This magazine keeps getting better. I am especially taken with the fact that it isn’t all only about birds – there are pieces about photographing wild boar, three of our native reptiles, dolphins, moths, seagrass, beavers, natterjack toads and wood ant nests. There is a superb photo of a Black-necked grebe doing well at the RSPB’s St Aidan’s reserve near Leeds, and a succinct and a very useful summary of seasonal plumage – I feel I understand about eclipse plumage for the first time, which males adopt for the vulnerable period when they have moulted their flight feathers.
The return of magnificent Cranes, the UK’s tallest bird, after a 400 year absence until 1979 is hailed. They have huge wingspans (2.45m) but cannot perch so at night they stand in pools of shallow water so that they can hear ground predators approaching. Their fortunes have turned in large part thanks to egg collection from populations in Germany, captive rearing and release, and wetland management. Carers dress as cranes carry out predator aversion training exercises.
There’s also a piece about the rich wildlife of the islands of Orkney, where invasive stoat populations have sadly had to be controlled. I understand the need for this regrettable course of action but would prefer some sense of regret and assurance that methods used are as humane as possible. The RSPB does come under fire for some of its ‘control’ programmes and I feel that a little of this would go a long way. As David Lindo, the Urban Birder points out, there are often other ways to deal with so-called pests including encouragement of natural predators.
I am pleased to see that the RSPB continues to become more politically vociferous with a post-election call to action for nature.
Simon Barnes is in fine form, celebrating the ban on sandeel fishing and providing the antidote to “them”, the water companies, the causers of climate change, the legislators and polluters. The antidote is us.
There is also celebration of legal changes in Scotland to protect wildlife, the Wildlife Management and Muirburn Bill. Wales has also made some progressive moves. Why on earth is this not happening in England?
Less enlightening, by the way, was a BBC report of a scientific study showing that wild birds “have demonstrated an ability to recall what they have eaten in the past, where they found it and when”. Did anyone doubt this?
In Cyprus however, it’s getting worse – the number of migrating songbirds trapped with nets and limesticks to make the illegal dish ambelopoulia increased by 25% last autumn. The figures are horrifying: 157 species found trapped, 90 of which are listed as conservation priorities, 435,000 songbirds in autumn 2023.
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