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RSPB's Chief Executive Rewarded with a Knighthood

31st December 2009

The South East Essex RSPB Group is overjoyed at the news that Graham Wynne our Chief Executive has been awarded a knighthood for services to nature conservation in the New Year's Honours list.

We would like to take this opportunity to send Sir Graham our many congratulations.

Thanks to Your Help There's a New UK Marine Act!

13th November 2009

Dear Supporter

After over 10 years of campaigning and the culmination of a massive amount of hard work we can finally celebrate! Today, 12 November 2009, is the day the Marine and Coastal Access Bill receives Royal Assent and becomes law. The UK's marine wildlife above and below the waves surrounding England and Wales, and in offshore waters around the whole UK, should now be afforded the level of protection that it so desperately needs.

Under this new law, the UK Government gains exciting new powers to protect marine wildlife and manage our seas effectively. These include:

• The creation of new Marine Conservation Zones, to ensure important areas for our marine species and habitats are properly protected
• A new marine planning system that will allow Government to take a strategic and co-ordinated overview of the range of human activities in our seas, and ensure that we are not pushing the marine environment to or past its limits
• In England and Wales it also allows for improved management of inshore fisheries that will consider the needs of our sealife, and marine conservation

To complete the jigsaw of legislation across the whole of the UK's seas, we will be continuing our campaigns for a strong Scottish Marine Bill and for the introduction of a Marine Bill for Northern Ireland's inshore waters.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all your hard work and for helping to push this legislation through Parliament. We know from contact with politicians that RSPB supporters have played a key part in making this law a reality. Thank you very much for your support – quite simply we could not have done this without you, we should celebrate and be very proud of this achievement.

The RSPB will now be focussing our efforts on making sure that the Marine and Coastal Access Act is put into practice so that our marine wildlife and seabirds are protected effectively.

Thanks so much for your support.

For more information about the RSPB's marine work, please visit our website.

Dr Sharon Thompson
RSPB Marine Policy Team

Suffolk Coastal Sites to be Assessed for Possible Release of White-tailed Eagles

24th September 2009

Natural England, and the RSPB, assisted by the Forestry Commission, have been looking at the feasibility of re-introducing the white-tailed eagle - also known as the sea eagle - to East Anglia, and the Suffolk coast is being considered as a possible future home for white-tailed eagles.

A three-year study of eastern England between the Humber and the Thames has identified the Suffolk coast as offering the best opportunities for enabling the white tailed eagle to re-establish itself in England.

The Suffolk coast is favoured because of its location at the centre of a string of wetland habitats stretching from The Wash to the Thames Estuary, which could provide a suitable home for white-tailed eagles. Elsewhere in Europe, white-tailed eagles thrive in similar lowland wetland habitats.

Natural England's Chief Scientist, Tom Tew, said: "Our analysis of the Suffolk coast has produced encouraging results in terms of identifying potential sites that could form the base for a future re-introduction. The task now is to ensure an open and informed debate about whether, and how, to move forward."

Mark Avery, the RSPB’s Director of Conservation, said: "These birds belong to lowland England as surely as they belong to the sea cliffs of Scotland. Man is the reason they are missing and it is for us to put that right.

"It is also why we must do this properly and with regard to people and wildlife nearby. The RSPB want eagles back, but without a return to the conflicts and misunderstandings that led to their extinction."

The white-tailed eagle's huge wingspan, shock of white tail feathers and bright-eyed glare were once much more common sights. Once widespread in lowland England, the species was persecuted to extinction by the early 19th century. By the early 20th century, they were also extinct in Scotland.

The bird has now been successfully re-established on the west coast of Scotland after two earlier releases, and a third series of releases is underway in eastern Scotland.

Birds could take decades if not centuries to spread from Scotland without assistance and a Suffolk release program presents the best prospects of enabling the bird to re-colonise parts of England. Re-introduction could also be expected to deliver significant economic benefits for tourism and related businesses as has been the case in Scotland.

Tom Tew added: "Previous surveys have shown that the vast majority of the public strongly support the idea of the re-introduction of white tailed sea eagles to East Anglia, but we recognise that there are some people who are opposed and others who wish to understand more about how a re-introduction program would affect them. It is important we continue to gauge views and address concerns – a project of this type has to be right for the area as well as for the ecological needs of the birds themselves."

