March 2021
CONTENTS
WILD MONTH
COVER STORY
12 Spring is coming Seven species to spot in March
18 A walk in the woods Mike Dilger goes in search of fauna and flora by heading to the trees
COVER STORY
23 Nick Baker’s hidden Britain Blue-rayed limpet 24 News
Plans for new UK national parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
28 Truth or ction?
Do ‘pretty’ species get all the funding?
29 Mark Carwardine
The conservationist discusses the need to be more ambitious when it comes to rewildling
30 Meet the scientist
Andrew Gray is helping to save critically endangered frogs in Central America
FEATURES
32 Riverside revolution How buffer zones along rivers could help improve the quality of our waterways for nature
COVER STORY
COVER STORY
40 Sahara There’s more life to be found amid the harsh conditions of the world’s largest hot desert than you might think
COVER STORY
50 Photo story: Grebes From captivating courtship dances to raising chicks, follow the family life of the great crested grebe
COVER STORY
60 Africa without tourism The pandemic has spurred new approaches to funding conservation and livelihoods without relying on tourists
March 2021
COVER STORY
64 Living lightbulbs Uncover the curious biology behind bioluminescence – the trait that causes species to glow in the dark
72 Cracking the mystery We reveal the reason why guillemot eggs have evolved an unusual shape
OUR WILD WORLD
90 At home
Natural history TV, books and more
95 Puzzles
96 Your photos
98 Feedback
Your letters and Tales from the Bush
REGULARS
6 In focus
Leopard, common blue damselfly and hare
82 Behind the image
Bees on ice
84 Q&A
COVER STORY
Do any insects use tools? Why do we find spiders scary? Do garden birds live longer?
106 Wildlife champion Lee Durrell tells us why she adores ploughshare tortoises
The people behind our stories
UGO MELLONE The biologist shares his story of documenting wildlife in the Sahara. “Deserts are hugely underrated – yet they are as equally deserving of
the attention lavished on tropical
rainforests,” he says. See p40
DAVID PATTYN The family life of great crested grebes has captured the attention of wildlife photographer David. “Once you go in the water, it’s like you are completely sealed o from the rest of the world and it’s just you and the
birds” he says. See p50
JHENI OSMAN How and why do some species produce light? Science writer Jheni has the answer. “Bioluminescence has
evolved independently many times throughout history and all across the
tree of life,” she says. See p64
LEE DURRELL The honorary director of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust explains why she finds ploughshare tortoises
so appealing: “They are truly fascinating animals of ancient lineage
– they are survivors.” See p106
BBC Wildlife
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