female is similar in appearance to
1125-510: Is a reluctance to cross even short stretches of open water. Northern and eastern breeders are dependent on the cones of the Siberian stone pine , and if the crop fails many birds of the S. e. asiatica subspecies may move west into northern Sweden and Finland in autumn, sometimes staying to breed. Siberian S. e. arctica may make more limited movements south and east in winter, and S. e. amurensis , from southeast Russia,
1200-718: Is also favoured in Taiwan. In most of Russia, conifers are used for nesting, but population densities are relatively low. Moroccan birds nest in oak, Atlas cedar and fir . Unusual habitats include dwarf juniper in Mongolia and rocky terrain in a limited part of southern Siberia. The Eurasian nuthatch is primarily a lowland bird in the north of its range, but reaches the tree-line in Switzerland, at 1,200 m (3,900 ft) or higher, and breeds occasionally at 1,800–2,100 m (5,900–6,900 ft) in Austria. It breeds at similar levels in
1275-527: Is an inveterate hoarder, storing food year-round. Its main natural predator is the Eurasian sparrowhawk . Fragmentation of woodland can lead to local losses of breeding birds, but the species's range is still expanding. It has a large population and huge breeding area, and is therefore classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as being of least concern . The nuthatches are
1350-558: Is caught in flight, and a nuthatch will remove bark or rotten wood to reach insects, although it cannot chisel into healthy wood like a woodpecker. A pair may temporarily join a mixed-species foraging flock as it passes near their territory. The Eurasian nuthatch readily visits bird tables and bird feeders in winter, eating human-made food items such as fat, cheese, butter and bread. It has even been recorded as taking slaughterhouse offal. Sizeable hard food items like nuts or large insects are wedged into crevices in tree bark and smashed with
1425-626: Is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as being of least concern . The Eurasian nuthatch is common throughout much of its range, although densities are lower in the far north and in coniferous forests. Annual numbers in Siberia fluctuate depending on the availability of pine cones from year to year. In recent decades, the nuthatch has colonised Scotland and the Netherlands, and expanded its range in Wales, northern England, Norway and
1500-480: Is composed of native tree species that have not obviously been planted. Many of these woods also exhibit features characteristic of ancient woodland, including the presence of wildlife and structures of archaeological interest. Planted Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS) are defined as ancient woodland sites where the native species have been partially or wholly replaced with a non-locally native species (usually but not exclusively conifers). These woodlands typically exhibit
1575-486: Is indicative of their significant value to early communities as a source of fuel and, moreover, as a source of food for farm animals. The boundaries are frequently described in terms of features such as large trees, streams or tracks, and even standing stones for example. Ancient woodland sites over 2 hectares (5 acres) in size are recorded in Ancient Woodland Inventories, compiled in the 1980s and 1990s by
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#17328844487761650-420: Is most likely to occur if the nest is high in a tree and there is a good local breeding density of the nuthatch. Introduced ring-necked parakeets may also compete with Eurasian nuthatches for nesting holes. The parakeets tend to occur in fragmented urban woodlands, while nuthatches prefer large old oak woodlands, which reduces the level of competition. Ornithologists conducting a 2010 Belgian study suggested that
1725-410: Is no formal method for reclassifying restored PAWS as ASNW, although some woodland managers now use the acronym RPAWS (Restored Planted Ancient Woodland) for a restored site. Species which are particularly characteristic of ancient woodland sites are called ancient woodland indicator species, such as bluebells , ramsons , wood anemone , yellow archangel and primrose for example, representing
1800-421: Is no link between cavity size and nesting outcomes for natural holes. The sedentary nature of this species means that juveniles can only acquire a territory by finding a vacant area or replacing a dead adult. In Europe, young birds almost always move to unoccupied habitat, but in the larger territories of Siberia most live within the breeding range of an adult pair. The adult annual survival rate across most of
