Standing up for Nature
Did you watch Hive Alive last night. I started watching it just because I know quite a few of the people involved in making it – Chris Packham, Martha Kearney, Stephen Moss and Brett Westwood. But then I found myself enjoying it! And then I was hooked. A cut above most wildlife programmes. A great…
When the news of Owen Paterson’s sacking from the Cabinet was announced there was great cheering above and below ground by badgers and friends of badgers alike. It’s unseemly to take pleasure in another’s misfortune but… His term of office at Defra was short and undistinguished – 22 months dominated by floods (where he spoke…
Andre Farrar of the RSPB talks to BAWC’s Charlie Moores in the latest of these excellent podcasts: ‘Back then we had double figures pairs of hen harriers [in the Forest of Bowland]’ ‘It was quite a shock…the visceral loathing that gamekeepers had for Hen Harriers’ ‘Little’s changed over the intervening 30 years – except…
I did the second visit to ‘my’ Wildflowers Count survey square recently. It was a nice walk on a hot sunny day with a pub at the far side of the square – what’s not to like about that? I am now much better acquainted with black horehound and marsh woundwort than previously. Because this…
Hen Harrier Day, 10 August 2014 – general information (see below for info specifically on the Peak District ‘event’) Due to circumstances beyond their control, and rather frustratingly for them, Birders Against Wildlife Crime have had to cancel the planned Yorkshire Hen Harrier day event. Things are also looking doubtful for Cumbria, I believe. But…
David Agombar is Major Donors Manager at RSPB where he has worked for the last 12 years inspiring individuals to fund many vital conservation projects. Not the least of these is the Albatross Task Force. He is a bit of a seabird enthusiast having worked on the Farne Islands in his younger days. He is…
Oscar writes: Great Thrush: I took this from just outside my room at Wayqecha Biological Research Station in Peru, just outside Manu National Park. Great Thrushes were one of the most common birds up there and were regularly seen around the buildings. I had been hoping that something would land on this lichen-encrusted branch, so…
In a month’s time, if history is any guide, you will be publishing some puff pieces about grouse shooting and the Glorious 12th. Be aware, that this year is different – public opinion is turning against this ecologically damaging ‘sport’ and largely economically irrelevant ‘industry’. This is what…
Here I am talking to BAWC‘s Charlie Moores to raise the profile of Hen Harriers and Hen Harrier Day – click here to hear why I launched this e-petition. ‘A very long time – and almost complete failure – there are fewer Hen Harriers now…’ ‘Things have got worse – they haven’t got better’…
This week I’m going to talk about three books – all about the extinct Passenger Pigeon. The first of these is a classic if you are interested in the story of the Passenger Pigeon – AW Schorger’s The Passenger Pigeon: its natural history and extinction. This time last year, I probably consulted Schorger every day…