Annoying times

[Dogghound]

This is abit of a rant so click off if your not interested, but basically im really struggling with IDs its so frustraiting as im repetatively getting IDs wrong (on insects) and dont seem to be learning apart from on this site but getting to the point where i want to give it up. hence not being on for a wile, fine not to bad you say, but at 22 especially in my area there are few people that care about wildlife my mates dont care for a start (my parents arnt bothered so much & my girlfriend),It annoys me that people still mess up wildlife, Badger baiting etc. BUT to make it worse i join my local wildlife group and there is no1 anywhere near my age and no1 that respects what ive learned or what i know (im sure i know enough), they just look down on me, its annoying. Then go face to face with people throwing stones at geese so i put them in their place risking getting a beating, then even worse have an aggresive confontation with people smashing a nest box (can you believe it? yes a tit box) total losers in my eyes, then i have a conversation with a cattle farmer who casually says hes killed 5 foxes including a cub in the last 2 months. Hes a cattle farmer why the need to do that? I just feel like giving up. I know this thread has been posted late but i assure you drink isnt involved. I just have reached breaking point and find it very hard especially in my area for a young naturalist/conservationistto to get a grip.

[Dan Salter]

Hey matey,

I totally understand your frustration and your feeling of being out there "all alone"...trust me...im 35 next month and most wildlifey things i get involved with i feel like the wee baby....its definately a silver haired majority in this wildlife world...BUT there ARE youngsters out there trust me...(i was one once).
ID's are frustrating....im normally way off (although i have had a good run of them on here these last few weeks proving that WAB (probably more so than my degree and questionable college/tutors) has taught me loads over the last couple of years.

Smashing up a tit box?...why oh why?...dog poo everywhere...tied to trees in bags....throwing stones at geese....killing Fox on a cattle farm, these are just a tiny amount of the stupidity that is out there, being a wildlife/naturalist its hard to bite your lip, to be honest in this violent age we are going through i tend to do just that, but i can understand you for having a rant at people, just be very careful as we would like to have you around on wab a bit longer so we can all watch you learn and improve and get some of those insect id's right ( of which im rubbish unless its pretty and has butterfly wings)

Cheer up mate....
oh and NOTHING wrong with having a rant and letting off steam on here in my book...we are probably a motley crew of strange and normal, old and young...ugly and of course speaking for myself ...extremely good looking
(and cocky...cheeky...funny...irritating....blah blah blah) but we are all linked (scarily) in some way and are one big ole family.

Oh and the sexy 20's/30's naturlist/ecologist/walking camping/wildlife loving pretty, sexy girls into all this stuff only exist on tv land....im sure of it?...but if you happen to find one (or two preferably) pass one onto me wont you?...

Dan 'your friendly shrink'.

[oxycera]

Dear Dogghound

Are you a member of the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union? I'm sure your knowledge and enthusiasm would be appreciated, it's crying out for a youth injection.
Everyone gets ids wrong now and again, its really no big deal.

John

[Wild-Woman]

See my pm Dogghound.

[mrs fish]

I wouldn't worry about getting ID's wrong, I do it all the time

You will have to try to get to a WAB meet that will cheer you up and make you realise you are not alone

[shei111]

Hello doghound Dont give up boy, Theres loads out there I cant identify probaly never will but theres folks on here always willing to help you out, dont be too hard on yourself ,youve got years a head of you. No I also dont understand why people break bird boxes, kill foxes etc, you have to try to put it at the back your head otherwise you cant go forward. We are all animals lovers here thats why we are on a wildlife web site , and we all have to let off steam sometime, keep your chin up. sheila

[badgerwatcher]

I've spent my life feeling I must have dropped from another planet, Doghound, and unable to understand why so many other people don't seem to care what atrosities are happening in nature. Don't let it change you, you obviously won't. You will raise awareness among some of them by your determination to do the right thing.
Don't put yourself in danger. I've broken up ugly situations simply by the suprise element of being a small furious middle aged woman, but even in doing that, I'm taking risks.
Don't be disheartened with IDs. I know I will never know a fraction of what most of the people on here do, but I'm learning, very slowly. Fungi defeat me completely! You've got your life ahead of you to learn, and all the joys of wildlife to explore.

[LoveT]

Dogghound - don't you give up mate! I'm always getting things like IDs wrong (especially on here ), but it doesn't stop me having a go!

The more I get to know about wildlife (particularly from this site), the more I realise I don't know if you follow me. You've got 25 years head start on me too, so just you hang in there - and keep posting!