In addition to conducting feasibility studies about suitable sites, the re-introduction project is looking to canvas the views of local landowners, livestock farmers, conservation organisations, experts and the general public. Over the next few weeks, a series of local opinion surveys will be conducted in Suffolk to gauge initial local reactions in advance of more extended dialogues with landowners and other stakeholders that will continue throughout the rest of 2009.

Notes to editors:

1. Archaeological, place name and literary evidence suggest that the white-tailed eagle was once widespread in lowland England, but was persecuted to extinction by the early 19th century. By the early 20th century, they were also extinct in Scotland. Since 1975, they have been re-introduced into western Scotland, by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), in association with the RSPB. This year there were 46 occupied territories, with 36 young fledged. Persecution, including egg collecting and deliberate killing, remains a serious threat to their recovery, since the rate of population growth is naturally slow. To enable re-colonisation of other suitable coastal habitat, a new re-introduction project began in eastern Scotland in 2007.
2. White-tailed eagles are the fourth largest eagle in the world and the UK’s largest bird of prey. They are scavengers and generalist predators who feed on fish, birds and medium-sized mammals such as rabbits.
3. The white-tailed eagle is listed on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife & Countryside which means that a licence is required to release the birds into the wild. Natural England is the licensing authority for such licences in England. Natural England’s licensing role for re-introductions is delivered on behalf of Defra, under a formal agreement which requires them to set out the policy within which we operate.
4. Because of concerns over the potential that bitterns might be predated, the WTE project began to look beyond Suffolk while further research on the potential threat to bitterns was researched. Following detailed consultation with experts across Europe where the two species coexist, and having undertaken a comprehensive literature search of WTE diet, the project partners are confident that any risk presented to bitterns will be minimal, and have therefore decided it is appropriate to bring the feasibility study back to Suffolk. In accordance with European law, no releases will occur until an Appropriate Assessment has been carried out with satisfactory conclusions.
5. The white-tailed eagles released on the Isle of Mull in Scotland have proved a major tourist draw for the island. The Island receives around 350,000 visitors every year, of whom two-thirds spend their holidays in Mull and 33 per cent are day-trippers. In total, visitors spend £38 million on the island every year. Of this, between £1.4-1.6 million per year is attracted by the presence of sea eagles.
6. Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. It conserves and enhances the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings.

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/

Please Click This Link to Help Save the Albatross:

23rd August 2009

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Territories/

In the South Atlantic, on Gough, a remote British island, is one of the world's most important seabird breeding colonies. More than a million albatross, shearwater and petrel chicks, some goose-sized and weighing more than 20lbs, are being eaten alive every year - by mice.

The mice are descendants of the British House Mouse.

The mice attack at night, singly or in groups, gnawing into the chicks' bodies when they sit on the nest, and eventually kill them through blood loss or destruction of vital organs.

It is thought it might eventually drive some of the 22 species of birds that breed on Gough to extinction. There are fears that the UK Government is not placing enough of its financial resources into all its Overseas Territory to save and enhance wildlife for which we have a clear responsibility. This petition draws attention to a British problem that can and should be solved by the British Government.

Please click the link to sign up to the petition. There are 689 signatures at the time of me sending this email (22 Aug 09). All it requires is a name, valid email address, postal address and post code.

Loch Garten Osprey Tracking 2009

Thursday 30th July 2009

As with Nethy and Deshar last year you will be able to follow the progress of this year’s ospreys, Rothes and Mallachie, on Google Earth.

Google Earth is a free piece of software that simulates our planet with satellite photography.

Downloading Google Earth for free
Google earth is available free from the Google website: http://www.google.com/earth

Adding the osprey data to your Google Earth software
It's easy to add the osprey satellite data to your copy of Google Earth - just follow the steps below:

Launch the Google Earth software
Go to the Add menu and click Network Link...
Enter Loch Garten Ospreys in the Name field
Paste the following address into the Link field
http://www.rspb.org.uk/kml/lochgartenospreys.kml

Click OK to add the Loch Garten Ospreys data to the Places list on the left hand side of the screen.