1875-515: Is regular in winter in Korea. The preferred habitat is mature woodland with large, old trees, which provide extensive growth for foraging and nesting holes. In Europe, deciduous or mixed forest is favoured, particularly when containing oak . Parks, old orchards and other wooded habitats may be occupied as long as they have at least a 1 ha (2.5 acres) block of suitable trees. Particularly in mountains, old spruce and pine forests are used, and pine
1950-461: Is shell. The female incubates the eggs for 13–18 days to hatching, and broods the altricial downy chicks until they fledge 20–26 days later. Both adults feed the chicks in the nest and continue after they fledge until they become independent in about 8–14 days. Normally only one brood is raised each year. When nest boxes are used, the clutch size and number of fledglings are greater in larger boxes. For reasons that are unclear, there
2025-514: The Nature Conservancy Council (now Natural England ) for each region of England, with each list containing the hundred most reliable indicators for that region. The methodology entailed the study of plants from known woodland sites, with an analysis of their occurrence patterns to determine which species were most indicative of sites from before 1600. In England this resulted in the first national Ancient Woodland Inventory, produced in
2100-730: The Nature Conservancy Council in England, Wales, and Scotland; and maintained by its successor organisations in those countries. There was no inventory in Northern Ireland until the Woodland Trust completed one in 2006. Britain's ancient woodland cover has diminished considerably over time. Since the 1930s almost half of the ancient broadleaved woodland in England and Wales have been planted with conifers or cleared for agricultural use. The remaining ancient semi-natural woodlands in Britain cover
2175-527: The United Kingdom , ancient woodland is that which has existed continuously since 1600 in England , Wales and Northern Ireland (or 1750 in Scotland ). The practice of planting woodland was uncommon before those dates, so a wood present in 1600 is likely to have developed naturally. In most ancient woods, the trees and shrubs have been felled periodically as part of the management cycle. Providing that
2250-442: The larvae being incapacitated by battering. Hoarding is a long-term strategy, stored food items only being consumed when fresh food is hard to find, sometimes up to three months after caching. Birds with good stored food supplies are fitter than those with more limited resources. Beech mast crops vary widely from year to year. Where beech mast is an important part of the diet, adult survival rates are largely unaffected in years with
2325-424: The northern goshawk , hobby , tawny owl , pygmy owl and least weasel . A Swedish study showed that 6.2% of the nuthatch nests in their study area were raided by predators. The perpetrators were not identified, but the main single predator of tit nests in the same study was the great spotted woodpecker . Common starlings will take over Eurasian nuthatch nest holes, reducing their breeding success. This
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2400-502: The western and eastern rock nuthatches are larger and paler than the Eurasian species. They also lack white spots in the tail and are usually found in a different, stony habitat, and Krüper's nuthatch is small and has a black cap and reddish breast patch. In southwest China, the chestnut-vented nuthatch is very similar to the European bird, but is darker above, has less white on the face and has greyer underparts. In most of its range,
2475-579: The white-browed nuthatch ( S. victoriae ), although not included in the study—appears to be basal, and the Eurasian nuthatch is closely related to the chestnut-vented nuthatch ( S. nagaensis ) and the Kashmir nuthatch ( S. cashmirensis ). The Indian Nuthatch ( S. castanea ), the Beautiful nuthatch ( S. cinnamoventris ), the Burmese nuthatch ( S. neglecta ), and the Siberian nuthatch ( S. arctica ) are not included in
2550-434: The 1980s. Although ancient woodland indicator species can and do occur in post-1600 woodlands and also in non-woodland sites such as hedgerows , it is uncommon for a site which is not ancient woodland to host a double-figure indicator species total. More recent methodologies also supplement these field observations and ecological measurements with historical data from maps and local records, which were not fully assessed in
2625-529: The British government's policy document pertaining to planning decisions affecting ancient woodlands. The irreplaceable nature of ancient woodlands is elucidated in paragraph 118 of the NPPF, which states: ‘Planning permission should be refused for development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats, including ancient woodland and the loss of aged or veteran trees found outside ancient woodland, unless
