BBC Wildlife Volume 36 #10

WHYGEORDIE KITTIWAKES HAVE


BEEN CAUSING CONTROVERSY












October 2018 Volume 36 Number 11


















Thesummer


heatwave


How the weather

afected our wildlife


Naturelover’s


dilemma


Should we swat

lies and kill slugs?



PLUS

WHAT HAPPENS TO
TOP-NOTCH
A COAL TIT’S BRAIN BIG MAMMALS

IN WINTERTIME? Black bears, bobcats,
coyotes, moose

















USA



















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2years
forthe

The world’s leading priceof1
wildlife photographers when you
capture the raw beauty Welcome!
of the magnificant tiger. subscribe!
Find out more on p84 See page 26

s I write this, and could pose a threat to our

Megan, our Editorial biodiversity if it gains a foothold.
Assistant, has been Thinking of invading creatures,

reading out an our Talking Point this issue (p28)
Aonline news item raises the knotty problem of how
about an Asian hornet having a nature lover deals with animals

been spotted in Cornwall. It may that are viewed as pests by the rest
be a coincidence, or a matter of of humanity. It certainly chimes
our senses being attuned to the with my quandary over flies in my

subject, but hornets are the stars kitchen this summer. My answer
of an article in this issue (p78) to the problem has been to develop

written by ecologist Helen Roy my stealth skills to the point where
and illustrated with some amazing I can catch them in a glass and
images by photographer Stephen eject them from the premises!

Powles. It is mostly about our
native hornets but included is a

section about the invading Asian
COVER: Bear: Mark Raycroft/M nden P ctures/Getty; k tt wake: Andrew Mason; cardinal:
species which has been slowly
Sheena Harvey
making its way across Europe Editor



George Sanker/naturepl.com; chipmunk: Marie Read/naturepl.com

Ourplastic Getyour Contactus

packaging digital copy Q Advertising
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October 2018 BBC Wildlife 3

70


















































42













CONTENTS 78











FEATURES WILD NEWS


18 AutumnwatchUSA COVERSTORY 70 Turningturtle Keep up to date with the big nature
‘Watch’ producer Chris Howard previews It takes all sorts of volunteers – with stories and latest wildlife discoveries
the wild delights of New England in the fall varied motivations – to monitor and 51 News
protect loggerheads on a Florida beach Persecution of birds of prey in Scotland
28 Everydayethics COVER STORY
Is it ever OK to squash a fly, or is ‘live 78 Astinginthetale has fallen following new legislation
and let live’ the absolute imperative? Explore the social world of the hornet 54 Conservationreport
with a photographer who gets a buzz
32 Newcastle’surbankittiwakes out of these striped insect predators The elusive Central Asian sand cat
COVERSTORY Why seabirds nesting on 57 MeettheScientist
Tyneside are ruffling feathers 84 Photo story: Eye on the tiger Lake ecologist Stephen Thackeray on
Extraordinarily candid images from a the effects of ‘underwater heatwaves’
42 ThebirdthatsavedforestsRY new exhibition reveal the lives of the big
How the discovery of Ecuador’s jocotoco cat and efforts in their conservation 58 TruthorFiction?
antpitta led to the creation of a reserve Do the stripes of a zebra actually help it
and influential conservation foundation stay cool under the searing African sun?

60 News: Howheathitswildlife Share 69 MarkCarwardine
COVER STORY The UK’s long, dry summer and win Is fine art really so much more valuable
has been welcomed by some – but it Complete our than conservation?
has had a serious impact on nature reader survey
Page 108
4 BBC Wildlife October 2018

The people

behind our stories
















CHRIS HOWARD
Chris is the series producer of BBC
Two’s Autumnwatch.“It’s the hardest
season to film,” he says,“and this year
we’ve upped the ante: we’re coming
live from New England with the most
famous autumn on Earth.” See p18



18 Antpitta: Xavier Munoz; turle: Ben Watkins; moose: Michael Quinton/Minden/Alamy; kittiwakes: Andrew Mason; Steven Allain: Charles Best; illustration by Peter David Scott/The Art Agency







115 32 RICHARD SMYTH



“I’m fascinated by wildlife that’s not
where it’s ‘supposed’ to be,” says
Richard.“When controversy erupted
recently over the urban kittiwake
colony on the Tyne in Newcastle, I had
to get to the bottom of it.” See p32















MARGO PIERCE
“Sea turtles are barometers of the
health of our oceans,” says science
OUR WILD REGULARS writer Margo.“Knowing about

WORLD 6 WildMonth their lives and habitats can inform
our stewardship of our shared

Find out the answers to your wild Seven species to look out for in October environment.” See p70
questions and share your stories
13 MikeDilger’swildlifewatching
109 Q&A How to enjoy migration hotspots
Why are birds of paradise so spectacular? 17 NickBaker’sHiddenBritain
Plus, do wild animals get cancer?
COVERSTORY The coal tit’s stashing strategy
114 Travel: NationalParks 40 InFocus: Oxpeckers
What to spot if you visit Torres del Paine
National Park in Chilean Patagonia 92 BehindtheImage
Chilean flamingos fly high in Patagonia HELEN ROY
115 Volunteer: WorkingforNature Ecologist Helen enjoys delving into
Steven Allain surveys amphibians and 95 WildatHome: naturalhistory the diverse behaviours of insects.
reptiles in Cambridgeshire TV,books,puzzlesandmore “Watching Britain’s largest social

insect, the hornet, my captivation was
116 YourPhotos 122 WildlifeChampion matched by the seeming nonchalance
Why the renowned wildlife street artist
118 Feedback of these creatures,” she says. See p78
Your letters and Tales from the Bush ATM loves kestrels




October 2018 BBC Wildlife 5

WILDMONTH










Seven essential wildlife events to enjoy this


month, compiled by Ben Hoare.

















1 | SHORT-EARED OWL
Angels of the north


With long wings beating slowly, in Scotland and northern England,
these owls bring to mind large, pale though numbers fluctuate naturally
moths. Seemingly without any effort, according to the boom-and-bust cycle
they fly low over rough grassland of vole populations. In October many
or saltmarsh, patiently tacking back of our birds head to coasts for the
and forth as they search for voles. In winter, while the rest migrate south as
her recent book Owl Sense (Guardian far as the Mediterranean. Meanwhile,
Faber), Miriam Darlington coined the more of the owls are arriving from
term ‘earsight’ to describe the way in northern breeding grounds in
which owls such as these hunt using Scandinavia. It’s impressive to think
3D mental maps built entirely from that these beautiful birds, with their
sound. When a ‘shortie’ finally hears floaty flight style, are capable of
the faint rustle of tiny paws, it twists crossing the churning brown waters
suddenly, then drops like a stone to of the North Sea.
snatch its hidden prey. Its talons may FIND OUT MORE Watch a
Simon Litten grip fur before it even sees the meal. BTO video about owl identification:
Around 1,400 pairs of short-
eared owls nest in Britain, mostly
bto.org/about-birds/bird-id

WILD OCTOBER

WILDOCTOBER






2 | SEA TROUT
Homeward bound


Atlantic salmon aren’t the only fish
heading upstream to spawn in
gravelly riverbeds at this time of year
– there are sea trout, too. Technically
the same species as the brown trout
that remain in fresh water, these
are muscular, powerful fish. Like
salmon, they migrate mainly at
night, guided by a combination of
chemical and magnetic cues. As Paul
Evans writes in his new book How
to See Nature (Pavilion Books), their
“whole physical being is a sensory
organ”. Each fish is so sensitive to its
aquatic environment that it can even
“taste the rinsing of human hands
in the water”.


FIND OUT MORE Learn more
about wild trout at wildtrout.org

































3 | GUELDER ROSE
Autumn colour


Though much less well known
than rowan, or mountain ash,
the guelder rose arguably
bears the brightest fruit. This
small tree or shrub grows in
hedgerows, scrub and woodland
edge, reaching a few metres tall,
and is widely planted too. It is
native to the British Isles, but,
curiously, is named after the
region of the Netherlands where
an ornamental variety was first
grown. The scarlet berries,
which hang in plump clusters, T rout: Jack Perks; guelder rose: John Bebbington; teal: James Lowen
are enjoyed by bullfinches,
making a popular subject for
wildlife photographers.

FIND OUT MORE Discover
more UK flora at plantlife.org.uk


8 BBC Wildlife October 2018

WILDOCTOBER







4 | TEAL ON RADIO
Fresh feathers TWEET OF

Male ducks spend midsummer looking THE DAY
rather dowdy. Before moulting their all- Weekdays at 05.58
important wing feathers, which renders
them flightless, the birds adopt a brown,
female-like plumage known as ‘eclipse’ to
hide them from foxes and other predators.
But now their moult is complete and the
drakes are once again resplendent. Male
teal in fresh breeding colours are some
of our most handsome wildfowl – bottle-
green eye patches provide a stunning
contrast with chestnut-brown heads.
They are also the smallest British ducks,
weighing only a third or quarter as much
as the much chunkier mallards.