Using Google Earth to keep an eye on the ospreys
Once the ospreys are in your list of Places you can double click them to zoom straight to their location. You can also use the standard Google Earth controls to zoom and pan around the globe.

Choosing how often to update Google Earth
The satellite data will be updated approximately once per day. To make sure you have the latest updates, you can tell Google Earth how often to refresh its data. To do this, right click on the Loch Garten Ospreys item in your Places list and choose Properties. Go to the Refresh tab and change the options so that it updates Periodically every 12 hours.

Sign a Pledge Now To Save our Birds of Prey

02nd July 2009

I've had to take dead birds to the vets many times before, but this time I had a real sinking feeling. Minutes after handing over the limp corpse I was staring at an X-ray, which confirmed my worst fears. I could see 11 pieces of gunshot in what had been a magnificent, female peregrine. She had been slaughtered – most probably on her nest. The inscribed metal ring on her leg gave a tiny insight into her life. She hatched seven years ago in Shropshire and, at the time of her death, was in her prime. Quite probably, she had chicks that depended on her and will now starve.

I felt sick and disgusted. How can people stoop so low? 2009 has been a terrible year for cowardly crimes against birds of prey, including eagles and peregrines. With your help, we can stop this illegal killing.

Sign a pledge now to save our birds of prey.

I work in the RSPB's Investigations team and this has been one of the worst years I can remember. In the last few weeks, barely a day has gone by without us getting a call about peregrine persecution and other crimes against birds of prey. It's shocking that in the 21st century, these fabulous birds are still routinely shot, trapped and poisoned.

Only a few days ago, one of my colleagues in Scotland went to investigate a dead golden eagle found in Argyll. The police suspect that it was illegally poisoned, using a bait with a very toxic chemical.

I'm desperate for the peregrine and golden eagle deaths not to be mere grisly statistics. With your support, we can demonstrate to government that we will not tolerate these crimes and put an end to them.

Please sign the RSPB's birds of prey pledge now and help us stop the killing.

Thank you so much.

Mark Thomas
Investigations Unit

Unique Partnership Plans a Better Future for Thames' Wildlife

02nd July 2009

An innovative audit of wildlife in the Thames is being launched at the House of Commons today, heralding a major advance in the relationship between conservation and commerce.

The project is the result of a unique collaboration between the Port of London Authority (PLA) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). It's the first time an agreement of this kind has been signed between a port authority and an environmental charity.

The comprehensive review, the Conservation Management Framework (CMF), pulls together key information on the Thames' wildlife into an interactive website. It covers the diverse range of species found in the Thames and all its habitats. The wildlife includes dolphins, seals, fish, marine invertebrates and populations of internationally important waterbirds.

By assessing how the PLA's operations can affect these populations, both in normal circumstances and in possible emergencies like vessel collisions, the framework enables the PLA to balance the dual interests of commercial shipping and conservation.

It also outlines how the statutory body can best manage the wide range of habitats that fall under its jurisdiction, which runs 95 miles from Teddington in West London, then downstream to the outer limits of the Thames Estuary.

RSPB Chief Executive Graham Wynne said: "The framework is the culmination of years of debate between conservationists and commercial shipping. Ten years ago there would have been a very definite line between the two but we now have the tool we need to bring these sometimes disparate interests closer together.

"It’s a major step forward and has been driven by the PLA’s desire to marry these two crucial sides of life on the Thames.

"What’s more, the project brings together all the different knowledge about the tidal Thames for everyone to see. By doing this, it shows how important the Thames Estuary is for wildlife."

The PLA is the statutory body responsible for navigation and safety in the Thames, a stretch of water that supports some of UK’s most important and sensitive wildlife, plus one of the biggest arrays of internationally protected habitats in Europe.

The PLA celebrates its centenary this year and Chief Executive Richard Everitt sees the agreement with the RSPB as part of the continuous improvement in its work to manage the tidal Thames. He said:

"The coast, estuaries and rivers are some of our most sensitive environments and are also attractive to many different users. That is certainly the case for the Thames, where we have over 10,000 sea-going vessels a year passing inter-tidal areas important to wildlife, a growing commuter trade and extensive sporting pursuits. Over the last few months, we have worked through the challenges of managing these differing interests with the RSPB. Their input, combined with the guidance contained in the Conservation Management Framework, will inform our thinking on how we tackle issues in the future.

