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 from Leigh Day on legal challenge to brood meddling

Mark 8 Comments

5 March 2018 Campaigners are challenging the legality of Natural England‘s controversial decision to grant a licence for the ‘brood management’ of a protected bird of prey, the Hen Harrier. Brood management involves removing young harriers from nests, rearing them in captivity and then releasing them back into the wild. Natural England, the government’s adviser…

Peak Park Mismanagement – who introduced the Ostriches?

Mark 12 Comments

In a consultation document similar to the one above, the Peak District National Park introduces the Ostrich into the uplands of England.  Rarely has a public body been seen to stick its head into the peat, but that’s what the Peak District NP is doing. Last year the PDNPA consulted on its draft plans for…

Good news from Cyprus

Mark 8 Comments

Press release from RSPB and BirdLife Cyprus:   Number of songbirds illegally trapped on UK military base in Cyprus falls more than 70% Latest report estimates a fall of 70% in the number birds illegally killed on British military base in Cyprus last autumn. The reduction is due in large part to work by RSPB…

A rather dull post – but it might be to your advantage

Mark 21 Comments

This blog was down for a few days a little while ago while something that doesn’t mean anything to me was fixed so that everything worked properly again. It’s magic as far as I’m concerned. However, now, for a while, I’m on a monthly payment scheme which allows me to get technical work done on…