Let me be clear – I am NOT saying that Coronavirus is a good thing. But it does offer us a once-in-a-lifetime chance to find out what the world would be like if we stepped back. I woke this morning to a dawn chorus that seemed exceptionally loud and detailed, full of notes and tones I can’t recall hearing before. And then the penny dropped. Those sounds had always been there, but they were normally drowned out by the sound of normal rush-hour traffic. On an essential journey to collect a prescription, I saw less road kill than usual. This year, which is so desperately bad and frightening for so many people, may give some of our wildlife an unexpected breathing space. It is just a shame that it takes a tragedy of this scale to let it happen.
Month: March 2020
This time last year, the large lake near my home had five great crested grebes on it. Four formed pairs, one of which successfully raised young. A smaller local lake had one pair on it, which also raised young. The same was true for most of the lakes I could reach in a hour’s drive from my home.
This year, my local lake has one solitary, despondent grebe. The smaller lake has none. I’ve walked five local lakes, and there isn’t a singe great crested grebe to be seen. Great crested grebes are one of the joys of spring, with their elaborate displays of devotion to each other. This year feels empty. Where have all the grebes gone?
