Every morning, ecologist Tim Blackburn is inspired by the diversity contained within the moth trap he runs on the roof of his London flat. Beautiful, ineffably mysterious organisms, these moths offer a glimpse into a larger order, one that extends beyond individual species of moth, beyond lepidoptera or insects, and into a hidden landscape. Tim shows us that when we pay proper attention to these tiny animals, their relationships with one another, and their connections to the wider web of life, a greater truth about the world gradually emerges into focus.
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In The Jewel Box, Tim reflects on what he has learned in the last thirty years of work as a scientist studying ecosystems and demonstrates how the contents of one small box can illuminate the workings of all nature. In this Q&A, we chatted with Tim about The Jewel Box as well as about moths in the UK, the things we still have to learn about them, and the species that he’s hoping to see in the flesh.
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"NHBS has been a proud supporter of the Riverfly Partnership since 2016. We are pleased to reinforce our commitment by making a £5 donation to the Riverfly Partnership for every Riverfly Partnership Approved Kit we sell. This reflects NHBS's ongoing dedication to conservation and collaborative efforts with organisations like the Riverfly Partnership."
- Steve Powell, Head of Product & Purchasing NHBS
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Statement from the Riverfly Partnership:
The Riverfly Partnership, launched in 2007, continues to support and empower organisations and citizens who are concerned about rivers, streams and their local environment. The volunteer citizen scientists are key in the detection of disturbances in the water, acting as an early warning system and passing concerns on to statutory bodies to take further action.
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Through a large network of partner organisations and accredited tutors, these volunteers are trained how to monitor their local waterway using kick sampling and identification of macroinvertebrates, sharing their survey data on a national database that is accessible to all.
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The Riverfly Monitoring Initiative can be a fantastic weapon in the arsenal of citizen science projects that are offered by organisations such as the Rivers Trusts and Wildlife Trusts. Anyone can learn how to do it, you do not need to be an entomologist and it sits nicely in the volunteer journey. You can go from litter picks to Himalayan balsam bashes to riverfly monitoring and even water quality testing.
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We recently secured funding from Esmée Fairbarn Foundation for the next three years and are looking to recruit new staff, launch a new database, and develop the Riverfly Partnership and its offering. Having the support of partners such as NHBS through the years has been fantastic. We hope to carry on growing our network of hubs throughout the UK with the support of Rivers Trusts, Wildlife Trusts, catchment partnerships, statutory bodies, the FSC, NHBS and of course the volunteers – the ones at the forefront, caring about their community, their rivers and the wildlife in them.
- Trine Bregstein, Riverfly Partnership Development Manager
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This month, browse our new and forthcoming books, including All the Mammals of the World and The Book of Wilding. Plus, explore our seasonal essential equipment which, this month, includes nets, moth traps and detectors.
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Shieldbugs
Due July 2023
Shieldbugs include amazing and beautiful species, rich with diversity in shape, form, size, life history, ecology, physiology and behaviour. Richard Jones’ groundbreaking New Naturalist volume on shieldbugs encourages enthusiasts who would otherwise be put off by the rather technical literature that has dominated the field, providing a comprehensive natural history of this fascinating and beautiful group of insects.
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PIXFRA Mile M20 Thermal Imaging Monocular
This is PIXFRA's entry-level thermal imaging monocular series, designed to provide impressive results at a very affordable price point. It features a range between 345m and 710m depending on the model; impressive field of view; a 256×192, 12µm, <40mK NETD thermal sensor; and a 720×540 viewfinder to ensure that animal and human heat signatures are identifiable at considerable distance.
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Author Q&A: An Identification Guide to Garden Birds of Britain and North-West Europe
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An Identification Guide to Garden Birds of Britain and North-West Europe is a photographic guide to 75 species of bird most commonly found in or over the gardens of Britain and North-West Europe. The text combines scientific facts with affectionate descriptions of the birds’ identifying features, including sex and age differences, habits, nest types, eggs and calls. The introduction covers identification tips, how to look after garden birds and anatomy.
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We were lucky enough to ask both Carl Bovis, nature photographer, and Dominic Couzens, nature writer, a few questions about what inspired them to produce this guide, what the process was like to assemble it and the importance of providing suitable habitats for birds in our gardens.
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