Author: Mark

Born Bristol, UK Educated: Cleeve House School Bristol, Bristol Grammar School and Downing College Cambridge Ph.D. University of Aberdeen, Winter activity of pipistrelle bats. NERC post-doctoral Research Fellow, Edward Grey Institute, Oxford University Former Conservation Director of the RSPB, 1989-2011

Bird Fair wind of change?

Mark 3 Comments

The Bird Fair tends to be dominated by ageing men with beer bellies and grey hair (if they have any hair) – that might be why I like it so much – but the image above suggests that as well as more political debate and better food there may be another wind of change blowing…

Hawk and Owl Trust being destroyed from within

Mark 111 Comments

At the Bird Fair I walked past the large stand of the Hawk and Owl Trust many times – there was a small group of volunteers there but I saw no visitors (in contrast to the small BAWC stand which was very, very busy).  Several others commented on the same thing. One claimed to see…

Firm Briefing 2

Mark 4 Comments

Firm briefing is the phrase I will use to describe how you can brief your MP ahead of a parliamentary debate on the future of driven grouse shooting. At the Bird Fair I had chats with the RSPB and LACS (separately as it happens, but I am sure the two organisations are sensible enough to…

Ten Bird Fair thoughts

Mark 25 Comments

the discussion about driven grouse shooting was completely packed (c500 people), the discussion about rewilding was completely packed, some of the usual diet of quizzes were not well attended – go figure, the Bird Fair audience is open to having some challenging debate and discussion about nature conservation as part of the mix in one…