TOP TIP Listen to a teal’s whistle at
xeno-canto.org

WILDOCTOBER
6 | LESSER HORSESHOE BAT
Hanging around


5 | SYCAMORE Halloween invariably turns public attention
Native or not? to bats, yet most stories about these
mammals are far from the truth. For one
Naturalists are often sniffy about the thing, the popular image of bats hanging
sycamore owing to uncertainty over its upside-down, wings wrapped around their
status in Britain. The late, great dendrologist bodies like pashminas, is misleading.
Oliver Rackham pointed out that the lack of Only two British bats do this – the greater
Celtic and Saxon names for this European and lesser horseshoes, named for their
tree suggests it did not grow here in ancient strange ‘nose leafs’ (flaps of skin) that
times. But debates about whether sycamore aid echolocation. Lesser horseshoes are a
is native have made no difference to the speciality of south-west England, Wales and
enjoyment of generations of children playing western Ireland, and this month enter their
with its winged seeds in autumn. Sycamore hibernation roosts. As seen on the BBC’s
‘helicopters’ are more bent than those of field Winterwatch last January, they favour cellars,
maple – the Woodland Trust describes them tunnels and caves with consistently cool air.
as more like “Frank Zappa’s moustache”
than the “Clark Gable” of field maple. FIND OUT MORE Learn more about
UK bats at bats.org.uk
GET INVOLVED Join the survey:
naturescalendar.woodlandtrust.org.uk
ON RADIO

NATURAL
HISTORIES
Bat episode
































7 | SILVER Y
Migrant moth

When mosquitoes invaded the England
vs Tunisia match at this summer’s
FIFA World Cup in Russia, it wasn’t
the first time insects had made their
presence felt at a televised sporting
event. The silver Y enjoyed its moment
in the limelight when one landed on
Portuguese striker Ronaldo during
the final of UEFA Euro 2016. This
abundant migratory moth with its
diagnostic silver squiggle travels in vast Bat: Oliver Smart; sycamore: Sylvain Cordier/naturepl.com; moth: Laurie Campbell

ON RADIO swarms in some years, when adults
hatched in Britain are boosted by large
NATURAL numbers from the Continent. Look for
HISTORIES them in most habitats, including parks
Moth episode and gardens – as well as sports fields.


FIND OUT MORE Learn more about
moths at ukmoths.org.uk


10 BBC Wildlife October 2018



African Wildlife Foundation and the Illegal Wildlife Trade






In October 2018, the UK Government will host the
latest in a series of international conferences aimed at
combating the illegal wildlife trade,so devastating to

Africa’s wildlife. At this conference, the African Wildlife
Foundation will showcase its Canines for Conservation
Programme – an initiative which teams up man’s best
friend with dedicated handlers from African wildlife
authorities – to sniff out rhino horn,ivory and other
wildlife products all for a KONG toy rubber reward.
Dogs noses are extraordinary.With 50 times more
olfactory receptors than human noses, they don’t
lie and they can’t be corrupted, and they can detect
wildlife products even in sealed shipping containers.

The results are remarkable.When able to fully access
search areas, bust rates soar. AWF is the sector
leader in the use of dogs to detect illegal wildlife
contraband combined with training Africa’s wildlife
prosecution teams to bring traffickers to justice.
AWF has active programmes in 6 countries including
Kenya,Tanzania and Uganda, but the need to expand
to other countries is urgent. Help support AWF and
its partners to tackle this global trade by donating to
www.awf.org/uk-gift and making sure 2018 is a year
that counts.


Kirstin Johnson – UK Director [email protected]










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WILD OCTOBER





Barred warblers turn up in
the UK in the autumn as
they migrate south. Head
to the east coast for a good
chance of seeing one.



















































MIKE DILGER’S



WILDLIFEWATCHING







MIGRATION In his series of great places to watch wildlife in the UK, the star of

IN OCTOBER BBC One's The One Show this month takes us on an outing to view
migrating birds, with useful tips on when and where to look.




hether it be a new bird around our coast. It is the location of encountering extraordinary species at
in the garden, a first these migration hotspots that puts them these prime locations frequently become
for your local patch, in the perfect spot to offer respite for any avid weather-watchers in October. Winds
Warbler: Markus Varesvuo/naturepl.com; birdwatcher: Dave McAleavy Images/Alamy
or even a species migratory birds either using the coast as can impact heavily on migration, as
Wyou’ve never before a navigational marker, or after traversing sustained easterlies should mean that
seen in Britain, it’s time to admit there the seas as a regular part of their birding on the east coast will be hard to
is probably a little bit of the ‘twitcher’ in long journey. beat. Conversely, if the prevailing
all of us. For those with a penchant for Additionally, Spurn Point wind is blowing across
is a popular
tracking down rare and unexpected birds, these sites tend the Atlantic from the
destination for
October is the month when millions of to be the first birdwatchers. Americas, then west
our feathered friends relocate from their landfall for any will be best.
breeding to wintering grounds – with individuals that Moreover, if
some getting lost along the way. have blown off the ‘right’ winds
During this time of mass avian course or become combine with cold,
movement across the northern disorientated. wet and foggy
hemisphere, the best locations to catch Birders keen conditions here in
up with more unusual species are on to maximise the UK, this often
points, headlands and islands on or their chances of means migratory birds




October 2018 BBC Wildlife 13

WILD OCTOBER




































The Isles of Scilly
provide a place to
stop and rest for
exhausted birds.



“ If an unusual or unknown

migratory bird appears,

it’s important to make
every second count.”



must sit out the inclement conditions
before moving on. This should increase
your chances of seeing them.
The key to finding and identifying out
of place birds is to make sure that you
know the run-of-the-mill species well in
their respective plumages. This intimate
knowledge of ‘the common’ should mean SPECIES TO LOOK OUT FOR
that anything out of the ordinary will stand
out more easily. Be mindful that birds in Red-backed shrike individuals spotted in and dumpy flycatcher is
the throes of migration can, confusingly, This was once a breeding eastern Britain are young in southern Scandinavia.
be seen away from where you’d normally bird in Britain. Most that birds approaching their
expect to spot them, meaning firecrests turn up along Britain’s east first winter, with distinctive Red-eyed vireo
can be found in bramble patches and ring coast are juveniles, with buf fringes to their wing The size of a great tit, with a
ouzels might be spotted among blackbirds. brown-barred upper parts feathers. Breeding in grey cap, red eyes (in adults)
and pale bellies adorned eastern Europe, about 150 and a white eye stripe, these
Broadcast your find with crescent marks along are recorded annually along warbler-like birds breed in
Any weary migrant needing to rest will look each flank. our east coast, en route North America’s forests.
for cover, and as many coastal locations to East Africa. Britain gets at least one
are sparsely vegetated, any bushes, Yellow-browed bird each autumn, which
copses, walls and watercourses can prove warbler Red-breasted has mistaken the Isles
productive. If an unusual or unknown bird Small and paler than lycatcher Scilly for South
should suddenly make an appearance, it’s a chifchaf, and with a No larger than a blue merica.
important to make every second count. conspicuous pale stripe tit, most individuals
Many birders reach for their camera in the over the eye and a dark travelling to West
first instance, but equally the old-fashioned line below, this tiny warbler Africa via Britain’s
method of making detailed field notes and breeds in eastern Russia coast don’t have
sketches can also help clinch identification and China. Around 300 are the orange-red
once the bird has retreated from view. recorded each autumn on chin, but all
Finally, the more birders who catch sight Britain’s east coast. plumages have
of the bird, the more chance it has of being two distinctive
correctly identified and accepted by the Barred warbler white patches at the base
county recorder (you can find the local A little bigger than a house of a constantly flicking
one at bto.org) or rarities committee, so sparrow, and with a long tail. The nearest breeding
do broadcast your find. Plus, it’s always so tail and large head, most population of this dinky
much more rewarding to share the love.


14 BBC Wildlife October 2018

WILD OCTOBER








CHOICE LOCATIONS
1

















2
3








4
5


Islands, points and headlands are
ideal places to spot birds moving from
breeding to overwintering grounds. Start
exploring at one of these top locations:

1 Fair Isle is situated between Shetland
and the Orkney Isles and its wonderfully
isolated location makes it probably the best
place to find rare Asiatic birds in Britain.


