1000 David Attenboroughs – Week 4

Would you like to be a David Attenborough?!

Take the first steps with Wild West End to learn the skills to be an ecologist.

During this time of coronavirus we have been sending out tasks, some of which can be done looking out the window, others from sitting on your step or in your back yard or garden, or if you are leaving the house, on your walk in the park (please keep apart from others and only go to the parks if the Government allows this).

We are now in Week Four and this week’s tasks are

1. Listening Skills
   
   Stop and listen to the birds singing. Try and pick out one bird song from another one. Can you see the bird that is singing? Can you tell whether it is a similar size to a robin, or bigger or smaller?
   
   When you get back to a computer look at this site and see if you can find the bird song you heard. https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/identify-a-bird/ It is a brilliant website for identifying bird calls – makes it really simple for complete beginners!
   
   
2. Touch!
   
   In the park the new beech tree leaves are unfurling. Reach up and touch the new leaves. They are very soft and delicate with soft hairs along them. Even the new twigs are soft!
   
   As Spring progresses go and touch them again. They will gradually get tougher, developing more waxy layers and thicker cell walls, so they are less easily damaged and don’t dry out. The new soft twigs will become more woody, ‘or lignify’ as it is known scientifically.
   
   If you can’t go to the park, other trees also have new delicate leaves coming through, though beech leaves are particularly soft (see pic below). Check out the new leaves on your nearest tree.
   
   
   
   
3. Bonus Task – Smell
   When I was in the park today, along the edge of the allotments, the blossom trees are out. I think they are wild cherry. They smell lovely.

Wild West End is a two year project funded through the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

RH

^{Picture of Sir David Attenborough © International Monetary Fund 2019 – Used under Creative Commons Licence (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)}