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0:00:17 > 0:00:21- I have a friend, a photographer, - who lives locally.
0:00:21 > 0:00:25- He tells me that this - is a good place to look for rats.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29- A stream runs through the town.
0:00:30 > 0:00:31- It's walled in.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33- The walls are full of holes.
0:00:34 > 0:00:38- What's great about this spot - is there are bins here.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40- One of them is a rubbish bin.
0:00:40 > 0:00:44- People throw rubbish - but it doesn't go into the bin.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46- It falls on the floor.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49- Lads who've had a few drinks - come this way at night.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52- They throw burgers or chips - on the floor.
0:00:52 > 0:00:56- There's enough food and shelter - for them here.
0:00:56 > 0:01:00- I'm going to stay here and see - if one comes out near the bins.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19- Did you see that?
0:01:19 > 0:01:21- One of them came out.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25- There's obviously food - by the rubbish bin.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29- They don't like - being out in the open.
0:01:29 > 0:01:35- So they carry the food back - into their shelter.
0:01:36 > 0:01:40- They'll have holes by the stream.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42- They'll return there.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46- If there's more food, they'll go - back out and carry it back...
0:01:47 > 0:01:49- ..until the food's all gone.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52- Only then - will they start eating the food.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55- Once they're completely safe.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09- They're very quick - in and out.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11- They don't want to hang about.
0:02:21 > 0:02:23- In the countryside...
0:02:23 > 0:02:29- ..rats usually breed in the spring - and summer through to autumn.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32- In winter, it's all about surviving.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35- Most of them die in the winter.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38- In towns or cities...
0:02:38 > 0:02:43- ..there are so many places - for them to hide and to breed...
0:02:43 > 0:02:46- ..and so much food, our waste...
0:02:47 > 0:02:50- ..that they breed all year round, - even in midwinter.
0:02:51 > 0:02:53- I wouldn't be surprised...
0:02:53 > 0:02:57- ..if this one's a female - carrying food back to its nest.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17- I don't know hardly anyone - who likes rats.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19- I quite like them.
0:03:19 > 0:03:21- I admire them in a way.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23- They're taking advantage - of our mess.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26- If we see them as a problem...
0:03:26 > 0:03:29- ..all we have to do - is tidy up after ourselves...
0:03:29 > 0:03:31- ..in villages, towns and cities.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34- Stop throwing so much food away.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38- If we were less wasteful, - rat numbers would drop overnight...
0:03:38 > 0:03:43- ..though to be honest, I'm happy - here watching this one fetch food.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45- I quite like them.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49- I don't want them to move in to my - house but I'll happily watch them.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14- It's no shock to anyone - that there are rats in our towns.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18- It might surprise you - how many mice there are in towns.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21- I'm on my way to meet a friend, - Bill Taylor.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23- Bill regularly traps mice.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26- Today, he's trapping them - in the centre of Bala.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35- How are you, Bill? Nice to see you.
0:04:36 > 0:04:37- Welcome back to Bala.
0:04:37 > 0:04:38- Welcome back to Bala.- - Thank you.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41- You go in. I'll follow.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45- I haven't done this for a while. - I'm looking forward to it.
0:04:46 > 0:04:47- Where do you want to start?
0:04:48 > 0:04:49- You go first.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51- You go first.- - By the hedge is a good site.
0:04:52 > 0:04:53- In we go.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56- I'll put this down here.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58- Put a little food in the trap.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01- Put it over there.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06- I'll cover it with leaves.
0:05:08 > 0:05:09- I'll make sure the entrance...
0:05:09 > 0:05:11- I'll make sure the entrance...- - Put some food by the door.
0:05:11 > 0:05:13- Right.
0:05:13 > 0:05:14- To attract them.
0:05:18 > 0:05:19- More along the hedge.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21- More along the hedge.- - I think so.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28- To be fair to the mice...
0:05:28 > 0:05:32- ..the best time to lay down traps - is just before sunset.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37- We're placing plenty of grass in the - traps to keep them warm overnight.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42- As well as that, plenty of food - is needed in the trap...
0:05:43 > 0:05:46- ..not only to attract them - but to ensure they don't starve.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50- Bill is setting 15 traps.
0:05:50 > 0:05:55- It'll be good to see how many - have trapped mice by the morning.
0:06:00 > 0:06:01- Do you remember where they are?
0:06:01 > 0:06:03- Do you remember where they are?- - I think so.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07- This is the first trap.