"Some fifteen or twenty years ago you would have struggled to find a port authority working with an environmental group. Today there is recognition that working together, developing mutual understanding and seeking compromise is more effective than conflict. This is the start of a journey together with the RSPB. It may not always run smoothly, but we have established the foundations for debating and resolving conflicts of interest in the future."

Gravesham MP, Adam Holloway, is hosting today's reception at the House of Commons. He said: "The Thames is an amazing resource for London. Just take a look at the river at Gravesend and you get a snapshot of the uses it attracts. You'll see large commercial ships, sailing barges, cruise ships, rowing boats, birds, fish and even seals.

"Making sure the river and its environment is fit to continue to support these uses is a challenge. That’s why this unique link-up is so important. More than that, it signposts how others might tackle similar dilemmas in the future."

To view the CMF visit www.pla.co.uk

The South East Essex RSPB Local Group Celebrates its 25th Anniversary

January 2009

December 2008 saw the South East Essex Group celebrating its 25th anniversary with a big party held in its indoor meeting hall at the Blenheim Centre, Blenheim Schools Leigh on Sea.

The event was exceptionally well attended with around 100 people braving the cold weather to join in the party. A truly wonderful buffet was provided for us by Food for Thought (thank you Lesley and Robert). The evening was taken up with speeches from attending RSPB officials and local group members, a really superb raffle, quizzes and fun items.

Two really fantastic and delicious cakes were made for us and donated free of charge by Jill Warner and we thank her very much indeed for these. One of the cakes was consumed on the night and the other was auctioned and made £25 for our charity account.

We are very lucky indeed that we have been able to sustain our group and loyal membership base and we are now looking to 2009 with increased confidence, good finances, interesting talks, well supported coach trips and a strong and hard working committee.

I cannot thank all of you enough, here's to the next 25 years!

Group leaders past and present cut the cake.
From left; Graham Mee, Peter Hirst and John Palmer

The party in full swing


A big thank you to everyone who attended and made the night such a success!

Web Author.

Thames Estuary Cited As One Of The Uk's Most Internationally Important Waterbird Sites

19th November 2008

Waterbirds in the UK 2006/2007, a report released yesterday [Monday November 17] places the Thames Estuary in the top five internationally important sites in the UK for the high number of waterbirds found there during winter or migration.

The RSPB sees this as further confirmation that the idea of an international airport anywhere in the Thames Estuary is a complete not starter.

The study, which began counting waterbird numbers in the 1960s in response to a proposed Maplin Sands Airport in Essex, found 12 species in the Thames Estuary in internationally important numbers – the highest concentration anywhere in the South East. The diversity of its waterbird species places the estuary in the top five internationally important sites in the UK, out of 143 recorded.

Chris Corrigan, RSPB South East's regional director, said: "If ever Boris needed proof of the environmental cost involved in building a Thames Estuary airport, this report – which actually came about in response to a past airport proposal – is it. For years we have been pointing to the estuary's importance for countless species and here, in black and white yet again, is proof of just how remarkable the area really is for wildlife.

"The nearby Swale and Medway Estuaries, similarly recognised by this report for their international importance, will also lose out if an airport went ahead. If Boris thinks building an airport anywhere in this area is viable, this report shows he needs to think again."

The study finds the Thames Estuary to be the only internationally important site in the UK for the Amber Listed ringed plover, and the second most internationally important site in the UK for dunlin, found to be at its lowest level nationally since the 1970s."

Globally significant populations of the UK's two species of godwit – types of wading bird – were also found in the Thames Estuary. Both show differing trends across the UK, with the black-tailed godwit – a bird of global conservation concern [see notes] – reaching its highest level; while the closely-related bar-tailed godwit, hit its lowest level to date, after a five-year decline.

Teal and shoveler, also declining across the UK, are still found here in internationally important numbers, as are redshank – a type of wader now at its lowest level nationally for 20 years.

Elsewhere in Kent, the Medway Estuary is cited for internationally important populations of avocet, pintail, and black-tailed godwit. The nearby Swale Estuary is noted for wigeon, teal black-tailed godwit and pintail.