Clockwise from shrike used to breed 2 Spurn Point curls for over three miles
above: the barred in Britain; the red- from the Humber’s North Bank into the
warbler may stop eyed vireo is a rarity
of in the UK on its and a sighting to be North Sea. With 391 diferent birds recorded
way to East Africa; treasured. Centre: there, the peninsula has the highest species
at a glance, the red- the yellow-browed count on mainland Britain.
breasted flycatcher warbler has a yellow
resembles a robin; ‘eyebrow’ and coal 3 Blakeney Point has as its main Sc
the red-backed tit-like call.
feature a 6.4km spit of sand and shingle
that can hold huge numbers of migratory
birds when conditions force them to land.


4 Portland Bill promontory at the Ye
southern edge of the Isle of Portland
in Dorset is the perfect landfall for all
manner of migrants needing to rest
before heading of to the Continent.


5 The Isles of Scilly archipelago has y: Merryn Thomas/naturep .com; v reo: Dan e e Occh ato/ Bu ten-bee d/ M nden/Getty; barred warb er: O
a strategic position of the southwestern ow-browed Warb er: Dr.An rban S nha/Getty; flycatcher: Tony M
tip of Cornwall and is famed as a magnet
for unusual birds originating from all
points of the compass.




DON’T GO WITHOUT:

Downloading the Met
Oice weather app (iOS
and Android). Use it to s/A amy; shr ke: Sandra Standbr dge/Getty
check prevailing winds ver R chter/ BIA/ M nden/Getty;
before heading to your
birdwatching destination.




October 2018 BBC Wildlife 15

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WILD OCTOBER







Hidden





N













f you are one of the
75,000 Brits who feed
the birds in your garden,
I and you’re blessed with a One for later: coal
tits often flit of with
little curiosity, you might have
nuts from garden
noticed that your avian visitors feeders to stash in
don’t just pitch in and eat – they NICK tree-bark crevices.

behave strategically. To them, BAKER
the feeder represents a patch
resource: a weird metal tree Reveals a fascinating
bearing strange fruit hanging in world of wildlife that
Perspex tubes and wire cages. we oten overlook.
To them, it’s an ephemeral
source of food, and they act Making continuous repeat This strategy creates one
accordingly to exploit it to the COAL TIT visits allows them to dodge the obvious challenge for the
maximum. Watch carefully and competition. By hiding each caching bird: how to re-find
you may notice a hierarchy, with prize discreetly in moss, leaf its stash. How, up to a year
certain birds displacing others. litter, crevices in the bark of a ater, does a species with a
Close to the bottom of this tree, or cracks in a wall or fence ea-sized brain perform these
pecking order will be the coal post, they can accumulate more mental gymnastics?
tit. This small, humbug-headed food than birds that simply
bird has to be sneaky to outwit peck away until full. Brain food
the bullying blue and great tits. This strategy is so effective In fact, the hippocampus
Coal tits dash and grab – that related species, such as (the part of the brain associated
flying in and quickly out. Follow the marsh tit, can cadge up to with spatial memory) of food-
them and you’ll see that though a morsel a minute – that’s a storing species grows up to
they might sometimes sit away staggering 50–60,000 food 30 per cent bigger over autumn
from the feeding frenzy and items each autumn. and winter, swollen with newly
delicately dismember a snatched DID YOU This number might generated brain tissue and
peanut or sunflower heart for KNOW ? be as much as three nerves. As the bird reaches
immediate consumption, most In winter, coal tits form times as high in a peak memory capacity, it is
often they’ll whizz off to some large flocks to scour bumper ‘mast’ year thought that parts of the brain
secret corner of the garden and woods and gardens – a situation that we holding old memories are
return minutes later to repeat for food – which, may be replicating overwritten with new neural
the process – engaging in what of course, they with feeders in our material like a computer disk.
stash.
scientists call scatter hoarding. own gardens. Far from ‘bird-brained’, these
Coal tits don’t guard these pecies are able to recall an
hidden morsels – but then they ncredible number of stash
CONTRACTION OF THE CRANIUM don’t really need to. Though a pots. Jays can remember the
competitor may sneakily follow ocations of between 20 and
Shrews don’t waste brain power in the winter.
a tit to a stash, or randomly 0 per cent of their caches.
Shrews don’t hoard food, and re-absorbs that organ for the discover one, such a loss is forget the locations of some of
Inevitably, though, birds do
Illustrations by Peter David Scott/The Art Agency they have to do cent. This is known puts all its nuts in one basket As a result, these birds make
winter, decreasing the volume
can’t hibernate in winter when
negligible compared with that
food is scarce – so
its head by 20 per
of
experienced by a species that
their stashes; in addition, some
irds are eaten by predators, and
as Dehnel’s
something drastic
ome hidden seeds are simply
and creates a larder, risking the
phenomenon.
to survive. A
lot if its hoard is discovered.
ot needed, so may germinate.
large proportion
If the shrew
Corvids are also well known
survives the
of a shrew’s
a contribution to the spread of
for hiding excess food for later
winter, its brain
energy budget
consumption. The European
hazel, oak and beech woodland.
is expended on
its brain, so it
in the spring.
acorns during one autumn.
is a naturalist, author and TV presenter.
October 2018 grows again jay can hide as many as 5,000 NICK BAKER BBC Wildlife 17

Cappi Thompson/Getty A moose in the Androscoggin
River in New England, where
Autumnwatch 2018 will be
exploring the exciting fauna
and dramatically beautiful
flora of the famous 'fall'.

L E G E N D S












FALL























BBC Two’s Autumnwatch is spreading its wings and

lying across the Pond to the USA to ind what its series


producer reveals here will be a wealth of amazing

sights… with some surprises along the way.




By Chris Howard












































CATCH ALL THE ACTION
15–19 OCTOBER, 9PM

AUTUMNWATCH






































































hy do we, as “Autumnwatch has always Above: chipmunks
a nation, love will up the show's
autumn so much? been on the move, cute factor. Below:
Chris Packham,
Where spring is Michaela Strachan
showy – flushed adapting to tell the story of and Gillian Burke
with new arrivals will be presenting
W and bright this ever-shiting season.” Autumnwatch
from the USA.
verdancy – autumn is more subtle: a final
flourish of colour as the countryside fades
to brown, and a flurry of summer visitors
fleeing for warmer climes. Likewise, the
harsh realities of winter are yet to set in. But try filming those moments, those broadcast from the highest reaches of
The great flocks of wildfowl and starlings feelings, those smells. Of the three Scotland and from the BBC Bristol car park,
are only just starting to build, and the ‘Watches’ we make each year, Autumnwatch across programmes ranging from single
desperation of the coldest and hardest is the most challenging to bring to the one-hour specials to eight-week marathons.
season is yet to bite. screen. So, for the past 12 years the team Autumnwatch has always been on the move, C ockw se from top
Yet there is clearly something about the has been experimenting with new ways to changing and adapting to tell the story of
year’s latter months – because the pin down this nebulous season. this complicated and ever-shifting season.
Autumnwatch programmes are The search has taken us And now we’re roving farther than ever
some of the most popular we all around the country. before. This year we head to the USA to
make each year. I think that’s We’ve visited Westonbirt explore ‘fall’ in New England – a spectacle S & D & K Mas owsk /FLPA; Visuals Unlimited/NPL; George Sanker/NPL; Pete Dadds/BBC
because it’s the most poetic Arboretum in the billed as the greatest autumn on Earth. eft: John Canca os /NPL; Danny Green/NPL; B
and emotional of seasons Cotswolds as the As summer recedes, the lush greens of
– felt rather than seen; leaves changed to the region’s forests give way to the scarlet
loaded with ephemeral amber and fiery and crimson of maple and red oak, while
moments sensed at a red, and watched birch and elm glint with gold and mountain
deeper level. Autumn is a huge flocks of geese maple glow in deep orange hues. The
subtle tweak in the quality through the mist transformation begins in mid-September
of the light; a shift in the at WWT Slimbridge in northern Maine, seeping south over the Hatcher/Getty;
wind that signals change. near Gloucester. We’ve following weeks through New Hampshire,


20 BBC Wildlife October 2018

Auditioning for canid camera – the
Autumnwatch USA, coyote is one of
clockwise from left: New England's
black bears rack dog species; the
up some calories wings of the barred
before hibernation; owl can be 125cm
programme makers across; the cardinal
hope to track down shouldn't be too
the shy bobcat; hard to spot…
















