Putting aside the great range of birds that can be seen across the UK, it should be noted that a sizeable array can be observed even here in Dulwich. Typical sights at the College, of which you might not be aware, include the delightful pied wagtail, the goldfinch, the goldcrest (Britain’s smallest bird at only 8cm), the sparrowhawk, the great spotted woodpecker, and the starling, a bird often seen murmurating about the clocktower in sum- mer. A while back, I was lucky enough to see a northern wheatear on the campus; its name in Old English literally translates to ‘white arse’ on account of its prominent white rump. It stopped off for a few days whilst on migration to West Africa in search of warmer climes. Take off your headphones – a jay’s call probably carries a better tune than whatever you’re listening to All this goes to show that there is a magnificent variety of birds to be seen in our day-to-day lives, if one is will- ing and eager to observe. So, I implore you, as you go about your business: slow down and do not merely look forward, but look about you, laterally too. Take off your headphones – a jay’s call probably carries a better tune than whatever you’re listening to – and immerse yourself in the wondrous world of birds. If you do this, you’ll begin to forge a deeply personal connection with nature which will last a lifetime. It is this attachment which adds most meaning to my own life, since every time I observe a swift, I observe an old friend. ◉
jority of British birds possess a rather subtle beauty, less obviously impressive than many of their foreign counter- parts. Yet there is an immeasurable attractiveness to our birds, which is often easy to overlook. Offering such an extensive source of potential joy so readily available to us, British birds deserve more than a cursory glance. For example, the dunnock, or ‘shufflewing’ (so termed as a result of the bird’s frequent wing flicking), could easily be disregarded on account of its superficially drab exterior. On closer examination, however, one’s eye is immediately drawn to the bird’s delicate yet vibrant plum- age – its mottled, chestnut wings and wonderfully rustic grey breast. But one should not be fooled by the dunno- ck’s demure appearance, since the bird in fact leads a very adventurous sex life. Males and females frequently engage in polygyny and polyandry, mating with more than one individual and adding, in the process, a new dimen- sion to their nickname – a very progressive bird one might say; a forerunner of the sexual revolution of the sixties! Joy can be found in observing even the commonest of birds – the humble feral pigeon, for example, or rock dove, as it is more affectionately known, is unfortunately a much-derided inhabitant of our towns and cities and the butt of many a pointed, speciesist remark. Indeed, the Urban Dictionary defines the pigeon as ‘a small, feathered creature that eats French fries and likes to defecate on top of people, cars, and important things – also known as a feathered rat or gutter-bird’. But what popular opinion fails to recognize is that if the time is taken to properly observe the bird, one will find that it is actually rather handsome – the green-purple, iridescent wraps around the pigeon’s neck are particularly striking. In fact, pigeons are a truly remarkable species: over a horizontal dis- tance, they are the quickest of all birds, capable of flying at speeds of 80mph. In addition, they are the only bird to possess the ability to drink without needing to lift their head back to swallow – so I urge you: don’t be a hater; be a lover… . People are often underwhelmed by the fantastic wild- life that Britain has to offer, and are deluded as to the necessity of extensive travel. Indeed, it would be most interesting if a survey were taken to ascertain the number of Dulwich College students who had seen an elephant as opposed to those who had seen a badger, a staple of British life and folklore, which can be seen in the wild if the effort is made.
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