Page 24 - BBC Wildlife Volume 36 #10
P. 24
AUTUMNWATCH
On Golden Pond
Squam Lake, the second largest in
New Hampshire, was immortalised
in the Oscar-winning 1981 film On
Golden Pond with Katharine Hepburn
and Henry Fonda. Its still waters
Landscape: David Brownell/Alamy; porcupine: Lucy Bowden
are a perfect nesting habitat for the
common loon, known in Britain as the
great northern diver. Under the surface
fin plentiful trout, bass and perch.The “This most ickle of
Squam Lake Natural Science Center, in
Holderness at the south-western edge seasons is waiting to
of the lake, was established in 1966 to surprise us… that is the
advance the understanding of ecology
and to encourage visitors to explore joy of Autumnwatch.”
New Hampshire’s natural world.
with them to educate visitors about the There was expert advice on tap, plus Between the camp and the Science Center
wonderful creatures that live in the woods. a banana-eating porcupine. But, so far, there we had found our home for the autumn.
One such temporary resident was a was no single vista that screamed ‘New We’ve done our best to time filming to
porcupine – and it stole Lucy’s heart. One England in the autumn’. capture the most magnificent autumn
lunchtime she had the pleasure of feeding colours, but predicting ‘peak fall’ is not
him his daily banana – and the video of that Biff comes up trumps an exact science, and we could be a week
moment has become legendary in the office, Fortunately, a few miles down the road on or two off in either direction. We’ve tried
the soft nasal bleats he emits as he tucks in the lake’s southern shore, Lucy stumbled to maximise our chances of filming the
softening the hardest of scientific hearts. across a summer camp. In peak season it wildlife, spreading our cameras over two
Lucy had found the beautiful forests. The is packed with America’s youth, but in late locations and working with anyone who
meadows and ponds were bustling with life. October it was deserted – except for the will pick up the phone to get the latest
caretaker, a welcoming soul called intelligence on where animals might be.
Biff. After just 30 seconds, Lucy We’ve done this enough times to know
The vocal, banana-
knew we had our location. that nothing is certain – and that whatever
munching porcupine
A traditional 19th-century cabin we plan, and whatever we think we will
at Squam Lake Natural
at the top of a hill offered a ready- get, we could be wrong. This most fickle of
Science Centre.
made studio, complete with props seasons is waiting to surprise us once more.
and a fire pit for that traditional And that, after all, is the joy of Autumnwatch
Autumnwatch look. The veranda – wherever it may be.
provides sweeping views of Squam
Lake, and there was easy access CHRIS HOWARD is series
to the lakeside via a small beach producer of Springwatch,
on the shoreline. Cabins dotted Autumnwatch and Winterwatch.
around the camp were perfect for
offices and work spaces – and it’s FIND OUT MORE Watch Lucy’s video of
all surrounded by rich forest, great a porcupine tucking into a banana: www.
habitat in which to rig our cameras. discoverwildlife.com/porcupine-video
October 2018