Vermont, Massachusetts more common then, while oak and beech
and Connecticut before were the predominant broadleaf species in
eventually reaching Rhode those ancient forests. The maples, renowned
Island in late October. today for their blazing autumn foliage
displays, comprised just 11 per cent of the
Lesser spotted leaf-peeper region’s trees in the early 17th century,
We’re not the only ones who are drawn to compared with 31 per cent today: they are
enjoy the fiery fall hues of New England. one of the first tree species to sprout readily
Each year millions of tourists, who are in a clear-cut area and grow quickly.
known locally as ‘leaf-peepers’, make a It was the actions of settlers that drove
pilgrimage to enjoy the vivid-coloured these dramatic changes in arboreal habitats.
foliage. Yet this spectacle bears little New England’s forests were the riches that
resemblance to the late-succession forest fuelled the great American experiment.
(undisturbed for a long period of time) that Their timber was logged in vast quantities
greeted the region’s original Pilgrims – the and sent back to 'Old England' for the
first European settlers who landed here shipbuilding trade, and their animals
almost 400 years ago. trapped and exported for their valuable furs.
Slow-growing evergreen trees such as By the mid-19th century, up to 80 per cent
white pine, hemlock and spruce were much of New England’s forests had been felled,


October 2018 BBC Wildlife 21

AUTUMNWATCH








“ New England has Clockwise scratch of ticks; FALL GUYS
from right:
the red-tailed
charismatic fauna that tree swallows hawk is one of Meet the cast:
flocking to roost
many migrating
on Connecticut raptors; great
delivers just as much River islands; white sharks characters from
a black bear patrol the Cape
screen gold as enjoys the fruit Cod shores to Autumnwatch
in an abandoned predate the
its renowned lora.” orchard; moose grey seals that New England
use trees to
thrive there.








MOOSE AND TICKS
Moose are susceptible to parasitic
ticks, yet they are unable to groom
them of. Until recently the ungulates
could rely on cold winters to kill of
the pests, but as winters warm due
to climate change they have resorted
to rubbing their backs vigorously
against trees to rid themselves of
their unwanted guests. Sadly, huge
numbers of ‘ghost moose’, their
hides rubbed raw and hairless from
attempts to shift ticks, die from blood
loss and the efects of cold.

SEALS AND GREAT
WHITE SHARKS
Once hunted close to extinction, the
seal population around coastal New
England has rebounded dramatically:
as many as 50,000 grey seals are







the land put to work in agriculture. Just 200 red deer, seen (and heard) on the series spanning an equal 2m, gather at scrapes
years ago, a visitor would have been met with rutting on Exmoor and Rum. New England and wallows to battle for access to receptive
the sight of vast swathes of empty farmland, has its rut, too – but this one is supersized. females. Despite their size, though, moose
punctuated by small pockets of trees. Moose, the largest and heaviest member are among the most challenging of our
But the farms didn’t last. Lured by the of the deer family, also rut in autumn. The target species to capture on film; they’re
promise of even greater wealth in the west, males, huge creatures reaching over 2m tall able to thread their heavy headgear through
many settlers abandoned New England; at the shoulder and with palmate antlers the thickest of foliage and disappear without
undisturbed, the trees began to a trace into the forest.
return, and the familiar mix of Squirrels are also Autumnwatch
hardwood forest began to take The New England favourites, and we have covered
shape – the ‘classic’ New England landscape was shaped the battles between our native red
by the early activities
vista, 400 years in the making squirrel and invasive American
of European settlers.
but less than 200 years old. greys in the UK many times. In
New England, though, there’s
Fascinating fauna a twist. Here, reds and greys
Autumnwatch is about more than live side by side; in fact, locals
colourful leaves, and luckily New consider the reds to be the pests,
England has charismatic fauna gnawing their way into attics and
that delivers just as much screen destroying anything in their way.
gold as its renowned flora. Many On top of those two athletic
of the species we hope to feature rodents, New England boasts
have a familiar ring to them. another four species of squirrel:
Mammals often prove to be the woodchuck, two species of flying
stars of Autumnwatch, not least squirrel and – certain to emerge


22 BBC Wildlife October 2018

are probably among the least studied
white sharks in the world.


BEARS AND ORCHARDS
When farmers moved away from New
England in the 19th century, they left
behind small orchards, remnants of
which still linger in the forests today.
During autumns when natural food is
in short supply, these orchards act as
a magnet for wildlife, especially black
bears desperate to feed up before the
long winter hibernation.

MIGRATING RAPTORS
thought to live on Cape Cod alone Each September, many of northern
– and they’re attracting unwanted North America’s hawks, eagles and
attention. In the early 2000s, only falcons head south for the winter,
one or two great white sharks were migrating in astonishing numbers.
spotted each year in the area; in 2016, Hundreds, sometimes thousands, of
there were 147. We spoke to shark birds can be seen in New England in a
scientist Greg Skomal, who single day, with broad-winged and red-
acknowledges that these tailed hawks generally in the largest
numbers; peregrines, kestrels and bald
eagles often reach double digits, too.


TREE SWALLOWS
Almost every autumn evening,
thousands of tree swallows flock to
the Connecticut River to roost on
uninhabited islands in the middle of
the waterway. Like starlings, they
will swoop and sway above the river
in mesmerising displays before
descending to the safety of their
roost for the night.







as one of the stars of the show – the cheeky are real characters, smaller but bound to So, with a world-renowned sylvan
chipmunk. A much larger rodent being make an impact; porcupine with a taste for spectacle and a list of animals as long
reacquainted with Britain also appears: the nibbling fresh wires, and raccoons that are as your arm, how do you go about
beaver, although here in its North American so adaptable they have spread from their setting up an Autumnwatch across the
Shutterstock;hawk: Rich Legg/Getty; bear: Visuals Unlimited/NPL; moose: Erin Paul Donovan/Alamy
form rather than its Eurasian. forest homes to almost every corner of New Atlantic? We needed to identify locations,
Archive print: Interfoto/Alamy; aerial: Brian J. Skerry/Getty; tree swallows: Fred Beckham/AP/Rex/
Transatlantic connections continue England – causing mayhem along the way accommodation, offices and other facilities.
through the cast list. New England is and more than likely to do so with our What we didn’t realise is what every film
home to stoats and weasels galore, but camera kit too. crew needs is a porcupine and a banana.
also American mink, martens and a large Earlier this year Lucy, one of our most
mustelid called the fisher – one of a few Supersized birds experienced producers, travelled to New
animals known to be able to tackle and eat a Birdfeeders should bring cardinals, blue England to find somewhere that could tick
porcupine. The red fox is joined by grey fox jays and chickadees, and the chance to all of our boxes. And it was at the Squam
and coyote among the canids. Some types experiment with different takes on our Lakes Natural Science Center that she met
of animal aren’t familiar at all in the UK, of popular regular feeding experiments. the prickly rodent in question. Squam Lake
course: the bobcat, a reclusive inhabitant of Barred owls and pileated woodpeckers are is a beautiful spot in New Hampshire,
the forest, and black bear. supersized versions of their tawny and flanked by woodland, ponds and meadows,
A host of larger-than-life characters will greater-spotted cousins in Europe, while bald but it also has serious scientific credentials
add an extra dimension this year. Some eagles patrol the skies. In ponds, common and staff with a deep knowledge of local
are physically imposing – with huge newts are replaced by their eastern cousins, wildlife. The centre’s team is led by a Scot,
numbers of black bears living alongside who have a striking orange juvenile stage Iain Macleod, who has lived in the region
the human population, and a coastline that called a red eft, and common toads become for over 30 years and is even a ‘Watches’ fan.
is home to humpback whales and a seal massive American bullfrogs. There are The centre is also an educational
population that is attracting great white some creatures, such as the snapping turtle, institute; as part of this work it takes in
sharks in unprecedented numbers. Others that you’d never expect to spot in Britain. and rehabilitates native animals, working


October 2018 BBC Wildlife 23

AUTUMNWATCH




































On Golden Pond




Squam Lake, the second largest in
New Hampshire, was immortalised
in the Oscar-winning 1981 film On
Golden Pond with Katharine Hepburn
and Henry Fonda. Its still waters
Landscape: David Brownell/Alamy; porcupine: Lucy Bowden
are a perfect nesting habitat for the
common loon, known in Britain as the
great northern diver. Under the surface
fin plentiful trout, bass and perch.The “This most ickle of
Squam Lake Natural Science Center, in
Holderness at the south-western edge seasons is waiting to
of the lake, was established in 1966 to surprise us… that is the
advance the understanding of ecology
and to encourage visitors to explore joy of Autumnwatch.”
New Hampshire’s natural world.