Across the South East, 12 key sites were found to host internationally important numbers of waterbirds. Dr Mark Avery, the RSPB's conservation director, said: "This report shows that our estuaries and wetlands are wonderful places for wildlife and they deserve to remain so.

"These sites, almost like airports, are vital staging posts for international travellers. Although climate change and development threaten these wonderful sites, the RSPB will continue to do everything in its power to protect them."

"We are blessed with years of information, chronicling the ups and downs of these international travellers. This information must present a wake-up call to protect these sites, rather than provide a record of how important they once were."

The report identifies climate change – specifically milder winters – as underlying many of the observed changes, as birds shorten their migratory flyways and spend the winter in other countries closer to their breeding grounds.

Dr Debbie Pain, director of conservation at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, said: "WWT reserves offer safe roosts and a plentiful food source to some 200,000 waterbirds every winter. At this time of the year, the UK's estuaries, marshes and wetlands throng with the arrival of ducks, geese, swans and wading birds, making the UK one of the most important countries in the world for some of these birds.

"However, we are becoming increasingly concerned about the declining numbers of some populations. Conservation action is needed urgently to reverse these declines."

Dr Andy Musgrove, head of the Wetland Bird Survey at the British Trust for Ornithology, BTO said: "An army of thousands of volunteer birdwatchers has collected counts of wetland birds for over 60 years from around the country. These counts have proved invaluable time after time, whether investigating the potential impacts of industrial developments, assessing the likely effects of climate change or looking into the influence of introduced species on our native wildlife."

"Here in the UK we are extremely fortunate to have such a dedicated team of skilled volunteers who are willing to give up their time to provide this vital information. It is thanks to them, and the high quality data they provide, that decisions affecting our internationally important populations of waterbirds can be based on sound scientific evidence."

David Stroud, JNCC's Senior Ornithologist, said: "Maintaining the Wetland Bird Survey is essential to obtain good data on the trends of UK's waterbirds. Information on the status of these birds informs us about pressures not only at local sites here in the UK, but also about changing conditions on distant breeding grounds in the arctic – currently threatened by climate change."

Research is needed to determine whether declines are due to birds short-stopping (that is, birds wintering closer to their breeding grounds, and hence occurring in the UK in smaller numbers) or whether they are 'real' global population declines.

The report is published by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO); Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT); Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB); and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC).

The Taming of 'Old Bob'

09th May 2006

Chris Blake owns Cloud Nine, which is private boat not a charter boat and he just takes out friends and their friends etc. I have known Chris’s for over 25 years and we are both very keen fishermen and now enjoy birding, so you can imagine that we get a lot out of every trip. In actual fact it is ‘Old Bob’ the Fulmar that got me into bird watching. Chris pointed out our friend and said “that is a Fulmar” and I said “no it’s not it’s a seagull, no such thing as a Fulmar your making it up”. I went and bought a bird book to look it up and prove him wrong and it went from there.

The Cloud Nine

Yes it is a fantastic event when our friend the Fulmar turns up. I have to say that 'Old Bob' does have his moods not always coming into the boat or turning up at all, but when he does he always spends at least half a day with us flying around and eating our bait. We are therefore not necessarily convinced that it is 'Old Bob' that turn’s up each time. Someone with a keener eye for identification would be able to tell I’m sure, but a Fulmar is a Fulmar to us.

He is usually on his own or with one other, but we have had four of them and it was great. We even had two common terns float past sitting on a plank of wood squeaking away to each other, two Gannets have flown by at distance then another two circled the boat as we brought in a fish... and then the real bonus of the Leach’s Petrel which flew close by... fantastic.

The mark where we fish varies but he (or a Fulmar) manages to find us. The habits of the bird however are often the same he flies really low, skimming the water eventually gliding in and landing to the side of the boat, always to port!! We throw a lump of fish and he drifts down in the tide eating it. Depending on the size of the meal he sometimes drifts out of sight. Then we can see him coming back, swooping in again to the same place. If we do not have anything at the time he allows himself to drift to the stern just out beyond the lines (for good reason as you will see) and then keeps up a good rate of paddling to keep pace with the tide. When he tires of this he drifts down and when rested flies up to the port side again and the process starts again, while he patiently waits for us to catch a small fish. We fish one rod each with worm bait to catch small whiting or pouting for the Fulmars.

