ATP: A Wildlife Guide to Pembroke & Environs

As a native New Yorker, “wildlife” to me means rats, pigeons, cockroaches, and maybe the occasional raccoon. One of the nice things about England has been getting to see some different animals…

Wood Pigeons

These delight me. I don’t know what it is about their enormous, chubby bodies that always makes me smile. They’re quire prettily feathered for a pigeon, too. All my friends here think it’s weird that I find them so interesting, but then again they don’t know what it’s like to grow up surrounded by city pigeons. (And when my dad came to visit, he agreed that they are really big).

Pheasants

I’ve only seen pheasants a handful of times — once out behind Queen’s College, once at the Botanical Garden, maybe once or twice more — but they’ve made a strong impression on me. I think it’s probably because of that Roald Dahl story, plus the association with game hunting, which I think of as quintessentially ye old English.

PENGUINS IN SWEATERS

PENGUINS. WEARING. SWEATERS.

I can’t breathe. SO CUTE.

YES THIS IS REAL.

Unfortunately, the reason they need sweaters – or jumpers, rather, as they’re from New Zealand – is because of the Oct. 5th oil spill over there. The sweaters keep the penguins from scratching at the oil, and also keep them warm until they can be cleaned. So if you’re a good knitter take a look and see if you can lend a hand.