with them to educate visitors about the There was expert advice on tap, plus Between the camp and the Science Center
wonderful creatures that live in the woods. a banana-eating porcupine. But, so far, there we had found our home for the autumn.
One such temporary resident was a was no single vista that screamed ‘New We’ve done our best to time filming to
porcupine – and it stole Lucy’s heart. One England in the autumn’. capture the most magnificent autumn
lunchtime she had the pleasure of feeding colours, but predicting ‘peak fall’ is not
him his daily banana – and the video of that Biff comes up trumps an exact science, and we could be a week
moment has become legendary in the office, Fortunately, a few miles down the road on or two off in either direction. We’ve tried
the soft nasal bleats he emits as he tucks in the lake’s southern shore, Lucy stumbled to maximise our chances of filming the
softening the hardest of scientific hearts. across a summer camp. In peak season it wildlife, spreading our cameras over two
Lucy had found the beautiful forests. The is packed with America’s youth, but in late locations and working with anyone who
meadows and ponds were bustling with life. October it was deserted – except for the will pick up the phone to get the latest
caretaker, a welcoming soul called intelligence on where animals might be.
Biff. After just 30 seconds, Lucy We’ve done this enough times to know
The vocal, banana-
knew we had our location. that nothing is certain – and that whatever
munching porcupine
A traditional 19th-century cabin we plan, and whatever we think we will
at Squam Lake Natural
at the top of a hill offered a ready- get, we could be wrong. This most fickle of
Science Centre.
made studio, complete with props seasons is waiting to surprise us once more.
and a fire pit for that traditional And that, after all, is the joy of Autumnwatch
Autumnwatch look. The veranda – wherever it may be.
provides sweeping views of Squam
Lake, and there was easy access CHRIS HOWARD is series
to the lakeside via a small beach producer of Springwatch,
on the shoreline. Cabins dotted Autumnwatch and Winterwatch.
around the camp were perfect for
offices and work spaces – and it’s FIND OUT MORE Watch Lucy’s video of
all surrounded by rich forest, great a porcupine tucking into a banana: www.
habitat in which to rig our cameras. discoverwildlife.com/porcupine-video


October 2018

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Talking

point

SHOULD








I SWAT








A FLY?










For a wildlife lover it’s

tricky dealing with 'pests'


such as wasps, ants and

slugs. Do you live and

let live… or become a

vegetable patch vigilante?




By Helen Pilcher




































































28 BBC Wildlife October 2018

few months ago I did clear plastic pots while I identify them. boundary that oscillates wildly depending
a terrible thing. I was Sometimes, a gravid female will lay eggs on the species, context and swelling of
tending to my patio and, although it may seem ridiculous, I feel the affected body part. I don’t imagine
plants, barefoot, when a sense of responsibility. Many’s the brood there is a BBC Wildlife reader out there
I disturbed an ants’ of caterpillars I have raised because their who hasn’t, at some point, deliberately
nest under a pot. The mother ‘gave birth’ in my care. killed a pest of some sort.
Afeisty invertebrates If a spider or ladybird is spotted in my
were furious. They flung themselves at house, it is dutifully caught and relocated onflict like this is unavoidable,
my toes, sinking their mandibles into my to the outside world, yet I have, in the (although I continue to beat
exposed pink flesh. It hurt. A lot. As my past, flattened flies and massacred myself up about the patio ants).
foot ballooned up, red mist clouded my mosquitoes. What double standards are The word ‘ecology’ derives from
judgement. I grabbed the kettle and doused these? I am a hypocrite wrapped in a Cthe Greek word oikos, meaning
my attackers with boiling hot water. A few tangled web of contradiction and double ‘dwelling’, and our homes and gardens are
seconds later, all that remained was a puddle standards. I call myself a wildlife enthusiast indeed their own little ecosystems. These
full of tiny, floating bodies. but have blood on my hands. are created via the interactions that occur
In hindsight, I am horrified at my I am not alone, however. Our attitudes to between the component species.
actions. I consider myself an animal lover the so-called ‘pests’ we share our spaces with In our human-made ecosystems, we call
and protector of wildlife. My pesticide- are varied and complex. They range from the the shots. “It’s your space to occupy, so it’s
free garden is full of wildflowers, messy laid back ‘live and let live’ approach, where up to you to set the rules,” says scientist
corners and insect havens. The store where nibbled cabbages are the price paid for happy and gardener Martin Coath of Plymouth
I keep my chicken food is visited regularly wildlife, to the vegetable patch vigilantes, an University. “You get to choose what stays
ustrat on by wood mice. Like a scene from Beatrix elite horticulturalist corps that come armed and what goes, what lives and what dies.”

Some ant species, for example, can
I Potter, they climb into the tall bin at night, with spray guns and chemical weapons. become a genuine problem. “Their nests
Ca der/Centra morning I simply let them go, serenading harm a fly; and those who are prepared to become so engrained and widespread
then are too fat and too full to escape. In the
There are those who would, literally, never
and populated that the soil becomes
lynch wasps guilt-free because, they would
them to the tune of Que Sera, Sera.
Moths I’m kind to as well. I have a light
ustrat ons by J trap, which I put out at night to lure them have us believe, “it’s either us or them”.
Like most people, I
am somewhere in the
for a closer look. The insects are unharmed
I and often I carefully transfer them to middle, with an ethical


































































October 2018 BBC Wildlife 29

Talking

point











undermined,” says Coath. “Things don’t
grow and people can no longer enjoy
their gardens.” Left unchecked, these
upstart ants could rise to power in our
back gardens, wresting control of the
ecosystem from our fingers.
It’s a similar scenario for wasps, slugs
and other putatively troublesome animals.
If we let them reign unchecked, they can
become a nuisance. “It becomes a direct
case of competition between two potentially
dominant species,” Coath says. So we have
a choice. Either they take control, or we do.
Things are no different in other, more
natural, ecosystems that were not created
by humans. Inside the USA’s Yellowstone
National Park, for example, wolves are top
dog. They control the deer population,
which in turn influences the growth of
plants and numbers of many other
animals. In the North Pacific Ocean, sea
otters prey on urchins, which in turn helps
to regulate coastal kelp forests. In the
freshwater rivers of Devon and Scotland,
beavers fell trees to make dams, creating Which brings me to another
habitat for countless other creatures. point. We are ‘ugly-ist’ and
‘species-ist’. We are prejudiced
pecies compete, and as a result against the animals that we find
there are always winners and unattractive. We love butterflies,
losers – except that my human but we hate caterpillars because
brain helps me to ponder the they’re creepy and crawly.
Simplications of my actions. Wolves Spiders can’t win because they
may well be wily, but they don’t consciously have eight legs. Slugs can’t win
decide how to manage their ecosystem. because they are slimy and
We, however, are different. We are capable have one foot. All too often, we
of thought at a deeper level and make tar different species within the
conscious decisions about how best to same taxonomic family with the
manage the ecosystems we maintain, and same dismissive brush. The same
are capable of realising there is more than friend who swats bluebottles tells
one possible course of action. And yet, our me he kills all wasps and spiders
behaviour is sometimes far from rational. and slugs at his property because
Often it’s visceral. I have a friend who “they’re all a nuisance”.
swats bluebottles because, and I quote, No, they’re not. There are more
“they’re just so annoying”. When I was than 9,000 species of wasp of
attacked by ants on my patio, the logical which but a few are the colony-
response would have been to replace the living, nest-building, haranguers of
plant pot in its original position and walk picnic nightmares. Most don’t even
away. Then put some shoes on. have stingers. None of the UK’s 650
Meanwhile, in the vegetable patch, it or so spider species are dangerous,
could be argued that the logical response and there are around 40 species of
to caterpillars that feed on brassica plants British slug, of which only a handful
would be to go back in time, Terminator- are genuine pests. It’s time we cut
style, and hunt down the parents that will them some slack.
one day produce them. But do gardeners This species-ism reaches new
charge around killing cabbage white heights when people put down
butterflies? No, they do not. Instead they slug pellets. It’s a loathsome
target the larvae, which through no fault and short-sighted strategy that
of their own have simply hatched in what indiscriminately kills all slugs.
is deemed to be the wrong place. When they are poisoned, then consumed




30 BBC Wildlife October 2018

Some people tell me that killing the odd
insect here or there matters little when
you consider how numerous they are, and
that insects don’t feel pain anyway so “it
really doesn’t matter”. But these arguments
hold no water. A study of German nature
reserves last year found that three-quarters
of flying insects have vanished over the last
25 years. It’s been dubbed an “ecological
Armageddon”. The UK is one of the most
nature-depleted countries in the world. We
should be turning our gardens into wildlife
havens, not wildlife deserts.
Nor does the knowledge that other
invertebrates are faring better give us the
right to kill them. Although no one knows
for sure whether invertebrates feel pain –
and it’s likely they do, since pain is one of
the oldest and evolutionarily most important
sensations – this too is a moot point.
The thoughtless, blasé fashion with
which people swat flies, poison slugs or
squash spiders perpetuates the mind set
“ It’s time we learned that were spotted were removed and that these animals are worthless. This is

then lobbed into a bucket of salty water. wrong. Children pick up on these cultural
to love the spiders Garden-centre plants are rather like biases so it becomes a dangerous attitude
the Photoshopped models of women’s that transcends generations. We should be
in our bathtub and magazines; retouched to the point where inspiring our children and each other to

they no longer reflect reality. Real plants are tolerate and live alongside the species that
ants on our patios.” not uniform and blemish-free. Outside my share our domestic ecosystems.