2700-478: The Eurasian nuthatch has been estimated as 22.5–57 million birds, suggesting a global total of 45.9–228 million individuals. China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan and Russia each have between 10,000 and 100,000 breeding pairs. The known breeding area is about 23.3 million km (9 million sq mi), which is a large proportion of the potential suitable habitat, and the population appears to be stable. The large numbers and huge breeding range mean that this species
2775-519: The Eurasian nuthatch is the only nuthatch present. In Southeast Europe and Western Asia , the Eastern rock nuthatch ( S. tephronota ) and the Western rock nuthatch ( S. neumayer ) inhabit rocky environments and are larger and paler than species. Eurasian species do not have white dots on their tails. In the same area, the Krüper's nuthatch ( S. krueperi ) is smaller, with a dark crown and a large russet patch on
2850-727: The Mediterranean in Europe, although it is absent from the islands, other than Sicily , and in most of Russia the southern boundary is around 54–55°N. In the east, the range includes most of China and Taiwan and much of Korea. It has occurred as a vagrant in Lebanon and the Channel Islands , and the nominate race has been recorded a few times in Finland where S. e. asiatica is the normal form. Most populations are sedentary, apart from some post-breeding dispersal of young birds, and there
2925-452: The Siberian nuthatch is located on a clean branch, quite distant from the Eurasian nuthatch, from which it was nevertheless long considered a subspecies. The study by Päckert and colleagues (2020) also includes a fairly exhaustive sampling of the Eurasian nuthatch subspecies. It highlights three large groups of subspecies, not perfectly overlapping with the traditionally distinguished groups on
3000-452: The UK has been managed in some way by humans for hundreds (in some cases probably thousands) of years. Two traditional techniques are coppicing (the practice of harvesting wood by cutting trees back to ground level) and pollarding (harvesting wood at approximately human head height to prevent new shoots being eaten by grazing species such as deer). Both techniques encourage new growth while allowing
3075-605: The UK, like rainforest in the tropics, serves as a refuge for rare and endangered species. Consequently, ancient woodlands are frequently described as an irreplaceable resource, or 'critical natural capital '. The analogous term used in the United States, Canada and Australia (for woodlands that do contain very old trees) is " old-growth forest ". Ancient woodland is formally defined on maps by Natural England and equivalent bodies. Mapping of ancient woodland has been undertaken in different ways and at different times, resulting in
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3150-436: The area has remained as woodland, the stand is still considered ancient. Since it may have been cut over many times in the past, ancient woodland does not necessarily contain trees that are particularly old. For many animal and plant species, ancient woodland sites provide the sole habitat. Furthermore, for many others, the conditions prevailing on these sites are much more suitable than those on other sites. Ancient woodland in
3225-475: The basis of the coloring of their lower parts. A first group concerns the "European nuthatch", which includes all the European subspecies, whether buff-bellied or white-bellied, as well as the subspecies of the Near East. It is related to the group of the "Asian Nuthatch", including the subspecies inhabiting the northern part of the Asian continent, from Kazakhstan to Korea and Japan , all white-bellied. Finally,
3300-401: The breast. In southwest China , the chestnut-vented nuthatch ( S. nagaensis ) is very similar to the torchepot, but has darker upperparts, less white on the face, and more greyish underparts. The Siberian nuthatch ( S. arctica ) was once considered a subspecies of the Eurasian nuthatch but differs quite clearly from it, being larger, pale, with a shorter and thinner eye line, a longer bill and
3375-537: The call. The song of the distinctive S. e. arctica is said to be noticeably different from that of its relatives, which would help to establish whether it is a full species, but there has been insufficient research into its vocalizations. The Eurasian nuthatch's breeding range extends across temperate Eurasia from Great Britain (but not Ireland) to Japan. It is found between the 16–20 °C (61–68 °F) July isotherms , north to about latitude 64°N in western Russia and 69°N in Siberia. It breeds south to