You are a rare and beautiful thing - a youngster who really cares about wildlife, and I'm sure there's wildlife groups up where you live who would love to have that injection of youth and passion in their membership, so don't despair.

I'm glad you've 'had a rant' - I think you can see by the responses that you are most definitely not alone .

Thea

[demicav]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

This is abit of a rant so click off if your not interested, but basically im really struggling with IDs its so frustraiting as im repetatively getting IDs wrong (on insects) and dont seem to be learning apart from on this site but getting to the point where i want to give it up. hence not being on for a wile, fine not to bad you say, but at 22 especially in my area there are few people that care about wildlife my mates dont care for a start (my parents arnt bothered so much & my girlfriend),It annoys me that people still mess up wildlife, Badger baiting etc. BUT to make it worse i join my local wildlife group and there is no1 anywhere near my age and no1 that respects what ive learned or what i know (im sure i know enough), they just look down on me, its annoying. Then go face to face with people throwing stones at geese so i put them in their place risking getting a beating, then even worse have an aggresive confontation with people smashing a nest box (can you believe it? yes a tit box) total losers in my eyes, then i have a conversation with a cattle farmer who casually says hes killed 5 foxes including a cub in the last 2 months. Hes a cattle farmer why the need to do that? I just feel like giving up. I know this thread has been posted late but i assure you drink isnt involved. I just have reached breaking point and find it very hard especially in my area for a young naturalist/conservationistto to get a grip.

Sorry things are getting you down. Believe me you're not on your own, I know of other people your age and younger that struggle to be taken seriously. You sound like a great person, someone who is willing to put himself on the front line to protect our wildlife. We need more of you around. I can honestly say that you are an asset to this site and I myself have learnt so much from you.

[badgerwatcher]

As I sit here, there is an item on the news where an organization who are trying to make people more aware of nature has taken very small children to a farm and allowing them to hold one day old chicks. Maybe one or two out of all those children will carry that wonder through their lives, but they will carry the message to others.
I still remember the first fledgling I held and the wonder I felt. And I remember the look of awe on a group of children's faces, when years ago I stopped them following their mother's example in running around screaming and trying to swat a dragon fly, and made them stop and look into its eyes.

[nutmeg]

I appreciate your help with IDs on this site - taking the time to have a go is something I value, whether ID correct or not! It's a shame that you feel there are few people where you live to share your interest with... it certainly boosts my enthusiasm when I can meet and chat with similarly minded people

As far as the other part of your rant goes, people who live in ignorance of the natural world baffle me. When their actions harm wildlife I get very angry, but I don't have the guts to intervene. We have a local wildlife officer in the police, to whom I'd report incidents.

[Dan Salter]

i LOVE your avatar nutmeg!! Is there a larger version somewhere? i especially like the humanesque legs stepping to the other flower.

[nightshade]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

This is abit of a rant so click off if your not interested, but basically im really struggling with IDs its so frustraiting as im repetatively getting IDs wrong (on insects) and dont seem to be learning apart from on this site but getting to the point where i want to give it up. hence not being on for a wile, fine not to bad you say, but at 22 especially in my area there are few people that care about wildlife my mates dont care for a start (my parents arnt bothered so much & my girlfriend),It annoys me that people still mess up wildlife, Badger baiting etc. BUT to make it worse i join my local wildlife group and there is no1 anywhere near my age and no1 that respects what ive learned or what i know (im sure i know enough), they just look down on me, its annoying. Then go face to face with people throwing stones at geese so i put them in their place risking getting a beating, then even worse have an aggresive confontation with people smashing a nest box (can you believe it? yes a tit box) total losers in my eyes, then i have a conversation with a cattle farmer who casually says hes killed 5 foxes including a cub in the last 2 months. Hes a cattle farmer why the need to do that? I just feel like giving up. I know this thread has been posted late but i assure you drink isnt involved. I just have reached breaking point and find it very hard especially in my area for a young naturalist/conservationistto to get a grip.

"Ageism is illegal", anyway I have always assumed that you are a very mature
knowledgeable person (age immaterial) but you must realise there are people that can never be reached, there is something dead inside them,some have a bad ego problem and do not like being asked or told what to do some people just have a natural mean streak but here you are dogghound and accepted by thousands
So cheer up and guess a few more

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

Oh and the sexy 20's/30's naturlist/ecologist/walking camping/wildlife loving pretty, sexy girls into all this stuff only exist on tv land....im sure of it?...but if you happen to find one (or two preferably) pass one onto me wont you?...

