大象传媒

Response from reporter Chris Sperring

• Jody Bourton
• 22 Aug 06, 04:56 PM

With regard to Owl Prowl series in Sweden then I think that this is a great idea, but then I would, wouldn't I?

Actually as was pointed out to us by Tom if we went to Sweden in the spring then we would hear all the different Owls calling and see them displaying. What would be good however is to go back to Sweden and celebrate predators, it was quite inspiring to listen to people enthusing about predators, because in the UK we tend to frown on predators mainly because we don't understand the complexed relationship they have with the environment.

I was quite inspired to hear how when the Wolf disappears from an area for example, the affect on the flora species of that habitat is affected. This is inspiring stuff, as here in UK we seemed to be constantly worrying whether predators are too high in number or even whether they should be removed.

The behaviour of same species in different countries is very interesting and you mentioned the Robin, sadly I was only in Sweden for 3 days and the house garden we stayed at was more liken to the UK equivalent of a wooden house nestling within a woodland edge habitat, I have a name for it (paradise). So sadly I did not notice any great difference other than many species were easily observed in Sweden that would have taken some effort in the UK. This could be caused of course by Human pressure, as Sweden is much bigger than UK with a Human population of around, I think 8 million people? UK population of Humans is around 65 million, therefore pressures on wildlife should be not as great as they are here in UK.

You raise a very interesting point about Water Vole because on the Somerset Levels in South West England I have noticed that in some areas during the summer the Water Voles actually do make their burrows away from water some times up to 40/50 metres away from the water edge, however the cause of this is easily seen as population pressure were by the water edge becomes filled with territories, and if they can not distribute up or down stream then they will begin colonising more inland areas. I do not know if this is the case in Sweden, however I was told that these Water Voles can spend their lives away from water and also a long way from it.
So to conclude then this may just be the way they have adapted to this environment, many will say this is a sub species of our Water Vole, all I can say is that the skulls I found in the Eagle Owls nest were most definitely Water Vole.

Chris

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