3450-610: The chance of predation. Nests with small entrance holes are most successful. Locally, a small entrance may make it less likely that the nest will be taken over by common starlings . The female undertakes most of the work, and often plasters the inside of the cavity too, taking up to four weeks to complete the construction. A nest is often re-used in subsequent years. The clutch is usually 6–9 red-speckled white eggs, although up to 13 eggs are sometimes laid. They average 19.5 mm × 14.4 mm (0.77 in × 0.57 in) and weigh 2.3 g (0.081 oz) of which 6%
3525-729: The coastal plain onto the South Downs . To the south of the wood lies a lake, known as Titnore Lake or Castle Goring Lake. The lake is fed by streams from surrounding farmland which in turn feeds the Ferring Rife which flows into the English Channel at Ferring . In 2003 a new greenfield development was put forward for 875 homes by the West Durrington Consortium, a group made of Heron Corporation, Bryant Homes (part of Taylor Woodrow) and Persimmon Homes . The proposal required
3600-431: The complete uprooting of trees within the woodland of the afforested area. Ancient woods were well-defined, often being surrounded by a bank and ditch, which allowed them to be more easily recognised. The bank may also support a living fence of hawthorn or blackthorn to prevent livestock or deer from entering the area. Since they are attracted by young shoots on coppice stools as a food source, they must be excluded if
3675-496: The coppice is to regenerate. Such indicators can still be observed in many ancient woodlands, and large forests are often subdivided into woods and coppices with banks and ditches as was the case in the past. The hedges at the margins are often overgrown and may have spread laterally due to the neglect of many years. Many ancient woods are listed in the Domesday Book of 1086, as well as in the earlier Anglo-Saxon Chronicle . This
3750-463: The creamier hue of their underparts. Adults have a complete moult after breeding which takes about 80 days, starting from late May onwards and finishing by late September. The moult period for Siberian birds is more compressed, running from June to mid-September. Fledged juveniles moult some of their wing coverts when they are about eight weeks old. In much of its range, Eurasian is the only nuthatch present. In southeast Europe and southwest Asia,
3825-1037: The development plans. Oak and ash are the predominant species in the wood. There are frequent silver birch , field maple , hazel and common hawthorn . Mammals include mole , shrew , dormouse , bank vole , woodmouse , grey squirrel , least weasel , red fox , as well as various bat species. Species of bat which can be found in the wood including the pipistrelle bat , serotine bat , Natterer's bat , noctule bat and long-eared bat . Species of bird found include Eurasian jay , common pheasant , common chaffinch , carrion crow , woodpigeon , robin , chiffchaff , wren , magpie , dunnock , great spotted woodpecker , lesser spotted woodpecker , Eurasian treecreeper , tawny owl , common kestrel , great tit , long-tailed tit , blackbird , Eurasian nuthatch and whitethroat . [REDACTED] Media related to Titnore Wood at Wikimedia Commons 50°50′07″N 0°26′30″W / 50.8352°N 0.4417°W / 50.8352; -0.4417 Ancient woodland In
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#17328844487763900-457: The diet is supplemented with nuts and seeds, hazel nuts and beech mast being preferred. The young are fed mainly on the insects favoured by their parents, with some seeds. Food items are found mainly on tree trunks and large branches, but smaller branches may also be investigated, and food may be taken from the ground, especially outside the breeding season. Nuthatches can forage when descending trees head first, as well as when climbing. Some prey
3975-683: The entrance to the hole is too large, the female plasters it with mud to reduce its size, and often coats the inside of the cavity too. The six to nine red-speckled white eggs are laid on a deep base of pine or other wood chips. The Eurasian nuthatch eats mainly insects , particularly caterpillars and beetles , although in autumn and winter its diet is supplemented with nuts and seeds. The young are fed mainly on insects, with some seeds, food items mainly being found on tree trunks and large branches. The nuthatch can forage when descending trees head first, as well as when climbing. It readily visits bird tables, eating fatty man-made food items as well as seeds. It
4050-494: The female while courting her. Despite the lifelong pairing , genetic research in Germany showed that at least 10% of the young in the study area were fathered by another male, usually from an adjacent territory. The nest is in a tree cavity, usually an old woodpecker hole, but sometimes of natural origin. Occasionally the female will enlarge an existing hole in rotten wood. The nest site is typically 2–20 m (7–66 ft) above
