Silver linings for our wildlife
Nature Notes for Lynn News
IN December I tend to look back at the wildlife reports of the year and these have been constantly made about the decline of our wildlife.
Scientists are ever eager to shift the blame for the UK’s decline of wildlife as far away as possible from our homeland.
Bird flu? Wild birds were blamed but it was domestic fowl.
Bovine TB? It is not the badger that is infecting the cattle but the cattle infecting the badger. A cull similar to the present proposed one was carried out 50 years ago to no avail.
The drought and extension of the Sahara desert has been going on for many years. Migrant birds will find a way to circumnavigate this obstacle to their migratory journeys. How is it that cuckoos are plentiful in Scotland, but much in decline in England? Where have all the lapwings and turtle doves gone?
Metal rings on birds’ legs for the last 100 years have failed to locate the African wintering grounds of the nightingale, but one such bird that I ringed many years ago was found in Portugal.
Now with geo tabs on a handful of nightingales, one has been located in Africa, which augurs well for future studies.
But instead of looking so far afield, we should be examining our own homeland and that of our neighbours in Europe. On the Mediterranean islands, more than four million birds are still being killed annually for bottling and to sell in shops.
Some of the following activities in the UK have undoubtedly been responsible for the decline of wildlife, but there is very little that can be done about it. It is progress which we accept and enjoy.
1951: Human population was five million; 2010: population more than 12 million.
1950: Vehicles, 3,970; 2010: more than 34 million.
1954: More than four million dogs; 2010: Now estimated at 12 million.
Prior to the First World War there were more than 23,000 gamekeepers; 2010: Now just 3,000.
Widespread use of pesticides and herbicides since the 1950s on arable land and gardens.
Pollution of airways in the last decade and millions of mobile telephones in use.
Bird ringing: One million birds are now ringed annually in the UK.
Nest record cards: Currently some 39,000 nests are visited several times when they should be left undisturbed.
Birders: In 1961 less than a dozen birders visited Blakeney Point to see a raddes warbler which was the first one seen in Norfolk and only the second recorded in the UK; in 2009, more than 2,0000 went to see an eastern crowned warbler in Durham which was the first recorded for the UK.
Many other factors include masses of deer browsing away all the undergrowth in forests, thus depriving small birds, animals and insects of their homes.
As technology advances so rapidly how can wildlife hope to survive? However, there may be silver linings in technology; the internet has spawned hundreds of newcomer naturalists and some may help and support the wonderful nature reserves we have in this country.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
