Kodiak Bears….Final Post From The Cairns…… From The RSPB…
by Bernie Bell - 08:33 on 08 July 2024
Kodiak Bears….Final Post From The Cairns…… From The RSPB…
Kodiak Bears…
A friend admired Mike’s egg-cup…
So I told her the tale….
It's called 'Kodi', after the bears of Kodiak Island, Alaska.
Some years ago, Mike went to Kodiak Island with his work (lucky Mike!). Kodiak Island is home to some of the largest bears in the world. He was at a conference, staying in an hotel, and wanted to get some air. There was a good walk out from the hotel into the surrounding woods, so he thought he'd do that. The hotel Manager suggested that he should take a can of pepper spray with him in case he met a bear. Mike didn't feel too worried about meeting a bear, but accepted the Manager's can of spray, to keep him happy.
Mike set off, and had walked for some miles when he realized that the trail wasn't a loop, it was a there-and-back walk. So........if he wanted to turn back, and there was a bear on the track......? He decided that he still wasn't too worried about meeting a bear as he's used to bear management, having one at home. (Someone we know refers to Mike as my 'handler'!)
So, he continued - had a very pleasant walk and returned to the hotel, no worries.
Does seem a bit daft though, not to have a loop walk, so that there's an alternative way back and the bears, or any other critters on the path, can be left in peace.
Some say that Kodiak bear poo smells of pepper spray, because they just eats it! Well, they are omnivores.
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Final Post From The Cairns….
For this year…
https://archaeologyorkney.com/2024/07/06/cairns-day-twenty/
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From The RSPB…
"This week, we saw the election of a new UK Government. It’s a crucial time for nature and what happens next is a make or break moment.
Many of us are all too familiar with a loss of nature, which has seen 38 million birds vanish from UK skies in the last 50 years. But you will have also read about the huge successes, such as the return of Red Kites and Bitterns, which demonstrate that we can turn things round.
Our new Government is responsible for making sure that we meet legal commitments to halt the loss of wildlife and protect 30% of our lands and seas by 2030. In a special analysis, we look at what our new political leaders should prioritise in order to meet the challenge.
We also say a huge thank you to the many thousands of you who joined us for the Restore Nature Now march in London. In a huge show of strength, over 60,000 people took part from all over the UK. The message is clear: we must all act now for nature.
Notes on Nature readers will also know the importance of delighting in nature and this month’s Nature’s Calendar is packed with things to see and do.
It’s a great time to head to water in search of Kingfishers. These wetland stunners can be elusive and difficult to see. Will our top tip help you to a catch a glimpse?
Dragonflies and damselflies are also out in full force, and we reveal some common species to see. Plus, we celebrate Plantlife’s National Meadows Day with advice on what to look out for, including day-flying moths and orchids.
Whatever you do, have a wonderful wildlife-filled time!
Hayley Hawes
Notes on Nature editor
Enjoy summer’s kaleidoscope of colours!
Many of us have enjoyed basking in the sunshine recently and this month is the prime time to see wildlife doing just the same! The UK’s rivers, lakes and ponds are bejewelled with dragonflies and damselflies, while Kingfishers dazzle in their feathered finery as they perch ‘poolside’. Will our top tip help you catch a glimpse of these beautiful birds? Read on to discover some of the best RSPB nature reserves to visit in July, including two that are now officially recognised as Dragonfly Hotspots!
Discover forest-friendly chocolate this World Chocolate Day
For nearly a decade, we have been working with farmers around the Gola forests of Sierra Leone and Liberia to produce forest-friendly cocoa. The forests here are globally important for nature, and are home to more than 300 bird species, as well as threatened mammals including Pygmy Hippos, Forest Elephants and Chimpanzees. Join RSPB Flyway Conservation Outreach Officer Nick Williams as he peels back the wrapper on a story of cocoa, conservation and cooperation.
Capercaillie, cattle and Caledonian forests
Deep in the Caledonian pine forest of Abernethy lives a rare, Red-listed bird. The Capercaillie is the world’s largest grouse and one of Scotland’s iconic species. But its population is at risk.
Join Richard Mason, RSPB Abernethy Conservation Manager, to discover how we are trying a range of ways to help this endangered bird, including one involving cows.
Groundswell shows benefits of nature-friendly farming
Did you know that more than 70% of the UK is farmed in some way? This farmland can be home to some really special wildlife, and many farmers are working to make space for nature while also running a productive farm business. At this year’s Groundswell regenerative farming festival, we joined over 8,000 farmers, scientists, conservationists and citizens, who came together to learn more about farming in harmony. Find out why we need nature-friendly farming.
And finally..
What do carrots and Marsh Harriers have in common?
They’re both an important part of RSPB Lakenheath Fen’s story! Once carrot fields, this nature reserve is nationally important for Cranes, Marsh Harriers, Bitterns and other wetland specialists. We’re celebrating the one-year anniversary of Lakenheath Fen’s new wetland expansion project with the Morgan Sindall Group. Find out how, with their support, land equivalent to the size of 86 football pitches is being transformed into wildlife-rich wetland habitat."
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