4125-430: The gradual restoration of more semi-natural structures through gradual thinning is often possible. Since the ecological and historical values of ancient woodland were recognized, PAWS restoration has been a priority amongst many woodland owners and governmental and non-governmental agencies. Various grant schemes have also supported this endeavor. Some restored PAWS sites are now practically indistinguishable from ASNW. There
4200-417: The ground and has a deep base of pine bark or chips of other wood, rarely supplemented with dry plant material. If the entrance to the hole is too large, it is plastered with mud, clay and sometimes dung to make it smaller. A small entrance and large interior, together with the use of a deep layer of wood chips in which to bury the eggs and small young when the adults leave the nest, may be adaptations to reduce
4275-497: The loss of around 275 trees including some from the proposal to straighten Titnore Lane to improve the flow of traffic. In May 2006 a group of around 25 environmentalist protesters squatted the wood, constructing tree houses and a network of tunnels. In July 2006, the landowner was granted a possession order from the High Court to remove the protesters. In March 2010 councillors at Worthing Borough Council voted unanimously to reject
4350-550: The male, but may be identified by her slightly paler upperparts, a browner eyestripe and a more washed-out tone to the flanks and lower belly. In the eastern form, S. e. asiatica , some males have buff underparts like the female, and birds with this appearance are difficult to sex in the field. Young birds resemble the female, although their plumage is duller and they have paler legs. Individuals can be reliably sexed as female from about 12 days old by their paler and buffer flanks, or, in some white-breasted subspecies, by
4425-468: The mountains of Turkey, the Middle East and Central Asia . It is mainly a mountain bird in southern Japan, 760–2,100 m (2,490–6,890 ft), and Taiwan, 800–3,300 m (2,600–10,800 ft), but in southern China, the chestnut-vented nuthatch is the highland species, with the Eurasian species at lower levels. Nuthatches are monogamous , and a pair occupies a breeding territory in which it spends
4500-659: The need for, and benefits of, the development in that location clearly outweigh the loss.’ The concept of ancient woodland, characterised by high plant diversity and managed through traditional practices, was developed by the ecologist Oliver Rackham in his 1980 book Ancient Woodland, its History, Vegetation and Uses in England , which he wrote following his earlier research on Hayley Wood in Cambridgeshire . The definition of ancient woodland includes two sub-types: Ancient semi-natural woodland (ASNW) and Planted ancient woodland site (PAWS). Ancient semi-natural woodland (ASNW)
4575-454: The original Nature Conservancy Council surveys. Ancient woods were valuable properties for their landowners, serving as a source of wood fuel , timber ( estovers and loppage) and forage for pigs ( pannage ). In southern England, hazel was particularly important for coppicing , whereby the branches were used for wattle and daub in buildings, for example. Such old coppice stumps are easily recognised for their current overgrown state, given
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#17328844487764650-412: The precise number is disputed. These taxa can be divided into three main groups; these may have been geographically isolated from each other until relatively recently. Birds of intermediate appearance occur where the group ranges overlap. The large, white-breasted S. e. arctica of north east Siberia is distinctive in appearance and genetically , and may be another subspecies group or even
4725-523: The problem was not so severe as to warrant culling of the parakeets. Mites of the genus Ptilonyssus , such as P. sittae , have been found in the Eurasian nuthatch's nasal cavities . Intestinal worms include the nematodes Tridentocapillaria parusi and Pterothominx longifilla . Small studies in Slovakia and Spain found no blood parasites, but a larger Spanish survey found some evidence of Plasmodium infection. The European population of
4800-401: The range is around 51%, and a small Belgian study found a 25% local survival rate for juveniles. The typical lifespan is two years and the maximum known age for a wild bird is 12 years 11 months in the UK. There is also a Swiss longevity record of 10 years 6 months. The Eurasian nuthatch eats mainly insects, particularly caterpillar and beetles . In autumn and winter,
4875-501: The site lies within the boundaries of the new South Downs National Park . Titnore wood lies to the north-west of Worthing, a large town on the coast of West Sussex. The wood was formerly part of the Castle Goring estate, a grade I listed country house built at the end of the 18th century for Sir Bysshe Shelley , grandfather of the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley . Titnore wood lies to the east of Titnore Lane, an ancient droveway from
