Birding by media Last night I watched the most ridiculous episode of Midsomer Murders I have ever seen (not that I watch many). To those who do not know it is a tongue-in-cheek murder mystery that has been popular for many years in the UK. What is worrying about this (repeat) episode is that it perfectly illustrates the attitude of the media towards wildlife in general, and thus helps to promote ignorance in the general population. Interest in wildlife, for various reasons, is at an all-time high, and rightly so, but certain sections of the media seem to be trying to reverse the trend. I realise the whole program is ridiculous, but many people don't, and casting aside the fact that the portrayal of birders in general, with no distinction between obsessive twitchers and others, was it really necessary to invent a species, and even show a "photograph" of it, which I have tried to reproduce. Not only that, but the "blue-crested Hoopoe" which arrived in the UK from...
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Showing posts from March, 2025