0:06:07 > 0:06:12- The door's closed and it's heavy - a - good sign there's something inside.
0:06:13 > 0:06:14- They jump.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17- What do you think of the food?
0:06:17 > 0:06:18- She has plenty.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20- It's a wood mouse.
0:06:20 > 0:06:21- It's a wood mouse.- - Yes.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24- It has large ears and good eyesight.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26- It's jumping about.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28- They can really jump.
0:06:28 > 0:06:29- Well done.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32- I'll put it back.
0:06:34 > 0:06:35- Let it go.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37- Well done. One out of one!
0:06:38 > 0:06:39- Well done. On to the next one.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52- There she is. The same again.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55- A wood mouse.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58- She's larger.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02- They're pretty little things.
0:07:02 > 0:07:03- Cute.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05- Cute.- - They're very pretty.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09- I'm going to hold it at an angle - to see if she jumps out.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11- Are you going to jump?
0:07:13 > 0:07:14- It's eating.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16- Is she going?
0:07:17 > 0:07:18- She's going now.
0:07:18 > 0:07:19- Off she goes.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21- Off she goes.- - She's going back.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23- We're doing OK.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25- We are. Two out of two. Excellent.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28- You go to the next one. - I'll carry the plastic box.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31- Another one! Goodness me.
0:07:34 > 0:07:36- Exactly the same again.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40- Goodness me, - there are lots of wood mice here.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48- I'll look at what's in here.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52- A bank vole.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54- A bank vole.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59- It has small ears, smaller eyes - and a smaller tail.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01- Its fur is reddish-brown too.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04- Well! It's a nice creature.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08- This one's more nervous - than wood mice.
0:08:08 > 0:08:09- We'll put it back.
0:08:09 > 0:08:10- We'll put it back.- - Yes.
0:08:13 > 0:08:18- Are those the two types you'd expect - to see - wood mice and bank voles?
0:08:18 > 0:08:20- Here, yes.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26- This is going well.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29- The same! Exactly the same again.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32- Another bank vole.
0:08:32 > 0:08:33- It's a pretty creature.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36- It's quite happy.
0:08:40 > 0:08:41- Off you go.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43- It's gone back.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48- Out of the 15 traps - left overnight...
0:08:48 > 0:08:52- ..there's a mouse - in almost all of them.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57- It shows how many mice...
0:08:57 > 0:09:02- ..live in wild patches of land, - hedges or gardens around towns.
0:09:03 > 0:09:07- Even in the centre - of somewhere like Bala...
0:09:07 > 0:09:10- ..there are hundreds of these about.
0:09:12 > 0:09:16- It's no surprise that a few wood - mice come into houses during winter.
0:09:17 > 0:09:21- They're numerous and live wild - right on our doorstep.
0:09:22 > 0:09:23- Well done.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31- But you'll never see - this one in the house.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33- A bank vole with its small ears...
0:09:33 > 0:09:37- ..is happy - to stay in a hedge in the garden.
0:09:38 > 0:09:44- You can be sure that an owl visits - this wild patch of land every night.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52- Merthyr Tydfil
0:09:58 > 0:10:01- There's a wild patch of land - in every town.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07- For us, it's insignificant, untidy - and out of sight.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10- For a bird, - it's a perfect place to live.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20- I want to show you something.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23- I'm in the centre of Merthyr - on the banks of the Taff.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26- There's rubbish everywhere...
0:10:26 > 0:10:30- ..and thousands cross the bridge - above me every day.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33- I'll show you - what's tucked in the corner.
0:10:33 > 0:10:35- I don't want to get too close.
0:10:35 > 0:10:40- Right in the corner - is a grey wagtail's nest.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43- It's great the way she comes in.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46- She feeds on the river, - lands on the wall...
0:10:46 > 0:10:49- ..flies to this wall, walks up...
0:10:50 > 0:10:54- ..then she has to go - under this wire...
0:10:55 > 0:10:57- ..and then walks to her nest.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01- As she does the last part, - her head bobs back and forth.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04- Her beak's full of food.
0:11:04 > 0:11:06- That's a very safe place for her.
0:11:07 > 0:11:11- A magpie, mink or anything else - can't get in.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14- I don't want to stay long - as it's quite cold.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18- You can see its long tail - sticking out.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21- It's an excellent place. Very safe.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32- She's back again.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35- The wagtail and its long tail.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45- It'll return to its nest every - ten minutes or so in daylight hours.
