Peta Constable reports on the Wharfedale Naturalists Webinar, March 10, 202: The importance of WNS species reports: Birds and Butterflies IF, like me, the first sighting of a butterfly in the garden or a charismatic female Goosander and her young on the Wharfe, gives a feeling that some things are still right with the world, you will appreciate the huge contribution made by our Society’s recorders to the knowledge of what is and isn’t present in our local patch on an annual basis. They collate and analyse thousands of records of sightings they and others provide and then write detailed reports on the local flora and fauna. These reports give an invaluable view of the plant and animal life in both Upper and Lower Wharfedale, and enable us to gain valuable insights into annual trends over many years.
Alison Roberts reports on Wharfedale Naturalists Webinar: ‘Bugs Britannica’ with George McGavin WE were incredibly fortunate to welcome George McGavin, renowned academic, entomologist, broadcaster and author, to speak to members of Wharfedale Naturalists on February 23. George has addressed the society in person previously, this time it was via a Zoom Webinar from his home in Berkshire. George studied Zoology at Edinburgh University, followed by 25 years as an academic at Oxford University. A career in the media followed including regular appearances on The One Show and contributions to many wildlife programmes. He travelled to many remote parts of the world to study, film and enjoy the huge spectrum of global entomology. But it was during George’s time at Oxford that he made an interesting chance discovery. Whilst trying to engage two slightly unenthusiastic students he suggested that they take a piece of bark from Wytham Woods, back to the laboratory to find out what