Old Bob's introduction to coming into the boat was a result of an accident. The Fulmars swoop very low around the boat and 'Old Bob' hit one of the lines about two years ago and was unable to free himself. I will never forget this day, the sea was flat calm and the fishing was fantastic. The Fulmar had decided to hit the line at slack water, which was lucky as we were able to reel him in very easily and slowly against no tide resistance. What amazed us was that after an initial panic he was still and allowed himself to be picked out off the water, no pecking no wild flapping. We were able to quickly free him by cutting the line and he was then placed on the engine cover inside the boat to allow him to rest and recover. We expected him to fly off as he was not damaged in anyway because he had been so calm. We were however a bit concerned when all he did was stand there slightly ruffling his feathers. Suddenly one of the rods had a tremendous bite and our concentration turned to stopping the rod going over the side. I moved my rods out of the way and the fish was played in by Chris. I think it was a largish Bass but can't recall exactly, mainly because Chris caught it and I was jealous.

After all the excitement we turned round and the Fulmar had gone. But not into the sky or the sea but had flown up onto the cabin roof. We are convinced to this day that he was waiting for a fish before leaving the boat. We did not have any so we handed up one of our squid baits. He backed up, so we placed it on the roof and moved back. He took the squid straight away and flew into the water... to port of course! He ate the squid and we watched him drift out of sight, preening and flapping his wings in the water getting things sorted out. He did not come back to the boat that day and we never saw him again for sometime.

We are not sure how many trips passed without seeing a Fulmar again and we did not give it anymore thought, but one day he (or another Fulmar) turned up. Doing the same routine as before which made us think it was the same bird. This time it came closer to the boat, landing out away and then paddling in. We tossed bait and small fish only about two feet to him.

Fulmar to Port!

Then towards the end of the day he took a squid from Chris’s hand. He swam away quickly but had moved on in terms of bravery. A couple more trips passed and again no sign of ‘Old Bob’, we think weather plays a role, we see them invariable on a calm day. However at last we got another visit and again the usual routine. To our surprise while just sitting quietly watching the rods and scaring the life out of me, he flaps up from the portside onto one of the safety bars that go round the gunnels of the boat, clearly impatient that he had not had a fish for a while. I handed him a squid very slowly which he took and making us duck flapped and flew back into the sea.

We go fishing a lot, Chris goes out nearly every week and I join him whenever I can and including Sunday he has only come into the boat three times each time when I have been with Chris. This is no coincidence as I get rid of as much squid feeding the Fulmars as I do in hope of catching a fish. The second time he came in we tried to get him to stand on a gloved hand but he would not perform so Chris went to hold him and to our amazement he allowed it eventually taking a fish from my hand. Chris placed down on the engine cover and he finished the fish before taking off making us dive for cover again.

Old Bob gets tame and allows Chris to hold him

On this day we remembered the camera and as you can see he posed calmly for his close up. He did not want a fish though until we tossed one in the water for him. As you can see Chris is wearing thick plastic gloves because about a year ago we had another Fulmar get caught in a line and this one panicked like mad and pecked a lot with his huge bill and, as you know, it’s got a sharp point at the end. We had to let him go quickly as he was clearly upset and as I returned it to the sea it set off like a spooked swan paddling across the top of the water eventually taking off and never looked back. Old Bob is just not worried and we believe we are not the only boat that gets a visit; the strange thing is we have not heard others tell a similar story, so it is a mystery.

Why ‘Old Bob’? He was named on the day we caught him in the line. It had been a great days fishing, calm sea’s, a tan of lobster proportions and a close encounter with a wonderful sea bird. It was only fitting to end such a day with a pint or two in the Shepherd and Dog public house. On this day the guest ale was Ridley’s 5.1% ‘Old Bob’ and a glass was raised and a name awarded to our mate ‘Old Bob’ the friendly Fulmar.

Some of our other photographs;

Kittiwake overhead 11/08/03. What is believed to be an exhausted Willow Warbler drops in for a rest

Author: Graham Saunders

And Finally...

The WWT is Mourning the Loss of Kerry the Goose

The WWT has tracked Kerry the Brent Goose by satellite all the way from Ireland to an Eskimo's kitchen in Arctic Canada.

