Saved by the bottle

After Judy’s wickedly delicious scones on Sunday and clearly in good spirits, I was buttonholed by Jane, MHS’s webmeister, requesting another contribution to the site’s blog. How could I refuse after the Society’s  generous gesture in donating the day’s proceeds to Marden Wildlfe? Without a thought for my crowded diary, I promise a piece forthwith. Once home, without a hint of panic, I uncork a bottle of wine to help me think about what ornithological curiosity might interest the Hort Soc’s already knowledgeable members.

The answer lay not in the bottom of my emptied glass – it rarely does. On this occasion it was stuck on the outside of the bottle in the name of the grape. So, can you guess the avian etymology as you read on?

The bird in question, one of the UK’s commonest and plentiful species, will be known to every member who has spent time in their garden or allotment, or simply enjoying a walk around the village. If they are of an age when they learned nursery rhymes from their parents – how many do nowadays? – they’ll recognise it as the Blackbird.

It is one of the few species that has adapted well to human changes to the environment, its population has increased by 17% since 1995, including a 1% increase in the last year. But this increase masks a worrying situation, one that is being carefully monitored now by the government’s Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). 

APHA is tasked with tracking new, potentially dangerous introduced species, like the Asian Hornet, that are a threat to our natural environment and/or human health. They are not just interested in the animal or plant itself, but in any pathogens, eg. a potentially harmful bacterium or virus, it may be carrying. Avian Flu is an obvious example, as is Covid-19, of the disastrous impact of an animal-borne virus spreading to other species and, in the horrific case of the latter, to humans.

So where do blackbirds fit in? While their national (and European) populations appear buoyant, it has suffered declines in some areas – notably in London and the Southeast (and the Netherlands). The cause is suspected to be infection with the Usutu virus. Originating in Africa the virus is slowly spreading north as the mosquito that carries it responds to our warming climate. 

While the virus can transfer to humans, the flu-like symptoms are very mild in anyone infected. Indeed, it is likely they may have no symptoms at all. It may be that blackbirds will develop an immunity over time, along with other species that become vulnerable – it’s thought London house sparrows have succumbed too. However, as avian flu in large flocks (eg. in factory farms) eventually developed into a highly pathogenic variety that has spread to mammals, including humans on an American cattle farm, the government is spot-on in ensuring that any pathogen appearing in the UK is carefully evaluated and tracked. Tracking fluctuations in bird populations is often the early-warning sign of something more sinister than just loss of habitat.

Now, I’m not at all depressed by what I have written. I have enjoyed a pleasant glass of wine produced from my favourite grape. It is an early-ripening variety, allegedly much enjoyed by blackbirds (merles in French) – and hence named with the diminutive Merlot to reflect that fact. 

I’m told jardiniers claim the resulting wine is ideal for easing an aching back after of a day’s gardening – applied internally of course!

Sante  

Ray Morris