Yep, as my old pal says, you have more chance of finding Lord Lucan on Shergar.
As for the I.Ds...well they aren't everything. I spent years getting to grips with I.Ds and birdsong, but at the end of the day, they are not that important. Instead, look at the big picture. Nowadays, the countryside to me is a complete package that provides me with a host of valuable experiences, whether or not I know what I am seeing or hearing.
And yeah, you are absolutely right, this country does seem to be overpopulated with halfwits who couldn't care less for wildlife and the countryside and do terrible things. But, my own joys and experiences I get from wild places and seeing wild things, are my comforts in the face of such atrocities. If it wasn't for such diversionary pleasures I would go mad...literally mad.
And don't be too hard on the older end either. It was elderly relatives and other 'owd' country chaps who got me interested when I was a nipper and formed the foundations for the knowledge I have now. Though you will always get a few folks who will prefer to be unhelpful!

Regards, Chris

[Hobjob]

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

Oh and the sexy 20's/30's naturlist/ecologist/walking camping/wildlife loving pretty, sexy girls into all this stuff only exist on tv land....im sure of it?...but if you happen to find one (or two preferably) pass one onto me wont you?...

Well I'm a bit old to comment I suppose, but "Eeyore" has found "Nearly Normal" via WAB ........ and I presume he thinks she fits the bill ;-) I couldn't possibly comment other than to say she is a lovely, lovely person.

In my meanderings through various places I've also come across lots of lasses as wardens and volunteer wardens and on wildlife courses that in my younger days would have warranted ..............

So there is hope

Oh, and my own daughter read environmental science and then did a masters in marine biology (Dolphins) and is now happily married to another like-minded person.

So there is hope

[serendipity]

Have not read the whole thread so if i repeat something or whatever NVM. All joking aside i find your presence here and input invaluable! i have been into natural history as long as i can remember and it is not something i picked up off anyone it almost seems to have been innate (i think thats how you put it) since birth! so i have pretty much gone about it alone much to the many surprises of my totally uninterested parents of injured birds .mammals and other beasties they frequently came across in the house. ive never had any friends interested but believe me all those i have met have had the roots of a budding interest firmly planted and many have overcome there fears of the things we find so interesting even to the point of calling them 'family'! as for getting IDs right , who cares. i want to know everything so i cant specialise and i think i have WAB ADHD because i always get sidetracked to another area! just stick in there and enjoy. and dont stay away no more!

[spoonbillcourt]

Our County Naturalists society is very poor. It has many members but no one does anything. Our local Natural history society is full of old pepole as is the RSPB members group again no-one wants to do anything. all recording work is ignored by all societies mentioned. I have been working my area for several years and all I meet are "Twitchers" or normal birders. I have tried to teach youngsters about Natural History but they find it boring.

Until Natural history societies put their foot down and get people to adhere to their constitution ie normally " To study and record and submit records of our Natural history" members are not going to be motivated to do anything. when i research a particular species in my county I ask the relevent recorder for any records and I get the same reply. "The only records we have are yours"

Once I asked my local Natural history club to assist in our county Buttefly atlas. i produced recording forms and an identification sheet and got the following in return. "Comma?" Aston Park Small Tortoiseshell? Mansion House Gardens" of the 80 members I had one record sheet returned.

Apathy is ripe in many societies like this and I don't know what we should do to motivate them.

Many years ago our local Naturals History Society would have 50 of its 80 members out on field trips and during lunch a blanket would be laid down and the finds would be looked at and recorded. During the morning the Botanists and entomologists would split up but at lunch all would gather to discuss the finds on the blanket. Now we get a lot of elderley women who just come to chat. The old men sit in the cars and sleep and the younger members just want to Birdwatch.

In my county there are many more Birdwatchers than General Naturalists and this is one of the reasons why it is hard to find the all rounder. also with shift work and overtime no one has the time to go out and look at nature anymore.

We are a dying breed. If we had all the forum members in one town we would have the best Natural history society in Britain.

I do sympathise with you but whilst Birdwatching is so easy nowadays and takes up little time and Botany and other subjects time consuming there are going to be less and less Field Naturalists around and that is worrying.


Yes most clubs are full of old people because they have so much time on their hands When I was learning I met some really obnoxious Naturalists and one in particular was the rudest man I ever met. I persevered with other more kinder Naturalists and was soon on the road to sucess. I never forgot that pig of a man and his attitude as he was one of the best Naturalists I had ever met but he just did not like sharing his knowledge. Thankfully others did and I wish I could share mine.

