January 15, 2025 • 53 mins
Join Nigel Palmer on this week's Wildlife Matters podcast as he explores the captivating world of British corvids, a family of birds renowned for their intelligence and adaptability.
The episode delves into recent wildlife news, including the unauthorised release of lynx in Scotland and the public outcry that followed, highlighting the complexities of wildlife reintroduction efforts. Listeners will also learn about the remarkable sightings of humpback whales off the Sussex coast, showcasing the excitement these majestic creatures bring to marine enthusiasts.
The podcast further emphasises the ecological importance of corvids, featuring an introduction to several native species, including ravens, rooks, and jackdaws.
Through engaging storytelling and expert insights, Nigel invites listeners to appreciate the beauty and significance of these remarkable birds as well as the pressing challenges they face in today's world.
Hello, and a big warm winter welcome to this week’s Wildlife Matters Podcast. I am your host - Nigel Palmer.
And on this week’s action-packed Wildlife Matters podcast, join us as we delve into the fascinating world of the unique corvids that grace the UK with their presence.
If you have ever marvelled at the beauty of crows, this is your chance to be captivated by these intelligent, stunning, iridescent birds.
Join us to spend some mindful moments in nature as we explore a very special and globally rare habitat, a treasure primarily found in the UK, and that faces a massive challenge in future
But before that, 2025 has been busy here at Wildlife Matters with lots of Nature news stories for you, including the return or not of a native species - the first-ever live stream from a hunt meeting and giant cetaceans in the English Channel.
So, let’s go to the News desk for this week’s Wildlife matters. Nature News
The Wildlife Matters podcast delves into the intriguing world of corvids, a family of birds renowned for their intelligence and adaptability.
Hosted by Nigel Palmer, the episode begins with a warm welcome and an overview of the unique corvid species found in the UK, such as crows, ravens, and jackdaws.
Listeners are invited to appreciate the beauty and complexity of these birds, emphasising their roles as scavengers and seed dispersers within ecosystems.
The podcast also tackles pressing conservation issues, such as the illegal release of lynx in Scotland, highlighting community reactions and the implications for wildlife management.
With a blend of nature news and thoughtful reflections, Palmer encourages listeners to consider their responsibility towards coexisting with wildlife, promoting a deeper understanding of the delicate balance between human activities and the natural world.
Takeaways:
- The return of lynx to the Scottish Highlands has sparked both excitement and controversy, highlighting the complexities of wildlife reintroduction.
- Ravens, rooks, and jackdaws are among the fascinating corvid species that are native to the UK, each with unique characteristics and behaviors.
- Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin's recent live stream from a hunt meeting brought significant attention to illegal hunting practices in the UK.
- Humpback whale sightings off the Sussex coast are rare and have recently captivated local communities and marine enthusiasts alike.
- Chalk rivers, which are primarily found in the UK, support a delicate ecosystem that is vital for numerous aquatic species.
- The podcast emphasises the importance of understanding and appreciating corvids as intelligent and ecologically significant birds rather than viewing them solely as pests.
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- Royal Zoological Society of Scotland
- Born Free Foundation
- Wildlands
- Wildlife Matters...
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:26):
Hello and a big warm welcometo this week's Wildlife Matters podcast.
I'm your host, Nigel Palmer,and on this week's action packed
Wildlife Matters podcast, joinus as we delve into the fascinating
world of the unique corvidsthat grace the UK with their presence.
If you have ever marveled atthe beauty of crows, this is your
(00:49):
chance to be captivated bythese intelligent, stunning, iridescent
birds.
Then join us to spend somemindful moments in nature as we explore
explore a very special andglobally rare habitat, a treasure
primarily found in the UK andthat faces a massive challenge in
(01:11):
the future.
But before that, 2025 has been busy.
Here at Wildlife Matters witha lot.
Of nature news stories foryou, including the return or not
of a native species, firstever live stream from a hunt meeting
and giant citations in theEnglish Channel.
(01:31):
So let's get over to the newsdesk for this week's Wildlife Matters
Nature News.
(01:54):
Hello and welcome to thisweek's Wildlife Matters Nature News.
Well, when we first heard thereports that lynx had been seen in
the Cairngorms area ofScotland, my heart skipped a beat
with excitement.
These native cats had at lastreturned to their natural habitat.
But sadly, as the storycontinued to develop, it became clear
(02:18):
police Scotland was searchingfor two links.
That episode ended quickly, asboth animals were captured by experts
from the Royal ZoologicalSociety of Scotland and were taken
to quarantine facilities atthe Highland Wildlife Park.
Yet the delight of asuccessful operation remained short
(02:40):
lived.
Early on Friday morning, theRZSS's network of wildlife cameras
caught two moorings in thesame stretch of forest near Kingussie.
The baited traps were deployedagain and the specialists began to
search before the additionallinks were safely captured.
At around 6:30pm speculationhas erupted over who was responsible
(03:05):
for the illegal release, andpolice said inquiries were continuing
to establish the full circumstances.
According to a witness, thelynx shy solitary animals in the
wild and not.
Dangerous to humans, werefound near straw.
Bedding a lay by with deadchicks and porcupine quills.
(03:26):
On social media, some blamedrogue rewilders.
For taking the law into their own.
Hands by making the return oflynx a fact on the ground similar
to how beavers returned to theUK through unauthorized beaver bombing.
Studies indicate that theHighlands could support.
As many as 400 lynx in the.
(03:49):
World, and there is strongsupport for their return among environmental
groups.
But leading voices in therewilding sector quickly condemned
this week's unauthorizedrelease as reckless and highly irresponsible.
The potential impact of lynxon the.
Local ecosystem, includingtheir role in controlling.
(04:12):
Deer population should becarefully considered in future reintroduction
plans.
Dave Barkley, an expertleading the search for the lynx,
said that these semi tameanimals were highly habituated to
people, yet had been releasedin the depths of winter.
With temperatures locallyplunging below minus 5 or 23 degrees
(04:34):
Fahrenheit, creating deep snowcover, the lynx were released at
the mouth of a forest trackheavily used by logging machinery.
All of that compromises thewelfare of these animals, he said.
It's abhorrent what hashappened here and against all international
good practice.
Investigators now suspect thelynx could have been from a family
(04:57):
group.
The two captured on Thursdayare believed to both be juvenile
cubs of around one to twoyears old.
Ben Goldsmith, anenvironmentalist, said, like many
others, I have beenmomentarily thrilled by the notion
of lynx once again stalkingthe cairngorms.
Lynx are iconic native speciesmissing from Britain and they should
(05:20):
be back here.
The habitat is perfect.
These are secretive animalsand there are.
No good reasons not toreintroduce them.
We don't know the story behindthese missing links.
Perhaps they are abandonedpets that have become unmanageable.
Whatever has happened, itseems to have been poorly thought
through.
(05:40):
The lynx were bound on theKill Hunt, the estate owned by Danish
billionaire Anders Poulsen.
A spokesman for Wildlands, thecompany that runs Poulsen's Scottish
estate, said that they believethe native predators should be introduced
lawfully and in closecollaboration with local people.
(06:01):
In the uk, Citizens must applyto their local council to keep wild
animals.
According to figures collectedby the Born free Foundation in 2020
23, 31 links were kept byprivate collectors under the Dangerous
Wild animals Act of 1976,which does not include zoos.
(06:23):
All were housed in England.
Experts said that the morelinks were likely to be held in unauthorized
private collections that weredifficult to monitor.
There could be far more linksin private hands than are recorded,
said Dr.
Paul O'Donoghue, director ofthe Lynx UK Trust.
If they have cubs, they maynot register them.
(06:44):
People would be gobsmacked bywhat people have in their back gardens.
Lynx are now a protectedspecies in Europe.
The Eurasian lynx hasrecovered from a.
Few hundred in the 1950s to as.
Many as ten thousand.
This recovery is a testamentto to successful conservation efforts,
(07:05):
but the recent events inScotland highlight the ongoing challenges
in managing and protectingthese species.
Research suggests a mixedsupport for their return to the UK
with strong opposition fromfarmers, particularly the Scottish
nfu, who fear that the lynxwill attack livestock such as sheep.
(07:30):
Our second story this week isabout Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin,
who joined SABS at a New YearHunt meeting.
As the Cottagemoor Huntgathered in Wymondham Village at
the home of their formermaster huntsman and the current British
Hound Sports Association Vicechairman, Andrew Osborne, the Northamps
(07:53):
hunt saboteurs arrived withsome special guests of their own.
Chris Packham CBE, broadcasterand natural history expert and zoologist
Megan McCubbin.
Accompanying Chris and Meganwas Fabian, who used a live broadcast
camera to capture all theevents as they unfolded and shared
(08:16):
them via a live social media stream.
The only veil of secrecy theCottagemoor could muster was the
thick mist that shrouded theirkilling fields as the hunt left the
meet.
Passing Chris and Megan on the road.
They suddenly found themselvesin uncharted territory.
Clearly unnerved by thespotlight now shining on them, Chris
(08:40):
Packham asked lots ofquestions about the illegal activities
and related violent disorderassociated with the Cottagemoor and
other hunts.
Meanwhile, Megan chatted withmembers of the Northampton SAD group,
gaining insights andinformation throughout the broadcast,
which actually lasted overthree hours.
(09:02):
This kept the social mediaworld buzzing with discussions about
fox hunting.
Chris and Megan paidparticular attention to.
The first draw, where houndswere cast.
Into a small copse of thick brambles.
It was evident to anyonewatching that no trail layer could
have been through, dispellingany attempts to maintain the smokescreen
(09:25):
of trail hunting.
Chris and Megan explained tothe tens of thousands watching the
livestream about the lies thetrail hunters spin to support their
cruel and barbaric pastime oftrail hunting.
