Even More Weather to Talk About?

Defra has confirmed that climate change appears to be already with the UK (http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climate/) as 2012 was punctuated by floods and droughts, often in the same areas. The disruption caused havoc to agriculture, transport and tourism. The report suggests that we are likely to experience more extreme weather events in the foreseeable future so there needs to be planning and investment to try to ameliorate the disruptions. I suspect that this will be resisted in some quarters but these seem to be sensible precautions. 

Birder's Bonus 124

On the Loughor Estuary, Black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa) were hard at work.

Seeing the Changes 548

Common dog violet ( Viola riviniana) was in flower in Loughor and female flowers of Hazel (Corylus avellana) were flashing red in Penclacwydd.

Cicada and Chips?

It has been suggested that, with burgeoning human populations and current concerns about the food chain,  we ought to reconsider insects as sources of human protein even in the UK (http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2013/mar/02/insects-next-food-source?INTCMP=SRCH). Insects are plentiful, easy and quick to 'grow' (on a wide range of materials) and much less environmentally problematical than cows, sheep, goats et cetera. I know that there is no tradition of eating our caterpillar chums in this country but are they so different from prawns, shrimps and lobsters?

Seeing the Changes 547

A bit sunnier! Ivy-leaved toadflax (Cymbalaria muralis) was in flower whilst a Common wasp (Vespula vulgaris) buzzed in Loughor.

Ratty Surfers?

An interesting study has been reported involving a rat in the USA and a rat in Brazil, both housed in Skinner boxes where they have to learn to press a lever to get the reward of water, have had their electrode-implanted brains connected by the internet (http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2013/feb/28/brains-rats-connected-share-information?INTCMP=SRCH). It has apparently been possible to see evidence that one rat has modified its behaviour to help its long-distance chum also obtain water. I suppose it's only a matter of time until all teaching will be done this way!

Busier Than Bees?

A study suggests that it isn't only the decline of the Honey bee that we have to worry about (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/feb/28/wild-bees-pollinators-crop-yields?INTCMP=SRCH). It seems that many wild insect pollinators of our fruits and crops are also in a spiral of decline in various parts of the world. These losses may be even more serious as their varied methods of feeding appear to spread the pollen to a greater extent than our honeyed friend.