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    Deep Voice = Small Balls...... 

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    Great story on the BBC this morning that reminds me of the fascinating world of Behavioural & Evolutionary Ecology that underpinned a lot of my academic studies - I believe there is a similar study that has shown a relationship in human males and the size of the car they drive.....I mean that deeper voiced men have lower sperm counts!

    On a more serious note, it is important to note that this study has reached conclusions based on actual evidence from detailed scientific investigations - this empirical approach to science is what makes the findings robust!

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34607031
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    Huckle Ecology Takes Flight.....

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    After 3 months of operation as a fledgling consultancy, Huckle Ecology is taking flight in more ways than one.

    It has been an exciting time, and the first three months of operating seem to have flown by (the flight puns are ending now I promise!). In that time, I have undertaken several projects for clients old and new and there have been a number of highlights which I will save for a future post.

    To celebrate that three-month milestone, I am delighted to be able to publish the new logo for Huckle Ecology.
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    I owe a huge degree of gratitude to my very talented sister, Sue Huckle, who has designed the wonderful dragonfly. Have a look at her website www.poshplants.com if you are interested in seeing more of her work and finding out about her garden design and plant hire business.

    For those of a buggy disposition, here is the key question: Can you identify the species of dragonfly?  

    Post your answers below and win nothing more than a great deal of admiration and a warm glow inside!
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    Renewable Energy, Torr Works Wind Farm, Somerset - Expert Witness for Ecology

    Bats Birds Expert Witness Hazel Dormouse Renewable Energy renewable-energy-case-studies

    September 2015

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    I was asked to appear as an ecological expert witness at a public inquiry for a 4-turbine onshore wind farm development adjacent to Torr Works Quarry in Somerset.
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    ​The main issues related to potential impacts of the wind turbines on bats, birds (peregrine falcon) and dormice.

    ​Bats were the most contentious ecological ​constraint, with the site located next to ancient woodland; a mitigation strategy was developed to prevent or reduce effects on bats. 

    ​While the wind farm appeal was not successful for non-ecological reasons, the mitigation strategy developed was deemed to adequately minimise the risks associated with ecology and ensure that there were no likely significant effects. 
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    A night in the Woods with the bats

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    Well..... a couple of hours in the evening anyway!

    Last weekend, I had the pleasure of joining a band of hardy souls from the Suffolk Bat Group for an evening survey at Holbrook School, south of Ipswich.  I had not been to this location since an ill-fated trip to play rugby in the region of 30 years ago - we were thrashed if I recall correctly.

    This time, the visit was far more rewarding - the school has an enviable position, located adjacent to the Orwell estuary and it looked extremely picturesque as the sunlight faded and the first hints of dusk tempted bats out to forage.

    The bat survey involved recording bat activity at a series of locations around the school grounds - I took up a station within a stand of mature broad-leaved woodland next to an open area of canopy that had been selected well - the woodland edge habitat offering a good prospect for bat foraging, with plenty of insects attracting bats close to and among the trees.

    We were not disappointed - there was a regular passage of common and soprano pipistrelle bats, two very similar species that were until recently considered a single species - but now distinguishable by the frequency at which they echolocate.  However, the undoubted highlight was a single, but unmistakable call of a Nathusius' pipistrelle.  This species is considered rare in the UK, although may well be under recorded.  It was great to record this species!
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    Adult nathusius pipistrelle courtesy of Jon Russ - www.nathusius.org.uk

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    sO WHAT DO i KNOW....about ecology?

    huckle-ecology-blog-views-news-and-updates
    Well....after 20 years of being employed as a professional ecologist in some form or other, I have now successfully negotiated my way through two whole weeks as a self employed ecologist.  .....and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.  I have set up my own company, built a small but growing website, huckleecology.com, successfully undertaken my first piece of commissioned work as an independent ecological consultant (more about this will follow on a future post!).

    One of the key things that I have been reflecting on in the past few weeks is the whole concept of digital marketing and using social media (such as this) to advertise my new start up business.  As part of that process it has occurred to me that it is tempting to focus on making a big deal about the ecological knowledge and experience that I have developed over the years.
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    However, one of the key reasons about why I am so passionate about wildlife and enjoy being an ecologist is not so much about what I do know (which is important admittedly!), but it is the sheer quantity of stuff that I do not know and that ecology is constantly never failing to amaze and fascinate me in equal measure.  Take the mathematical patterns that re-appear again and again in the plant world, such as the fibonacci series in the plant to the right for example.
    The ability to stimulate the mind and acquire new knowledge and skills seems to me to be a key requirement of a fulfilling career - for me ecology provides that spark and will I hope continue to do so for years to come.

    If you are still reading this, many thanks for showing good stamina and putting up with some of my musing.  If you would like to find out more about what I do know then please feel free to get in touch via my contact page, or leave a comment below!
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    The first blog.....

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    This is the first blog and is really designed as a test to see if the whole concept works...

    I expect it will be deleted in due course in place of something more worthwhile, but it should do the job while I see how things go.


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