Springwatch 2024 (1 Viewer)

[Farnboro John]

Same, it was fascinating footage of something I've never seen before, with plenty of thorough and serious warning beforehand to look away if you didn't want to see. Imagine if they'd said 'We saw something very unusual happen, and filmed it start to finish, but we're only going to show a brief clip because it's not very nice, you can't have the rest!' - that's not the way nature documentaries should treat the film they get.

We see plenty of predation in nature programmes in general, as well as in Springwatch itself, and I find it curious how the bias toward one type of animal makes this footage and discussion a contentious inclusion in the show - obviously I like birds, but I want to see and learn about snakes too, and don't find myself 'taking sides' and being fine seeing a bird eating a snake, but against seeing a snake eat a bird.

I think Chris gave a similar trigger warning about the Buzzard waxing the Blackbird chicks.

I believe such warnings are wrong because nobody should be in any doubt that predation happens and it's perfectly OK: there isn't anything in predation scenes to protect people from because it's all normal and people need to recognise and accept that. All people, all ages, full stop the end. Doesn't matter if it's a Robin with a fly, an Adder envenomating a Reed Bunting chick or a Stoat with a Rabbit.

John

 

[Helen O]

Some of the comments on 'X' after the snake episode beggared belief, and it demonstrated (ok, it's only a small sample, but still..) just how far removed people are from nature, these days. Don't go to the African bush, you'll need a dose of the smelling salts at some of the stuff that goes on in the animal world.

Nature isn't cruel, it just 'is'.

 

[Euan Buchan]

Gutted we have to wait till next year for Winterwatch Autumnwatch needs to return.

 

[JTweedie]

Personally I'd leave out Winterwatch and invest some of the money that's used to make that into making films under the Natural World banner again. Keep Springwatch though as an annual highlight.

 

[Farnboro John]

Personally I'd leave out Winterwatch and invest some of the money that's used to make that into making films under the Natural World banner again. Keep Springwatch though as an annual highlight.

Mmmm.... there's a definite advantage to hitting different seasons - you get more interesting stuff if it isn't all bird nests!

John

 

[JTweedie]

Mmmm.... there's a definite advantage to hitting different seasons - you get more interesting stuff if it isn't all bird nests!

John

I guess I just want to see some hour long films again that aren't tied to mega series like Planet Earth. The BBC has never announced that Natural World has been dropped, but it's been many years since anything came out under the banner and I have a feeling it's due to budget cuts.

Springwatch could even do some filming over the year to show during the series: here's what's happened in the past year kind of thing.