Over the last 30 years in my garden, I discovered something new almost every year. After the moronic builders took out most of the trees next door, and we noticed a huge drop in the amount of bird food I get through, we started recording everything. With the assistance of a trailcam, a moth trap and a bat detector, we have discovered huge amounts of wildlife, just in our backyard. Citizen science. Anyone can do it. The huge amount of newly discovered marine life is due to the availability of scuba gear and enthusiastic amateurs who become knowledgeable. The new digital cameras and underwater housing at a reasonable price meant that many more people were photographing what they saw and many new species discovered every year. With a mobile phone and a camera on it, you too can become a citizen scientist. Always remember that Charles Darwin was an amateur. You don't need a degree in biology or ecology, just a keen interest and something to record it with.
A worm specialist at Knepp said that earthworms in the UK have hardly been studied at all. He said that if you were to investigate the worms in your garden, you are almost certain to discover something new to the record - not because there are new worms arriving, just because nobody has given it serious attention in the UK.
I think it's all hugely exciting.
Volunteering is important too. I'm at Knepp at the moment, and a lot of the science projects are supported by volunteers - logging where storks are seen, helping the scientists in the field, retrieving camera traps. The more and eyes and ears that are out there, the more can be revealed. As FB says, now with digital photography, GPS markers and citizen science media platforms, findings can be checked and logged so much more easily.
People at home can discover new galaxies, new exo-planets, new species. Planet Hunters volunteers found over 100 new planetary systems. I admit I don't really understand why everyone isn't out there exploring.
[Verse 4] I spoke about wings You just flew I wondered I guessed and I tried You just knew I sighed But you swooned I saw the crescent You saw the whole of the moon The whole of the moon
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
Are the beavers on the show wild or in an enclosure? I noticed quite a few rhododendrons in the background of some camera shots. With beavers eating bark, i wonder if the rhodos are poisonous to them, as it is to other creatures.
I'll probably watch but keep the remote handy to mute the hectoring style of one of the presenters. Some need to learn that persuasion is the best way to get people to think about situations.
Posts
While you filled the skies
I was dumbfounded by truth
You cut through lies
I saw the rain dirty valley
You saw Brigadoon
I saw the crescent
You saw the whole of the moon
[Verse 4]
I spoke about wings
You just flew
I wondered I guessed and I tried
You just knew I sighed
But you swooned
I saw the crescent
You saw the whole of the moon
The whole of the moon
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
@Fire are you doing some kind of volunteering thing at Knepp now? Do they have programmes where you sign up say for a week?