All Day Birdwatching and Biodiversity

On the 7^th May it was the annual spring birdwatching all-dayer. It is a friendly competition between different birding sites across the west midlands. The aim is to spot as many different species as possible in the course of the day. This therefore meant getting up at first light and driving the few short miles to the outskirts of Worcester to the village of Grimley.

Sun Rise Over Grimely at 5am

The day was successful, we as a team spotted 89 species and I personally saw 78 species. This was in fact a record breaking day. Of the 89 species seen there were some very exciting birds. The two standout highlights were 2 male breeding coloured ruff and a singing grasshopper warbler. I get excited about seeing different and varied wildlife as I walk around my birding patch partly as it add to the year list (Ruff) or even life list (Grasshopper Warbler) that I collect.

Ruff Along the Shore. Stunning Summer Plumage

Often you do feel driven by the numbers and lists. Number of species seen in a day, in a year, your life. Bird lists, garden lists, patch lists, butterfly/moth lists; the lists go on. But, there is something quite important behind these personal quests. That is biodiversity!

Great Spotted Woodpecker Feeding off Grubs in the Decaying Wood

Ecosystems are complex environments where plants, animals, fungi and bacteria coexist and rely on each other for survival in complex networks of fascinating interactions. Biodiversity is key to these ecosystems working properly. When a species is removed from the ecosystem that role is not carried out. This has a knock on effect through the food chain. Some species might do really well initially but they do cause an imbalance which only leads to the loss of species. The end product is a dysfunctional ecosystem with low biodiversity.

Ringed Plover 

Comfrey

Seeing 89 species of bird alone might sound like a lot and therefore suggest a healthy ecosystem. But it is surprising how many more species there could/should be in the area: yellowhammer, corn bunting, lesser spotted woodpecker, willow tit to name a few. The primary reason why they are not present is simply habitat destruction and intensive farming methods. Take the yellowhammer and corn bunting. They rely on large bushy hedges to breed and feed. Farmers are inclined to cut their hedges too thin and too frequently. This does not suit those birds and they are lost from the area.  

Orange-tip Butterfly

On the plus side the sighting of the grasshopper warbler did fill me with a little excitement. They do not breed in the area, but they do close by at coney meadow, and they are doing very successfully there. My hope is that they will spread out to Grimley. However, the habitat in the area is perhaps not ideal as they like short dense vegetation where they can nest near the ground and stay concealed from view. It is the range of different habitats that helps increase biodiversity. If the habitat was right I do feel that there would be Grasshopper warblers present. This can only benefit the ecosystem as a whole.

Wasp Showing Why Dandelions are Important

Whilst I was focused on birds on Saturday I did notice a Black-headed Cardinal Beetle. This is slightly rarer and indeed a more striking beetle than the common red-headed Cardinal Beetle. They are very startling to see, this is as a result of their comparatively large size and their colour. They, like many other species have evolved a bright stunning colouration to prevent predation, they are in fact harmless. They spend most of their lives in and around decaying trees, mainly oaks. They feed off smaller insects that live in woodlands such as small flies, other beetles and their larva. They lay their eggs under the bark of dead oak trees. The larva, which have adapted flattened bodies to live under the bark feed off insects that live in the dead and decaying wood.

Black-headed Cardinal Beetle

Clearly a Black Head and a Bright Red Wing Case

It is clear that there are several important ecological connections that are required for these beautiful beetles to exist. First they need the Oak woodlands that have mature trees in them. These trees need to have died (and not been removed!) so the cardinal beetle can lay its eggs under the bark. In addition, they need a multitude of larva of other species to feed off. The adults will require flies and beetles as well to feed. They in turn will provide food for some of the bird life in the area. Birds such as Treecreaper, Nuthatch and Woodpeckers will feed off the larva. You can often see them pecking away at the bark searching for various grubs.

Wild Radish Found In the Farmland 

We need to be increasing biodiversity not reduce it. Simple things to do this are allowing hedges to grow bigger, leaving dead wood on the woodland floor and creating areas of scrub. If we do that we will see an increase in the wildlife present. 

