Wild Isles

Some interesting considerations here.

https://www.worldanimalprotection.org.uk/blogs/how-did-farming-become-threat-our-wild-isles

In recent years I have become an RME (reduced meat eater) and I’ve been surprised how easy, healthy and delicious my diet has become. Our repertoire of dishes has also increased considerably. We also consider food miles, local production and seasonal products. It may not be for everyone but everyone surely has a part to play in solving the very real issues we are now faced with and I’m sure most would agree. We can’t just carry on like we have been doing.

Worth investigating this and investing in the future, food for thought eh?

Looking forward to tonight’s episode of Wild Isles. The subject this time is  ‘Marine’. BBC1 at 7pm. 
On that subject, it was very sad to hear of the sperm whale being stranded and dying off Cleethorpes beach a couple of days back. What on earth was it doing in what essentially is the Humber Estuary. This seems to be happening all too often now in the North Sea a place where these animals don’t normally frequent. I wonder if this is to do with human interference with the natural ways of the world!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-65220316

David Attenborough signed off the WildIsles series with a challenge: can we be the first generation to leave the natural world in a better, rather than a poorer state?

That’s a big ask but an essential one for both mankind and the natural world, we know it has to be done right here, right now!

I honestly think that some things have improved.
As a child growing up in a Manchester suburb, everything and everywhere was filthy and polluted. Rivers and canals were used as disposal grounds for the effluent from the many mills and factories, built on their banks.
My sister was born at home, in a house full of smoke. Parents, family and friends all smoked. Smoking was accepted everywhere, in shops, workplaces, cinemas, public transport,  cafes etc. Nobody thought anything of it, thankfully that has changed. 
Garden birds? Just a few hardy, pigeons and starlings, all with black feathers 😱. 
OK, we’ve a long way to go, but maybe we are going in the right direction. 
Or maybe I’m being too optimistic. 
🙂🙂🙂

You are right but unfortunately the few improvements we now witness have been done essentially for us, not for the rest of the wildlife we share our planet with. We have tended to look at things from the human perspective to the detriment of the wider interlinked nature of life on Earth. We need to go much further and see beyond our own immediate needs for things to truly improve. Smoking and smokeless fuels are good examples.

Oh, and there are far fewer birds today then there were when we were young. Many, like the starlings you mention, are almost on the endangered list, as are sparrows. So yes, as you say, we really have a very long way to go. Let’s be actively optimistic.

This endangered thing is a bit of a myth. Plenty of Starlings and house sparrows here. If I had  counted pied wagtails and grey wagtails a month ago they would be classified as extinct. Both are now nesting in my stream.

This endangered thing is a bit of a myth.

"Hey Steggy, I heard we dinosaurs might be in some sort of danger. what do you think?"

"No problem Pecty. Loads of food, doesn't matter how much wind we produce. Keep munching away. Mmmm. I wonder why the sky has gone dark suddenly? Who switched out the lights and what's that big thing in the sky coming towards us?"

🤣🤣🦖🦕

Last night we watched the final program on I player, the episode that the BBC pulled from terrestrial TV, we found it interesting.

It’s not your stream at all that is a fictitious belief, it’s their stream! 😉

As for the numbers of starlings and house sparrows it’s not the local, seasonal figure that’s important it’s the total population of these birds across the UK and Europe. That’s the figure that has been significantly reduced. Fact!

I’ve yet to watch this episode although it’s been suggested that everyone should watch it. I understand that a few dinosaurs may have to be dragged screaming and kicking though! 
Here is a link which makes for interesting reading about it.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/mar/10/david-attenborough-bbc-wild-isles-episode-rightwing-backlash-fears