Anyone suggesting that havingtwo professional broadcasters and
a natural history expertpresent at a hump meeting was a stunt
(09:48):
should consider the risks theyboth took by being there.
Chris Packham has receivedcredible and severe threats to his
own safety, including arsonattacks on his home from hunt supporters.
Chris and Meghan showedincredible courage and commitment
to expose the illegal hunts at.
(10:09):
A live meet and to go live.
On social media media later inthe day, Chris and Megan witnessed
hounds going in to cry acrossa main road.
When they asked the whipper in what.
Was happening, his reply,broadcast live on social media, was
that a trail had been laidacross the road.
A transparently clear lie.
(10:31):
What a shambles that cruelCottesmore Hunt are.
This was a unique day for the.
North Hants Hunt saboteurs andtheir ongoing campaign against the
criminal activities of theCottagemoor Hunt.
It's a day that they won't forget.
Soon.
We should all extend anenormous thank you to Megan and Chris
(10:53):
and their team and of course,the saboteurs.
Everyone gelled exceptionallywell and through good teamwork, we
could appeal directly tothousands of people by live streaming
a notorious fox hump.
The broadcast also highlightedthe urgent need for everyone to advocate
for a ban on trail hunting tobecome a legal reality soon.
(11:18):
And our final story on thisweek's Wildlife Matters Nature News
is the remarkable one of ahumpback whale sighting made off
the picturesque Sussex coast,capturing the attention of both locals
and marine enthusiasts.
Kitty Dale filmed thisextraordinary event from.
Hastings seafront on 3 January.
(11:41):
The interest in the sightinghas been.
Overwhelming, with the SussexDolphin Project receiving a multitude
of reports from variouslocations, including at Rye, Pet
Level, Fairlight, St Leonards,Bexhill, Pevensey, Eastbourne, Dungeness
and the iconic Beachy Head.
This collective effort hasmade the sightings even more significant,
(12:05):
fostering a sense of communityengagement and shared excitement.
Humpback whale sightings inthe eastern English Channel are notably
rare, making this recentsighting a significant event.
Yet marine experts explainthat these magnificent.
Creatures can appear duringthe winter months as they migrate
(12:26):
southwards.
This migration often leadsthem to pass.
Along the UK coastline.
The Sussex Dolphin Projecttold Wildlife Matters its excitement
about the recent flurry ofsightings, saying, wow, what an exciting
few days of sightings.
Thank you to everyone whoshared their experience of spotting
a humpback whale over the lastfew days, which peaked with some
(12:49):
impressive public breachingdisplays yesterday.
They went on to provide afurther insight into the movement
patterns of Humphreck, Walesby saying, although these sightings
are uncommon in the easternEnglish Channel, we typically receive
several reports during a winter.
Season when these whales aremigrating south.
While most humpbacks take thewesterly route navigating past Ireland,
(13:13):
a number of them do opt forthe easterly passage which brings
them through the UK and intothe Channel as they continue the
their journey.
As we move forward, weencourage everyone to keep their
eyes peeled on the water andto report any sightings they have
to the Sussex Dolphin Project.
You can do this via theirwebsite and all data will help the
(13:36):
science and to help the whalesin the future.
And that has been this week'sWildlife Matters Nature.
In.
(14:04):
Calm, crystal waters meanderover the.
Gravel beds, flowing throughlandscapes adorned with white flowered
water.
Crowfoot and watercress chalkrivers are enchanting.
Aloland rivers, known fortheir clear water and diversity of
plant life.
Although they have all beenaltered to some degree, be that for
(14:26):
milling, fishing.
Irrigation or watercresscultivation, they continue to.
Support a delicate aquaticecosystem despite weirs, impoundment
and water abstraction.
England's chalk Rivers andstreams are renowned worldwide for
trout and salmon.
The river corridors oftenfeature lush vegetation.
(14:50):
These rivers originate from achalk aquifer, resulting in the purest
water that is.
Rich in minerals andmaintaining a relatively.
Constant temperaturethroughout the year.
The stable environment allowsvarious aquatic plants to thrive.
A combination of plantdiversity and high.
Water quality supportsnumerous species of invertebrates
(15:14):
and fish.
Some headwaters consist ofwinterborne streams which naturally
run dry by late summer if lowrainfall does not recharge the aquifers.
And on today's WildlifeMatters Mindful Moments Sit with
me and be still and.
Silent and listen to thecrystal clear.
(15:35):
Waters as they flow by us.
(16:13):
It.
(16:54):
Well, I hope you enjoyedspending time just sitting by the
beautiful crystal clear watersof a chalk stream.
There are only around 200chalk rivers worldwide, with 85%
of those located in.
The UK, primarily in southernand eastern England.
(17:16):
Notable examples includeHampshire's River Test, the River
Vere in Hertfordshire, and theRiver Chess, which flows from Buckinghamshire
through to Rickmansworth inthe west of London.
In early summer you may seeclouds of mayflies emerging from
the crystal clear.
Water to lay their eggs after spending.
(17:38):
Most of their lives as nymphsunder the waters.
You may also spot a stunningvariety of dragonflies, trout and
salmon, crayfish and.
Ballheads, among many other species.
Chalk streams are incredibleand vital habitat.
That need our help andprotection, and.
(18:01):
Wildlife Matters will soonshare updates from our Chalk Stream
projects that will bebeginning soon.
That has been this week'sWildlife Matters.
Mindful Moments.
(18:45):
And now it's time for part oneof our fascinating new series as
Wildlife Matters shares anintroduction to British Corvids.
Corvids are a fascinatingfamily of birds known for their intelligence,
adaptability and social complexity.
Famed for their intelligence,they exhibit problem.
(19:06):
Solving skills, use tools andin some.
Cases are self aware.
Many corvids live in complexsocial groups with intricate hierarchies
and communication systems.
Their social interactions andbehaviors are fascinating to observe.
Corvids, with their diverseroles as seed dispersers, scavengers
(19:29):
and predators, are key playersin maintaining a healthy environmental
system.
With their striking plumage,acrobatic flight and unique vocalizations,
corvids are a source of ofawe, inspiring beauty and wonder
in the natural world.
Observing their behavior canbe an enriching experience.
(19:55):
Corvids have been featured infolklore, mythology.
And literature across manycultures, often symbolizing.
Intelligence, cunning or even trickery.
This rich culturalsignificance adds an intriguing layer
to our understandingunderstanding of these wonderful
birds.
While some may view corvids aspests with understanding and appreciating
(20:19):
their intelligence, theirsocial complexity and ecological
importance.
It's crucial and it can helpus to take responsibility and coexist
harmoniously with theseremarkable birds.
So let's get started withWildlife Matters Introduction to
British Corvids Part 1.
(21:02):
The Corvid family of birds candivide opinions, with some loving
the almost subversive side ofcorvids that feature strongly in
myth and legend, whilst othersdislike the shrill calls and the
perceived cruelty of corvidswhen feeding.
Many misunderstand theseintelligent and super adaptive birds,
(21:24):
whilst others, like WildlifeMatters, find them one of the most
fascinating and beautiful wildspecies in the uk.
Eight corvid species arenative here in Britain.
The five are from the Corvisgenus and are corvids we look at
today.
The other three corvid specieswill be featured in part two on the
(21:47):
next Wildlife Matters podcast.
Corvids are a group of birdsbelonging to the Corvidiae family,
also known as the crow family.
The family includes crows,jackdaws, rooks, ravens, jays, magpies
and chuffs.
There are over 120 species ofcorvids worldwide.
(22:09):
In this article we'll examineBritish corvids in size order from
the largest to the smallest.
We begin with one of myfavorite birds, the magnificent,
intelligent and beautiful raven.
The raven, known as thenorthern or common raven, is the
(22:29):
most widespread crow species worldwide.
It can be found in variousclimates, not just the classic colder
climates of the north.
In fact, ravens can be foundin the Arctic, the temperate habitats
of North.
America and Europe, and thedeserts of Africa.
They can even be found inurban areas such as London and the
(22:53):
mountains and uplands ofEngland, Scotland and Wales.
Corvids are known for theirintelligence, with various species
being able to recognizethemselves in mirrors, being aware
of being watched andremembering human faces.
They feature strongly in ourculture and.
Folklore, some of which arerather macabre, such as the belief
(23:16):
that crows will peck out theeyes of their victims.
To attain the excellent vision.
It's a small step to see how agroup of crows attracted to a corpse
not as scavengers but asagents of death with murderous intentions.
Ravens are the British Isleslargest corvids with 125 to 135 centimeter
(23:40):
wingspans.
And like the carrion crow,they are.
All black but have a thicker neck.
Bill and a diamond shaped tail.
They are usually found aloneor in pairs and are rare in urban
areas, except of course in theTower of London.
They have A very distinctivecronking call.
(24:01):
Male and female common ravenslook almost.
Identical except that thefemale is slightly smaller.
They have glossy black plumagewith a purplish green or blue hue
to it.
Males often raise their longloose erectile throat feathers during
displays of dominance.
The head is large and the bill.
(24:23):
Is powerful, medium length,chunky and black.
The nose may have nasalbristles which.
Can cover up to half of theupper edge of the bill.
The eyes are dark brown andthe legs and feet are black with
gray soles.
Common ravens have a widerange of calls and can successfully
(24:43):
mimic sounds.
This makes it hard tointerpret their call types.
They often make a loud low tomedium pitched bark like bark bark
which is repeated frequently.
Common ravens are known forscavenging the.
Flesh of carcasses, but theyare also.
Skilled hunters that will eatalmost anything.
(25:07):
They primarily feed on smallmammals, birds, fish, reptiles, snails,
worms, berries, fruits and seeds.
