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APRIL 2013

WILD

British wildlife to enjoy this month

6 C SPECIES & HABITATS Dancing grebes, spawning sticklebacks, and meadows carpeted with snake’s head fritillaries. Plus an ID guide to our river wildlife. 13 C YOUR LOCAL PATCH Discover the blackbird’s complex domestic arrangements. 15 C THINGS TO DO Marvel at the rich song of nightingales, and comb beaches for the eggcases of sharks, skates and rays.

AGENDA

News, conservation & analysis

40 Nigerian oil spills, the lethal ‘glue’ killing UK

seabirds, and how intensive farming can help wildlife. Plus Mark Carwardine on how to confront whaling, and this month in 1975.

W2

Essential information & expert advice

85 TV PLUS We preview Orangutan Airlift,

and the producers of Penguins – Spy in the Huddle discuss spycams and filming goggles. 87 B OOKS April’s top reads, and Jonathan

Kingdon reveals his favourite book. 93 Q&A Why did a dove try to mate with a pigeon? Plus your other questions answered. 98 C THE BIG QUESTION CAN WE

RECREATE EXTINCT SPECIES? We explore the science – and ethics – of the latest attempts to bring back lost animals.

REGULARS

19 RICHARD MABEY

A BRUSH WITH NATURE The birth of London’s Tube created commuter edge-lands where suburbia and nature meet. 21 BILL ODDIE WILD AT HEART

A ‘capper’ caper in Sweden’s forests. 38 READER OFFER Subscribe now to save money and get the Wonders of Life book free. 101 YOUR LETTERS 107 YOUR PHOTOS 122 TALES FROM THE BUSH

Special guests visit a camp in gorilla country…

4 BBC Wildlife

48 BARN OWLS SPECIAL Our 11-page guide reveals why British ‘barnies’ are staging a comeback. Plus experts share top tips on how to find and photograph these iconic birds.

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WHY WE SHOULD EAT INSECTS How converting Western palates to ‘ento’ cuisine can help save the planet.