I think I mentioned that I am the Chair of the World Land Trust? It’s a difficult time for all organisations including charities of all kinds and including environmental ones (see recent blogs here and here). I was glancing at my bank account the other day and noticed that there is a bit more money…
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
Press release – Wildlife and Countryside Link
Major UK nature, science and conservation organisations are warning that the impact of the coronavirus has dealt a significant blow to nature’s recovery and their ability to provide natural solutions to climate change. The charities are very concerned that the financial aid government is currently offering will not be sufficient to enable them to carry…
DEFRA non-exec board member describes general licences as ‘appalling’
Well said Ben Goldsmith! If only Ben had some influence on DEFRA… Hang on, isn’t there a Zac Goldsmith who is a DEFRA minister? I wonder if they are related. And isn’t there a Ben Goldsmith who is a non-exec DEFRA Board Member? Could that be the same person? But seriously, thank you for speaking…
Press release – Ban Bloodsports on Yorkshire’s Moors
New figures showing the shocking scale of grouse moor burning have been released by a wildlife organisation ahead of the season officially closing tomorrow. Ban Bloodsports on Yorkshire’s Moors (BBYM) has compiled more than 550 reports of the county’s heather moorland being burnt — an ecologically-destructive practice performed to engineer habitat for grouse which are…
Bird song (25) – Blue Tit
I’ve written quite a bit already about Great Tit song – but Blue Tits sing too. Although it’s a song that sounds very much like an extended call – no-one would call this a great song. It’s a good job that Blue Tits look so cute, isn’t it? Here are three examples. The first from…
More riches…
Remarkable Birds has been my highest-earning book to date – at least as far as payments from publishers are concerned (I never keep track of the sales I make of books at talks etc, at least not by title). Having been published in English, French, Spanish, Chinese and Russian that’s probably about it although there…
A message about A Message from Martha
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Dear Mark Apologies for the sudden email from a random stranger. However, unknown for me, I felt compelled to contact to congratulate and thank you your excellent book on the extinction the Passenger Pigeon which I’ve just finished. As a lover of the natural world ( and fascinated by extinct birds) I wouldn’t say it…
Guest blog – Cambs Bird Club Easter Monday bird race (2) by Louise Bacon
This follows yesterday’s update. Louise writes: At the end of a tough twelve hours of lock-down bird race, I thought I’d give a summary. At least 30 people participated (the data entry is online, so I dont know all the answers yet) across Cambridgeshire. The top count for 11 hours of home-based birding and an…
Guest blog – Conservation community hit hard by COVID-19 by Kristi Foster of Conservation Careers
Kristi Foster is Head of Engagement for Conservation Careers, a major careers advice centre for conservationists – helping over 200,000 conservationists across the globe achieve career success. Conservation Careers believes that all wildlife is beautiful and that it deserves great conservationists working to protect it. Conservation community hit hard by COVID-19: Why the planet’s guardians…
The Lockdown Nature-writing Challenge
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Across the world, people are experiencing a shared concern for themselves and their loved ones and many are enduring a period of social distancing and being cut off from wildlife. But, also, many are discovering nature around them in ways that are giving them delight and solace. Humankind has never had this experience before. There…