window, a straggly buddleia, or ‘butterfly It’s time we stopped vilifying these
by predators, the toxins pass up the food bush’, lolls lopsidedly onto the patio. Its animals and instead begin to appreciate
chain. Hedgehogs, frogs and birds such leaves are pockmarked due to mullein moth them for the evolutionary marvels that they
as song thrushes are all affected, yet the caterpillars, but that only makes me love it are. It’s time we learned to love the spiders
poisoners turn a blind eye. These predators more. I like my perfectly imperfect garden in our bathtubs, the ants on our patios and
need your understanding and your garden the way it is; warts, snails, slugs and all. our motley ragbag vegetable patches.
needs slugs; they play a vital role breaking I’m not proud of the ant incident on my
down detritus and recycling nutrients. erhaps it’s no surprise that these patio, but can report that a few days after
Wasps are important pollinators and animals are attracted to our I lost the plot, the colony had recovered.
predators. Spiders eat a lot of insects and are private and public spaces, when I’m pleased. I acted without thought and
themselves a tasty snack for predators further we fill them with such delicious allowed emotion to trump logic, yet our
up the food chain. “All these animals are Pand irresistible fancies. Certain past actions need not define our future
needed and all of them play vital ecological slug species, for example, are attracted to behaviour. We’re all conflicted over the
roles,” says Paul Hetherington of Buglife. the fresh shoots of newly sprouted plants, way we treat these ‘pest’ species, but it’s
“Yet we demonise them. I really think we as this is what they have evolved to eat. never too late to adopt a more relaxed
need to be more understanding.” “We breed vegetation that smells nice to attitude. Next time I disturb an ants’ nest
I blame garden centres. Garden centres them,” says Jon Ablett, a senior curator of I will think before I act… then replace the
are purveyors of the fake and the sterile. molluscs at the Natural History Museum. plant pot and leave them alone.
Just as trashy magazines promote a skewed “We plant spineless plants that are easier for
reality of impossibly beautiful women them to eat. We remove the weeds for them HELEN PILCHER is a science writer,
with impossibly successful lives, so too and we till the soil so it’s easier for them to lacklustre gardener and author of
garden centres sell an image of impossibly move around. We make our garden a nice Bring Back the King:The New Science
perfect plants. They are not nibbled, wilting place for slugs to be. We might as well put of De-extinction (Bloomsbury Sigma,£16.99).
or brown around the edges. They are not up a neon sign saying: ‘Slugs! Get your free
dusted with insect eggs or laden with all-you-can-eat buffet here!’” WANT TO COMMENT? How should
invertebrate stowaways. It is ridiculous to think that we can we ‘manage’ the so-called pests in our
Indeed, a friend once told me that when segregate plants from invertebrates. It’s domestic ecosystems? Email us at
he worked at a garden centre, any snails invertebrate apartheid and it needs to stop. [email protected]




October 2018 BBC Wildlife 31

The iconic Baltic
Contemporary Arts
Centre – a former
flour mill – has
become home to a
thriving colony of
urban kittiwakes.





































By Richard Smyth

Photos Andrew Mason





Living





on the





ledge
























Images of kittiwakes getting caught in building nets made headlines this summer,

shining the spotlight on the north-east’s unique urban colony of these marine gulls.

he kittiwakes of the The buildings replicate From the
Tyne Bridge arrived in kittiwake’s
Newcastle and Gateshead’s ledges on a clif and the perspective,
a tall urban
quayside district in the tower block has
1960s, drifting upriver Tyne provides access many of the
from foothold colonies at same features
T South Shields, where the downriver and out to sea. as a shoreline
clif face.
river opens to the North Sea. The quayside
was a forlorn place then: Newcastle was
nearing the end of its industrial heyday and
the Tyne’s years as a key manufacturing
and trade artery almost at an end. These
neat white gulls, usually cliff-nesters, marked in black and white – trapped or far as kittiwakes are concerned, the bridge
made homes on the rundown Gateshead dead in loops of sagging netting went viral is a cliff, but in a different setting. It looks
buildings and on the iconic parabolic arch on social media. A petition swiftly followed, quite different to us, but it provides most
of the steel-framed road bridge. Since then, the issue was debated in news articles and of the same features.”
the quayside beneath the kittiwakes’ nests passions ran high. The fire brigade was Helen is part of the Tyne Kittiwakes
has undergone a regeneration programme even called out to rescue tangled birds. Partnership, a coalition of conservationists
ushering in a new focus on culture, leisure Nesting 15km or so from the coast, these and council authorities that have taken
and tourism. The Baltic Contemporary Arts kittiwakes constitute the farthest-inland up the kittiwakes’ cause. “We try to work
Centre – formerly the Baltic flour mill – colony of the species, which has a huge together to raise awareness and safeguard
and the Sage Gateshead music centre have circumpolar range. All around the quayside the nest sites,” she explains. “And to
brought cutting-edge culture to the post- each spring and summer, the birds crowd increase our understanding – monitoring
industrial Tyneside landscape. onto ledges, calling ‘kitti-waaa, kitti-waaa’ has been taking place for 25 years now.”
The kittiwakes are still here – perhaps and whitening the metal girders and
2,500 of them, all along the Tyne – but stonework with their guano. Conservation threat
not everyone is happy, and some quayside “The buildings replicate the ledges that In 2017, the International Union for the
buildings have been covered in anti-bird they would use on a cliff, and the Tyne Conservation of Nature (IUCN) upgraded
netting. This summer the distressing sight provides great access down the river and out the status of the black-legged kittiwake from
of kittiwakes – often juveniles, handsomely to sea,” says Helen Quayle of the RSPB. “As Least Concern to Vulnerable on its ‘Red


34 BBC Wildlife October 2018

Clockwise from well above the
left: High up over bustle of the
the River Tyne, urban streets.
kittiwakes have Local council
access to their workers battle
feeding grounds with the constant
in the Dogger area scourge of large
of the North Sea. quantities of guano
High ledges ofer produced by the
sanctuary for colony during the
rearing young breeding season.







































Kittiwake towers





By the late 1990s, the tiered tower now stands on – but the addition of ranks of
kittiwake colony on a high decontaminated industrial ledges enticed the birds to
ridge of the Baltic Flour Mill land at Saltmeadows nest there in large numbers.
had become the single largest Riverside and supports “Something like that would
colony on the river, but the around 90 breeding pairs. be brilliant on the Tyne,”
mill’s redevelopment into It’s an unusual structure Helen says.“It’d be great to
an arts centre meant the – but not quite unique. have a structure that caters
kittiwakes had to be moved. Helen Quayle enthuses for the kittiwakes in a way
“The Kittiwake Tower was about the remarkable tower that reduces conflict, while
constructed to provide an at Middleton Island, an allowing for the birds to be
alternative nest site for birds abandoned USAAF base in viewed and enjoyed. But it
displaced as a result of the the Gulf of Alaska. Unlike the would have to be right for the
redevelopment,” explains Gateshead tower, that wasn’t birds; not a quick fix to allow
Gateshead Council ecologist built for the kittiwakes – it’s a the population to be further
Peter Shield. The remarkable derelict Cold War radar tower shifted around.”




October 2018 BBC Wildlife 35



KITTIWAKES





























































List’. Numbers have plummeted, possibly so rich in opportunity – turns hostile. vision of kittiwakes, pigeons and other birds Fireman: Oscar Dewhurst
as a result of declining availability of sand- Kittiwakes are no exception. In Newcastle resembles flames. “Birds will completely
eels, the birds’ main prey. Some kittiwake and Gateshead, the interests of the colony desert a habitat, even one they have been
colonies, especially on Scottish islands, have have begun to butt up against the interests using for years,” claims the product’s
collapsed; the population along England’s of the human population. The yawping advertising blurb. Its effects, however,
east coast however, seems to be holding noise, the spattering excrement: for many, wear off after two or three years. A less
steady. In fact the Tyne colony is growing. these things are a price worth paying for high-tech solution is to string up netting
sharing the city with these graceful birds. across potential nest sites. This is where the
An urban habitat But for others, it’s a call to arms. trouble in Newcastle began.

