A scientist, naturalist, photographer, writer and TV presenter, Megan McCubbin is best known for appearing on Springwatch (and later Autumnwatch and Winterwatch) during the Covid pandemic with her step-father Chris Packham. Unable to explore the wider world during the first lockdown period of 2020, Megan and Chris brought a vital daily dose of wildlife joy and virtual escape into nature for millions during that strange spring.
As a scientist, Megan has travelled widely and studied and reported on wildlife and environmental issues from across the globe. Now, in her second book, she shares some of these extraordinary stories in An Atlas of Endangered Species.
BBC Countryfile Magazine editor Fergus Collins met up with Megan at one of her favourite local wildlife havens: the Hawk Conservancy Centre near Andover in Hampshire.
What's so special about the Hawk Conservancy?
"I've been coming ever since I was a little girl. I've always been mesmerised by the birds that live here and the conservation work that's done. On one of my first visits, there was a barn owl called Marmite, who was used as an educational bird who would be taken to schools to help teach the kids. I asked whether I could take Marmite to one of my school assemblies and fly him in front of all my school friends. They said yes and so I trained - I was only about five or six at the time - and learned how to 'fly' Marmite.
"On the assembly date, he flew off perfectly. But as he was on his way back to me, he just looked up, went to the beams at the top of the hall and didn't come down for a good four or five hours! But I've been hooked on this place ever since."
What is the book about?
Denne historien er fra August 2023-utgaven av BBC Countryfile Magazine.
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Denne historien er fra August 2023-utgaven av BBC Countryfile Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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