[Madelinew]

Very well put tcvarlh. I'm fed up with the poor little this and that victimised by the evil wicked other this and that in nature discussions. There is a reason a blue tit, for example, produces a large brood of eggs - there will inevitably be natural wastage along the way. People don't get all clucky about poor fish or poor insects that are eaten by these creatures to survive. |Heard anyone complaining about the fate of the 'poor' sand eels as a mainstay of the puffin's diet lately? I'm easily one for turning to mush if I see something unbearably cute but I'm also crashingly realistic about the ways of nature. Corvids and birds of prey are amongst my favourite birds. I'm always pleased to find evidence of my sparrowhawk's meals in my garden because it means she's doing well. And the absolute pinnacle of my birding career was sitting in a hide in Hickling Broad and watching a family of Marsh Harriers raid and empty the nests of some little terns. I saw exceptional acrobatics on the part of the raptors, incredibly feats of 'bravery' - if you can call it that - amongst the little terns trying to defend their nests and it was amazing to watch. And the others sharing the hide enjoyed the moment too. Better than watching the Red Arrows.

In fact I have got very bored with Springwatch and Autumnwatch now because of the level of anthropomorphosising that goes on. Althought Chris Packham added a slightly more realistic edge to the presenting recently.