The RSPB is calling on the Westminster government to respond to the unfolding bird flu emergency and bring together a task force of experts to deal with the current outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) currently killing tens of thousands of wild birds across the UK. A new virulent form of bird flu that…
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
Sunday book review – Swan by Dan Keel
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This is a book for everyone, as Mute Swans, the main character in this book, are one of the few species that most people can identify because they are large, tame, white and common. We all know things about swans – they can break your arm just by looking at you (or at least flapping…
Sunday book review – Land Healer by Jake Fiennes
This is a very fine book which will, deservedly, be in many lists of ‘books of the year’ for 2022, including in my own. For it deals with important issues and it is very well written. Also, it is in many ways based on three legs, appropriately enough for an ex-gamekeeper, of knowing much…
Press release – Internationally protected Coul Links once again under threat from golf course
Conservation Coalition concerned by new plans that would damage nature A coalition of seven environmental organisations has expressed concern over new plans for a golf course at Coul Links in East Sutherland. In June 2022, a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) was submitted to The Highland Council, by developer C4C. This notice lets the…
NEWS – Hen Harriers with Bird Flu on the moors
The impact of bird flu on wild birds is seen to be growing, even though the governments across the UK are proving to be pretty useless in having a view on this important conservation issue. Much of the impact this summer has been seen in seabird colonies such as gannetries and tern colonies (eg see…
Latest BBS report from BTO/JNCC/RSPB
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The latest excellent BBS (and WBBS) report arrived through my letterbox last week. It’s a concise and beautiful report which is a model of comprehensible summary of somewhat complex data. If you want to know how a wide variety of commoner and widespread birds are faring in the UK, and often in individual nations or…
Sunday book review – Birds, Beasts and Bedlam by Derek Gow
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A very enjoyable read – Derek Gow has good stories galore and not only are they good stories, but he tells them very well. We learn quite a lot about Derek’s past, including his early jobs – an interesting mixture. But much of this book is about keeping animals in captivity, often for conservation purposes,…
Sunday book review – Cornerstones by Benedict Macdonald
This is, in my opinion (and why are you reading this review if you don’t want my opinion?), Benedict Macdonald’s best book to date. Yes, Rebirding (reviewed here) was a very good book, and Orchard (with Nicholas Gates, reviewed here) was perfectly OK, but this is a very, very good book. Nine groups of species:…
BBS 2
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Last weekend I did the second visit to one of my BBS squares. It was later in the allowable time than usual because everything has been later than usual for a while in my life. I wasn’t very optimistic about seeing lots of birds but the aim of the BBS is to record the birds…
RSPB press release – Roseate Terns and Avian/Poultry Flu
Concern is mounting for seabirds on RSPB Coquet Island in Northumberland, the UK’s only roseate tern breeding colony, and across the UK, following confirmed cases of Avian Influenza. A new virulent form of bird flu that originated in poultry in east Asia has now killed tens of thousands of wild birds in the UK and…