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The Paul O’Grady Show’s Marc Abraham looks behind the beautiful congregations of the starling

Every day there are plenty of reminders as to why we choose to live here in Brighton and Hove. Three of my favourites right now are: sunsets, seascapes, and starlings.

This almost hypnotic combination never fails to amaze and impress me again and again, year after year. Whichever pier these highly agile ‘garden’ birds pick to perform their fine aerial dance around the spectacle is truly breathtaking.

Smaller than blackbirds, with a short tail, pointed head and triangular wings, starlings look black at a distance but close-up are actually very glossy with a beautiful sheen of purples and greens. Their flight is fast and direct, and they walk and run confidently on the ground too.

Living up to 22 years of age, these hardy birds will spend their winter in all habitats, including of course, our seashore. Starlings like to eat both insects and fruit, and if you’re able to get close enough to hear their complicated song you’ll notice it resembles their mynah bird cousins – with an exciting mixture of ‘chips’, warbles, trills, whistles and rattles.

Starlings are gregarious and often flock. Flock sizes vary, being the smallest during the breeding season and largest in winter, as migrants from the north send numbers into the hundreds of thousands.

Flocks allow more efficient feeding, since each bird can afford to be less vigilant. This safety in numbers gives each member a greater protection from predators like the Sussex Heights peregrine falcons.

During the winter starlings live in flocks throughout the day, travelling en masse between feeding sites. They use their spare time for preening and loafing, usually close to the feeding areas at noisy daytime roosts – exposed places such as the tops of trees that offer good all-round visibility.

“Sadly, although one of the commonest of garden guests, its decline makes it a ‘Red List’ species”

Feeding up to 20 miles from their winter roost, they return every evening at dusk to star in their own daily episode of starling version of Come Dancing – jiving and twisting, gliding and turning, and of course shaking those tail feathers! This cloud-like collection, known as a murmuration, of starlings unknowingly entertains residents and tourists alike as they once more prepare to bed down for the night.

Once inside, protected from weather and predators, starlings are slow to settle and are quite vocal. Noise levels increase again towards dawn, and the birds gradually leave again. Flocks can even be detected on radar, allowing detailed monitoring of their movements.

Sadly, although still one of the commonest of all our garden guests, its decline elsewhere makes it a ‘Red List’ species needing urgent consideration, and more importantly, action.

These incredible sunset shows are a sure sign that we should be actively considering the future of these rather special Brightonians. And if you are lucky enough to find yourself on the pier surrounded by this living dark swirling cloud of chirps and swooshes then wear a hat!

Image: rspb.org.uk

The Paul O’Grady Show’s Marc Abraham raises concerns over hedgehogs and offers care advice

Hedgehogs are often described as the ‘gardener’s friend’ as not only are they fascinating to watch but they are also brilliant at helping gardeners keep pest species such as slugs under control in their own natural way.

In Sussex, one hedgehog recently even crossed the species barrier to make friends with a much-loved pet, when it was reported that a hedgehog and a pet tortoise had set up home together in someone’s greenhouse! While this story tends to conjure up a lovely image, it also serves as stark a reminder of how our native species are adapting their lives to exploit the urban sprawl which has now severed them from their own wider habitats.

“Hedgehogs have recently been added as a priority species due to their declining numbers”

Hedgehogs hibernate in the winter to reduce the amount of energy used in the months when food becomes scarce as, unlike some birds, they are unable to migrate to warmer places with more abundant energy sources. Hibernation is often confused with deep sleep,however it is a complex change in the hedgehog’s metabolism when the heartbeat will drop to less than 20 beats per minute and breathing can occur only every few minutes.

But they don’t sleep for the entire winter, waking on average every 7–11 days. Recent research has suggested that mammals are so vulnerable to parasites during hibernation that they actually wake up periodically to boost their immune systems.

Sadly, within recent years spring flooding has been attributed to the decline in hedgehog numbers and the milder winters have seen many more ‘autumn orphans’. These are hedgehogs born late in the year that have not had sufficient time to build up their fat reserves. Hibernation is not easy for these late litters and if the young have not reached the critical weight of 1lb or 450 grams they are unable to survive the winter and will need our help.

With all the perils hedgehogs face (did you remember to check your bonfires too?) it is no wonder they have recently been added to the UK BAP (Biodiversity Action Plan) as a priority species due to their rapidly declining numbers. Therefore we need to do all we can to create an environment suitable for our prickly friends – this includes having wild plants that attract their slug and snail food source and leaving alone leaf piles in the autumn in undisturbed areas of shrubbery allowing them to build their winter nests. You could even consider buying a purpose-built hedgehog box from your local garden centre.

So if think you have spotted an ‘autumn orphan’ or if you’d like to know more about how to make your garden safe for hedgehogs, then call Sussex Wildlife Trust on 01273 494777, or visit www.sussexwt.org.uk.

Thanks to Sussex Wildlife Trust for helping me compile this column.
Image: Hugh Clark/Sussex Wildlife Trust

The The Paul O’Grady Show’s Marc Abraham examines the legacy of the first canine space traveller

Did you know that fifty years ago this very month, a small dog blazed a huge trail that would eventually lead man to the moon?

It’s not only a fascinating story, but an extremely sad and moving account that actually began in October 1957, when just a month earlier, the first earth-orbiting satellite, Sputnik I, had been launched by the Soviet Union. Even though there were no life-forms on board this first Sputnik craft, the space age was well and truly underway.

“Sputnik II was tragically never intended to be recoverable”

There were only ever two real contestants in this race; the USA and the USSR. But at one point, the UK also had two highly dependable rockets; Blue Streak and Black Knight, while American rockets at that time were tending to explode on the launch pad, or not far above it. But as so often is the case in the UK, we were too slow and poor to exploit our technical potential.

