Page 114 - BBC Wildlife - August 2017 UK

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LETTER Working as a team
OF THE I enjoyed Jo Wimpenny’s
MONTH evaluation of the evidence
for intelligence in the corvid
family(A Cleverness of
Crows, June 2017).
I saw an example of this
recently when I heard some
noisy chatter outside. Looking
out of the window I observed
five magpies working together.
Two were holding up a piece
of heavy duty plastic sheeting,
while two others took turns to go
in and out beneath the sheeting
to retrieve insectsandotherfood
items, twigs and grass stems.
I couldn’t help but see the
irony and the contrast between
the precision and cooperation
occurring outside, and the
futility and banality of the
meeting I was in at the time.
Chris Toyne, via email
Connie was delighted
to spot and document Giving a helping hand
this rarely seen sand Reading about canal wildlife
lizard behaviour. (Life Lines, June 2017) made
me think aboutthe allotment
TESTING TIME FORLIZARDS site where I am a member.
Fifteen years ago, the
committee made a decisionto
As a wildlife enthusiast, Ioften venture out Reptile Group, I found out that it was the first remove all corrugated iron and
to various habitats hoping to encounter rare, recorded test burrow of the year, and it was replace it withhedges. Forty tons
secretive or unusual species. Recently, my slightly earlier than usual. A female will dig of ‘rubbish’ was removed. Now
partner and I took an early evening walk to our several test burrows, and only when she feels we have a lush green site, with
nearest patch of heathland. After an unfruitful the conditions are rightwill she lay eggs. grass pathsand all the plots
stroll, we stopped in our trackswhen we noticed My chance encounter has caused test lined withhedges. Birds have
something on the ground. burrow surveys in my area to be brought nests all over the site, Harry the
To our amazement, there sat a beautiful forward, and I am very proud that my image hedgehog and his friends roam
female sand lizard, her beady eyes staring back is helping with monitoring sandlizards. around, and frogs are thriving.
at us. It seems we had caught her in the act of Connie Smith, via email Besides making the area a
digging a burrow so we backed away. more pleasant place, our wild
Astonishingly, she was so intent on digging Conservationist Steve Davis replies: It’s always friends help to control slugs and
that our presence didn’t faze her. I took a a privilege to witness such activities. I’ve been snails. So we all win!
few photos with my camera and left. surveying sand lizards for 10 years and have Bill Mcmurray, via email
After contacting the Surrey Amphibian and never seen a female digging her test burrow!

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BE A WINNING WRITER This month’s winner is Adam Scott who
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waterproof boots, worth £59.99 and perfect for hiking. his blog at https://adamscottwildlife.
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114 BBC Wildlife August 2017