Why The Hamerkop is Better than You

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Anna

by Anna Tinker

There are a select few birds in Africa that are just better than the other ones. The hamerkop (scopus umbretta) belongs to this elite little society because as a species, they possess a true self-awareness of their awesomeness.They know that they’re better than other birds. I will explain.

Birds who are comparable in size to the Hamerkop, build themselves cosy little nests. Bless their socks. Most birds build nests (unless of course you’re a brood parasite and you have better things to do with your time). Hamerkops look at the brood parasites and these other birds with their cramped, pathetic, folk-artsy type ‘nests’, and promptly turn up their noses. They may also roll their eyes.

Hamerkop

Hamerkop (c) Birdorable (www.birdorable.com) and used with their kind permission. Details below

The Hamerkop chooses his tree fork carefully. It must be large enough to accommodate the 100kg structure he plans on building in it. In addition to these requirements, he can’t do without his fresh sushi and caviar de grenouille, so he prefers waterfront properties. And his back garden must be much larger than yours.

Roughy 10,000 of the finest sticks and grasses are found, judged on their quality and added to the fork in their chosen tree and soon a colossal dome is constructed, with a diameter of about 1.5 meters. It’s the largest and most elaborate double-occupancy nest in all of nature.

But that isn’t enough for the Hamerkop. Unsatisfied with their dull and terribly ‘common’ home, the Hamerkop couple set about decorating it. Like Australia’s Bower Birds, they have developed an affection for man-made objects, such as discarded handkerchiefs and the little wrappers that Beacon chocolate Easter eggs come in. These are added to the outside of the nest to assert the couple’s worldliness.

The inside of the nest consists of a grand entrance tunnel, leading to a large chamber with cathedral ceilings. Hamerkops have a unique habit of standing on each others heads, and their living space must accommodate this. The walls and floor are exquisitely carpeted with only the finest mud, ensuring the entire mansion is waterproof.

Warning: The following paragraphs refer to other birds using the Hamerkop’s nest for various birdy purposes. But don’t think you could get away with it like they can. You cannot. People who interfere with a Hamerkop nest WILL pay for it. When you are inevitably struck by lightning at some point in your life, all your buddies are going to know what you did to the Hamerkops. San fact #264.

Hamerkop

Hamerkop, by Sergey Yeliseev, details below

Some birds are so desperate to be associated with their local Hamerkops, that you sometimes find other nests attached to the outside of a Hamerkop nest. These hangers on are attempting to social-climb and the Hamerkop will see right through it, although they do tolerate it.

But bigger birds (*cough* *OWLS* *cough*), will often look at their own modest nests and get jealous. They’ll sometimes attempt a takeover before the poor Hamerkops have even finished building their house, which is foolish, because if it’s not finished, it won’t yet be decorated with chocolate wrappers, and no owl possesses the knowledge to add these all-important finishing touches.

Despite having a bill somewhat reminiscent of their distant Shoebill cousins from the North (and you would NOT mess with that) and a head that can bash nails into metal, the Hamerkop doesn’t really bother to fight back.

Hamerkops seem reasonably easy going. Like an eccentric and laid-back billionaire who’s conducting a routine check-up on his uninhabited Knightsbridge property and finds it has been overrun by squatters, a Hamerkop put-out by owls may protest surprisingly little at the re-appropriation. “Chin up. You silly owl squatters. Tut-tut. When you leave, I shall simply return. In the meantime, I shall build a new house – one that puts yours to SHAME”.

And they do. They don’t seem to mind starting over, because the Hamerkop may build between three and five of these palatial homes each year. With no regard for economy, they build whether they’re breeding or not. They seem to build because they love. One bird book that I own, refers to Hamerkops as ‘DIY enthusiasts’. This is why they have named themselves the ‘Hamerkop’. The name stems from their deep-seated love of DIY and tools. This is contrary to the myth that their name comes from the shape of their head. The Afrikaans word for ‘hammer’ is ‘hamer’ and the word for ‘head’ is ‘kop’, but this is purely coincidental. Personally, I think they’d do well being called, ‘chateaukops’.

Hamerkop

Hamerkop, by Anna Tinker, details below

So there appears to be little evolutionary explanation for their nesting behaviour. It’s suggested that these waterfront mansions serve as ‘territory beacons’, but I suggest they rather act as ‘fabulosity’ beacons, not only advertising their status, but actually allowing them to perpetuate their well-heeled lifestyle.