As all good pub-quizzers will know, Laika, a 6kg bitch (about the size of a Border Terrier), was the first space traveller. Laika’s real name, Kudryavka (Little Curly), wasn’t too catchy, so she became known by her breed name (which translates as Barker). Her launch was timed to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Bolshevik revolution.

The Soviet Union’s only four-legged cosmonaut lifted-off and travelled at a staggering five miles per second, a mere 900 miles above the earth. The pressurized cabin in her Sputnik II allowed enough room for her to lie down or stand and was padded. An air regeneration system provided oxygen, and food and water were dispensed in a gelatinized form. Laika was fitted with a harness, a bag to collect waste, and electrodes to monitor vital signs. The original story was that she died, peacefully, after a week in orbit, but the horrific truth, which emerged only five years ago, was that she died from hyperthermia and panic a few hours after lift-off. Amazingly, the plan had been to euthanase her with poisoned food after 10 days in orbit; Sputnik II was tragically never intended to be recoverable. She was never meant to come back home.

Laika’s name lived on in commemorative stamps, various novels, pop group’s pop tunes and perhaps most famously in the 1985 Swedish film My Life as a Dog. She appears on the Soviet monument to ‘conquerors of space’ as well as in the plaque commemorating fallen astronauts at the Institute for Aviation and Space Medicine in Moscow.

Laika’s most enduring legacy is the fact that in April 1961, just three and-a-half years later, Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit the earth and he returned safely. Another month later, Alan Shepherd became the first American to orbit the planet. President John F Kennedy declared their intention to land a man on the moon. The space race was on in earnest.

The Paul O’Grady Show’s Marc Abraham remembers the alternative heroes of war

I always find this time of year very emotional. Remembrance Sunday never fails to help all of us reflect on how lucky we really are as a nation and how it’s all due to those brave heroes that fought for us, in every bloody battle, conflict and terrible war.

But who ever considers those poor animals that helped to bring us peace? Specifically employed by mankind for use in warfare. They didn’t volunteer – they had no choice.

Horses formed the cavalry and drawing artillery, and were a useful all-purpose method of transport. In fact, eight million of them lost their lives during the Great War. Most died from disease, starvation, or exposure. One of man’s most loyal servants, reduced to shivering bags of skin and bones, even chewing on their own rugs for fodder.

“Man’s most loyal servants, reduced to shivering bags of skin and bones”

In the deserts, mountains and tropics, with tougher terrain, camels and elephants were more suited. Let’s not forget the oxen, the mules or the donkeys either, carrying supplies, arms and the wounded. The mules serving in the Burmese jungle even had their vocal cords severed, to ensure that their braying would not betray allied positions to the enemy.

Dogs also suffered high casualty rates. Their sensitivity to smell meant that they were used to search for mines and trip-wires, resulting in injury or death from explosions, or they might have ripped their paws to shreds scrabbling through the rubble of bombed-out buildings, looking for survivors or bodies. Para-dogs were also dropped behind enemy lines and assisted with covert operations. In the Soviet Army, dogs even had explosives strapped to their backs and were used as antitank weapons.

War isn’t just about man against man, supported by animals though. Sometimes, animals were pitted against other animals. Carrier pigeons delivered crucial messages in both the First and Second World Wars. In an attempt to prevent British pigeons reaching their destinations, German hawks were kept at the Pas de Calais, waiting to attack unwitting winged messengers. Between the hawks, the bullets, and Mother Nature, some 100,000 pigeons were killed from 1914 to 1918. Of those who survived, some limped home with shot-away wings and ripped-open necks. And the difference made by the successful ones was crucial.

Then there were the cats used to control mice and rat populations on war ships, the dolphins and sea lions deployed to detect mines and the canaries who would alert sappers to gas.

So we must never forget – not them, nor anyone or anything else that made unimaginable sacrifices for every one of us.

The Paul O’Grady Show’s Marc Abraham invites you to some canine capers in the capital

Are you a doggy person? Are you looking for something fun and interesting to do this weekend? Well I reckon I’ve got the perfect day out for you…

This coming Saturday and Sunday, London’s Earls Court will play host to the annual Discover Dogs event – the ideal place to learn more about the joys of canine companionship. This really is the ultimate day out for the dog enthusiast, providing a fun, interactive experience dedicated to every aspect of canine care, as well as promoting responsible dog ownership and showcasing both the diversity and talents of ‘man’s best friend’.

“You’ll never get a better chance to chat with so many expert owners and breeders”

As ever, the most popular attraction of this show is of course the dogs themselves, and the Kennel Club is showcasing nearly 190 pedigree dog breeds at this year’s Discover Dogs. From the chihuahua to the Chinese crested dog, the Welsh springer to the weimaraner, with each example of the breed, visitors will find experienced and knowledgeable owners who provide essential advice on training, dog health, what to look for in a pedigree puppy and what to ask a breeder.

If you’re considering getting a dog, or if you already have one and you’d just like to learn more, then you’ll never get a better chance to chat with so many expert owners and breeders, picking up useful hints, tips and essential information on every aspect of caring for your pooch.

You’ll also be able to check out the winner’s display from the Dog Photographer Of The Year 2007 photographic competition and enjoy over 100 trade stands, selling all you can possibly imagine for you and your dog. A perfect chance to buy your four-legged friend that special treat after the terrifying loud bangs and flashing lights of these last few days!

Discover Dogs is a busy, stimulating environment that might prove stressful to pet dogs unaccustomed to such events. For this reason, please don’t bring your own dog unless they’ve been specifically invited by the Kennel Club, as they will not be permitted into the show.

Discover Dogs, Earls Court 2, London, 10 and 11 November 2007. For more information visit www.discover-dogs.org.uk or call 0870 606 6750.