They are also known toscavenge on rubbish tips and along
shorelines.
Ravens have been at the Tower of.
London since Charles II, 1630-1685.
(25:29):
King Charles ordered theravens at the Tower be protected.
There are always at least sixresident ravens cared for by one
of the yeoman warders known asthe Raven Master.
Legend has it that should thesix ravens all leave the Tower, the
Kingdom of Britain and theTower will fall.
Common ravens can be found in various.
(25:51):
Habitats including wild openand barren upland.
Moors, urban and suburbanareas, woods, farmland and in the
Lake District.
They tend to avoid the eastcoast of the UK but can be found
throughout Northern Ireland,most of Scotland and Wales and across
the Pennines close up.
(26:11):
Common ravens are easilyidentifiable by their large glossy
black body and thick chunkyarched shaped bill.
In flight they displaycharacteristics typical of.
The species with long wavesedged tails that appear diamond shaped
and long black pointed wingssimilar to those of the common birds
of prey which show prominentwing fingers.
(26:35):
Ravens construct large nestsof sticks, heather and grasses high
in the treetops.
The nests are commonly reusedyearly with.
Some maintenance at the startof each breeding season.
Each year the female lays asingle brood consisting of four to
six eggs somewhere betweenFebruary, May.
(26:57):
The eggs are a pale bluish green.
With brown spotting and areincubated by.
The female for 18 to 21 days.
The young fledge between 35 to42 days and stay with their parents
for up to six months.
The most extended lifespan fora ringed common Raven is over 13
(27:18):
years, but these birdsgenerally live between 10 and 15
years.
The second species we're goingto look at now is the rook it's the
second largest of the British corvids.
It is a large blackbird,similar in size to the carrion crow.
The rook's distinguishingfeatures from other corvids.
Are its bare grey face andgrey bill.
(27:41):
Although these features arenot present in juvenile rooks, they
can be used to identify adult birds.
Rooks are social birds, oftenseen in flocks, sometimes with other
corvids like jackdaws andcarrion crow crows.
Rooks are often admired fortheir intelligence, maligned for
their habit of eating grainand revered for the excellent and
(28:03):
bad omens they are thought to signify.
Rooks are all black birds and look.
Similar to the carrion crowexcept for the bare whitish skin
around their bill.
They have untidy bulky plumageand steeply angled crown.
Female rooks are smaller thanthe males, but both genders look
almost identical.
(28:25):
Juvenile rooks have fullyfeathered faces making them difficult
to distinguish from crowsduring the late spring and early
summer.
Rooks are medium sized birds,about the same size as carrion crows
but smaller than ravens.
They have a body length of44-46 cm and weigh between 325 and
(28:48):
575 grams.
Males have an average bodyweight of around 485 grams whilst
females, being smaller, willweigh approximately 425 grams.
Their wingspan measuresbetween 80 and 100 cm.
The males have longer wings on average.
(29:08):
Adult rooks make typical crowlike sounds.
Their call is a raucous drawnout cawing and their song includes
various other notes andphrases such as clicking and gurgling.
Rooks are omnivores that feedon invertebrates like worms and beetles
during the warmer months andgrain in the autumn and winter.
(29:31):
They will also consume smallvertebrates, rodents.
Chicks, eggs, fruit berriesand acorns.
Rooks find most of their foodon the ground or in the soil, but
they also visit bird tables.
These intelligent birds areknown to cache their food by burying
it in the ground and coveringit with leaves or soil.
(29:54):
Young rooks feed on worms andother invertebrates.
Both parents feed the youngwhile they're in the nest for about
a month.
Then they continue feedingthem for another six weeks or so
whilst they learn to forage.
Rooks are usually found in oraround arable and pasture farmland
(30:14):
where they require large treesnearby for resting and roosting.
They may also forage in largerparks and gardens and use large trees
on the edge of urban andsuburban areas.
Rooks are widespread in the UK and.
Can be found almost everywhereexcept for.
The far northwest of Scotland.
Mountainous areas in Wales andGreater London.
(30:37):
They are also found insouthern and central Europe and as
far away as China and Japan.
Birds are often associatedwith people because they forage on
farmland and along country roadsides.
While they feed on the ground,they rest, sleep and nest in trees.
Despite a significant decreasein the breeding population over the
(30:59):
last few decades, rooks arestill common in the United Kingdom,
with an estimated 1 millionbreeding pairs.
Look and listen out for thesebirds in farmland and along roadsides.
Although generally absent fromcity centres, they may visit parks
and more extensive village gardens.
Rooks are relatively longlived, with an average life expectancy
(31:23):
of about six years forindividuals who survive into adulthood.
However, they can live in the wild.
For up to 22 years.
Humans have traditionally beensignificant predators of rooks for
pest control and food.
While these birds haverelatively few predators, old, sick
or injured individuals couldfall prey to large birds of preys
(31:47):
and carnivores, foxes.
Rooks are protected by theWildlife and countryside act of 1981.
Although not endangered, theirpopulation is decreasing.
The IUCN classifies them of asleast concerned species and they
are amber listed here in the uk.
Rooks build their nests communally.
(32:09):
These are known as rookeries,typically in stands of large trees.
The largest rookeries maycontain thousands of nests, with
dozens in a single tree.
The rook's nest is a large cupmade of twigs lined with softer materials
like dried grass and built byboth males and females.
Rooks breed only once a yearand construct their nests in late
(32:33):
winter to lay their eggs in March.
The female incubates the eggsfor 16 to 18 days and the chicks
will fledge after 30 to 36 days.
Rooks lay a single brood ofthree or four heavily marked and
spotted greenish eggs.
Each egg measuresapproximately 40 millimeters long
(32:55):
and 28 millimeters wide.
Although rooks are believed toform lifelong pairs, they may not
always be faithful to their partners.
However, they remain togetherwithin the flocks even during winter.
Rooks are highly social birdsthat live in colonies and show little
aggression towards each other.
However, they can beaggressive when defending their partner
(33:19):
and fighting over food,particularly during the winter months.
They are, though generallypeaceful towards other bird species.
Because rooks roost communallyin trees in woodlands and forested
areas.
Some birds may continue toroost at the rookery throughout the
year, although most gatherinto large flocks after breeding
(33:40):
breeding season and roostelsewhere, often in the company of
jackdaws.
Rooks do not migrate in theUnited Kingdom and Western Europe,
where they are observed allyear round.
But in eastern Asia,populations migrate between breeding
ranges in the north andoverwintering sites in the south.
During the 19th century theywere introduced to New Zealand to
(34:04):
control agricultural pests,but they are now considered a pest
species in the country.
Although rooks, crows andravens are related and members of
the Corvidiae family and theCorvus genus, they are different
birds with distinct behaviorsand physical characteristics.
Whilst rooks can cause damageto cereal crops, they also help by
(34:26):
eating insect pests.
A group of rooks is commonlycalled a parliament, but other collective
nouns include a clamour and abuilding of rooks.
Rooks, like most species inthe crow family, are intelligent
birds.
They have demonstrated theirproblem solving abilities, teamwork
and tool use skills in laboratory.
(34:48):
Settings, but tool use has yet to.
Be observed in nature.
Carrion and Hooded CROWS wehave grouped.
These two species becausealthough carrion and hooded crows
may appear different, they are.
Genetically and behaviorallyalmost indistinguishable.
They can interbreed andproduce fertile offspring, but tend
(35:10):
to mate within their own kind.
Hybrids have indeterminateplumage between their parents, often
making them outcast to birdsof either population.
This keeps the populationsdistinct and is expected to eventually
lead to their becoming fullreproductively incompatible species.
(35:31):
The carrion crow, also knownas just crow, is one of the most
common corvids in the British Isles.
It is found in varioushabitats, including gardens.
Although widespread throughoutmost of the uk, it is less common
in Ireland.
It consumes various foods suchas carrion, invertebrates, eggs and
(35:53):
fruit.
Crows are usually seen aloneor in pairs, but they can form flocks
and sometimes can be foundwith other corvid communities.
They are entirely black andcan sometimes be confused with other
corvid species, particularlyjuvenile rooks and ravens, and closely
related Hooded crow was onceconsidered a subspecies of the carrion
(36:17):
crow, but it is now classifiedas a separate species.
Adult carrion crows haveglossy black upper parts with a greenish
tone on the head and upperwings, which changes to a purplish
hue on the neck, back and rump.
These hues can be challengingto observe and they may appear as
very subtle.
The bird's underparts are dullblack with tight feathering across
(36:41):
the chest, belly and vent.
The head is broad and flatacross the crown and the black bill
is medium length, thick and arched.
The inside of the mouth isgrey and the nostrils are covered
in short bristle like feathers.
The eyes are dark brown and the.
Legs dark grey or black.
(37:01):
The tail and wingtips are square.
Both the male and the femalelook very similar.
Juvenile birds lack theglossiness of the adults, and their
feathers appear sootier.
They have grey eyes and a pinkcoloration on the edges and inside
of their bill.
The crow's call is typicallyloud and harsh, similar to caw, caw,
(37:24):
caw, or.
Craa, cra, cra, or often repeated.
The carrion crow mainlyforages for food on the ground, taking
worms, insects, seeds,berries, small mammals, and amphibians.
It is also known to feed onother birds, eggs and young, and
scavenge for scraps and carrion.
(37:44):
The carrion crow is a birdnative to central and western Europe,
including the United Kingdom.
It is also found in easternand central Asia, from Kazakhstan
to China and Japan.
Its habitat extends south toThailand and north to the Kamchatka
Peninsula in Russia's northeast.
(38:05):
The species has twosubspecies, Corvus corone corone,
which is native to Europe, andCorvus corone orientalis, which is
only found in Asia.