For example, if the Hamerkops have managed to keep their fabulous home free from owls, they use it to breed. Being wealthy, and possessing the living space, they can afford to have more children than your average wader. Their kids are exceptionally low maintenance, owing to the fact that insulation in the nest acts as a built-in nanny. So Mr and Mrs Hamerkop are free to spend their leisure time loafing about at places like Sun City, where they impress their friends and exhibit their superiority by being impeccably well-groomed, owing to a built in comb on their middle toe. They have their social traditions too. While on holiday, they’ll often gather in cliques of about ten, and run around each other in circles while loudly insulting each other.“SQUAAAAAAK! My house is bigger than yours!” SQUAAAAAAK! And my children are warmer than yours!” “SQUAAAAK! My house is decorated with posh chocolate wrappers and yours is decorated with inferior wrappers! SQUAAAAAK!”. Win.

You can’t deny it. The Hamerkop is better than you. That is all.

The Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta)
is on the IUCN Red List for Threatened Species as “least concern“

PHOTO CREDITS:
Hamerkop cartoon (c) Birdorable (which may be the best website I’ve ever seen)
and is used with their kind permission
Hamerkop photo by Sergey Yeliseev is used under a Creative Commons Licence
Hamerkop photo by Anna Tinker was taken in Pilanesburg, January 2010

Photo of the Day: Toad Mountain Harlequin Frog

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Male Toad Mountain Harlequin Frog

Male Toad Mountain Harlequin Frog by Brian Gratwicke, details below

The Toad Mountain Harlequin Frog is such a handsome little fellow with such a splendid name, we couldn’t resist making him our photo of the day.

The Toad Mountain Harlequin Frog is found only in a small region within Panama, making it highly vulnerable to any changes in the immediate environment such as deforestation for agriculture or water pollution.  This region has recently been found to have Chytridiomycosis, a disease which has already played a part in around 75% of frog extinctions in the last 3 decades.

Nearly one-third of the world’s amphibian species are at risk of extinction, largely the result of habitat loss, climate change and pollution.

Toad Mountain Harlequin frog (Atelopus certus)
is on the IUCN Red List for Threatened Species as “endangered“
Population trend: decreasing 

(Photo by Brian Gratwicke used under a Creative Common licence)

Photo of the Day: Hippo yawning

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Hippo yawning

Hippo yawning, Ngorongoro Crater by David Bygott, details below

Nope, he’s not sleepy: “yawning” by hippos is a threat display, used by both male and female, young and old alike, to show off their massive (and very sharp) tusks.

In fact, their tusks are so sharp, they are able to bite a 3 metre crocodile in half.

The Hippo (Hippopotamus amphibius)
is on the IUCN Red List for Threatened Species as “vulnerable”.
Population trend: decreasing.

(Photo by David Bygott used under a Creative Commons licence)

A Wild ‘Wallaby Safari’… on the Isle of Man?

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By Anna Tinker

I wanted to spend the first day of 2012 doing something a little different. So I dressed my parents in khakis, handed them binoculars and piled them into the car for a ‘Wallaby Safari’.  This is not normal.

We live in the middle of the Irish Sea on the Isle of Man. Few people (even those who live here) know about the 100 or so Red-Necked Wallabies we’ve got living wild in the north of our island- all descendents of one legendary pair who escaped from a wildlife park in the early 1970’s.

Not a 'Manx' Red-Necked Wallaby, but rather one I photographed in the Dandenong Ranges, Australia. By Anna Tinker

I’m happy to report that our ‘safari’ was successful. Just as darkness descended and the freezing wind had forced us back to our car, I noticed two large, black figures in the field. Binoculars confirmed them to be a pair of our special Wallabies. Being perhaps the most thrilling of the Island’s wildlife, the sighting certainly made for an exciting start to 2012.

But it got me thinking.

Our wild Wallaby population is steadily growing and their range is thought to be expanding. Our Wallabies are said to inhabit the same ecological niche as hares and they don’t seem to be outcompeting our local hare population for the vegetation they both like to eat. On the surface, it seems they’ve slotted in nicely up in the Curraghs where they’ve taken up home. There’s been little research into the ecological impact of these wallabies on the Isle of Man but for now their presence hasn’t generated much concern.

Wallaby in Sherbrooke Forest, Victoria. By Anna Tinker

I’m not sure how to feel about our Wallabies. I know about the massive and devastating consequences that introduced species can bring to an environment. I recently wrote about the impact of the introduced European Fox on Tasmania’s fragile Quoll population. This is one of countless examples.