0:12:03 > 0:12:08- Urban birds nest in all kinds - of artificial locations.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17- An old pole - is perfect for a blue tit.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23- The chicks are very safe - inside the pole.
0:12:31 > 0:12:36- Bits of vegetation and rubbish - on a piece of metal in a canal...
0:12:36 > 0:12:39- ..suits a coot down to the ground.
0:12:49 > 0:12:54- This takeaway box - will keep the chicks dry and warm.
0:12:56 > 0:13:00- As long as they don't eat - or choke on our mess...
0:13:00 > 0:13:03- ..wildlife can thrive in towns.
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0:13:09 > 0:13:13- Carmarthen
0:13:22 > 0:13:24- What a good place for a nest.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27- A herring gull - is right on top of the chimney.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29- It's not any old chimney...
0:13:29 > 0:13:32- ..it's probably - the tallest one in the town.
0:13:32 > 0:13:37- Not only that, but there's - grass growing around the nest...
0:13:37 > 0:13:41- ..which conceals the nest somewhat - and shelters it.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44- Its own personal garden.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48- I'm not a big fan of gulls - but I do admire them.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50- There are pairs here...
0:13:50 > 0:13:54- ..that aren't on top of factories - where I usually see them.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56- They're on top of chimneys.
0:13:56 > 0:14:00- There's one in a sheltered place - among eight chimneys.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03- Another is among six chimney tops.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07- If you walked on the pavements - in the town...
0:14:07 > 0:14:10- ..you wouldn't know they were there.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14- It's the best place to have a nest. - It's out of the way and is safe.
0:14:32 > 0:14:37- Gulls also find food in towns, - and plenty of it too.
0:14:38 > 0:14:44- People like me walking along - eating chips, a burger or a kebab.
0:14:45 > 0:14:49- Some of it might fall on the ground - and the gulls gobble it up.
0:14:49 > 0:14:53- If they have chicks like this one, - they feed them.
0:14:53 > 0:14:57- In the countryside, - they have to search for food.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00- Here, all they have to do - is wait for someone to drop food...
0:15:01 > 0:15:02- ..and go and fetch it.
0:15:02 > 0:15:06- They're so fearless - they'll steal food from your hands.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08- I'm not going to try. - I want these chips.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12- But once food becomes available, - dozens of them appear...
0:15:13 > 0:15:15- ..with more watching from the roofs.
0:15:32 > 0:15:36- Ten years ago, - this would've been the scene...
0:15:36 > 0:15:40- ..on rubbish collection day - in any large town in Wales.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43- A plague of gulls - and rubbish everywhere.
0:15:45 > 0:15:50- But since we stopped putting - food waste in plastic bin bags...
0:15:50 > 0:15:53- ..the number of gulls in towns - has dropped.
0:15:53 > 0:15:55- Scenes such as this are rare.
0:15:55 > 0:15:59- Town councils don't let us - leave food out on the street.
0:16:02 > 0:16:07- If there's a morsel available, - the gulls are there like a shot.
0:16:11 > 0:16:15- One place we can leave out food - is in the garden.
0:16:17 > 0:16:22- Dan Rouse spends a fortune on food - to attract birds to her garden.- - https://twitter.com/DanERouse?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fdanrouse.org.uk%2Fbio
0:16:23 > 0:16:26- There's plenty of food. - Hopefully, lots of birds will come.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31- Her investment - has paid off in spades.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41- Starlings. They're pretty birds.
0:16:41 > 0:16:47- When you look at them up close, the - colour of their feathers is lovely.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50- Once one comes, a dozen follow.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52- They're never happy...
0:16:53 > 0:16:55- ..but they are pretty, I must say.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58- They love mealworms.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00- Is that what they're eating?
0:17:00 > 0:17:03- This is a great garden.
0:17:03 > 0:17:08- Not only do you have lots of food, - and a variety of food...
0:17:08 > 0:17:10- ..you have a thick hedge.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13- If there's a threat, - such as a gull...
0:17:13 > 0:17:15- ..they can dive in there.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18- They hide - and then they come back out to feed.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20- A jackdaw.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23- There's a jackdaw here now!
0:17:23 > 0:17:25- They pull up the moss from the lawn.
0:17:25 > 0:17:26- Do they?
0:17:26 > 0:17:29- Do they?- - When they're building a nest.
0:17:29 > 0:17:33- I could do with them in my garden - - I have moss everywhere.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35- There are two here now.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37- Are they after the mealworms too?
0:17:37 > 0:17:38- Are they after the mealworms too?- - Yes.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40- A lot of birds like mealworms.