The carrion crow is uprightand confident on the ground.
It walks with a determined,strutting gait in flight.
During the breeding season, itoften chases predators away from
(38:28):
its feeding grounds or nestareas and even attacks birds of prey.
Carrion crows are usuallysolitary or found in pairs, though
they occasionally form small flocks.
They can be found in variousnatural habitats, including farmland,
wetlands, moorlands,woodlands, and in the open countryside.
(38:51):
They are most commonly foundin urban and suburban areas with
parks and gardens,particularly in Europe.
There are sufficient trees inall of these habitats for roosting
and nesting.
These birds are monogamous andoften mate for life.
During the breeding season.
The male and female build alarge nest from sticks and twigs
(39:12):
high up in a tree oroccasionally on the top of a cliff,
depending on the geographical location.
One brood of four to six brownspeckled blue eggs are produced annually
between March and June.
The female incubates the eggsfor up to 21 days, and fledging usually
(39:32):
occurs within one month.
Carrion crows have fewpredators and can live for up to
10 years in the wild, withsome ringed crows recorded as living
up to nearly 20 years.
The hooded crow, previouslybelieved to be the same species as
the carrion crow, is nowrecognized as a distinct species.
(39:54):
It is the same size as thecarrion crow but has a grey body
with a black head, chest,wings, and tail.
Hooded crows are found innorthern and western Scotland, Ireland,
and the Isle of Man.
They replace the carrion crowwhere they are located, with a narrow
band of overlap between thetwo species.
(40:15):
Hooded crows are widelydistributed across northern, eastern
and southeastern Europe andthe Middle East.
Female hooded crows lookidentical to males in color and plumage.
The only way to tell themapart visually is by size, with the
females being slightly smallerthan the males.
However, both sexes havediffering behaviors and can be identified
(40:39):
by them.
Juvenile hooded crows are lessvibrant in.
Color than adults, with abrowner hue to their grey feathers.
Immature birds have blue greyeyes and their beaks are pinkish
red instead of.
The adult bird's dark grey.
Male hooded crows are usuallylarger and heavier than females,
and they can grow up to 48 to54 centimeters in length and have
(41:04):
a wingspan between 93 and 105 centimeters.
They will weigh typicallybetween 395 to 600 grams.
The call of the hooded crow issimilar to the familiar harsh cawing
of the carrion crow, but isslightly softer and slightly less
hoarse.
(41:24):
Hooded crows are omnivoreswith a primarily carnivorous diet.
They scavenge for carrion,roadkill, scraps, small mammals,
birds, eggs and young nestlings.
They will also feed onmollusks, crabs and sea urchins at
coastal loc locations, andthey can consume small quantities
of seeds and grain.
(41:46):
Young hooded crows feed almostentirely on insects in their first
few weeks of life beforeadding grains and seeds to their
diet as autumn approaches.
Hooded crows thrive in a mixedfarmland landscapes with open land
and sparse tree cover.
These birds are commonly foundin parks, gardens, coastal regions
(42:07):
and expanses of moorland.
In urban areas, they arerelatively tolerant of human presence
and are frequently seenscavenging on streets in busy city
centers.
The hooded crow range extendsfrom Ireland and western Scotland
to Russia in the east,covering northern Europe.
(42:27):
Norway, Sweden, and Finlandhave the largest hooded crow populations
north in Europe, whilst Italy,Greece, Bulgaria, and Turkey have
them in the south.
Russia is home to between 1and 10 million resident hooded crows.
Hooded crows are widespreadacross their entire range, including
(42:48):
Northern Ireland, westernScotland, and the Isle of Man, where
spotting one is not consideredunusual or rare.
During winter, the UK sees anincrease in the resident population
of hooded crows with thearrival of overwintering birds that
migrate from Scandinavia afterthe breeding season.
These temporary residents maybe seen along the eastern coasts
(43:10):
of Scotland and England, andthe last of the five corvid.
Species we'll be looking attoday is.
The smallest of the fivecorvid species that are native in
the uk, and that is thejackdaw, also known as Corvus.
Jackdaws can be found invarious habitats across much of the
(43:31):
British Isles.
They roost together inwoodlands and often join flocks of
rooks.
These brilliant and socialbirds are commonly found in towns
and the countryside and arefrequently associated with rooks
and other crows.
Despite their smaller size,jackdaws are friendly and pleasant
birds.
They have very dark greyplumage with a jet black crown and
(43:55):
paler gray nape and sides oftheir face.
Their striking pale blue eyesare the most distinctive feature
and their short stout billsdistinguish them from from similar
species.
Male and female jackdaws lookvery similar.
But juvenile birds can beidentified by.
Their dark eyes and dullerbrownish plumage.
(44:16):
Due to their similarappearance, jackdaws are often confused
with rooks as they tend toflock together.
However, rooks are much largerbirds with darker eyes, longer bills
and paler base.
They also have plumage similarto the large hooded crows in Scotland
and Ireland.
Adult jackdaws are slightlylarger than a magpie but have a much
(44:40):
shorter tail.
They are compact birds with atotal body length of around 34 centimeters
or 13 inches.
Most full grown jackdaws weighbetween 200 and 270 grams or 7 to
about 9.5 ounces with malesbeing the heavier sex.
(45:01):
Jackdaws are agile in flightwith a.
Broad wingspan of between 67to 74 centimeters or roughly 26 to
29 inches.
Jackdaws are known for theirhigh pitched chuck call, which is
not particularly musical.
That's an understatement.
(45:21):
They are optimistic omnivoresthat feed on various foods, including
insects during the breedingseason and plants like grains, seeds
and fruits during the winter.
They're also known to scavengefor scraps and carrion, and they
are infamous for raiding birdsnests and stealing eggs from waterfowl
(45:41):
and sea birds.
Some people consider themunwelcome visitors on garden bird
tables.
Jackdaws can be found invarious habitats.
But they will prefer openlandscape with scattered trees and
avoid large open areas withouttrees or densely wooded areas.
They are widespread throughoutEurope, western Asia and marginally
(46:05):
in North Africa, and can befound virtually throughout the United
Kingdom except for some partsof the northwest in Scotland.
These birds generally forageon the ground and use trees and buildings
for roosting and nesting.
They are social birds thatfeed and roost in groups ranging
from small to large flocks.
(46:26):
In the United Kingdom, theyare common in urban suburban farmland,
open countryside areas as wellas in the coastal regions.
Jackdaws can live for up to 18.
Years, but their average lifeexpectancy is more like five years.
The population of adultjackdaws in the.
United Kingdom is estimated tobe over 3 million breeding pairs.
(46:52):
Jackdaws are susceptible topredation with birds of prey and
mammals like pine martens andhouse cats.
In certain areas, youngjackdaws are targeted explicitly
by the goshawk.
Jackdaws are a protectedspecies under the Wildlife and Countryside
Act.
They're also a green listedspecies in the United Kingdom with
(47:15):
a healthy population.
Since the mid-1900s, thenumber of these birds has significantly
increased.
Globally.
Jackdaws are classified as ofleast concern on the IUCN listings.
These birds are cavity nestersand construct their nests in various
sheltered locations such ascrevices in sea cliffs, caves, tree
(47:38):
cavities, chimneys, nest boxesand even disused animal burrows.
Both male and female jackdawswork together to build a nest of
twigs, mud, feathers and othermaterials to fit within the cavity.
These social birds typicallynest in loose colonies with other
jackdaw pairs.
Jackdaws usually beginbreeding at 2 years old and nest
(48:01):
between March and June.
They produce a single broodannually and the eggs hatch after
about three weeks and theyoung birds fledge roughly one month
later.
Jackdaws will typically layfour or five eggs, although their
clutch size varies betweenthree and eight.
Each egg has a pale bluishcolor with numerous dark speckles
(48:24):
and measures approximately 3.5cm in length and 2.5 cm wide.
Jackdaws are monogamous birdsthat pair for life.
They show an unusually highdegree of sexual fidelity to their
partner, although extra pairmating has been confirmed in some
individuals.
Jackdaws are generally notaggressive birds, although they can
(48:48):
dominate smaller songbirdsaround food sources.
They are social birds thatroost and coexist peacefully with
other corvids, particularly rooks.
That was a Wildlife MattersIntroduction to.
British Corvids, Part 1 Wehope you've.
Enjoyed discovering more aboutthese fantastic birds with whom we
(49:08):
share our towns, cities and countryside.
In Part two, we will examine the.
Three remaining native Britishcorvids the Magnificent.
Magpie, the colorful J, andthe Melodic Chuff.
(49:40):
We hope you enjoyed our firstlook at five of our native cormiers.
In the next Wildlife Matterspodcast, we will examine the remaining
three species in depth.
We always enjoy hearing fromyou and are deeply grateful for the
many kind compliments andcomments on the episodes that you
shared with us in 2018.
(50:03):
Your engagement is what helpsmake Wildlife Matters podcast possible.
In 2025 we will re record ourinfamous lost interviews after our
storage disk catastrophically failed.
These interviews were atreasure trove of insights and knowledge
and their loss was a blow toour mission.
(50:24):
But we do have exciting news regarding.
Our new projects, campaignsand the first.
Wildlife Matters wildlife touroutside of the uk.
So if you haven't already,please like and subscribe and leave
us a review on Apple, SpotifyAmazon or wherever you listen to
(50:45):
your podcasts.
For those who follow us onYouTube, a warm welcome.
We hope you're enjoying theshort, short videos we have posted
in addition to the podcast episodes.
Of course, if you haven'tvisited the Wildlife Matters YouTube
channel, please do take alook, listen and subscribe when you
(51:06):
get there.
I'd also like to thank our newthreads and Blue sky followers.