Entire ecosystems can be and are thrown fatally out of balance by introduced species. Species are often driven to extinction, and rarely does an ‘alien’ introduction fail to leave a threatening impact somewhere in its new environment.

But yet I feel a special affection to ‘my’ wallabies. As long (and only as long) as they aren’t having a negative impact on our indigenous wildlife, the wallabies add a sense of exoticism and excitement to our little island. In this moment in time, I like that I live somewhere where I can go on the occasional ‘wallaby safari’.  Is this selfish? Is it naive?   There is much to learn and explore here, and many questions to be asked.  The treatment of Introduced species will always provoke strong debate, both ecological and emotional.

So I’d like to know…

What are your thoughts about introduced species? Can they ever be ‘okay’? Have you got any stories, examples or opinions you’d like to share?

Click here for a clip from BBC’s ‘Springwatch’ Programme: ‘In Search of the Isle of Man’s Wallabies’

The Red-Necked Wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus)
is native to South Eastern Australia and Tasmania.
It’s on the IUCN Red List for Threatened Species as “least concern“
and its population trend is stable.

5 New Year’s Resolutions Worth Making

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Kate

by Kate Booker

At Vanishing Species, our philosophy is small changes we can all make and sustain will add up to a big difference.  Why not add one of the following to your list of resolutions?

1. Buy Less Stuff

There are lots of green products on the market, and while most are wonderful, worthy products, and of course we want to support green businesses, they are still products – they’re still manufactured, shipped and stored, and this uses energy and resources.

A better option where possible is to not buy stuff at all, or at least not buy new stuff.  Some ideas:

Vintage Frocks

Vintage Dresses by "Anne", details below

  • Do you really need it?  Could you repair or make do with your old one for a while longer?
  • Buy second-hand where you can: pre-loved furniture and vintage clothing can have loads of character
  • If you must buy new, consider buying something better quality than you normally would so it lasts longer (and can be repaired), especially furniture and appliances
  • Download e-books, music, movies and TV (legally!) – or simply buy pre-loved books, CDs and DVDs
  • Share stuff with a friends, family or neighbours: books, magazines or newspapers subscriptions or major appliances you don’t use often such as a drill or lawnmower
  • For special occasions, consider an “event” rather than buying more stuff as a gift: so go see a show rather than buy a gift.  Something home-made (such as a batch of cookies) also makes a thoughtful gift.  Or simply agree with your friends you’re not “doing” birthday and Christmas gifts anymore.  Do we all need more scented candles? Really??
Aubergine Tower

Aubergine Tower

2. Eat Less Meat

Even the UN says eating meat contributes to climate change.  The meat and livestock industry produce massive amounts of greenhouse gases, and is responsible for large areas of rainforest de-forestation to clear land for grazing.  Meat production is a particularly inefficient way of producing food, using far more grain, water and land to feed the same number of people as producing grain or vegetables

But we still like our bacon rolls and Sunday roasts, right?

So just cut down a little.

Aim to go meat-free one day a week.  It needn’t be difficult, there are quick and easy meat-free options out there such as risottos, soups, pastas and veggie bakes (do you follow our meat-free Monday posts?)

We can all do with a few more vegetables in our diet, right?  And eating less meat is definitely kinder to animals.  What’s not to love??

3. Stop Buying Bottled Water

Bobble

Bobble

Treat yourself to a nice water bottle and fill it up before you leave the house.  It’s that simple.

If you prefer filtered water, I saw these (right) called Bobble, and thought they were very cute:

And Brita in the UK also do one designed by Orla Keily.

4. Get Off Mailing Lists

I’m astonished by how many catalogues I receive in the mail, most of which I’ve never even signed up for. And truth be told, I never read most of them.

Rather than just tossing them straight into the recycle bin, take the time to phone or email the company and ask to be removed from their mailing list.

If it’s a company you buy from and still want to receive news from, sign up for their email newsletter, or follow them on facebook or twitter instead.

(And while you’re at it, how about investing in a “no junk mail” sticker for your post box?)

5. Get Your House in Order

We all know we should turn off the TV and computer rather than putting it on standby, and we should switch to a green electricity supplier, and switch to LED light bulbs, but how many of us have actually done it?  All of it?  Hmmmm?

So what are you waiting for?  ;-D

Happy New Year!

CREDITS:
Photo of vintage dresses by “Anne” used under a Creative Commons Licence.

Looking back on 2011: Rhinos Under Threat. Again.

