Page 23 - BBC Wildlife Volume 36 #10

are probably among the least studied
white sharks in the world.

BEARS AND ORCHARDS
When farmers moved away from New
England in the 19th century, they left
behind small orchards, remnants of
which still linger in the forests today.
During autumns when natural food is
in short supply, these orchards act as
a magnet for wildlife, especially black
bears desperate to feed up before the
long winter hibernation.

MIGRATING RAPTORS
thought to live on Cape Cod alone Each September, many of northern
– and they’re attracting unwanted North America’s hawks, eagles and
attention. In the early 2000s, only falcons head south for the winter,
one or two great white sharks were migrating in astonishing numbers.
spotted each year in the area; in 2016, Hundreds, sometimes thousands, of
there were 147. We spoke to shark birds can be seen in New England in a
scientist Greg Skomal, who single day, with broad-winged and red-
acknowledges that these tailed hawks generally in the largest
numbers; peregrines, kestrels and bald
eagles often reach double digits, too.

TREE SWALLOWS
Almost every autumn evening,
thousands of tree swallows flock to
the Connecticut River to roost on
uninhabited islands in the middle of
the waterway. Like starlings, they
will swoop and sway above the river
in mesmerising displays before
descending to the safety of their
roost for the night.

as one of the stars of the show – the cheeky are real characters, smaller but bound to So, with a world-renowned sylvan
chipmunk. A much larger rodent being make an impact; porcupine with a taste for spectacle and a list of animals as long
reacquainted with Britain also appears: the nibbling fresh wires, and raccoons that are as your arm, how do you go about
beaver, although here in its North American so adaptable they have spread from their setting up an Autumnwatch across the
Shutterstock;hawk: Rich Legg/Getty; bear: Visuals Unlimited/NPL; moose: Erin Paul Donovan/Alamy
form rather than its Eurasian. forest homes to almost every corner of New Atlantic? We needed to identify locations,
Archive print: Interfoto/Alamy; aerial: Brian J. Skerry/Getty; tree swallows: Fred Beckham/AP/Rex/
Transatlantic connections continue England – causing mayhem along the way accommodation, offices and other facilities.
through the cast list. New England is and more than likely to do so with our What we didn’t realise is what every film
home to stoats and weasels galore, but camera kit too. crew needs is a porcupine and a banana.
also American mink, martens and a large Earlier this year Lucy, one of our most
mustelid called the fisher – one of a few Supersized birds experienced producers, travelled to New
animals known to be able to tackle and eat a Birdfeeders should bring cardinals, blue England to find somewhere that could tick
porcupine. The red fox is joined by grey fox jays and chickadees, and the chance to all of our boxes. And it was at the Squam
and coyote among the canids. Some types experiment with different takes on our Lakes Natural Science Center that she met
of animal aren’t familiar at all in the UK, of popular regular feeding experiments. the prickly rodent in question. Squam Lake
course: the bobcat, a reclusive inhabitant of Barred owls and pileated woodpeckers are is a beautiful spot in New Hampshire,
the forest, and black bear. supersized versions of their tawny and flanked by woodland, ponds and meadows,
A host of larger-than-life characters will greater-spotted cousins in Europe, while bald but it also has serious scientific credentials
add an extra dimension this year. Some eagles patrol the skies. In ponds, common and staff with a deep knowledge of local
are physically imposing – with huge newts are replaced by their eastern cousins, wildlife. The centre’s team is led by a Scot,
numbers of black bears living alongside who have a striking orange juvenile stage Iain Macleod, who has lived in the region
the human population, and a coastline that called a red eft, and common toads become for over 30 years and is even a ‘Watches’ fan.
is home to humpback whales and a seal massive American bullfrogs. There are The centre is also an educational
population that is attracting great white some creatures, such as the snapping turtle, institute; as part of this work it takes in
sharks in unprecedented numbers. Others that you’d never expect to spot in Britain. and rehabilitates native animals, working

October 2018 BBC Wildlife 23