With well over six and a halfthousand of you following us already
this year, we enjoyinteracting and chatting with as
many of you as possible.
For the wildlife and natureprofessionals, check out our fast
(51:28):
growing LinkedIn profile which.
Is under my name, Nigel Palmer.
And please do follow us.
Thanks.
Wildlife Matters had afantastic 2024.
We have grown considerably andour voice.
To speak up for wildlife andnature is now louder than ever before.
And that's thanks to yoursupport that we've achieved significant
(51:52):
milestones, from launchingsuccessful campaigns to expanding
our reach and impact.
In 2025, we will launch ourfirst projects and look forward to
sharing them with you very soon.
Of course we couldn't haveachieved these things without you
and your vital support, but toenable us to do more, we need to
(52:16):
ask for more of you to support us.
Your contribution is crucialto our mission.
No matter how big or how small.
And we have several ways tohelp fund our work regular monthly
giving and one off paymentsvia our website's Ways to Help page.
Or you can support us onPatreon and Substack.
(52:40):
We will launch a YouTubesupport as soon as enough of you
have subscribed to enable usto do it.
We want to build our volunteerteams too.
One for campaigns, projects,fundraising and for practical conservation
projects.
If you have some spare timewant to get involved, please email
(53:01):
us@helloildlife matters.orgall a new volunteering page will
be on the website very soon.
Thank you for your timelistening to us today and we hope
you enjoyed and learnedsomething from this episode.
Wildlife Matters will returnin two weeks with part two of our
(53:24):
introduction to BritishCorbet, but until then, Wild Ones
I have been your host, NigelPalmer and this is Wildlife Matters
signing off.
Hello and a big warm welcometo this week's Wildlife Matters podcast.
I'm your host, Nigel Palmer,and on this week's action packed
Wildlife Matters podcast, joinus as we delve into the fascinating
world of the unique corvidsthat grace the UK with their presence.
If you have ever marveled atthe beauty of crows, this is your
(00:49):
chance to be captivated bythese intelligent, stunning, iridescent
birds.
Then join us to spend somemindful moments in nature as we explore
explore a very special andglobally rare habitat, a treasure
primarily found in the UK andthat faces a massive challenge in
(01:11):
the future.
But before that, 2025 has been busy.
Here at Wildlife Matters witha lot.
Of nature news stories foryou, including the return or not
of a native species, firstever live stream from a hunt meeting
and giant citations in theEnglish Channel.
(01:31):
So let's get over to the newsdesk for this week's Wildlife Matters
Nature News.
(01:54):
Hello and welcome to thisweek's Wildlife Matters Nature News.
Well, when we first heard thereports that lynx had been seen in
the Cairngorms area ofScotland, my heart skipped a beat
with excitement.
These native cats had at lastreturned to their natural habitat.
But sadly, as the storycontinued to develop, it became clear
(02:18):
police Scotland was searchingfor two links.
That episode ended quickly, asboth animals were captured by experts
from the Royal ZoologicalSociety of Scotland and were taken
to quarantine facilities atthe Highland Wildlife Park.
Yet the delight of asuccessful operation remained short
(02:40):
lived.
Early on Friday morning, theRZSS's network of wildlife cameras
caught two moorings in thesame stretch of forest near Kingussie.
The baited traps were deployedagain and the specialists began to
search before the additionallinks were safely captured.
At around 6:30pm speculationhas erupted over who was responsible
(03:05):
for the illegal release, andpolice said inquiries were continuing
to establish the full circumstances.
According to a witness, thelynx shy solitary animals in the
wild and not.
Dangerous to humans, werefound near straw.
Bedding a lay by with deadchicks and porcupine quills.
(03:26):
On social media, some blamedrogue rewilders.
For taking the law into their own.
Hands by making the return oflynx a fact on the ground similar
to how beavers returned to theUK through unauthorized beaver bombing.
Studies indicate that theHighlands could support.
As many as 400 lynx in the.
(03:49):
World, and there is strongsupport for their return among environmental
groups.
But leading voices in therewilding sector quickly condemned
this week's unauthorizedrelease as reckless and highly irresponsible.
The potential impact of lynxon the.
Local ecosystem, includingtheir role in controlling.
(04:12):
Deer population should becarefully considered in future reintroduction
plans.
Dave Barkley, an expertleading the search for the lynx,
said that these semi tameanimals were highly habituated to
people, yet had been releasedin the depths of winter.
With temperatures locallyplunging below minus 5 or 23 degrees
(04:34):
Fahrenheit, creating deep snowcover, the lynx were released at
the mouth of a forest trackheavily used by logging machinery.
All of that compromises thewelfare of these animals, he said.
It's abhorrent what hashappened here and against all international
good practice.
Investigators now suspect thelynx could have been from a family
(04:57):
group.
The two captured on Thursdayare believed to both be juvenile
cubs of around one to twoyears old.
Ben Goldsmith, anenvironmentalist, said, like many
others, I have beenmomentarily thrilled by the notion
of lynx once again stalkingthe cairngorms.
Lynx are iconic native speciesmissing from Britain and they should
(05:20):
be back here.
The habitat is perfect.
These are secretive animalsand there are.
No good reasons not toreintroduce them.
We don't know the story behindthese missing links.
Perhaps they are abandonedpets that have become unmanageable.
Whatever has happened, itseems to have been poorly thought
through.
(05:40):
The lynx were bound on theKill Hunt, the estate owned by Danish
billionaire Anders Poulsen.
A spokesman for Wildlands, thecompany that runs Poulsen's Scottish
estate, said that they believethe native predators should be introduced
lawfully and in closecollaboration with local people.
(06:01):
In the uk, Citizens must applyto their local council to keep wild
animals.
According to figures collectedby the Born free Foundation in 2020
23, 31 links were kept byprivate collectors under the Dangerous
Wild animals Act of 1976,which does not include zoos.
(06:23):
All were housed in England.
Experts said that the morelinks were likely to be held in unauthorized
private collections that weredifficult to monitor.
There could be far more linksin private hands than are recorded,
said Dr.
Paul O'Donoghue, director ofthe Lynx UK Trust.
If they have cubs, they maynot register them.
(06:44):
People would be gobsmacked bywhat people have in their back gardens.
Lynx are now a protectedspecies in Europe.
The Eurasian lynx hasrecovered from a.
Few hundred in the 1950s to as.
Many as ten thousand.
This recovery is a testamentto to successful conservation efforts,
(07:05):
but the recent events inScotland highlight the ongoing challenges
in managing and protectingthese species.
Research suggests a mixedsupport for their return to the UK
with strong opposition fromfarmers, particularly the Scottish
nfu, who fear that the lynxwill attack livestock such as sheep.
(07:30):
Our second story this week isabout Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin,
who joined SABS at a New YearHunt meeting.
As the Cottagemoor Huntgathered in Wymondham Village at
the home of their formermaster huntsman and the current British
Hound Sports Association Vicechairman, Andrew Osborne, the Northamps
(07:53):
hunt saboteurs arrived withsome special guests of their own.
Chris Packham CBE, broadcasterand natural history expert and zoologist
Megan McCubbin.
Accompanying Chris and Meganwas Fabian, who used a live broadcast
camera to capture all theevents as they unfolded and shared
(08:16):
them via a live social media stream.
The only veil of secrecy theCottagemoor could muster was the
thick mist that shrouded theirkilling fields as the hunt left the
meet.
Passing Chris and Megan on the road.
They suddenly found themselvesin uncharted territory.
Clearly unnerved by thespotlight now shining on them, Chris
(08:40):
Packham asked lots ofquestions about the illegal activities
and related violent disorderassociated with the Cottagemoor and
other hunts.
Meanwhile, Megan chatted withmembers of the Northampton SAD group,
gaining insights andinformation throughout the broadcast,
which actually lasted overthree hours.
(09:02):
This kept the social mediaworld buzzing with discussions about
fox hunting.
Chris and Megan paidparticular attention to.
The first draw, where houndswere cast.
Into a small copse of thick brambles.
It was evident to anyonewatching that no trail layer could
have been through, dispellingany attempts to maintain the smokescreen
(09:25):
of trail hunting.
Chris and Megan explained tothe tens of thousands watching the
livestream about the lies thetrail hunters spin to support their
cruel and barbaric pastime oftrail hunting.
Anyone suggesting that havingtwo professional broadcasters and
a natural history expertpresent at a hump meeting was a stunt
(09:48):
should consider the risks theyboth took by being there.
Chris Packham has receivedcredible and severe threats to his
own safety, including arsonattacks on his home from hunt supporters.
Chris and Meghan showedincredible courage and commitment
to expose the illegal hunts at.
(10:09):
A live meet and to go live.
On social media media later inthe day, Chris and Megan witnessed
hounds going in to cry acrossa main road.
When they asked the whipper in what.
Was happening, his reply,broadcast live on social media, was
that a trail had been laidacross the road.
A transparently clear lie.
(10:31):
What a shambles that cruelCottesmore Hunt are.
This was a unique day for the.
North Hants Hunt saboteurs andtheir ongoing campaign against the
criminal activities of theCottagemoor Hunt.
It's a day that they won't forget.
Soon.
We should all extend anenormous thank you to Megan and Chris
(10:53):
and their team and of course,the saboteurs.
Everyone gelled exceptionallywell and through good teamwork, we
could appeal directly tothousands of people by live streaming
a notorious fox hump.
The broadcast also highlightedthe urgent need for everyone to advocate
for a ban on trail hunting tobecome a legal reality soon.
(11:18):
And our final story on thisweek's Wildlife Matters Nature News
is the remarkable one of ahumpback whale sighting made off
the picturesque Sussex coast,capturing the attention of both locals
and marine enthusiasts.
Kitty Dale filmed thisextraordinary event from.
