Before They Croak

Police in Turkey have reportedly 'rescued' some 7,500 frogs from 5 men with a van and returned them to their wild habitat (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/18/replenish-the-swamp-turkey-returns-7500-trafficked-frogs-to-the-wild). The frog's legs are delicacies in France and China, meaning that the illegal 'catch' had economic value.  I am not sure how effective the return process was- pouring them into a single location is likely to attract lots of predators. 

Oranges are not only Orange

It has been reported (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/oct/18/tesco-stocks-green-oranges-in-drive-to-reduce-food-waste) that Tesco is to stock green-skinned easy-peeler Satsumas and Clementines in an effort to reduce food waste. The fruit are said to be perfectly ripe but the unusually hot weather in Spain has produced the colour change. This seems a sensible move but I suspect that some customers will be resistant to the idea.

Insect Armageddon?

A 27 year study in Germany has looked, using systematic collection techniques, at the total masses of flying insects (flies, bees, wasps, butterflies and moths etc) to be found in Nature Reserves across the country (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/18/warning-of-ecological-armageddon-after-dramatic-plunge-in-insect-numbers). It was found that, over this period, insects, in these generally agricultural regions, declined to about a quarter of their initial values. Flying insects include many important pollinators as well as acting as items in diets of dragonflies, fishes, frogs, some birds and important mammals (including bats). The authors conclude that they have been witnessing a profound breakdown of ecological systems that are likely to be mirrored in many other countries. They seem uncertain whether intense agriculture (with its monocultures) and/or the use of insecticides have leading roles in this phenomenon.

Seeing the Changes 1236

Hurricane Ophelia also blew a Green lacewing (Chrysopa 7-punctata) into my house.

Birder's Bonus 176

Surprised to see a Common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) dart out of a water-filled ditch by the cycle track in Bynea.

Farting Shellfish

It has been reported by Swedish scientists that shellfish including oysters, clams and cockles produce substantial (but not as substantial as cows) amounts of methane and nitrous oxide (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/shortcuts/2017/oct/16/are-flatulent-shellfish-really-contributing-to-climate-change). These are powerful 'greenhouse gases' that are likely to impact on climate change. The effects are likely to be most powerful in locations where these bivalves are cultured (usually in shallow, enclosed areas of the sea) at relatively high densities. 

Sole Survivor

It probably pays not to get too familiar with your catch. There has been a recent report of a man saved from death by choking by a paramedic after 'kissing' the small Dover sole he had hauled up (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/oct/12/paramedics-save-man-after-whole-fish-jumps-down-throat). The fish allegedly 'jumped down' his throat, blocking his airway. The man was saved but the fish died.