0:17:40 > 0:17:41- A lot of birds like mealworms.- - There's another one.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44- One's on the garden - pulling up the moss.
0:17:44 > 0:17:45- Yes indeed.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48- It's feeding on the...
0:17:50 > 0:17:51- Well, well, well.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53- Its injured its wing.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55- Its left wing is hanging down.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59- It's funny that these - have different ways of feeding.
0:18:00 > 0:18:04- A coal tit comes in, takes a seed - and flies away.
0:18:05 > 0:18:09- The blue tit is a little bigger - but not much.
0:18:09 > 0:18:14- It was happy to sit on the fat, - picking at it and eating.
0:18:16 > 0:18:20- The birds that come to Dan's garden - are quite common.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23- If you're lucky - and you live in the right place...
0:18:23 > 0:18:26- ..you might get a special visitor.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51- It's amazing.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54- Most people - will go through their lives...
0:18:55 > 0:18:57- ..without ever seeing a hawfinch.
0:18:57 > 0:19:02- I'm in a kitchen - looking out into the garden...
0:19:02 > 0:19:08- ..and I can count a dozen, - maybe fifteen...
0:19:08 > 0:19:12- ..in the trees - waiting to come down...
0:19:12 > 0:19:16- ..to feed on the seeds - that have been left out for them.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19- I've been birdwatching - since I was a young boy.
0:19:19 > 0:19:24- I've never seen so many hawfinches - in one place.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28- These are very rare and shy birds.
0:19:29 > 0:19:31- That's why I'm talking quietly...
0:19:31 > 0:19:34- ..even though I'm inside - and they're outside.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36- They're very nervous.
0:19:36 > 0:19:38- They're waiting their turn.
0:19:38 > 0:19:42- They sit in the trees - and then they come down to feed.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45- A male is eating now. - What a pretty bird.
0:19:45 > 0:19:51- They're so bright - - the orange-brown and purple.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53- They're extremely pretty.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56- They have a white dot - on their tails too.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00- They're becoming extremely rare...
0:20:00 > 0:20:05- ..but in the Dolgellau area, - in Coed y Brenin...
0:20:05 > 0:20:07- ..they seem to be doing well.
0:20:07 > 0:20:11- One reason why is because - the owner of this house...
0:20:11 > 0:20:15- ..leaves out so many seeds for them - in winter.
0:20:15 > 0:20:19- They use their large beaks - to open up the seeds.
0:20:19 > 0:20:21- They eat buds too.
0:20:21 > 0:20:27- They can open cherry tree seeds. - That's how strong their beak is.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31- It's been great...
0:20:32 > 0:20:35- ..that a local man has been - ringing the birds for years.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38- He finds the nests - and he rings the chicks.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43- He uses a net to catch the adults, - sometimes in this garden.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47- Some of these birds - have been ringed.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51- From doing that, they've been able - to track the birds.
0:20:51 > 0:20:57- They've discovered - that over 180 birds...
0:20:57 > 0:21:03- ..have come into this garden - in the last year and a half.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05- Over 180.
0:21:05 > 0:21:10- If they hadn't ringed them, they'd - have estimated there were 20 or 30.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12- That shows its importance.
0:21:12 > 0:21:17- A bird that was ringed - in the Forest of Dean...
0:21:17 > 0:21:21- ..just over the border, the other - side of the River Wye, in England...
0:21:21 > 0:21:24- ..has been seen in this garden.
0:21:24 > 0:21:29- And a bird from Cumbria in the north - of England has been seen here too.
0:21:29 > 0:21:34- It shows how important - this one garden is to these birds.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39- I've been out with the bloke - who rings these birds.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41- He gave me one to hold.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43- I didn't hold it properly.
0:21:44 > 0:21:45- It grabbed my finger.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50- Gosh, it was one of the most - painful experiences of my life.
0:21:50 > 0:21:54- The beak is so strong. - It's left a scar.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58- They're such pretty birds.
0:21:58 > 0:22:02- I'm lucky - if I see a hawfinch once a year.
0:22:02 > 0:22:06- But I've come here, - sat in front of the window...
0:22:06 > 0:22:09- ..and watched so many of them.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19- Every creature has to eat.
0:22:19 > 0:22:24- If there's food easily available, - someone will come and eat it.
0:22:27 > 0:22:32- Thanks to us, this is how wildlife - survives in towns.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37- They can thrive.
0:22:59 > 0:23:01- S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.
0:23:02 > 0:23:02- .