Common Vetch Growing Close to Ground

Trips to the Museum: Art and Science

This time of year the weather does not always encourage outdoor activities. A wet day in February can be quite unpleasant and therefore difficult to cultivate your love of nature. This is where museums come in. We love going to museums as a family as it is a great way to see a wide variety of different artefacts and learn about them. They can create a fascination and interest in the world around us and support our understanding of science and nature. 

Studying the Geological Collection 

Oxford University Museum of Natural History 

 Being half-term we wanted to do something a bit more interesting so we decided to go to Oxford. When deciding what to do it did not take us long to all agree on the Natural History Museum. We were not disappointed. Their collection was incredible and well informed. We spent a total of four and a half hours pouring over fossils, rocks and animal exhibits. The way the museum was set up to tell the story of evolution of our world was exceptionally informative. I always find being reminded of how we came to be incredible and humbling.

Beautiful Natural Patterns 

Fossilised Fern

We each had a favourite bit. My daughter was fascinated with the natural patterns that nature has produced in the fossil record. She was trying to determine if there were mathematical patterns present. This came from my wife exploring fractals in her art work. My highlight was the section on human evolution. I always love looking at the way that we have changed from Australopithecus africanus (lucy) through Homo habilis and Homo erectus to the modern day humans. It was nice to sit back and look at how the changes had taken place over time.

Coral

Ammonite

Back in Worcester we went to the Worcester Museum and Art Gallery. Whilst much smaller in terms of exhibits it still had an engaging collection of fossils and animals that we were all very interested in. It was nice to see some of the pre-historic animals that lived in the Worcester area millions of years ago and to learn about the geology of the local area.

Jurassic Ammonite found in the Cotswolds

The strength of the museum in Worcester is that is has a widespread range of things that can connect a variety of backgrounds and ages. There is something for everyone. From science to art, history to geology to anthropology. This is what is needed as it connects a much broader range of people and then encourages them to learn about other areas of interest. Whilst only a small museum we had a lot of fun exploring and learning. I think that the sign above their back door sums it up: Art and Science. Science is vitally important but we also need art to help encourage new ideas and brighten up our world.

Carboniferous Seed Fern from Wyre Forest

Art and Science

In addition to our museum visits we have been involved in the hands-on pop-up science centre in Cheltenham that has been taking place all of half-term (Cheltenham Science Group). This was set up to engage a wide range of people in science, technology, engineering and maths with the hope to show that there is a need for a permanent hands-on centre in Cheltenham. It has been a huge success and this is because it has a range of different activities that have engaged a wide range of ages and backgrounds. There were exhibits on light, sound, heat and energy. There has also been information about perfumes and mathematical art.

Koch Snowflake by Ann-marie Ison

Setting up the Art stand at the Science Centre

As part of the science centre my wife has been displaying her mathematical art. Her art work has been developing mathematical principles, such as fractals and the fibonacci sequence, in an artistic way to try and engage as many different people in maths as possible. It would be a much duller world if we were to keep the two worlds apart. And it was clear from the response of the people of Cheltenham that they liked the concept.

Pop-up Art at the Pop-up science Centre, Cheltenham

Volunteering is always a lot of fun and rewarding, however, what made this experience so special was the way the people in Cheltenham engage with science and maths, so much enthusiasm. The hands on experience really helps people connect and to see how the scientific or mathematic knowledge can be used in a wider context. It is clear that the people of Cheltenham really want to engage more with science and maths and they would clearly benefit from a permanent centre; this is why I am so keen to support, help and get involved! But I also think that all towns and cities would benefit and and embrace such a centre.

The Team of Volunteers for the First Day

People Engaging in Science

A lot of the pop-up science exhibits have come from @bristol. We are crowdfunding to raise money to make some of our own to use in schools, at future events and become part of the centre when we have one.

Investigating Pressure

Christ Church Meadow, Oxford