Climate Counts

View from my back garden

The past week has seen an amazing number of climate change stories - almost too many to keep up. From extraordinary sights in nature and a forthcoming European Commission report on climate change's likely impact on Europe, to an extraordinary outburst from an environment minister at airlines' reluctance to take climate change seriously.

It's tempting to comment at length on all - and be assured I have my opinions! But instead, I'll take a step back and ponder those experiences that will really stick in the mind from this most unusual first week of 2007.

First, the government's hypocrisy, or lack of joined-up messaging. A junior minister in Defra sounds off about Ryanair's recalcitrance on the climate change front as other branches of the same government maintain their determination to expand our country's airports. What I'll remember most from this week is my kids jumping up and down as they saw aeroplanes' vapour trails cross the sky, on the approach to Luton airport. 'What's that, Mummy? What's that, Mummy?' they cried. 'It's the aeroplanes' pollution', I said. 'Oh...' in reply, completed gutted. How can the government possibly justify their policy of airport expansion to our younger generation?

Second, the eery emptiness of my back garden. I don't feed the birds much, only the occasional peanut cake in a cold snap. But I have lots of weedy, shrubby bits and an expanse of lawn, with good pickings for worm-loving birds. Normally, my garden would be heaving with blackbirds in the winter months, feasting from this abundant natural spread. The garden also has a history of redwing visitors in the depth of winter; they are drawn by the hordes of berries in the neighbour's patch.

I haven't seen any blackbirds at all in my back garden this December-January. Bird researchers at the RSPB, who know more than I do about such things, say it's because the UK normally receives continental migrants from Germany and the low countries at this time of year. Due to mild condition, those blackbirds have probably stayed put. My similar disappointment at lack of my beloved redwings is probably due to the birds' finding adequate berry food in Scandinavia (see October's blog).

This month's hot links: Big Garden Birdwatch 2007 podcast and blog.

Image credit: RSPB Images - The usual sight in my garden in winter.