Yesterday’s two blog posts on the decision of Natural England to license the taking of a very small number of Peregrine chicks for captive breeding by falconers caused quite a storm (see here and here). Here are my thoughts: Many thanks to Gary Wall for writing a blog and for responding to all of the…
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Guest blog – taking Peregrines from the wild for falconry by Gary Wall
Mark writes: Gary Wall is a falconer and I’m grateful that he took up my offer to write about the licence he has been issued by Natural England to take a small number of Peregrine Falcons from the wild. This blog gives more detail and background. Gary writes: Having been a falconer for 47 years…
Natural England issues licences to take Peregrines from the wild
I’m interested to see that Natural England has issued licences for falconers to take 2 Peregrine chicks from the wild in order to establish a stud book of British Peregrines. I’m not sure how I feel about this. I would like to know what are the licence conditions and from where it is envisaged that…
World Land Trust
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…
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
Comments Off on A message about A Message from Martha
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…