Autumnwatch

[vole-woman]

I agree, Pauline - similarly the business of the mink eating the coots in Springwatch was well-handled because the presenters didn't hide the fact the coots had died, nor that the mink would be killed if they could catch it. But they didn't expose young viewers to the full horror either, or labour the point.

This programme's remit is to draw in the next generation of nature-lovers - crucial, as liking wildlife is currently a bit naff in my kids' school (don't know if that's true for everywhere). Autumnwatch sets out to make the subject fun and accessible, and it does the job brilliantly. My boys adore Bill Oddie and find Simon King a bit dull; Bill makes them want to get involved and try out the things he suggests, whereas they tend to talk over Simon's reports.

I do think you have to judge a programme by what it's setting out to do.

[mh68]

Only the BBC themselves can answer that question.From whats been said on the programme the "badger cams" have been put into use this series with the Beavers.They cant cover every species,and probably looked upon the Beavers as offering something different so went with them instead of the Badgers.

Mark H

[stripee]

Originally Posted by James Rose

Did I miss something or was there really no mention or pics of our beautiful badgers???

Why not

Too difficult to film?

Not so.

Could it be that showing badgers on BBC tv is politically too "sensitive" with the Government apparantly moving towards a mass slaughter policy?

Just cos tv appears very informal, chatty and lite don't mean it ain't politically scripted and edited.

Badgers "Awwwwwwww!"

I did wonder this myself.Too many cute badgers not a good move right now...Although the beavers are just wonderful to watch and maybe they are easier to film as they are in a restricted area. And sometimes the badgers didn't perform!

[SweetRocket]

Originally Posted by James Rose

Did I miss something or was there really no mention or pics of our beautiful badgers???

Why not

Too difficult to film?

Not so.

Could it be that showing badgers on BBC tv is politically too "sensitive" with the Government apparantly moving towards a mass slaughter policy?

Just cos tv appears very informal, chatty and lite don't mean it ain't politically scripted and edited.

Badgers "Awwwwwwww!"

There is plenty of Badger coverage on Springwatch, it would be pretty boring if they concentrated again on Badgers in Autumnwatch, besides the Beavers and Boars are just as exciting to watch and very welcome.
Perhaps your comments about the BBC should be reserved for when Springwatch is back with or without the Badgers.

[KatRaven]

Hmm, very strange about the starlings - a bit like Bill's hair

I must admit I sometimes get a bit fed up with all the rambling.
Simon King is definitely the best one as far as I'm concerned

I'm glad that they're showing different things this year. Springwatch, up until this year, was getting a bit monotonous - was anyone else sick of seeing baby blue tits?

[Adam Cheeseman]

I'm sure that's a syrup Bill's wearing. He kept stroking it last night and I'm sure I heard it purring.

Cheers,

Adam

[SweetRocket]

I agree with you KatRaven, although Blue tits are so cute they can’t keep showing the same old footage over and over again otherwise the viewers would switch off in droves and that is not what any of us want, the more people educated in wildlife the better.
I must say though, I watched the cannibal Owls with eye’s half closed, dread to think what they will serve up next Springwatch.

[KatRaven]

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

I'm sure that's a syrup Bill's wearing. He kept stroking it last night and I'm sure I heard it purring.

Cheers,

Adam

Oh yes, those poor little owls
Nature is very cruel sometimes, isn't she?

I hope they have flycatchers again

[PMG]

I should think the reason badgers have been left out is because they get less active from this time of year onwards - there is a lot of darkness now and they can afford to come out later on in the evening/night and still eat and visit the latrines and patrol the boundarys. Which means the chances of seeing as much of them over the next few months is slight: plus the females should be pregnant; the boars might be banned to an outlying one-hole sett; the young from last year - esp the males might be being shooed off to find their own place - and a host of other reasons which all adds up to not much to watch or film.

Of course they may well have been warned off from showing badgers in case folk get up in arms and sign the anti cull petition in droves - I could believe that. . . The badgers probably don't play ball cos the filming gear isn't set up far enough in advance for them to get used to it and unless there is plenty of peanuts scattered around the sett each day ready for night - then the badgers will move off and get on with their routines - looking for food.

Personally I'm not too fussed with the beavers or the wild boar. . . it puzzles me why they arn't showing more footage from the various meres and ponds in daylight. I live about 40 mins from Martin Mere and when I go I walk around the hides and watch the genuine wild birds and have seen some interesting behaviour over the years. And if there's time left over I usually go to some of the pens - the goldeneye and smew are always a delight to watch. So why do they keep showing the swans in darkness? And why were they in the wrong place for the starling roost when they had been told exactly where to go? I mean they are getting help and advice from folks who know the spots they are using well - so why's it not quite working as well as it could I wonder?

Pauline

[geordie graham]

Another wonderfull programme on the stunning wildlife the British Isles has to offer and all the experts? on this sight can bicker about is the presenters.Here are your choices
1 if you don`t like it SWITCH IT OFF
2 If you are such experts then make your own programme
3 Just sit back and enjoy wonderfull sites and sounds and appreciate what nature has to offer and it doesn`t cost you a penny.

Graham