The Brown Blight and the Baby Snatcher

Perhaps the last sight that any nestling (except a jay) wants to see looking over the rim of its nest, look at those hungry eyes.  

It's human nature to anthropomorphize and nowhere is this more prevalent than in how we perceive the natural world (and in my blog post titles). Some animals are viewed as respectable heroes and heroines, others as evil villains. It is almost an innate sense, just mentally compare a rook and a robin, or a butterfly and a spider. In reality attributing human traits to animals is, as I have mentioned on the blog before, an unwise way to look at our wildlife. Every species plays a part and to appreciate and understand how an ecosystem works, or doesn't work, one must appreciate the part each species plays. You need predators to balance the prey, seldom do predators drive population declines, unless they are outside of their natural range.

Hate them or love them, your never far from a brown rat. 

Brown rats, like many of the mammals we have featured in the blog so far are not actually native. Before we go on, it is worth pointing out that it was the (also none native) black rat which was the key carrier for the bubonic plague, during the black death (1348-1350). The brown rat is considered to be less of a carrier for the species of fleas which carry the disease. There was even some (false) speculation that the colonisation of Britain and out competition of black rats helped combat the spread and intensity of the disease.

The brown rat first reached Europe from Russia (its native range being china) during the 18th century. This was noted by the German naturalist, Peter Simon Pallas during 1727 (The Pallas Warbler Guy). Initially it was believed that this species came to Britain in timber vessels from Norway hence its other name Norwegian rat and the norvegicus part of its Latin name. In fact it first arrived in 1728-9 from Russia. The species was not recorded in Norway until 1762.

Brown rats, are extremely adaptable burrow dwellers. 

Regardless of your opinion of rats they are responsible for extensive damage to stored products and to a lesser extent growing crops. Brown rats can cause extensive damage to seabird colonies, especially where they occur on offshore islands. Also as somebody who spends a lot of time working in freshwater Leptospirosis is a ever in my mind, a disease carried by brown rats, better known as Weils disease in its human form. In addition to this they carry Q fever, Toxoplasmosis and hantavirus.

The big bulging eyes and long whiskers help brown rats navigate in the dark in their tunnels and at night time.  

However despite this they appear to have occupied a bit of a niche in Britain and are a prey species for a wide variety of birds including barn owl and tawny owl locally. They also produce micro-habitats (their burrow systems) which can be utilized by other species like hibernating amphibians and reptiles, when disused. Not a species I would want near my house but if they stay away I remain on the fence.

There is something about the look in a jays eye, which screams intelligence. 

Close up, you can see the bright blue eye

The Jay on the other hand has historically been persecuted by gamekeepers, but its shy nature and the blind animosity towards magpies (deflection dislike) has probably helped its public opinion remain quite high. In addition to its striking colours, the jay must be one of Britain's most striking birds. Jays like the other corvids are partial to raiding nests for young birds and eggs. However it has been widely scientifically proven that they do not cause any lasting impacts on prey populations. Jays rate as one of my personal favorite British birds, they are incredibly intelligent and colourful.  

Unfortunately the dull dark sky results in dull dark, characterless photos, what a difference a little sun would make. Male Kestrel.  

The local sparrowhawks were displaying early today over their likely breeding location (a small Scots pine dominated plantation).  

A rather awkward Tree sparrow who opted to sit on the other side of the hedge. Still its great to see this species locally, away from the coastal populations.  

And finally ANOTHER brown hare, I am brown hare crazy at the moment.