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Kate

by Kate Booker

In the good old days, rhino conservation was one of the good news stories.  Hunted to the edge of extinction from the 1970s through to 1993, the rhino population was decimated and  Black Rhino numbers fell from 65,000 to less than 3,000.

Then an international ban in the trade in rhino horn in 1993, and epic conservation efforts in the field meant that rhinos were on their way up again.  The Black Rhino were the poster boys of conservation success!

Black Rhino

Black Rhino, by Barney Moss, details below

But not for long…

In recent years, illegal demand for rhino horn has resurfaced in a big way, and in 2011, rhinos have once again been poached in unprecedented numbers.  All species of rhinoceros are on the IUCN Red List for Threatened Species, and 3 species are currently categorised as “critically endangered”.

In just one country, South Africa, around 400 rhino have been poached in 2011 alone.  A decade ago, this figure was around 6 or 7 animals a year.  But rhinos are under threat not just in South Africa, but throughout the continent of Africa, and Asia too – these 400 animals are undoubtedly just the tip of the iceberg.

And we will remember 2011 as the year two subspecies of rhino are gone forever: the last Vietnamese Javan Rhino was killed for her horn early this year, and just a few months later the Western Black Rhino was also declared officially extinct.

Sumatran Rhino

Sumatran Rhino, by Willem v Strien, details below

Why has demand for poached rhino sky-rocketed this year? It seems to be almost entirely because of a crazy rumour that powdered rhino horn cures everything from cancer to impotence.

Rhino horn is actually made of “agglutinated hair”.  Sounds a bit icky, doesn’t it?  And it is – it basically means hair stuck together.  Yup, if someone’s ingesting powdered rhino horn, they may as well be chewing hair for all the good it will do them.  And scientists have shown this.  Repeatedly.

But the fact that rhino horn has absolutely no medicinal value at all is to me actually the most tragic part of the story, for there are thousands of people who nonetheless believe this, and they are driving the demand which drives the brutal slaughter in these critically endangered animals.

This just goes to illustrate how important public education is for conservation, for without it, our efforts in the field, wonderful as they may be, are ultimately for nothing.

In Africa, both species of Rhino are on the IUCN Red List for Threatened Species:

The White Rhino (Ceratotherium simum) is “near threatened“
The Black Rhino (
Diceros bicornis) is “critically endangered“

In Asia, all 3 species of Rhino are on the IUCN Red List for Threatened Species:

The Indian Rhino (
Rhinoceros unicornis) is “vulnerable“
The Javan Rhino (
Rhinoceros sondaicus) is “critically endangered“
The Sumatran Rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) is “critically endangered“

PHOTO CREDITS:
Photo of Black Rhino by Barney Moss used under a Creative Commons Licence
Photo of Sumatran Rhino by Willem v Strien and used under a Creative Commons Licence

Looking back on 2011: Frozen Planet’s Polar Bear Cubs

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Kate

by Kate Booker

One of the most memorable events of 2011 for me was yet another magnificent piece of wildlife television from Sir David Attenborough: The Frozen Planet.

Since watching Life on Earth as a child back in the 1970s, I have looked forward to new David Attenborough programs like most children look forward to Christmas, except they come around even more rarely, and are perhaps even more exciting.

And The Frozen Planet certainly didn’t disappoint.

But after the series premiered to seemingly universal acclaim, there was controversy when the program’s own blog on the BBC website revealed that some extraordinary footage of newborn polar bear cubs in a den was not filmed in the wild but in a Dutch Zoo.  A media storm ensued and debate raged over whether this footage was therefore “faked”.

Polar Bear Cubs

Polar Bear Cubs, by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

We all know that wildlife documentaries (as with other documentaries) are put together from material filmed over a period of hours, days or even months. And that therefore footage filmed on different days or in different areas or even showing different individual animals is often spliced together to tell a cohesive “story”.  I think most of today’s viewers are sophisticated enough to be aware of this, and that we accept it.

In fact, we all know it’s common practice in documentaries or news stories about people for situations to be re-created (even staged) for the camera to show how something happened, for example showing someone receiving a phone call which we know has already happened.

And of course a lot of footage always ends up on the editing room floor – we fully accept we’re getting an edited version of events.

Polar Bear and Cubs

Polar Bear and Cubs, by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

With wildlife documentaries, especially those filmed with dangerous animals and in inhospitable climates, another element must be considered: the safety of the film crew and the animals themselves.