“How big the colony can get is obviously “They’re a tricky subject, kittiwakes,” “The problem with netting is, on a tall
limited by how many ledges there are in the Derek admits. “They’re like Marmite – building, it’s hard to maintain,” says Helen
city,” says Derek Hilton-Brown, an ecologist you either hate them or love them. Many Quayle. “When it becomes slack or worn it’s
at Newcastle City Council. “Kittiwakes are businesses on the quayside aren’t keen on more likely that birds may try to nest and
not keen to go much further into the city kittiwakes. They’re noisy, they’re messy, they can get tangled in it.” The text of the
or much further upstream. They seem they’re smelly… but then so are most of petition against the netting, launched with
almost to have reached the carrying the area’s stag and hen nights, and nobody the backing of Chris Packham and others,
capacity of the buildings.” turns those away.” noted: “Whilst the theoretical justification
Urban wildlife, from foxes to ring-necked Unsurprisingly, some businesses have of the netting has been to protect buildings,
parakeets, has a perennial problem: when it taken steps to deter the kittiwakes. One is significantly more damage has been done
gets too successful, its habitat – previously the application of ‘fire gel’, which to the UV by the installation of the nets than was ever
caused by the birds themselves.”
“There’s not much we can really do
to stop people doing it,” Derek admits.
“Effectively, it’s protecting their building –
Above: The fate of there can be a lot of damage from bird muck
kittiwakes who found and stuff. The main issue is protecting
themselves entangled doorways, and people coming in and out.”
in netting used to The council, together with the Tyne
protect buildings
The interests of the colony prompted outrage on Kittiwake Partnership, works hard to
social media. Some encourage a more positive attitude
have begun to butt up birds were rescued towards the Tyne birds. One common (and
by firefighters, damaging) misconception is that kittiwakes
against those of humans. however many others will follow the lead of herring- and lesser
were not so lucky.
black-backed gulls and become waterfront
marauders, plundering waste-bins, stealing


October 2018 BBC Wildlife 37

KITTIWAKES











































They’ve found a place Kittiwake colonies
have made
that its their way of themselves at
home amidst
disused buildings
living and they’re on the Norwegian
archipelago
making the best of it. of Lofoten.







chips, terrorising promenaders. In fact, Can there, realistically, be peace between be undone by a snap of the council’s fingers.
the Tyne kittiwakes behave much as urban kittiwakes and the humans who live “If you were to displace birds off the Tyne
kittiwakes have always done – the sand-eel among their noisy colonies? Evidence from Bridge, say, then that’s more than 1,300
is their food, and their feeding grounds elsewhere suggests there can. Photographer birds that would be looking for a new home
are the Dogger region of the North Sea Andrew Mason travelled to the Lofoten in the city,” says Helen Quayle. “They’re
rather than the Biffa wheelie-bin round Islands, an archipelago off the Norway coast, urban-nesting birds. They’re not suddenly
the back of the Clayton Street Chippy. and saw how the lives of kittiwakes there are going to nest on cliffs – this is their home.”
enmeshed with those of local people. “Developers and building owners are
Seasonal visitors “There are urban kittiwake colonies quick to say: ‘Get it all netted’,” adds Derek
What is also worth remembering is that the throughout Lofoten,” he says. “You find Hilton-Brown. “But they don’t realise that
kittiwakes here are a seasonal phenomenon. them on buildings in small coastal villages, that’s just displacing the problem. Where do
“People think they’re here all year round,” as well as on the surrounding cliffs. the birds go? If you’re going to try to move
says Derek. “But there’s a good few months The birds are equally happy nesting on them to another site, you’d need plenty of
when it’s quiet and peaceful.” Outside the traditional red-and-yellow painted wooden time, several years… it’d be a gradual thing.”
March–August breeding season this most buildings and the more industrial buildings The Tyne kittiwakes aren’t there to cause
pelagic of gulls is once again skimming the in harbours. There are even nests on trouble, or, for that matter, to draw in
wave-tops of the open ocean. windows in the centre of villages.” eco-tourists or excite urban birdwatchers.
Many in Newcastle and Gateshead do see Andrew acknowledges that these fishing They’ve found a place that fits their way of
the kittiwakes in a positive light. villages are a far cry from the newly living, and they’re making the best of it,
“My response to the kittiwakes gentrified Newcastle-Gateshead quayside – indifferent, by and large, to the humans
is one of awe and unanswered indeed, he believes that Lofoten’s historic bustling beneath. But it would be a shame
questions,” enthuses local fishing culture has nourished a better if we were to return their indifference: these
naturalist James Common. appreciation of seabirds like the kittiwake. are wonderful birds, delicately built but
“Why are these birds here? There are still lessons to be learned fiercely resilient, their colonies as vivid and
What makes the Tyne suitable here. “Businesses in north-east England full of raucous life as any seaport city.
for them? The kittiwakes are a could start to promote the kittiwakes as an
familiar part of life in the city internationally important breeding colony,” RICHARD SMYTH writes about
and bring a touch of the ‘wild’ he suggests. “By engaging people and history and wildlife, including this
into the centre. To me, the helping them to understand how important month’s heatwave news feature on
sight, sound and smell of the Tyne colony is, this could help to p60. He also sets the BBC Wildlife crossword.
the colony evokes remote, alleviate the angst.”
inaccessible places, such as Even those who remain hostile towards FIND OUT MORE Natural History Society
the Farne Islands.” the quayside kittiwakes should perhaps of Northumbria: nhsn.ncl.ac.uk/activities/
appreciate that decades of colonisation can’t conservation-research/tyne-kittiwakes


October 2018

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In
focus





Hitching a ride



Like a bevy of beauticians, yellow-billed
oxpeckers line up to remove, deftly, engorged
ticks and biting insects from the neck of a
Maasai girafe. One spots a passing fly and
takes of to snatch it, beating the others
to the prize. Scenes like this in Kenya’s
Maasai Mara were long held up as a textbook
example of mutualism, in which two species
work together for shared benefit. The
oxpeckers have stout, flattened bills for
scissoring through the fur of their hosts –
which also include African bufalo, rhino,
zebra and antelopes – as well as long claws
for holding on. Meanwhile, the herbivores
benefit by being rid of troublesome parasites.
But then closer study revealed that the birds
were also sneaking meals of blood from
the bites, making wounds worse, and that
their feeding actually had no impact on the
overall number of ticks, fleas or flies. So the
relationship between oxpecker and mammal
is not purely mutualism: sometimes the birds
are themselves parasites. Their services do
not come without a cost.
Photo: Varun Aditya













40 BBC Wildlife October 2018

October 2018 BBC Wildlife 41

Despite its striking
markings and characteristic
Doug Wechsler hooting call, the reclusive
jocototo antpitta was only
recorded for science in 1997.

JOCOTOCO ANTPITTA


















































big story














A chance encounter on a forest trail led to


the discovery of a previously unrecorded bird

and the birth of a conservation movement.




By Neil Glenn








hen you see an the bird’s habitat then came to be protected
unusual species takes in a pioneering surgical technique for
for the first time, retinal detachments, some Russian chemistry
have you ever put professors, BBC One’s iconic Life on Earth
yourself in the series, a clutch of conservation bodies and
walking boots some amazingly benevolent people.
Wof the person This is how the story unfolded…
who actually discovered it? Imagined the On 3 November 1997 Mercedes
thoughts and feelings of those pioneers who Rivadeneira married Xavier Munos. The
first clapped eyes on, for instance, an ostrich following day, as is the tradition with
or a tapir? In the case of South America’s newlyweds, Mercedes set off on an exciting
charismatic, robin-like and very rare jocotoco trip; more unusually, Mercedes’ new husband
antpitta, I know exactly what those explorers was unceremoniously left at home. In his
felt like – because I asked them. place her travelling companions were Bob
The jocotoco antpitta was unknown, to Ridgely, an ornithologist at Philadelphia’s
science at least, until 1997. The story of its Academy of Natural Sciences – a man with an
discovery that year involves a honeymoon (of encyclopaedic knowledge of South American
sorts), a group of friends, a deep knowledge of birds; John Moore (author of Vocalizations of
neotropical birds and a tiny sprinkling of luck. Birds of the Neotropics); John’s wife Ruth, and
Equally unlikely, the remarkable tale of how Lelis Navarette, an expert local bird guide.

The 1997 expedition to Cerro Tapichalaca Above: the Right: Bob
– an unprotected tract of cloudforest on the jocotoco antpitta Ridgley’s hazy
feeds almost first photograph
eastern slope of the Ecuadorian Andes – was
entirely on the of the jocotoco
organised by Mercedes and Xavier’s company, large earthworms antpitta as the
Neblina Forest. The aim of the trip was for whose habitat bird hopped
John to obtain further sound recordings of is waterlogged around amidst
seepage zones on the bamboo
birds to update his project and for Bob to
the forest floor. while feeding.
wrap up work on his forthcoming
magisterial volume The Birds of Ecuador.

