Naturalists flock to Chris Packham`s DIY `Springwatch` on Facebook
(The Guardian Travel News)

The presenter´s daily Self-Isolating Bird Club draws on wildlife footage caught by enthusiasts on mobile phones in their gardens. Packham calls it `Dad´s Army makes TV´Lockdown day 10 in south-east London. A loud rhythmic tweeting is emanating from the cherry plum tree in my back garden. A great tit? Blue tit? I catch a glimpse; too small for a great tit, not as colourful.I don´t know my birdsongs beyond the basics, but I remember a friend imitating calls to coax birds nearer so he could identify them. I have an idea and grab my phone and Google `coal tit song`. I press play and the rival tweeting produces instant results. Hopping from branch to branch towards me a delightful but agitated coal tit emerges and alights on a branch barely two metres away (I think it knows). Is it angry or amorous? My exhilaration at our proximity turns to doubt and guilt - I´ve used gadgetry to disrupt the natural world. What was I thinking? The coal tit flies off, its song tinged with irritation. Continue reading...