Talking of skylarks. Some years ago I use to go swimming at 7 every morning in Ely, driving across the stretch of land called Grunty Fen, between our village and Ely [after which some may remember the late Clement Freud, who was Lib MP here (Isle of Ely) for several years, named a v successful racehorse]. The Fen & fields around would be alive with skylarks at that time of the morning: such exquisite soaring & singing! But one year, 15 or so years ago, they were all gone; and haven't returned. Just like the bunnies, indeed -- see that thread! &, as I said above, haven't heard a cuckoo for years either. I wonder what has happened round this bit of NE Cambs, so much to the detriment of our erstwhile wildlife!. Not all dead -- I am watching a large pigeon in our cherry tree just outside the window in front of me at this moment; and there are often lots of sparrows & tits & wrens around the bird feeder that hangs from the tree [tho noticeably fewer than a few years ago]. So it's not as if there is something toxic doing all these missing species in. But the rabbits; and the larks; and the cuckoos?????

Much puzzled...

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