Wildlife on the Cam in Spring 2018      

The transition from winter to spring

So another winter punting season has come and gone (almost!) on The River Cam and we here at Scholars Punting Cambridge are enjoying the new life which spring brings to the world. Although the architecture and human history dominate a punt tour of Cambridge University we enjoy a diverse range of interests amongst our employees, some of whom are keen on the natural world as well as the man-made one they guide people around!

What we can see in the spring on the river

The trees on the river mostly shed their leaves for winter (the best example against this is the magnificent evergreen at St John’s College next to The Bridge of Sighs) and now that spring has come we are starting to see the green leaves return to the trees which line the bank and give the river such an enchanting feel. Along with the trees and flowers making a reappearance we also every year welcome new arrivals in the form of baby birds on the river. The Canadian Geese outside Trinity have their goslings, the swans near our landing station have their cygnets and all over The College Backs lines of baby ducklings can be seen swimming between punts chirping for food. It’s a time of year when even the most entertaining narrative spiel can be considered boring compared to the wonder of the new life around.

What punters can do to help the wildlife

It’s important to remember that our interaction with these creatures should be respectful. Too often now we are learning of the dangers of human interaction on the habitat of wildlife and whilst it is inescapable that the paths of humans and animals cross while working on a river, the tour guides take excellent care of the creatures in their path and it’s important to remember to bring a bag of seeds or nuts if you wish to feed them (bread makes birds very ill). To enjoy a tour of the wildlife in Cambridge and the College Backs why not book a Cambridge punt tour today?