So documentaries – whether about humans or animals – don’t necessarily show reality as it actually happened, but a good documentary nonetheless reflects a truthful portrayal of reality, and I believe this one did just that: it showed the entirely natural denning behaviour of polar bears, and placed this in context of the polar bear’s life-story.

My own opinion is that filming this segment in a zoo was a legitimate way to obtain the footage, but there was unarguably an implication (if only through omission) that it was filmed in the wild, and on this occasion it would have been appropriate to mention this in the narrative.

Polar Bear and Cub

Polar Bear and Cub, by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

At the time that segment was shown, I genuinely assumed it was shot in the wild and admit I was tremendously curious.  My husband and I actually discussed how on earth they must have filmed it.  It would have been nice to know where and how such extraordinary footage was shot, if only to satisfy my (and no doubt others’) curiosity, and if I were the documentary maker, I do think I would have mentioned it was filmed in a zoo.

Does this slight shadow detract from the footage?  In my opinion not at all: the footage of those tiny cubs was magical in a take-your-breath-away kind of way, one of the most memorable of the whole series.

(If you haven’t seen it or would like to see it again,
the original polar bear cub footage is shown on the BBC’s website.)

I suspect this is a live-and-learn situation for the BBC, and documentary makers in general.  Yes, we’re a sophisticated audience, but we do make certain assumptions, and we expect transparency from our media.  Goodness knows as the phone hacking scandal which has erupted in the UK this past year shows, there’s little enough integrity out there.  And perhaps we expect more from the BBC and Sir David himself, and hold them to higher standards.

But let’s forget this detail for a moment and focus on the big picture.  Overall, The Frozen Planet was a superb piece of documentary film-making, with some of the most memorable footage ever shot.  Did it educate? Did it entertain? Did it inspire? You bet – we were enthralled!

Sir David Attenborough

Sir David Attenborough, by Nottingham Trent University, details below

I wonder how many adults today (like myself) have a fascination with or appreciation of the natural world or perhaps even work in the wildlife or conservation field because of Sir David Attenborough’s wonderful work?

And how many adults of tomorrow were similarly touched by seeing Sir David’s work for the first time on The Frozen Planet?

What a wonderful legacy.

.

.

NB: the polar bear photos in this post are not from The Frozen Planet,
which are protected by copyright, but are taken by
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service which are in the public domain

The image of Sir David Attenborough is by Nottingham Trent University
and is used under a Creative Commons Licence

Photo of the Day: Snow Leopard

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Snow Leopard

Snow Leopard by Bernard Landgraf (details below)

This beautiful and elusive cat lives in the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia. Their secretive nature means that their exact numbers are unknown, but it is estimated that only around 3,500 – 7,000 snow leopards still exist in the wild.

The Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia)
is on the IUCN Red List for Threatened Species as “endangered“
Population trend: decreasing 

(Photo by Bernard Landgraf used under a Creative Common licence)

Photo of the Day: Green Sea Turtle

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Green Turtle

Green Sea Turtle by Mila Zinkova, details below

You can’t tell from this photgraph but Green Sea Turtles weigh up to 300kg (around 700 pounds) – it’s one of the largest sea turtles in the world.

Quirky fact: the young hatchlings feed on small fish, crustaceans and jellyfish but (quite unusually) the adults are herbivorous.

Green Sea Turtles will occasionally bask in the sun on land, and can be seen sunbathing alongside seals and albatrosses, making it one of the few marine turtles known to leave the water other than at nesting times.

Despite being endangered, Green Sea Turtles are still killed for their meat and eggs. They are also killed in boat propeller accidents, caught in fishing nets as by-catch and drowned, and their nesting grounds are being destroyed by human encroachment.

The Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
is on the IUCN Red List for Threatened Species as “endangered“
Population trend: decreasing 

(Photo by Mila Zinkova used under a Creative Common licence)

Photo of the Day: Spotted Hyena

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Spotted Hyena

Spotted Hyena by Marieke IJsendoorn-Kuijpers (details below)

Hyenas get a bad rap but they’re amazing animals.  (And don’t they have the sweetest faces??)

They’re often described as “scavengers”, but they’re actually excellent hunters.  Spotted Hyenas have a hunting success rate which is far better than lions (around 75% of hyena clan hunts are successful, compared to only around 30% of lion hunts.)

The Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta)
is on the IUCN Red List for Threatened Species as ”least concern“
Population trend: decreasing 

(Photo by Marieke IJsendoorn-Kuijpers used under a Creative Commons licence)