12029 Cuckoo

Well its been a busy day in the garden , first a snake type thingy, and now I have heard the first cuckoo, so whats the third thing to be ?, perhaps a lesser spotted electrician , a rare breed that was due round 2hrs ago.
A

Category
Gardening & Agriculture

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 03/30/2009 - 11:58

Hi Angie

Heard first cuckoo here in Arezzo today as well. Luckily we didn't get the snake :smile:

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 03/30/2009 - 12:04

Also busy day madly chopping down trees before the 31st! (dead trees in our long neglected woods) heard our first cuckoo over a week ago, no snakes yet though. Still awaiting appearance of another rare breed, the horny toed tsetse fly ridden washing machine delivery man who was due three weeks ago!
*Warning do not buy anything 'large' online from Euronics unless you have the patience of at least four saints*

Moxie (and him)

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 03/30/2009 - 12:18

Hi Moxie

Any special significance re: 31st March except rising sap/new growth etc.
ps Where are you??

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 03/30/2009 - 12:43

Hello Aretina,
We are in central Marche. We have always been warned that any chopping of trees must be complete by the last day of March or it means huge fines, sackcloth, ashes and everything. Seriously though we are led to believe by our neighbours that it is highly illegal here to cut down trees after this date.

Moxie (and him)

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 03/30/2009 - 13:01

Hi Moxie

Do you know when you can start to cut trees again, as our wood man always cuts our firewood in the summer. ?? Perhaps the cuckoo and the trees are linked.. nesting birds etc.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 03/30/2009 - 15:08

Hmmm... October/November time we think but not entirely sure - sorry! Does anyone else know???
You can cut wood whenever you like it's only the actual chopping down of trees that is an issue. Your wood man will know if he is Italian.
Apologies that we cannot be of more assistance.

Moxie (and him)

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 03/30/2009 - 16:18

Most important though is to know that they are your trees. It is very embarrassing to be be confronted by an unhappy farmer, whilst you have a chainsaw in your hand and the bloke who you are helping does a runner! I think that Moxie is right though about the autumn. Perhaps I'll ask the Forestale tomorrow.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 06:46

I've asked the questions but the answer depends upon where you are!
Below 550m s.l.m, today is the last day to cut down trees. Above that, the date is 14th April. Also you will need authorisation from the Forestale and also from any local regional body;for this area, it's the Communita Montagna in San Ginesio. The Forestale will have the information required for your local bodies.
The chopping down season recommences 1st October!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 04/09/2009 - 16:49

Oh perhaps I have now heard the last chainsaw of spring! Get lots of nice smaller birds nesting here - black redstarts etc but there are rarer breeds of beautifully marked creatures viz the on-the-day-promised gas delivery critter sometimes to be glimpsed as one departs the dwelling for essential business appointment. I always like to see or hear the first hoopoes of the year, pretty birds these.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 04/10/2009 - 05:38

It is also worth noting that "officially" your dog is now, not allowed to run off it's lead in the countryside, especially in a reserva...yes it seems they can pop their guns at birds but your dog must be prevented from disturbing birds nests...more little birds to shoot at perhaps?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 04/12/2009 - 11:32

Always good to remind ourselves of the rules here in Italy - after all their are plenty of them. In addition to no tree cutting down after March and before October, there is a similar rule for fires as well (in the countryside). The dog thing has been true here for the past 5 years (or longer) - our hill is a reserve, so that may be why. Our dogs are so old now that they don't even spot rabbits sitting in the garden!