Category Archives: Latest GOB Articles

Nifty Grades of Shade This article first appeared in Birdwatching Magazine November 2019 As climate change brings 50MPH winds rattling my windows and rain running down the hill outside like a mountain torrent, it’s easy to think about shelter, but … Continue reading →

Old & Grumpy This article first appeared in Birdwatching Magazine October 2019 Despite my previous 120+ columns it is only weeks ago that I made it to the allotted biblical span. If one were to be guided by what is … Continue reading →

Killing the Golden Goose This article first appeared in Birdwatching Magazine Autumn 2019 A study that put together data across 91 countries from scientific papers and government reports noted that biodiversity is below safe levels across more than half of … Continue reading →

Pondering This article first appeared in Birdwatching Magazine September 2019 Around 150 years ago there were about a million ponds in the UK – a pond being a body of water less than two acres in area. Surprisingly, well over … Continue reading →

Swift Justice This article first appeared in Birdwatching Magazine August 2019 Summer has always started on the same day for me… the day the swifts return. In my birding heydays I’d probably be out birding somewhere and suddenly become aware … Continue reading →

The Truth About Cats & Dogs This article first appeared in Birdwatching Magazine July 2019 I’m not going to apologise for reopening the debate about cats. As a recent headline put it: ‘Canadian and U.S. studies agree: Cats are the … Continue reading →

Environmental Mindset Madness (This article first appeared in the June 2019 edition of ‘Birdwatching’ magazine) In the late 1950s, disillusioned with the classic bicycle design, Alex Moulton set about creating a new one from first principles. In the 1990’s James … Continue reading →

Dumbing Up (This article first appeared in the May 2019 edition of ‘Birdwatching’ magazine) I’m not stupid, no really, I’m not. I start every day with the Times Crossword (although I admit there are days when I have finished the … Continue reading →

It’s Happening Here! This article first appeared in Birdwatching Magazine, March 2019 edition What do the Brown Tree Snake (Boiga irregularis), the Burmese Python (Python bivittatus) and Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica) have in common? Both snakes are wonderful in their … Continue reading →

Green Alliances This article first appeared in Birdwatching Magazine, March 2019 edition Has it ever struck you just how scattered and fragmented our conservation areas and wildlife protection movement is – a bunch of green cliques rarely coming together; our … Continue reading →