Off the beaten track

After 11 strenuous days of surveying the area, remembers, “and get a long recording. I course, I had those historic recordings too.”
Bob suggested that the group should walk played it back, and out the bird hopped As you’d expect, people living in the area
along a narrow trail he’d read about but had through the bamboo. It was bold and already knew the call of the bird. But, more
never visited: Quebrada Honda. The day’s approached quite closely. Instantly, I knew that surprisingly, they had never actually seen what
specific target was to record the calls of the this was something no other scientist had ever was making the noise. “The locals told us that
golden-plumed parakeet, a beautiful bird seen. The first words out of my mouth were they called the bird jocotoco, so that’s how it
classed as Vulnerable. But as things turned not suitable for a family magazine.” eventually got its English name,” says Bob.
out, the rare parakeet was not to be the star. By then the others had come down the
“I was the first person to see the mystery valley. “We all ogled the bird for the next Conservation threat
bird,” recalls Bob now. “I was some way from half hour,” Bob says. “I had neglected to Soon it became apparent that the expedition
the others in the party. We’d first heard it bring my camera that day, so I dictated had a problem. Chainsaws could be heard all
soon after dawn, at a great distance, but didn’t meticulous notes into my cassette tape around the area in which the new antpitta had
know what on earth it was – which in itself recorder – this was 1997, after all.” been found. There was a constant passage
was a bit unusual. I figured that was that: we’d The friends changed their plans for the rest of mules carrying freshly cut wood along the
never know. But then came the miracle: three of the trip, and returned to Quebrada Honda trail. As no scientist had seen this species
or four hours later, there was that wonderful the following two days. “Despite lots of rain before, there was every possibility that it had
ringing call again – a repeated ‘jo-jo-jo-jo-jo.’ I was able to take a mediocre photograph to a very small population and was possibly
This time the bird was much closer. “I prove this fabulous bird was not a figment of found only in this corner of southern Ecuador.
was able to whip out my microphone,” Bob my fevered imagination,” Bob says. “And, of Something had to be done – and fast.


44 BBC Wildlife October 2018

JOCOTOCO ANTPITTA
















What is

an antpitta?




Antpittas are skulking denizens of
dense, dark forest floors in Central
and South America. They form
their own family, Grallariidae, and
are stocky birds with their legs set
well back. Much like our familiar
European robin, they hop along
the ground in search of insect or
earthworm prey. Some species,
together with a variety of antwrens,
antthrushes, antshrikes and
antbirds, often hang around army-
ant swarms, where they pick off
any fleeing invertebrates the ants
haven’t captured and devoured.
Antpittas are usually difficult to see,
though a few enterprising lodges
have trained local birds to take
worms being offered, as described
in August’s BBC Wildlife.







“Asnoscientisthadseenthis The chestnut- John and Ruth Moore) on the western side of
crowned antpitta
the Andes at Buenaventura and Jorupe. The
speciesbefore,therewasevery (above) is one Foundation grew and grew.
of around
55 recorded A lodge was opened for visitors and
possibilitythatthepopulation species of these researchers at Tapichalaca, funded by Nigel
notoriously Simpson with money from a commission he
wasextremelysmall.” diicult-to-spot received from helping chemistry professors
neotropical birds.
to obtain financial support for universities in
the Soviet Union. In 2001, the World Land
Trust (WLT) became a major donor, and
remains so to this day, enabling an ambitious
“Further research – which is still ongoing – cloudforest and a new conservation project reforestation project that has so far seen 1.4
has revealed that the jocotoco antpitta lives in was born: the Jocotoco Foundation. million native trees planted on Foundation
very wet forests with an understory of various As chair of his ornithology department, reserves. Tapichalaca Reserve almost doubled
bamboo species,” explains Bob. “The antpitta Bob was in a position to quickly organise in size to 1,600 hectares in 2003, after a
Bowman/A amy that it finds in seepage zones, and that may within just two months of the antpitta’s Christopher Parsons, the late executive
a return visit to Cerro Tapichalaca. And so,
feeds almost entirely on large earthworms
WLT fundraising appeal in memory of
discovery, Nigel managed to visit the site
producer of BBC TV series Life on Earth.
be why the species is so very localised. The
for himself to see the bird and discuss what
bird requires constantly wet conditions
Left to r ght: AGAMI Photo Agency/A amy; Bob R dg ey; Ne story. Nigel co-developed a new technique government had approved the Jocotoco and manages 12 reserves covering 19,000ha,
Community participation
where the ground hardly ever dries out.”
could be done to preserve its home.
By the end of 1998, the Ecuadorian
After 20 years, the Foundation now owns
This is where Nigel Simpson enters the
to repair retinal detachments and was in the
Foundation’s formation. Local farmers were
with more purchases in the pipeline. Over
process of selling his successful business. He
50 species of bird threatened with extinction
struggling due to the unfavourable climate at
are being protected, together with nearly 300
Tapichalaca – the area is deluged by over 5m
had begun discussions with Bob about how
species of reptile, amphibian and mammal.
of rainfall annually – and were happy to sell
he could best use his newfound wealth and
A vital feature of any conservation effort is
their land to the fledgling Foundation. Before
free time to help save threatened habitats in
his beloved South America. By an amazing
to involve locals. It is simply not good enough
long, the first 800 hectares of the Tapichalaca
coincidence, the as-yet-unnamed antpitta chose
bought by the Foundation (co-funded by
people they cannot benefit from it. From
just that moment to hop out of the Ecuadorian
BBC Wildlife
October 2018 Reserve were safe. Further reserves were to buy a tract of land and tell indigenous 45

JOCOTOCO ANTPITTA








P A C I F I C
O C E A N C O L O M B I A





QUITO



E C U A D O R
Andes


Amazon rainforest




P E R U

TAPICHALACA RESERVE





Protecting

the jocotoco

antpitta’s home




Situated on the eastern slope of
An adult Jocotoco the Andes, the Tapichalaca Reserve
antpitta (left) with covers around 3,300ha today,
a juvenile feeding with terrain ranging from various
on the forest floor types of forest to the high paramo
at Tapichalaca
at 3,400m. It supports thousands
of species, among them over 130
endemic plants and 12 globally
the start, families who sold the Foundation As my blue eyes met the dark red eyes threatened species of frog, including
their land at Tapichalaca were employed of a jocotoco antpitta on my own quest the Tapichalaca tree frog that occurs
as rangers. Its reserves also invite visits to see the species in February 2018 in nowhere else. One of the more
from schools, and birdfeeders are open a forest undisturbed by the sound of striking mammalian residents is the
to the public to encourage a fascination chainsaws, I thought about the way in Endangered Andean tapir, which is
with local wildlife. The mayor of Palanda, which this shy, unassuming bird and its easily identified by its white lips
near Tapichalaca, has approached the once-unfamiliar call led to the protection – as though it has just been caught
Foundation to further extend its reserve of a forest and creation of an entire with its snout in a bowl of sugar.
to help protect two local rivers – and thus conservation movement in Ecuador. And
the town’s water supply. An emergency I thought, too, of how it came by its
fund for staff and families is in place and scientific name, Grallaria ridgelyi.
university bursaries have also been provided “It’s an incredible saga,” Bob Ridgely
for some local youngsters. In other areas, agrees. “Looking back, it seems almost
Foundation volunteers have renovated unbelievable that everything could have
buildings in towns and villages and helped fallen into place so well. Now the Jocotoco
regenerate local coffee plantations. Foundation is one of the strongest NGOs
involved in major land protection efforts for
Firm foundation endangered species – not just in Ecuador,
These efforts in the community have but really anywhere in the world. To think it
helped to raise awareness of wildlife and all started with this marvellous bird. I still
the environment with local peoples to the get goose bumps just thinking about it!” The Tapichalaca
extent where the black-breasted puffleg has tree frog (above) is
been adopted as the emblematic species unknown elsewhere;
(below) Andean tapir.
of Quito. As I travelled through the small NEIL GLENN is a writer and bird Top to bottom: Derek Kverno; Franco Mendoza; Dominic Mitchell
communities dotted around Foundation tour guide. He stayed in Ecuador
reserves, I was impressed by the number of courtesy of Neblina Forest.
murals, wall paintings and wildlife statues
in the streets and parks. It really does seem FIND OUT MORE
as though local people have taken their Jocotoco Foundation: jocotoco.org
wildlife and the Foundation to their hearts. World Land Trust: worldlandtrust.org


46 BBC Wildlife October 2018

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