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

Guest blog – The Geese will tell it in Autumn by Vanessa Wright

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Vanessa divides her time between Hertfordshire and the Hebrides and loves to write about birds, butterflies and beachcombing. She gave up corporate life during the pandemic, taking the plunge to follow her passion for wildlife. Recently finishing a Masters in Nature and Travel Writing, she has been announced as a Runner-Up in the BBC Countryfile…

Thoughts on the RSPB AGM

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I attended the RSPB’s online AGM on Saturday. It was slick, a bit uplifting, but not entirely satisfactory and not entirely convincing. Amir Khan was a very cheery President and looked entirely natural in that position. Kevin Cox (Chair) and Beccy Speight (CEO) also said good things and said them well. Nobody goofed their lines….

Where I’ll be speaking over the next few months

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NEXT WEEK: 28 February – I am speaking (brought forward from 27 March) about Passenger Pigeons (and I expect other things too). Venue: The Free Church, Market Hill, St. Ives PE27 5AL. Start:7.30 pm (door opens at 7.15 pm). Entrance: Free to local group members. Non-group members: £5 adult, £2 student, £1 under 18s.  …

Sunday book review – Nature Conservation in Europe by Graham Tucker (ed).

Mark Comments Off on Sunday book review – Nature Conservation in Europe by Graham Tucker (ed).

    This is not a cheap book, nor is it a small book, but it is a very useful and impressive book.  It consists of fairly standardised accounts of the approaches to and the state of nature conservation across 26 countries, 25 of which are still members of the European Union (Luxembourg and Malta…