Hastings seafront on 3 January.
(11:41):
The interest in the sightinghas been.
Overwhelming, with the SussexDolphin Project receiving a multitude
of reports from variouslocations, including at Rye, Pet
Level, Fairlight, St Leonards,Bexhill, Pevensey, Eastbourne, Dungeness
and the iconic Beachy Head.
This collective effort hasmade the sightings even more significant,
(12:05):
fostering a sense of communityengagement and shared excitement.
Humpback whale sightings inthe eastern English Channel are notably
rare, making this recentsighting a significant event.
Yet marine experts explainthat these magnificent.
Creatures can appear duringthe winter months as they migrate
(12:26):
southwards.
This migration often leadsthem to pass.
Along the UK coastline.
The Sussex Dolphin Projecttold Wildlife Matters its excitement
about the recent flurry ofsightings, saying, wow, what an exciting
few days of sightings.
Thank you to everyone whoshared their experience of spotting
a humpback whale over the lastfew days, which peaked with some
(12:49):
impressive public breachingdisplays yesterday.
They went on to provide afurther insight into the movement
patterns of Humphreck, Walesby saying, although these sightings
are uncommon in the easternEnglish Channel, we typically receive
several reports during a winter.
Season when these whales aremigrating south.
While most humpbacks take thewesterly route navigating past Ireland,
(13:13):
a number of them do opt forthe easterly passage which brings
them through the UK and intothe Channel as they continue the
their journey.
As we move forward, weencourage everyone to keep their
eyes peeled on the water andto report any sightings they have
to the Sussex Dolphin Project.
You can do this via theirwebsite and all data will help the
(13:36):
science and to help the whalesin the future.
And that has been this week'sWildlife Matters Nature.
In.
(14:04):
Calm, crystal waters meanderover the.
Gravel beds, flowing throughlandscapes adorned with white flowered
water.
Crowfoot and watercress chalkrivers are enchanting.
Aloland rivers, known fortheir clear water and diversity of
plant life.
Although they have all beenaltered to some degree, be that for
(14:26):
milling, fishing.
Irrigation or watercresscultivation, they continue to.
Support a delicate aquaticecosystem despite weirs, impoundment
and water abstraction.
England's chalk Rivers andstreams are renowned worldwide for
trout and salmon.
The river corridors oftenfeature lush vegetation.
(14:50):
These rivers originate from achalk aquifer, resulting in the purest
water that is.
Rich in minerals andmaintaining a relatively.
Constant temperaturethroughout the year.
The stable environment allowsvarious aquatic plants to thrive.
A combination of plantdiversity and high.
Water quality supportsnumerous species of invertebrates
(15:14):
and fish.
Some headwaters consist ofwinterborne streams which naturally
run dry by late summer if lowrainfall does not recharge the aquifers.
And on today's WildlifeMatters Mindful Moments Sit with
me and be still and.
Silent and listen to thecrystal clear.
(15:35):
Waters as they flow by us.
(16:13):
It.
(16:54):
Well, I hope you enjoyedspending time just sitting by the
beautiful crystal clear watersof a chalk stream.
There are only around 200chalk rivers worldwide, with 85%
of those located in.
The UK, primarily in southernand eastern England.
(17:16):
Notable examples includeHampshire's River Test, the River
Vere in Hertfordshire, and theRiver Chess, which flows from Buckinghamshire
through to Rickmansworth inthe west of London.
In early summer you may seeclouds of mayflies emerging from
the crystal clear.
Water to lay their eggs after spending.
(17:38):
Most of their lives as nymphsunder the waters.
You may also spot a stunningvariety of dragonflies, trout and
salmon, crayfish and.
Ballheads, among many other species.
Chalk streams are incredibleand vital habitat.
That need our help andprotection, and.
(18:01):
Wildlife Matters will soonshare updates from our Chalk Stream
projects that will bebeginning soon.
That has been this week'sWildlife Matters.
Mindful Moments.
(18:45):
And now it's time for part oneof our fascinating new series as
Wildlife Matters shares anintroduction to British Corvids.
Corvids are a fascinatingfamily of birds known for their intelligence,
adaptability and social complexity.
Famed for their intelligence,they exhibit problem.
(19:06):
Solving skills, use tools andin some.
Cases are self aware.
Many corvids live in complexsocial groups with intricate hierarchies
and communication systems.
Their social interactions andbehaviors are fascinating to observe.
Corvids, with their diverseroles as seed dispersers, scavengers
(19:29):
and predators, are key playersin maintaining a healthy environmental
system.
With their striking plumage,acrobatic flight and unique vocalizations,
corvids are a source of ofawe, inspiring beauty and wonder
in the natural world.
Observing their behavior canbe an enriching experience.
(19:55):
Corvids have been featured infolklore, mythology.
And literature across manycultures, often symbolizing.
Intelligence, cunning or even trickery.
This rich culturalsignificance adds an intriguing layer
to our understandingunderstanding of these wonderful
birds.
While some may view corvids aspests with understanding and appreciating
(20:19):
their intelligence, theirsocial complexity and ecological
importance.
It's crucial and it can helpus to take responsibility and coexist
harmoniously with theseremarkable birds.
So let's get started withWildlife Matters Introduction to
British Corvids Part 1.
(21:02):
The Corvid family of birds candivide opinions, with some loving
the almost subversive side ofcorvids that feature strongly in
myth and legend, whilst othersdislike the shrill calls and the
perceived cruelty of corvidswhen feeding.
Many misunderstand theseintelligent and super adaptive birds,
(21:24):
whilst others, like WildlifeMatters, find them one of the most
fascinating and beautiful wildspecies in the uk.
Eight corvid species arenative here in Britain.
The five are from the Corvisgenus and are corvids we look at
today.
The other three corvid specieswill be featured in part two on the
(21:47):
next Wildlife Matters podcast.
Corvids are a group of birdsbelonging to the Corvidiae family,
also known as the crow family.
The family includes crows,jackdaws, rooks, ravens, jays, magpies
and chuffs.
There are over 120 species ofcorvids worldwide.
(22:09):
In this article we'll examineBritish corvids in size order from
the largest to the smallest.
We begin with one of myfavorite birds, the magnificent,
intelligent and beautiful raven.
The raven, known as thenorthern or common raven, is the
(22:29):
most widespread crow species worldwide.
It can be found in variousclimates, not just the classic colder
climates of the north.
In fact, ravens can be foundin the Arctic, the temperate habitats
of North.
America and Europe, and thedeserts of Africa.
They can even be found inurban areas such as London and the
(22:53):
mountains and uplands ofEngland, Scotland and Wales.
Corvids are known for theirintelligence, with various species
being able to recognizethemselves in mirrors, being aware
of being watched andremembering human faces.
They feature strongly in ourculture and.
Folklore, some of which arerather macabre, such as the belief
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that crows will peck out theeyes of their victims.
To attain the excellent vision.
It's a small step to see how agroup of crows attracted to a corpse
not as scavengers but asagents of death with murderous intentions.
Ravens are the British Isleslargest corvids with 125 to 135 centimeter
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wingspans.
And like the carrion crow,they are.
All black but have a thicker neck.
Bill and a diamond shaped tail.
They are usually found aloneor in pairs and are rare in urban
areas, except of course in theTower of London.
They have A very distinctivecronking call.
(24:01):
Male and female common ravenslook almost.
Identical except that thefemale is slightly smaller.
They have glossy black plumagewith a purplish green or blue hue
to it.
Males often raise their longloose erectile throat feathers during
displays of dominance.
The head is large and the bill.
(24:23):
Is powerful, medium length,chunky and black.
The nose may have nasalbristles which.
Can cover up to half of theupper edge of the bill.
The eyes are dark brown andthe legs and feet are black with
gray soles.
Common ravens have a widerange of calls and can successfully
(24:43):
mimic sounds.
This makes it hard tointerpret their call types.
They often make a loud low tomedium pitched bark like bark bark
which is repeated frequently.
Common ravens are known forscavenging the.
Flesh of carcasses, but theyare also.
Skilled hunters that will eatalmost anything.
(25:07):
They primarily feed on smallmammals, birds, fish, reptiles, snails,
worms, berries, fruits and seeds.
They are also known toscavenge on rubbish tips and along
shorelines.
Ravens have been at the Tower of.
London since Charles II, 1630-1685.
(25:29):
King Charles ordered theravens at the Tower be protected.
There are always at least sixresident ravens cared for by one
of the yeoman warders known asthe Raven Master.
Legend has it that should thesix ravens all leave the Tower, the
Kingdom of Britain and theTower will fall.
Common ravens can be found in various.
(25:51):
Habitats including wild openand barren upland.
Moors, urban and suburbanareas, woods, farmland and in the
Lake District.
They tend to avoid the eastcoast of the UK but can be found
throughout Northern Ireland,most of Scotland and Wales and across
the Pennines close up.
(26:11):
Common ravens are easilyidentifiable by their large glossy
black body and thick chunkyarched shaped bill.
In flight they displaycharacteristics typical of.
The species with long wavesedged tails that appear diamond shaped
and long black pointed wingssimilar to those of the common birds
of prey which show prominentwing fingers.
(26:35):
Ravens construct large nestsof sticks, heather and grasses high
in the treetops.
The nests are commonly reusedyearly with.
Some maintenance at the startof each breeding season.
Each year the female lays asingle brood consisting of four to
six eggs somewhere betweenFebruary, May.
(26:57):
The eggs are a pale bluish green.
With brown spotting and areincubated by.
The female for 18 to 21 days.
The young fledge between 35 to42 days and stay with their parents
for up to six months.
The most extended lifespan fora ringed common Raven is over 13
(27:18):
years, but these birdsgenerally live between 10 and 15
years.
