I had discovered that distressed
baby hedgehogs could whistle for
their parents and that adults were
attracted to this call. Unfortunately
I would never know how the three
hedgehogs would have greeted each
other if the mother had not been
frightened by the flash and had
been able to get into contact with
the babies.
IAN McCLENAGHAN
---oOo---
THE DAUN CHORUS 1952 - 1979 (1966 QUITTED)
Have you ever sat in a Wood, at the edge of a Wood or on
a common during the early hours of Spring? By early hours,
I mean, about 03.30 hrs and in the dark. This was a chance
remark made to me by the VIth Form of Brentwood School in
the spring of 1952. So started an exercise to time the
Dawn Chorus each year during May, at approximately the same
date each year. These records must be unique as without
fail they have been kept until 1979. The records for 1966
cannot be found anywhere, and it is suspected that they
were borrowed and never returned - the moral being, always
have a rough copy!
On the 18th May, 1952, about twelve Senior boys made their
way to Hartswood (TQ 602920) in Brentwood well before the
sun had risen. Hartswood is adjacent to Thorndon Park
and in 1952 was not so overgrown and subject to disturbance