The Role of Imaging and Audio Science in Conservation
David Attenborough’s ‘Wonder of Song’ documentary focuses on the study of the evolution of bird song. However he discusses the very first recordings of Humpback calls (manipulated to x2 speed they sound a bit like birdsong) and he highlighted that at the time of these new underwater recording, humans were killing whales in their thousands and had been for centuries, almost to the brink of extinction. When the beautiful and sorrowful recordings of Humpbacks were shared with humanity in the 1960s, we heard their song and there was a sudden shift in attitude, a shift towards stopping whaling fleets, and new organisations began campaigning to end whaling. Perhaps even Paul Watson was affected and motivated by the sounds of humpacks in the first years of his campaigning?
With those first recordings, we heard humpback whales and connected with them, and felt empathy and an affinity with them. We wanted to protect them.
As we use technology to learn about nature, including using imaging and audio techniques in particular, we are able to connect to and relate to nature in a way many of us had clearly failed to do beforehand. Think about coronavirus – you know what it looks like and can therefore get a sense of scale and understanding of it because a scientist imaged it using SEM, and then digital artists expanded on those images. See here:
Humans are visual animals. Art and photography have enabled us to connect with nature in exactly the same way. I will defend the sciences of imaging and audio science because this is how much it can make a difference to the natural world, along with hugely advancing diagnoses and treatments, and scientific understanding in general. Attenborough’s films themselves are a testament to that. Wildlife photography and film is a testament to that. Imaging technology is fundamental to learning and science, and it seems also instrumental to convincing us visual humans to preserve the natural world.
Additionally, watch the documentary as it was very good!
It’s time Scotland took on landed interests over animal protections
Mountain hares winning protected species in Scotland was an amazing achievement for Alison Johnstone and the Greens in Scotland. At least 26,000 mountain hares are killed per year, a number which is most likely to be an under-estimate. The backlash from estates was intense. It always is. They do not appear to like their behaviours exposed to the public.
Week after week we hear of raptors (often protected species) killed on estates in Scotland and the rest of the UK, in particular Yorkshire and Derbyshire. This article outlines the need to push harder against large estates and the power they wield in Parliament. Too many estates persecute native wildlife and have done for centuries, usually for the benefit of non-native birds which will be shot (a sport paid for and often subsidised) and agricultural animals. I believe it is also about power and greed.
Land owners have a responsibility to stop and change this outdated approach. We can’t let the systematic destruction of our wildlife on these estates slide any longer. It’s insidious and pervasive, and needs to be stopped.
https://www.thenational.scot/news/18542803.time-scotland-took-landed-interests-animal-protections/
This Was The Decade Climate Scientists Stopped Being Polite | Gizmodo Australia
Scientists’ ‘politeness’ went on for far too long. If you know a truth – one that will change the world if rampant consumerism and greed continue unchecked – you do something about it, especially if you’re backed by science and academia. The people I can’t forgive are past politicians and some scientists who said little and did nothing while knowing our natural world was doomed. This applies to consumerism and capitalism, deforestation, predator persecution, climate, whaling and overfishing and more. Where were they? For 30 years from childhood I looked around and saw chaos coming and no one in power doing anything about it. Only charities like FoE, Greenpeace (back in the day) and WDC were speaking out. Too late now I fear. Humans are our own worst enemies. Too few listening to science, logic and fact, and the rest too easily swayed by rhetoric, propaganda, brainwashing and greed.
https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2020/01/this-was-the-decade-climate-scientists-stopped-being-polite/
Wildlife Crime — [Andrew Rosindell in the Chair]: 20 Mar 2019: Westminster Hall debates wildlife crime
In her response to the wildlife crime debate Therese Coffey demonstrates a distinct lack of understanding or willful ignorance on the issues of illegal hunting, raptor persecution and killing of hares. Does she get that hares are killed by their thousands in ways other than hare coursing and that the government have made those ways perfectly legal. They need protecting – full stop.
And we need an end to brood meddling. It clearly doesn’t work.
“In the recent judicial review into the lawfulness of Natural England’s decision to grant a licence for trials of hen harrier brood management, the claimants’ claims were dismissed. The proposed brood management scheme will continue. It seeks to manage the conflict between the conservation of hen harriers and the grouse shooting industry. That decision means the important work to protect and conserve the hen harrier can continue.”
https://www.theyworkforyou.com/whall/?id=2019-03-20a.374.2#g393.3
Darwin’s Fish: Evolutionary controversies in the fossil record | University of Oxford Podcasts – Audio and Video Lectures
Great lecture by Matt Friedman on Darwin’s (and others’) discoveries about evolution and genetics, symmetry in fish, and other things.
Edit: I have since discovered Friedman, M. has written numerous papers on teleost fish, whilst writing my own essays. A very clever man.
https://podcasts.ox.ac.uk/darwins-fish-evolutionary-controversies-fossil-record
Exhibition: Dinosaurs of China. Ground Shakers to Feathered Flyers
This exhibition is being held at Wollaton Hall in Nottingham through summer 2017, not far from me, and I am looking forward to visiting!
Birds are more like ‘feathered apes’ than ‘bird brains’
Birds are more like ‘feathered apes’ than ‘bird brains’
Hen Harrier Day: 9th August, 2015
For the second year running, I attended the Hen Harrier event organised by Mark Avery and attended by Mark and Chris Packham. This year they were supported by the RSPB and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, and the event/demo was held at Goytsclough Quarry.
Estimated turnout numbered around 500 attendees on the day.
Here are some photos I took on the day. It certainly seemed to be even more popular than 2014’s Hen Harrier Day and that was a success! Much positive noise and determination to raise the profile of Hen Harriers and their persecution by land-owners and game-keepers in and around the Peak District and across the UK.
Mark Avery speaks to the attendees.
Chris Packham speaks to the attendees on Hen Harrier Day 2015.
Henry Hen Harrier and Chris Packham.
This area of the Goyt Valley has some beautiful habitats.
One the way home from Hen Harrier Day 2015.
Dragon Mother 
Recent Comments