The second species we're goingto look at now is the rook it's the
second largest of the British corvids.
It is a large blackbird,similar in size to the carrion crow.
The rook's distinguishingfeatures from other corvids.
Are its bare grey face andgrey bill.
(27:41):
Although these features arenot present in juvenile rooks, they
can be used to identify adult birds.
Rooks are social birds, oftenseen in flocks, sometimes with other
corvids like jackdaws andcarrion crow crows.
Rooks are often admired fortheir intelligence, maligned for
their habit of eating grainand revered for the excellent and
(28:03):
bad omens they are thought to signify.
Rooks are all black birds and look.
Similar to the carrion crowexcept for the bare whitish skin
around their bill.
They have untidy bulky plumageand steeply angled crown.
Female rooks are smaller thanthe males, but both genders look
almost identical.
(28:25):
Juvenile rooks have fullyfeathered faces making them difficult
to distinguish from crowsduring the late spring and early
summer.
Rooks are medium sized birds,about the same size as carrion crows
but smaller than ravens.
They have a body length of44-46 cm and weigh between 325 and
(28:48):
575 grams.
Males have an average bodyweight of around 485 grams whilst
females, being smaller, willweigh approximately 425 grams.
Their wingspan measuresbetween 80 and 100 cm.
The males have longer wings on average.
(29:08):
Adult rooks make typical crowlike sounds.
Their call is a raucous drawnout cawing and their song includes
various other notes andphrases such as clicking and gurgling.
Rooks are omnivores that feedon invertebrates like worms and beetles
during the warmer months andgrain in the autumn and winter.
(29:31):
They will also consume smallvertebrates, rodents.
Chicks, eggs, fruit berriesand acorns.
Rooks find most of their foodon the ground or in the soil, but
they also visit bird tables.
These intelligent birds areknown to cache their food by burying
it in the ground and coveringit with leaves or soil.
(29:54):
Young rooks feed on worms andother invertebrates.
Both parents feed the youngwhile they're in the nest for about
a month.
Then they continue feedingthem for another six weeks or so
whilst they learn to forage.
Rooks are usually found in oraround arable and pasture farmland
(30:14):
where they require large treesnearby for resting and roosting.
They may also forage in largerparks and gardens and use large trees
on the edge of urban andsuburban areas.
Rooks are widespread in the UK and.
Can be found almost everywhereexcept for.
The far northwest of Scotland.
Mountainous areas in Wales andGreater London.
(30:37):
They are also found insouthern and central Europe and as
far away as China and Japan.
Birds are often associatedwith people because they forage on
farmland and along country roadsides.
While they feed on the ground,they rest, sleep and nest in trees.
Despite a significant decreasein the breeding population over the
(30:59):
last few decades, rooks arestill common in the United Kingdom,
with an estimated 1 millionbreeding pairs.
Look and listen out for thesebirds in farmland and along roadsides.
Although generally absent fromcity centres, they may visit parks
and more extensive village gardens.
Rooks are relatively longlived, with an average life expectancy
(31:23):
of about six years forindividuals who survive into adulthood.
However, they can live in the wild.
For up to 22 years.
Humans have traditionally beensignificant predators of rooks for
pest control and food.
While these birds haverelatively few predators, old, sick
or injured individuals couldfall prey to large birds of preys
(31:47):
and carnivores, foxes.
Rooks are protected by theWildlife and countryside act of 1981.
Although not endangered, theirpopulation is decreasing.
The IUCN classifies them of asleast concerned species and they
are amber listed here in the uk.
Rooks build their nests communally.
(32:09):
These are known as rookeries,typically in stands of large trees.
The largest rookeries maycontain thousands of nests, with
dozens in a single tree.
The rook's nest is a large cupmade of twigs lined with softer materials
like dried grass and built byboth males and females.
Rooks breed only once a yearand construct their nests in late
(32:33):
winter to lay their eggs in March.
The female incubates the eggsfor 16 to 18 days and the chicks
will fledge after 30 to 36 days.
Rooks lay a single brood ofthree or four heavily marked and
spotted greenish eggs.
Each egg measuresapproximately 40 millimeters long
(32:55):
and 28 millimeters wide.
Although rooks are believed toform lifelong pairs, they may not
always be faithful to their partners.
However, they remain togetherwithin the flocks even during winter.
Rooks are highly social birdsthat live in colonies and show little
aggression towards each other.
However, they can beaggressive when defending their partner
(33:19):
and fighting over food,particularly during the winter months.
They are, though generallypeaceful towards other bird species.
Because rooks roost communallyin trees in woodlands and forested
areas.
Some birds may continue toroost at the rookery throughout the
year, although most gatherinto large flocks after breeding
(33:40):
breeding season and roostelsewhere, often in the company of
jackdaws.
Rooks do not migrate in theUnited Kingdom and Western Europe,
where they are observed allyear round.
But in eastern Asia,populations migrate between breeding
ranges in the north andoverwintering sites in the south.
During the 19th century theywere introduced to New Zealand to
(34:04):
control agricultural pests,but they are now considered a pest
species in the country.
Although rooks, crows andravens are related and members of
the Corvidiae family and theCorvus genus, they are different
birds with distinct behaviorsand physical characteristics.
Whilst rooks can cause damageto cereal crops, they also help by
(34:26):
eating insect pests.
A group of rooks is commonlycalled a parliament, but other collective
nouns include a clamour and abuilding of rooks.
Rooks, like most species inthe crow family, are intelligent
birds.
They have demonstrated theirproblem solving abilities, teamwork
and tool use skills in laboratory.
(34:48):
Settings, but tool use has yet to.
Be observed in nature.
Carrion and Hooded CROWS wehave grouped.
These two species becausealthough carrion and hooded crows
may appear different, they are.
Genetically and behaviorallyalmost indistinguishable.
They can interbreed andproduce fertile offspring, but tend
(35:10):
to mate within their own kind.
Hybrids have indeterminateplumage between their parents, often
making them outcast to birdsof either population.
This keeps the populationsdistinct and is expected to eventually
lead to their becoming fullreproductively incompatible species.
(35:31):
The carrion crow, also knownas just crow, is one of the most
common corvids in the British Isles.
It is found in varioushabitats, including gardens.
Although widespread throughoutmost of the uk, it is less common
in Ireland.
It consumes various foods suchas carrion, invertebrates, eggs and
(35:53):
fruit.
Crows are usually seen aloneor in pairs, but they can form flocks
and sometimes can be foundwith other corvid communities.
They are entirely black andcan sometimes be confused with other
corvid species, particularlyjuvenile rooks and ravens, and closely
related Hooded crow was onceconsidered a subspecies of the carrion
(36:17):
crow, but it is now classifiedas a separate species.
Adult carrion crows haveglossy black upper parts with a greenish
tone on the head and upperwings, which changes to a purplish
hue on the neck, back and rump.
These hues can be challengingto observe and they may appear as
very subtle.
The bird's underparts are dullblack with tight feathering across
(36:41):
the chest, belly and vent.
The head is broad and flatacross the crown and the black bill
is medium length, thick and arched.
The inside of the mouth isgrey and the nostrils are covered
in short bristle like feathers.
The eyes are dark brown and the.
Legs dark grey or black.
(37:01):
The tail and wingtips are square.
Both the male and the femalelook very similar.
Juvenile birds lack theglossiness of the adults, and their
feathers appear sootier.
They have grey eyes and a pinkcoloration on the edges and inside
of their bill.
The crow's call is typicallyloud and harsh, similar to caw, caw,
(37:24):
caw, or.
Craa, cra, cra, or often repeated.
The carrion crow mainlyforages for food on the ground, taking
worms, insects, seeds,berries, small mammals, and amphibians.
It is also known to feed onother birds, eggs and young, and
scavenge for scraps and carrion.
(37:44):
The carrion crow is a birdnative to central and western Europe,
including the United Kingdom.
It is also found in easternand central Asia, from Kazakhstan
to China and Japan.
Its habitat extends south toThailand and north to the Kamchatka
Peninsula in Russia's northeast.
(38:05):
The species has twosubspecies, Corvus corone corone,
which is native to Europe, andCorvus corone orientalis, which is
only found in Asia.
The carrion crow is uprightand confident on the ground.
It walks with a determined,strutting gait in flight.
During the breeding season, itoften chases predators away from
(38:28):
its feeding grounds or nestareas and even attacks birds of prey.
Carrion crows are usuallysolitary or found in pairs, though
they occasionally form small flocks.
They can be found in variousnatural habitats, including farmland,
wetlands, moorlands,woodlands, and in the open countryside.
(38:51):
They are most commonly foundin urban and suburban areas with
parks and gardens,particularly in Europe.
There are sufficient trees inall of these habitats for roosting
and nesting.
These birds are monogamous andoften mate for life.
During the breeding season.
The male and female build alarge nest from sticks and twigs
(39:12):
high up in a tree oroccasionally on the top of a cliff,
depending on the geographical location.
One brood of four to six brownspeckled blue eggs are produced annually
between March and June.
The female incubates the eggsfor up to 21 days, and fledging usually
(39:32):
occurs within one month.
Carrion crows have fewpredators and can live for up to
10 years in the wild, withsome ringed crows recorded as living
up to nearly 20 years.
The hooded crow, previouslybelieved to be the same species as
the carrion crow, is nowrecognized as a distinct species.
(39:54):
It is the same size as thecarrion crow but has a grey body
with a black head, chest,wings, and tail.
Hooded crows are found innorthern and western Scotland, Ireland,
and the Isle of Man.
They replace the carrion crowwhere they are located, with a narrow
band of overlap between thetwo species.
(40:15):
Hooded crows are widelydistributed across northern, eastern
and southeastern Europe andthe Middle East.
