Bully Off?

There has recently been a repeat of the 'news' that bird feeders encourage bullies amongst our avian friends (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2018/09/05/bird-feeders-favour-pushy-big-birds-little-species-go-hungry/). This is hardly novel (there are actually commercial devices that are claimed to facilitate access by smaller species and to make it more difficult for the 'big brutes'). Having said that, foraging for food is a competitive business (even within members of the same species) and smaller birds can still benefit from food items dropped or scattered in the feeding frenzy. Feeders do, at least, enable people to provision the birds in a fairly simple way. I would not like to see the bully claim being used as an excuse not to provide feeders (although they do need to be occasionally disinfected!).

Pro(Biotic)s and Anti(Bacterial)s

Another piece of foodie mantra that turns out to be overhyping? It has now been claimed that so-called 'probiotics' may, in some cases, have negative effects on our gut (large intestine) bacterial flora (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/sep/06/probiotics-not-as-beneficial-for-gut-health-as-previously-thought). This appears to be especially the case when they are taken in conjunction with antibiotics (which will attack our flora as well as the bacterial infection they are prescribed for). The combination can produce profound gastro-intestinal disturbances.

Ratty's Return?

It's interesting to note that there will be an attempt to reintroduce Ratty (the Water vole) to the Holnicote Estate on Exmoor some 30 years after it was eradicated from the park (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/sep/11/water-voles-returning-to-national-park-in-west-country-after-30-years). The reintroduction, at 6 locations, will involve about 150 animals and is intended to be carefully monitored. It is, however, difficult to preclude Water vole killers such as mink and domestic cats from such an area, so it remains to be seen whether the attempt will or will not turn out to be successful (especially as it is reportedly the UKs most rapidly declining Mammal).

Seeing the Changes 1369

More Autumn fungus in Loughor. Probably an Ochre brittlegill (Russula ochroleuca)?

Kaleidoscope Musings

Beeb Makes Boo-Boos

The BBC, after criticism from the body that looks after accuracy in broadcasting, has admitted that it often gets the coverage of climate change wrong and has only been too keen to involve climate change deniers for 'balance' (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/sep/07/bbc-we-get-climate-change-coverage-wrong-too-often). There, apparently,will be seminars provided for programme makers (there is no mention about whether attendance will be compulsory) as it is admitted that very few such individuals have a science background.

For the Birds?

It's not just the Dodo. Apparently, at least 8 species of birds, mainly located in the rainforests of the Amazon, have become extinct (largely following deforestation) this decade (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/sep/04/first-eight-bird-extinctions-of-the-21st-century-confirmed). Just imagine how many species of bacteria, fungi, plants and insects have been lost in the same period.