Safeguard our Sea Life - Help Strengthen the Draft Marine BillSome of the most fascinating creatures on the planet - including bottle-nosed dolphins, sea horses and corals - and a spectacular variety of seabirds - such as puffins and kittiwakes - are under pressure from human activities and developments in the seas around the UK. In response to this threat, the RSPB's Safeguard our Sea Life campaign has been calling for comprehensive legislation to protect the UK's marine environment. Thank you for all of the support you have already given this campaign. On 3 April this year, the Government published its draft Marine Bill moving one step closer to enacting this vital legislation. However, this is not the end of our campaign - the draft Bill's positive proposals need to be secured, and negative ones improved so that the full Bill that emerges from this process results in robust laws and provides effective marine protection. Please help by making a submission to the public consultation on the draft Bill. Click on this link to be taken to a page with more information and a template submission that you can adapt if you wish. It only takes a minute and every submission counts. Join our campaign and make yourself heard - be a voice for nature today. Thank you for your support. Yours sincerely Sally Webber Avocet Egg Watch - Two Tree IslandCan you help?
In 2006 & 2007 Essex Wildlife Trust worked with local people to protect the eggs through a co-ordinated monitoring of the site from May until the end of June. This year we are looking to repeat the Avocet Egg Watch, and we need your help. If you would like to join our volunteers to help monitor the nesting site please contact: Claire Cadman, Essex Wildlife Trust on 07899 882651. An Easy Way to Help Local Wildlife25th January 2007 The RSPB is urging people living in south Essex to lend a hand to help wildlife. The Society – the largest wildlife conservation charity in Europe – is asking people to help the RSPB's community fundraising scheme. Graham Larter, community fundraising officer, said: “We’re looking for businesses to place boxes of our very collectable pin badges on their counters. We also need volunteers to look after the boxes to make sure money raised from pin badges is banked and that there are always plenty of badges available.” “We particularly need volunteers to help us in areas such as Southend, Basildon and Canvey Island” he added. Last year, the RSPB raised a massive £600,000 from the community fund-raising scheme, money that is used to help the organisation deliver its vital work for birds and other wildlife, such as its nature reserves at Vange Marshes and West Canvey Marsh. For more information about the scheme, contact Graham on 01603 660066 or 07771 923673 (graham.larter@rspb.org.uk) or visit the RSPB’s website on www.rspb.org.uk.
Ends For further information, or to arrange interviews, please
contact: Reptile and Amphibian RecordsIf anyone sees any reptiles or amphibians this year (2006) anywhere in Essex could they please send the record of species, numbers & location (grid ref. if possible), to our County Recorder, John Wright at johnpw2@tiscali.co.uk. First frog/toad spawn dates would also be appreciated. Colour Ringed Mediterranean Gulls15th January 2006 Thank you very much for your Mediterranean Gull sightings. I would mostly appreciate if you could perform more sightings in the future. Is a regular follow-up by you possible in your area? Even observations of the same bird are very valuable for us. It would be interesting, especially in the next weeks, to obtain the very last sightings from the Med Gulls from Southend Pier before they leave your area. If you observe black-ringed Med Gulls (= from Ukraine, Greece or Turkey), you can send your sightings to me; I will send you the complete life history. Very many thanks for your collaboration! I hope to receive soon news from you. Renaud FLAMANT Have You Seen a Porpoise, Dolphin or Whale off the Essex Coast or in the Thames estuary?I am writing to ask for help in surveying Porpoises, Dolphins and Whales (cetaceans). Essex Wildlife Trust maintains a database of cetacean sightings. This information is shared by the conservation community and is important in helping to understand the population and distribution of these animals in the southern North Sea. We are trying to reach people who spend time at sea or in coastal locations and who may see live or stranded cetaceans. We have a new version of our survey card which now provides additional information. The previous version has been in use for several years and we have found them to be a simple and effective way for people to report sightings. We receive a steady stream of returned cards through the year. If you would like copies of our survey cards, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you very much for your help. |
Avocets breed at less than 15 sites in Essex. In 2004 & 2005, Avocet eggs on Two Tree Island disappeared shortly before hatching.