Batty about Bats
UK Chiropteran species include three pipistrelle species: Pipistrellus pipistrellus, P. pygmaeus and P. nathusii, along with 15 other recorded bat species in mainland UK.
Volunteer-run local bat groups in the UK have various schemes to install bat boxes and check occupants regularly, as a means of gauging populations, and recording which species are present and using surrounding habitats in these scheme areas. This information is vital for national recording of bat species.
This weekend we were checking bat boxes prior to winter hibernation – when bats go into torpor – weighing individuals, checking for general health, and learning how to distinguish between the three pipistrelle species based on common morphological differences, courtesy of the wonderful volunteers in my local bat group.
It was amazing for me to get so close to these amazing animals which I’ve been studying both personally and as part of my job for a few years! It was a bit like Christmas coming early!
I have now had my first rabies vaccination jab, with the following two vaccinations booked for this month. Once I have rabies immunity I will be able to handle bats and work towards a class licence for bats as part of my work.
I don’t really understand those who don’t think bats are incredible, highly-adapted and fascinating animals, and likewise those who can’t see how cute they are! See for yourself with these images I took while conducting bat box checks with the Staffordshire Bat Group.
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!
Cuvier’s History of the Natural Sciences – 4. The Works of Conrad Gessner and Ulisse Aldrovandi – Publications scientifiques du Muséum
Tell me this isn’t one of the most fascinating books you’ve ever seen. Gessner’s Historia Animalium from 1587. The original natural history book of illustrated animals from around the world. Includes mythical half horse half serpent animal which were, at the time, presumed to exist, along with many other mythical creatures.
The proportions are horrific in most of the illustrations but most were drawn from the personal descriptions of animals contributed by global travelers. To my mind it’s an absolutely astounding historical zoological document.
I just wish I could find an old copy.
“Cuvier’s History of the Natural Sciences – 4. The Works of Conrad Gessner and Ulisse Aldrovandi – Publications scientifiques du Muséum” https://books.openedition.org/mnhn/2815?lang=en
Large tides may have been a key factor in the evolution of bony fish and tetrapods | University of Oxford
This awesome and fascinating research suggests that our moon – possibly fairly unique to us in its proximity and relative size – may have been a key factor in the evolution of bony fish and tetrapods, the first land-dwelling animals (which includes dinosaurs and us).
Tidal influence upon the origin and diversification of other early vertebrates and possible extinction events is being studied further.
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/
Wild Justice response to RSPB consultation on gamebird shooting — Raptor Persecution UK
Last year the RSPB announced it was undertaking a policy review on gamebird shooting (see here). This was prompted by ongoing environmental concerns including ‘the ongoing and systematic illegal persecution of birds of prey such as hen harriers on some sporting estates; the ecological impact of high numbers of game birds released into the countryside increasing the density of generalist […]
via Wild Justice response to RSPB consultation on gamebird shooting — Raptor Persecution UK
Extinction Rebellion: Extremism?
This is (I presume) a screenshot taken of new (now redacted) police guidelines relating to government-led advice on handling the organisation Extinction Rebellion.
To clarify, Extinction Rebellion state:
“Extinction Rebellion is an international movement that uses non-violent civil disobedience in an attempt to halt mass extinction and minimise the risk of social collapse.”
The government and police force have effectively implied that ER are a terrorist organisation. ER’s response can be found here. https://rebellion.earth/2020/01/10/how-dare-they-extinction-rebellion-responds-to-terrorism-slur-by-police/
If protesting loudly against the destruction of our planet and all living things on it, including ultimately ourselves, is somehow seen as extremism, then you know the system itself is ruled by insane oligarchs and fascists who wish to strictly control the narratives and push us further into capitalist and consumer-led environmental destruction and death. This is an attempt to silence and destroy rightful dissent against a broken system. We are not extremists; we are humans who are wide awake to the insanity of the world we currently live in and who desperately want to stop the destruction and ecological collapse happening all around us right now.
Spy satellite images reveal Himalaya glacier ice losses have doubled
Climate change is real. All vociferous doubters are basically gambling with everyone’s future, based on their need to rebel against prevailing scientific consensus. They are dangerous. This is dangerous.
The speed at which glaciers in the Himalayas are losing ice has doubled since the turn of the century, an analysis of declassified spy film has revealed
Source: Spy satellite images reveal Himalaya glacier ice losses have doubled
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