Watching zebra finch parents nesting, behavioural ecologist Mylene Mariette at Deakin University in Geelong, Australia, noticed something interesting. When the weather was hot, the birds produced a fast, high-pitched call around their eggs. ‘To find out whether there was any effect on the embryo, we did an incubator experiment,’ she says. They found that unborn …
A golf ball makes use of the same principle of bumps on its surface to reduce drag. Originally smooth, manufacturers began making dimpled balls in the late 19th century after golfers noticed that balls with nicks and dents in them travelled farther. Like the whale fin, the bumps create a turbulent layer of air that …
Bumblebees are not pests. They’re largely passive creatures who really have no interest in dive-bombing your picnic. Unlike honeybees, they can sting more than once, but unless you do something daft like disturb their home, they rarely do so. A nest won’t damage property (they don’t guzzle wood like wasps) and don’t worry if you …
What’s it like? This RSPB nature reserve is set on the stunning eastern shores of Loch Lomond, where ancient oak woodland rises from the shore, giving way to moorland with wide open views. It’s chilly up here in winter but that doesn’t seem to deter the wildlife. What can I see? Large mammals such as …
Walks On the Wild Side: Inversnaid, Stirling, Scotland Read More »
A high-school student in New Zealand has invented an award-winning tool to prevent small shellfish from being killed by divers. Diving for the shells of the edible abalone is legal in New Zealand, but they have to be 12.5cm long to be fished or they must be discarded, and levering them off the rocks for …
In April 2016, a brand-new wetlands centre opened in Manor House, north London. The London Wildlife Trust’s (LWT) Woodberry Wetlands was created around the East Reservoir in Stoke Newington, built in 1833 but closed to the public ever since. This hidden enclave of wildlife, inaccessible for 180 years, is home to birds, bats, amphibians and many …
What’s it like? This dramatic 10km stretch of Lincolnshire coastline, between Grainthorpe Haven in the north and Saltfleet in the south, is comprised of sand dunes, unusual dune ridges, intertidal areas and mudflats. Thousands of people flock here each year as it’s a breeding ground for one of the largest populations of grey seals in England. …
What’s it like? There’s an excellent reason Winterwatch is filmed here. This beautiful, sandy peninsular with ancient oak woodland, tidal salt marshes and heatherlined paths wiggling around Poole Harbour is bursting with animal life. What can I see? If the views of Poole Harbour aren’t reason enough to go, you can also see a wide …
Contrary to what you might think, badgers don’t hibernate. In fact, far from sleeping through the winter, this is one of Meles meles’ busiest times of year. Janaury to March is when most females (or sows) give birth to their cubs – nine months after having mated the previous spring. This might seem like a …
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