Female hooded crows lookidentical to males in color and plumage.
The only way to tell themapart visually is by size, with the
females being slightly smallerthan the males.
However, both sexes havediffering behaviors and can be identified
(40:39):
by them.
Juvenile hooded crows are lessvibrant in.
Color than adults, with abrowner hue to their grey feathers.
Immature birds have blue greyeyes and their beaks are pinkish
red instead of.
The adult bird's dark grey.
Male hooded crows are usuallylarger and heavier than females,
and they can grow up to 48 to54 centimeters in length and have
(41:04):
a wingspan between 93 and 105 centimeters.
They will weigh typicallybetween 395 to 600 grams.
The call of the hooded crow issimilar to the familiar harsh cawing
of the carrion crow, but isslightly softer and slightly less
hoarse.
(41:24):
Hooded crows are omnivoreswith a primarily carnivorous diet.
They scavenge for carrion,roadkill, scraps, small mammals,
birds, eggs and young nestlings.
They will also feed onmollusks, crabs and sea urchins at
coastal loc locations, andthey can consume small quantities
of seeds and grain.
(41:46):
Young hooded crows feed almostentirely on insects in their first
few weeks of life beforeadding grains and seeds to their
diet as autumn approaches.
Hooded crows thrive in a mixedfarmland landscapes with open land
and sparse tree cover.
These birds are commonly foundin parks, gardens, coastal regions
(42:07):
and expanses of moorland.
In urban areas, they arerelatively tolerant of human presence
and are frequently seenscavenging on streets in busy city
centers.
The hooded crow range extendsfrom Ireland and western Scotland
to Russia in the east,covering northern Europe.
(42:27):
Norway, Sweden, and Finlandhave the largest hooded crow populations
north in Europe, whilst Italy,Greece, Bulgaria, and Turkey have
them in the south.
Russia is home to between 1and 10 million resident hooded crows.
Hooded crows are widespreadacross their entire range, including
(42:48):
Northern Ireland, westernScotland, and the Isle of Man, where
spotting one is not consideredunusual or rare.
During winter, the UK sees anincrease in the resident population
of hooded crows with thearrival of overwintering birds that
migrate from Scandinavia afterthe breeding season.
These temporary residents maybe seen along the eastern coasts
(43:10):
of Scotland and England, andthe last of the five corvid.
Species we'll be looking attoday is.
The smallest of the fivecorvid species that are native in
the uk, and that is thejackdaw, also known as Corvus.
Jackdaws can be found invarious habitats across much of the
(43:31):
British Isles.
They roost together inwoodlands and often join flocks of
rooks.
These brilliant and socialbirds are commonly found in towns
and the countryside and arefrequently associated with rooks
and other crows.
Despite their smaller size,jackdaws are friendly and pleasant
birds.
They have very dark greyplumage with a jet black crown and
(43:55):
paler gray nape and sides oftheir face.
Their striking pale blue eyesare the most distinctive feature
and their short stout billsdistinguish them from from similar
species.
Male and female jackdaws lookvery similar.
But juvenile birds can beidentified by.
Their dark eyes and dullerbrownish plumage.
(44:16):
Due to their similarappearance, jackdaws are often confused
with rooks as they tend toflock together.
However, rooks are much largerbirds with darker eyes, longer bills
and paler base.
They also have plumage similarto the large hooded crows in Scotland
and Ireland.
Adult jackdaws are slightlylarger than a magpie but have a much
(44:40):
shorter tail.
They are compact birds with atotal body length of around 34 centimeters
or 13 inches.
Most full grown jackdaws weighbetween 200 and 270 grams or 7 to
about 9.5 ounces with malesbeing the heavier sex.
(45:01):
Jackdaws are agile in flightwith a.
Broad wingspan of between 67to 74 centimeters or roughly 26 to
29 inches.
Jackdaws are known for theirhigh pitched chuck call, which is
not particularly musical.
That's an understatement.
(45:21):
They are optimistic omnivoresthat feed on various foods, including
insects during the breedingseason and plants like grains, seeds
and fruits during the winter.
They're also known to scavengefor scraps and carrion, and they
are infamous for raiding birdsnests and stealing eggs from waterfowl
(45:41):
and sea birds.
Some people consider themunwelcome visitors on garden bird
tables.
Jackdaws can be found invarious habitats.
But they will prefer openlandscape with scattered trees and
avoid large open areas withouttrees or densely wooded areas.
They are widespread throughoutEurope, western Asia and marginally
(46:05):
in North Africa, and can befound virtually throughout the United
Kingdom except for some partsof the northwest in Scotland.
These birds generally forageon the ground and use trees and buildings
for roosting and nesting.
They are social birds thatfeed and roost in groups ranging
from small to large flocks.
(46:26):
In the United Kingdom, theyare common in urban suburban farmland,
open countryside areas as wellas in the coastal regions.
Jackdaws can live for up to 18.
Years, but their average lifeexpectancy is more like five years.
The population of adultjackdaws in the.
United Kingdom is estimated tobe over 3 million breeding pairs.
(46:52):
Jackdaws are susceptible topredation with birds of prey and
mammals like pine martens andhouse cats.
In certain areas, youngjackdaws are targeted explicitly
by the goshawk.
Jackdaws are a protectedspecies under the Wildlife and Countryside
Act.
They're also a green listedspecies in the United Kingdom with
(47:15):
a healthy population.
Since the mid-1900s, thenumber of these birds has significantly
increased.
Globally.
Jackdaws are classified as ofleast concern on the IUCN listings.
These birds are cavity nestersand construct their nests in various
sheltered locations such ascrevices in sea cliffs, caves, tree
(47:38):
cavities, chimneys, nest boxesand even disused animal burrows.
Both male and female jackdawswork together to build a nest of
twigs, mud, feathers and othermaterials to fit within the cavity.
These social birds typicallynest in loose colonies with other
jackdaw pairs.
Jackdaws usually beginbreeding at 2 years old and nest
(48:01):
between March and June.
They produce a single broodannually and the eggs hatch after
about three weeks and theyoung birds fledge roughly one month
later.
Jackdaws will typically layfour or five eggs, although their
clutch size varies betweenthree and eight.
Each egg has a pale bluishcolor with numerous dark speckles
(48:24):
and measures approximately 3.5cm in length and 2.5 cm wide.
Jackdaws are monogamous birdsthat pair for life.
They show an unusually highdegree of sexual fidelity to their
partner, although extra pairmating has been confirmed in some
individuals.
Jackdaws are generally notaggressive birds, although they can
(48:48):
dominate smaller songbirdsaround food sources.
They are social birds thatroost and coexist peacefully with
other corvids, particularly rooks.
That was a Wildlife MattersIntroduction to.
British Corvids, Part 1 Wehope you've.
Enjoyed discovering more aboutthese fantastic birds with whom we
(49:08):
share our towns, cities and countryside.
In Part two, we will examine the.
Three remaining native Britishcorvids the Magnificent.
Magpie, the colorful J, andthe Melodic Chuff.
(49:40):
We hope you enjoyed our firstlook at five of our native cormiers.
In the next Wildlife Matterspodcast, we will examine the remaining
three species in depth.
We always enjoy hearing fromyou and are deeply grateful for the
many kind compliments andcomments on the episodes that you
shared with us in 2018.
(50:03):
Your engagement is what helpsmake Wildlife Matters podcast possible.
In 2025 we will re record ourinfamous lost interviews after our
storage disk catastrophically failed.
These interviews were atreasure trove of insights and knowledge
and their loss was a blow toour mission.
(50:24):
But we do have exciting news regarding.
Our new projects, campaignsand the first.
Wildlife Matters wildlife touroutside of the uk.
So if you haven't already,please like and subscribe and leave
us a review on Apple, SpotifyAmazon or wherever you listen to
(50:45):
your podcasts.
For those who follow us onYouTube, a warm welcome.
We hope you're enjoying theshort, short videos we have posted
in addition to the podcast episodes.
Of course, if you haven'tvisited the Wildlife Matters YouTube
channel, please do take alook, listen and subscribe when you
(51:06):
get there.
I'd also like to thank our newthreads and Blue sky followers.
With well over six and a halfthousand of you following us already
this year, we enjoyinteracting and chatting with as
many of you as possible.
For the wildlife and natureprofessionals, check out our fast
(51:28):
growing LinkedIn profile which.
Is under my name, Nigel Palmer.
And please do follow us.
Thanks.
Wildlife Matters had afantastic 2024.
We have grown considerably andour voice.
To speak up for wildlife andnature is now louder than ever before.
And that's thanks to yoursupport that we've achieved significant
(51:52):
milestones, from launchingsuccessful campaigns to expanding
our reach and impact.
In 2025, we will launch ourfirst projects and look forward to
sharing them with you very soon.
Of course we couldn't haveachieved these things without you
and your vital support, but toenable us to do more, we need to
(52:16):
ask for more of you to support us.
Your contribution is crucialto our mission.
No matter how big or how small.
And we have several ways tohelp fund our work regular monthly
giving and one off paymentsvia our website's Ways to Help page.
Or you can support us onPatreon and Substack.
(52:40):
We will launch a YouTubesupport as soon as enough of you
have subscribed to enable usto do it.
We want to build our volunteerteams too.
One for campaigns, projects,fundraising and for practical conservation
projects.
If you have some spare timewant to get involved, please email
(53:01):
us@helloildlife matters.orgall a new volunteering page will
be on the website very soon.
Thank you for your timelistening to us today and we hope
you enjoyed and learnedsomething from this episode.
Wildlife Matters will returnin two weeks with part two of our
(53:24):
introduction to BritishCorbet, but until then, Wild Ones
I have been your host, NigelPalmer and this is Wildlife Matters
signing off.
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