Tag: Bushcraft (Page 5 of 5)

Coastal Foraging: Molluscs

September 5, 2014 / pioneerbushcraft@gmail.com

By Sean Fagan

Limpets: a tasty, common, rocky shore mollusc (Photo: Sean Fagan)

How to Identify, Collect & Cook

4 Edible Molluscs of Rocky Shores

The rocky shoreline is a fascinating and tumultuous habitat - yet life somehow flourishes, often uniquely, in this wave-battered environment.

Wherever prehistoric humans lived near rocky shores they've had a strong affinity for this unusual habitat. A large part of that ancient relationship is connected with the rich availability of edible, protein-rich marine molluscs that thrive on rocky shores.

Learn the ancient skills of how to identify, collect and cook 4 marine molluscs of rocky shores..

Anatomy of a Predator

June 11, 2014 / pioneerbushcraft

By Sean Fagan

The menacing talons of the sparrowhawk (Photo: Sean Fagan).

Getting to Know a Common but Elusive Bird of Prey

The sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus, is a relatively common but secretive bird of prey of temperate and subtropical regions of Europe, Africa & Asia.

A while back I had the good fortune to get close to a sparrowhawk. I was struck by the obvious, fearsome weaponry of this sleek raptor - by its long, sickle-shaped talons and pointed, hooked bill.

I was also intrigued by other, less obvious anatomical features of the sparrowhawk which assist in making this bird species such a sublime predator.

As I examined the sparrowhawk - four features stood out...

Learn 4 predatory features of the enigmatic but fearsome sparrowhawk (some of which might surprise you).

Included below is a stunning, short video highlighting the amazing, hunting prowess of the the sparrowhawk...(this video is also included at the end of the article).

How Urban Botany Will Improve Your Bushcraft

May 12, 2014 / pioneerbushcraft

By Sean Fagan

A common and pretty urban plant - Red Valerian, Centranthus ruber (Photo: Sean Fagan).

Many urban environments, when examined closely, contain a rich array of both native and non-native, wild plants.

Many of the plants that live in towns and cities also dwell in rural and wild areas - so there is a viable transfer of plant identification skills.

Learn how to make the most of urban areas to sharpen and improve your plant ID skills.

Fire Skills: The Tinder Walk

April 15, 2014 / pioneerbushcraft

By Sean Fagan

The result of a 15 minute Tinder Walk - 7 different natural tinders. To find out what natural tinders are in above photo - click on article link below (Photo: Sean Fagan).

Knowing what natural tinders are to be found in a locality, and just as importantly, how to process them to make them more flammable, is a key bushcraft fire-skill.

One very effective way to improve your local knowledge of natural tinders is to take the tinder walk.