The death of Neil Armstrong has made us all think of those days when Mankind took that giant leap. Armstrong seems to have been a lovely, talented and modest man; and therefore a good choice to be the first of our species to step on the Moon. Few of us have had the privilege of…
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Five things to do this weekend – particularly if it’s raining
Have a look at the ‘a focus on nature’ website. Launched at the Bird Fair this looks like a good initiative to me. How do ‘young people’ get the advice and mentoring that they need to get into nature conservation? I’ve offered to give a helping hand and maybe you can too? Or maybe you…
Send WWT £10 now! I have.
I’ve mentioned the spoon-billed sandpiper a few times in this blog (eg here and here). There is a very brave, uncertain and exciting rescue attempt being made to save this bird from extinction by a bunch of organisations: WWT, RSPB, BirdLife International and Birds Russia (with help from loads of other people). WWT have produced…
What would Douglas Adams think of this?
Douglas Adams, who wrote the five books in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy trilogy, was a great environmentalist. Hitchhikers is a book about environmentalism – and the fact it is funny doesn’t make it any the less serious. At the beginning of the book, when Arthur Dent’s house is to be demolished, he is…
But seriously
On Monday I suggested that twitching should be one of the competitive sports which gets its two hours a week in English primary schools, but today I’ll try to be a bit more serious about the subject. I tend to steer clear of education as a topic as there is a tendency for all of…
How are your holidays?
I’ve been wandering around Scotland recently and had a great time seeing scenery and wildlife. I think I may set you a little brain teaser about it in a while so I won’t give too much away. However, wildlife highlights have included otter, red squirrel, Scotch argus, bottle-nosed dolphin, leaping salmon and the occasional midge….
Tossers
I spent a few minutes looking at a fairly commonplace bird the other day – except no bird is commonplace, particularly if you watch them rather than just see them. This bird was on a beach, as they often are, and it was turning over pebbles as its name, turnstone, would suggest it does. Have…
Rare breeders
The issue of British Birds to which I probably look forward the most is the annual report of the Rare Breeding Birds Panel. In the July BB the Panel reports on 2010. It was a year of southern herons and southern warblers. If you read my article on climate change in the August Birdwatch you…
Going on holiday?
Do you want something amusing and entertaining to take on holiday – then take me? Or at least take Fighting for Birds. That Chris Packham knows a bit about wildlife and this is what he says about Fighting for Birds (click here). I am actually wandering around the north of Britain and so if this…
A chat with Charlie
Last week I had a chat with Charlie Moores about grouse shooting, hen harrier shooting, farmland birds, climate change, the honours system, the RSPB, whether I am happy, whether Charlie is any good at spotting birds, bluethroats, politicians, politics etc You can listen to our chat on Charlie’s podcast Talking Naturally (where you will also…