Kerry had safely completed the arduous 4,500-mile journey, only to be shot by a man out hunting. He was found by researchers who tracked the signal from a transmitter on Kerry's back to the Eskimo's home on remote Cornwallis Island. After knocking on the door they were led to his freezer where Kerry lay still wearing his £3,000 electronic tracker. Kerry was in the hunter's freezer. He hadn't been plucked and the transponder was still on him. The hunter was somewhat surprised and he didn't know what the device on the goose's back was.

Kerry was one of six Irish Light-Bellied Brent Geese being followed on their migration routes by the British-based Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust.

Are You a Birdwatcher?

06th July 2002

Many people ask us what makes a birdwatcher, if you answer yes to most of the questions below you can consider yourself a dedicated and committed birdwatcher.

You might be a birdwatcher if your neck hurts except when you're looking up.
You might be a birdwatcher if you've never seen a seagull.
You might be a birdwatcher if you want to see just one more warbler before lunch.
You might be a birdwatcher if you have a permanent depression above the bridge of your nose from pressure against your binoculars.
You might be a birdwatcher if for you the "tele" is silent in telescope, despite what your dictionary says.
You might be a birdwatcher if there are days when getting up at 4:30 a.m. is something you've looked forward to.
You might be a birdwatcher if your Email address contains the name of a bird.
You might be a birdwatcher if you know all ducks don't quack.
You might be a birdwatcher if you can name two ducks that quack.
You might be a birdwatcher if you can say exactly where you saw a dozens of life ticks but don't recall exactly where you first met your spouse.
You might be a birdwatcher if you can find Minsmere, Titchwell, and Stodmarsh on a map in less than five seconds.
You might be a birdwatcher if you've got better things to do than watch the cup final.
Someone yells "Duck!", and you look up and shout "Where?"
Holidays are planned to maximize the number of life birds. You criticize television programs and commercials that depict an Osprey but play a Buzzard call.
Lunch breaks find you driving to check out your favourite hot spot.
your spouse says, "It's either me or the birds," and you have to think about it.
A machine squeaks at work and you describe it to maintenance as sounding like a Sedge Warbler.
You spend fifteen minutes preparing dinner for your family, and thirty minutes mixing and placing seed for your birds.
Preparing for trips to visit your wife's relatives involves contacting local birders and securing local bird lists.
You identify calls of birds in the soundtracks of television shows and films.
You have been seen looking out of restaurant windows with your binoculars.
You don't think of elections when you hear the word primaries.
You cringe when friends tell you they saw a big bird or a seagull.
Your children have not had new shoes in two years but you own a pair of Leicas.
Your idea of a good day off is a visit to either the local marsh or sewage ponds.
You have seen a Whimbrel.
You don't want to see another Whimbrel until the next January 1st.

(list taken from the Internet)
 

South African Stork Arrested for Spying!

12th November 2001

Police in Burundi have arrested a bird suspected of spying.

The South African stork, which had a satellite tracking device attached to its body, was found by villagers after it injured a wing. The alleged spy is called Saturn and was a member of a flock of five that formed part of a University of Cape Town research programme to monitor the migration patterns of the birds. The other four birds, which were also fitted with the same devices, died in February after heavy rains in Mozambique.

Saturn apparently crash landed in a village in Muyinga Province in north-eastern Burundi after injuring a wing. Upon closer inspection, local villagers were intrigued by the suspicious looking electronic device strapped to the bird's body. Understandably, there was great consternation and the bird was immediately handed over to the local police for investigation. The Burundian police then enlisted the assistance of English-speaking Mary Murphy who lives in the area.

Fortunately, the satellite device had the e-mail address of Professor Les Underhill of the University of Cape Town written on it. Ms Murphy e-mailed Professor Underhill saying the sick bird, together with its suspicious device, had been taken into custody. She added that Saturn's right wing was healing and that he was being cared for by the police. There was no mention whether the bird was being held under 24-hour armed guard in the police cells. Professor Underhill said he understood the police's concerns, especially in today's environment of terror attacks. "The device looks pretty space age with an aerial and a little solar cell to charge the battery," he said. But he remains hopeful that both the bird and the satellite device will eventually be returned unharmed.

With thanks to the BBC