#Inktober catch up 31/31 #Cuckoo #inktoberredlist I had to finish off with the cuckoo, as they symbolise for me what has been called 'shifting baseline' syndrome. My 'nature' base line of growing up the UK in the 70's was full of insects, and birds. 
Huge flocks of sparrows, starlings and lapwing. So many flies and insects that we needed a fly screen on the back door. Thunderbugs and ladybird swarms. The car bonnet covered in insects after a short journey. The sound of cuckoo's every Spring. Dead hedgehogs on the roads!
That was my 'normal'. For most of my children's generation that has changed, to the point where they don't even know the names of everyday birds, because they've never seen one. @robgmacfarlane and @JackieMorrisArt writing a book, The Lost Words, to help children 'rediscover' and
'reconnect' with those names and birds. I now have to make a trip to a nature reserve to hear a cuckoo, or see a starling murmuration. Since the 1980's cuckoo's have declined by 65%, the reason is not fully known, but suspected to be climate, and loss of habitat in Africa where
it Winter's. Researching these insects, birds, mammals and plants has made me realise even more how finely everything is balanced. How unique all these species are, like ourselves. Needing specialist, unique habitats to live and survive. Our homogeneous, sanitised Western
societies are wiping out diversity, beauty and life, our need to consume is also wiping out other societies. We need to champion individuality, uniqueness in ourselves in order to care for the uniqueness in the world. We're in a difficult time in humanity's history, but I will
always be optimistic, and hopeful. There are lots of us out there working hard to remedy these losses. Thank you if you got this far, thank you for your support and caring. #iucnredlist #iucn #naturenow #stateofnature #wilderfuture #conservation #climatecris #climatebreakdown
