Of course, like the rest of creation, Gran Abuelo is being threatened by tourism and climate change. (The locations of the bristlecone pines in California are kept secret for a reason).

What is clear is that the tree is at risk from both tourism and the climate crisis, which could dry out the region and make it harder for the tree to access water. A second tree growing out of the alerce is dying, according to Live Science. Further, the platform surrounding the tree is crushing its roots. Barichivich advised that the walkway be moved farther from the tree and that the tree itself be shielded in netting ten feet high. 

“People are killing it,” Barichivich told Science of the tree. “It requires our protection urgently.”

At the other end of the age spectrum, birds are not long-lived, at least compared to trees. But A Rocha Kenya, which has been ringing birds for a couple of decades, announced on 19 May of this year that they had found a Northern Brownbul that had originally been ringed on 15 February, 2003 – which makes it at least 19 years, 3 months and 4 days old as of the date of capture:

Well done, A Rocha Kenya!

And there was a photo contest. Check the details at the John Stott Birding Day website, and plan to participate yourself next year! Here’s a screenshot of the winners.

“Uncle John” Stott is famous not only for his love of scripture, and his love of Jesus – but also for his love of birds. In recognition, A Rocha are encouraging the entire global family to help remember Uncle John with a global birding day:

Vision & Purpose
The John Stott Memorial Birding Day is an event to commemorate and celebrate John Stott’s legacy as a theologian and birder and his friendship and support of A Rocha in his centennial year.
When?
The event is on 8 May 2021. It is being held on the same day as the ‘Global Big Day’ in which many A Rocha organizations already take part, and we will be using the associated eBird database to facilitate some of our activities.
What?
For detailed information please visit www.johnstottbirding.com.

There are five ways to participate in the day:

• Compete in the bird race
• Enter the photography competition
• Go on a personal or group retreat using resources we have created
• Contribute a story about birdwatching with John Stott and enjoy stories others have submitted
• Bid for a painting or bird book in the fundraising auction or make a donation to A Rocha in John Stott’s memory

There is a Facebook group for participants to connect during the day, posting photographs, stories and comments, and we will be using #JohnStottBirding to connect on Twitter and Instagram. Competition winners will be announced on the website on 17 May.
Contact
Please feel free to get in touch with Jo Swinney, Head of Communications for A Rocha International on jo.swinney@arocha.org. We have also set up johnstottbirding@arocha.org for general enquiries.

Go to this website (picture above) and click on any of the birds… you’ll hear their song. These are North American birds. For a wider selection covering other parts of the world, try this one.

And then grab those binocs and get outdoors to listen for yourself!

On the good news side of the ledger, global carbon emissions appear to have fallen by 7%, which is a record. Let us not, of course, lose sight of the fact that this reduction came at enormous cost, economic and social, due to the pandemic, which simply demonstrates what has long been known: the only thing costlier than confronting climate change will be the failure to do so.

Also good news, though hardly a surprise to Pollinator readers, scientists have “discovered” that greater biodiversity leads to greater happiness. Sample conclusion: “the individual enjoyment of life correlates with the number of surrounding bird species.” Of course! (Read the study here!)

And voters in the US are rejoicing that the incoming Biden administration is, for the first time in US history, making climate change a top policy priority.

Tell us about the good news in your country…