“(Re)claim it”

The RSPB recently brought my attention to something I’d never thought about before. I, like many people, look forward to the time when I can wander nature reserves freely once again. And I was delighted to see updates from the National Trust, RSPB and our local wildlife trusts a couple of weeks ago when measures to begin ‘the easing’ were announced. 

Like the National Trust and our local wildlife reserves, the RSPB noted in a tweet that visitor safety was a major consideration in their plans to reopen. What they said next was much more interesting, though. You see, the RSPB also commented that, after 2 months of being left on their own, there had been reports of rare species nesting on/near formerly busy paths and reserve areas. I found it quite humbling and uplifting to think that birds, and other wildlife, had answered mother nature’s call to reclaim their lost territory – or claim entirely new territory – in such a relatively short space of time.

Though reserves are closed, it is indeed the case that #natureisopen. I had to draw it. And what better way to do so than to create a few more animals to add to my cartoons…

I have to confess, I wasn’t really willing to push my abilities to the max. I didn’t think I had it in me to create lots of characters that would depict the range of rare birds that the RSPB was talking about. But it was certainly the inspiration behind the cartoon.

I started by thinking of some animals that I don’t tend to see very much (slash have never seen) in the wild. I used to see foxes a fair bit but, even on some short walks early in the morning and late in the evening, I don’t think I’ve seen one since a few years ago when I lived on the outskirts of Oxford where urban foxes prowl. I’ve also never seen an otter in the wild – there was a ‘near sighting’ at Lakenheath Fen in March, but it turned out to 100% be a duck!

I’ve seen an adder once in the wild before. Much to the horror of some of my friends, I saw one coiled up in a gap in the riverbank when we were at uni together. I had to explain to one of them that it wasn’t a sea snake… He was still terrified. That’s the only sighting ever though. I’ve had a bit more luck with red squirrels – I saw loads during a visit to Brownsea Island in 2019. 

And seals. When I was at Horsey Mere in early March, my partner and I were amazed to see so many seals on the beach. There wasn’t another person in sight and we were able to watch the seals from a safe distance for as long as we wanted. There were signs up everywhere hinting at the chaos people sometimes create for the seals, especially during pup season. One stated very clearly to ‘never come between a pup and their mother’ while another warned ‘don’t chase seals or their pups into the water’ – both actions could kill the pup. Though positives of the current situation are few and far between (and I certainly do not mean any disrespect to those who have been ill or have lost loved ones at this time), I imagine the seals have enjoyed their bit of peace and quiet over the last couple of months.

The final characters – the birds – are not really true depictions of any specific species. In this sense, I admit that I copped out. I’ve drawn more lifelike pictures of birds previously (see “It’s him. The eye” from February 2020), but some generic ‘tweeters’ and some generic ducks and ducklings would have to do for a cartoon. The birds in the hedgerow, though, do remind me of some experiences I’ve had on local walks. I often squint along hedgerows to see where birds have ended up flying off to further up the path I’m walking along. No matter how quiet I try to be (which in itself is a struggle I must say), they always fly off to a better spot further ahead. It’s a bit of a cat-and-mouse-sitch and there’s no way I’m ever going to win.

I suppose from the bird’s perspective I must be pretty annoying so I wanted to include the ‘hectic hedgerow’ in the cartoon to represent some of the wonderful birds that have avoided this frustrating disturbance over the past couple of months in RSPB nature reserves – whether they be chaffinches, thrushes, robins, wrens, yellow hammers or bullfinches. And the ducks? Well, I like ducks. And I missed seeing ducklings this year. So they had to make an appearance even if they are nondescript!

And these characters all come together to make the completed piece: (Re)claim It. A reassuring, hopefully humorous, potentially baffling and most recently added piece. Because I seem to keep churning out these cartoons, I’ve even created a cover so that I can continue adding more to the collection. You never know, maybe they’ll be worth something in 2070 when future generations ask us ‘what was it like…?’ I’m not too hopeful, but it might still make a good story!