I do take a man out with me who wishes to learn but he just does not listen. I tried to get him to use a notebook and showed him how to submit and format his records but he just will not do it. He is like a child. He procrastiantes and fusses terribly but i am kind and patient as I hope one day it will sink in and he can continue where I leave off when I die. (Been given 18 months ATM)

Oh I know just how you all feel!!

SBC

[Jason Green]

This is abit of a rant so click off if your not interested, but basically im really struggling with IDs its so frustraiting as im repetatively getting IDs wrong

Believe me, I do it Far more than you, DH!

but getting to the point where i want to give it up.

Don't!!!

hence not being on for a wile, fine not to bad you say, but at 22 ...BUT to make it worse i join my local wildlife group and there is no1 anywhere near my age

I'm 23 and often the youngest in these fields as well. Your fellow naturalists should appreciate the fact that young men are interested in wildlife - after all, it's the next generation thing.

Then go face to face with people throwing stones at geese so i put them in their place risking getting a beating, then even worse have an aggresive confontation with people smashing a nest box

Well done, but be careful.

I just have reached breaking point and find it very hard especially in my area for a young naturalist/conservationist to to get a grip.

Then your enthusiasm could turn things around!

Take care,

Jason

[Jason Green]

Spoonbillcourt said:

...but i am kind and patient as I hope one day it will sink in and he can continue where I leave off when I die. (Been given 18 months ATM)

I am so sorry; what can I say? your presence and knowledge on this forum is appreciated.

[Meta menardi]

This is the saddest thread I have seen. We must turn around the negative comments that we can.

There seem to be quite a few young people subscribing to this site, judging by those who talk about school and their parents. This site is reaching some young people.

There are some extremely erudite posters on here, the way the knowledgeable will work to help those striving to find an answer to an ID is amazing.

Old people used to be young, and that is very often when they got interested in squiddly beasts and plants.

Lots of things that are just about running and keeping things going are run by old people.

Loacal authorities are finding that "Friends Groups" are helping them meet targets. I am learning to survey Veteran Trees from my DC next month.

Lots of these things are quite subtle, there will be no blaze of change.

It is not all sweetness and light, but Armageddon is being postponed till after Timmy wins Wimbledon. (hopefully)

[Jason Green]

Dogghound - I thought 'Meta menardi' was the name of this poster, not the Latin for a species!

Also, a while back someone posted a picture of a False widow species and Meta asked if there were any bulb-shaped things around it. I assumed the poster meant more light was needed for the photo but was Actually asking about egg sacs!

See, we all make mistakes...

[spoonbillcourt]

here are some of the incidents I have had to put up with.

Stopped by armed Police because someone mistook my tripod for a gun.

Being questioned by the Police because someone reported a man in the park staring at trees with Binoculars.

beimg stoned by children in same park whilst birdwatching.

Being pulled out of a roadside verge by the legs whilst photographing grasshoppers cos the man thought I had collapsed.

Having plants pulled up by people after I was seen photographing them because they "Must be Rare"

Destroying plants I have photographed because they dont want people traipsing up their road at all hours of the day and night.

Calling out "This is private property" when recording plants on grass verges outside peoples homes.

Being photographed and Videoed because of my odd behaviour.

Being labelled simple for peering into hedges and woods. (Here comes the Village idiot)

Whilst recording urban flora for the BSBI Atlas being questioned by the Police for going equipped for Burglary. (Bags in my posession for collecting vouchers) note book (They said) for writing down addresses camera for photographing access points.

Questioned by members of the Public normally with the words "What are you writing in that book?" when recording my finds.

Whilst recording hedgerow Flora for the BSBI Atlas people stopping their cars with the question " What are you doing?"

In in one village when questioned "What are you doing" I explained that I was recording wild flowers. the response was " There are no flowers around here only weeds, I am calling he Police!"

Accused by members of the public for looking for Drugs whilst recording Fungi. (Police turned up yet again) this time I was arrested for suspicion of collection of drugs at a drop off point whilst searching Grassland for Butterfly larvae.

Accused of Acts of gathering information for Terroism whilst Birding beside a Prison ( I write down birds in BTO Code form, and draw maps of nest sites)

I feel suitably aggrevied at times too. the public even with all the TV and press coverage of Nature watching is still treated with suspicion.

Finally being the butt of Lewd "Oh yea I know what sort of birds youve been looking at" when I walk into a pub for lunch.

Then you hear all about the birds they kill and animals they slay cos they think they are clever.

but worst of all from members of the public "So you are one of those Twitchers then".

Know you know you are not the only one.

SBC