4950-495: The strong bill. Plant food is stored year-round, but mainly in autumn. Individual seeds are hidden in cracks in bark, occasionally in walls or in the ground. The food item is usually concealed with lichen, moss or small pieces of bark. The cached food is retrieved in cold weather. Siberian birds store the seeds of the Siberian stone pine, sometimes hoarding enough to last a whole year. Cached food may sometimes include non-plant material such as pieces of bread, caterpillars and grubs,
5025-438: The study. All the species of the group "europaea" masonry the entrance to their nests. In 2020, a new phylogeny will appear, covering the genus more exhaustively; it includes, in particular, the four species mentioned above. It uses three mitochondrial genes and two nuclear ones. The three species from the south of the Asian continent (Indian, Beautiful and Burmese nuthatches) are related to the Kashmir nuthatch, but surprisingly,
5100-485: The sustainable production of timber and other woodland products. During the 20th century, the use of such traditional management techniques has declined, concomitant with an increase in large-scale mechanized forestry. Consequently, coppicing is now seldom practiced, and overgrown coppice stools are a common feature in many ancient woods, with their numerous trunks of similar size. These shifts in management practices have resulted in alternations to ancient woodland habitats and
5175-441: The tail and wings than any other subspecies. Nuthatches move on trees with short leaps, and do not use their tails for support. In flight, they have a characteristic appearance, with a pointed head, round wings and a short, square tail. Their flight is fast, with wings closed between beats, and is usually of short duration. S. e. caesia , the most widespread of the western subspecies, has orange-buff underparts except for
5250-683: The waning prevalence of the practice. In such overgrown coppice stools, large boles emerge from a common stump. The term 'forest' originally encompassed more than just woodland. It also referred to areas such as parkland , open heathland , upland fells, and any other territory situated between or outside of manorial freehold. These forests were the exclusive hunting preserve of the monarch or granted to nobility. The ancient woods that were situated within forests were frequently designated as Royal Parks . These were afforded special protection against poachers and other interlopers, and subject to tolls and fines where trackways passed through them or when firewood
5325-483: The west of the range have orange-buff underparts and a white throat, those in Russia have whitish underparts, and those in the east have a similar appearance to European birds, but lack the white throat. Its preferred habitat is mature deciduous or mixed woodland with large, old trees, preferably oak . Pairs hold permanent territories, and nest in tree holes, usually old woodpecker nests, but sometimes natural cavities. If
5400-403: The winter as well. Territory sizes range from 2–10 ha (5–25 acres) in Europe to an average of 30.2 ha (75 acres) in the sub-optimal conifer forests of Siberia. The male sings to defend his territory and attract a mate. Both sexes have a courtship display with a floating, quivering flight, and the male will also make circular flights with a spread tail and raised head. He will also feed
5475-401: The wood since May 2006. Since then Worthing Borough Council has agreed to a substantial new housing development just to the east of the woods themselves, as an extension of Durrington. This includes a new school, doctors surgery and around 2000 new houses on agricultural land. Titnore wood is a Site of Nature Conservation Interest , as is neighbouring Goring Wood and Highdown Hill . Much of
5550-535: Was described by Carl Linnaeus in his landmark 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae under its current scientific name. Sitta is derived from the Ancient Greek name for this bird, σίττη , sittē , and the species name, europaea , is Latin for "European". "Nuthatch", first recorded in 1350, is derived from "nut" and a word probably related to "hack", since these birds hack at nuts they have wedged into crevices. In 2014, Eric Pasquet and colleagues published
5625-425: Was permitted to be collected or other licenses granted. The forest law was rigorously enforced by a hierarchy of foresters, parkers and woodwards. In English land law , it was illegal to assart any part of a royal forest . This constituted the gravest form of trespass that could be committed in a forest, being more than a waste. While waste involved the felling of trees, which could be replaced, assarting entailed
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