Last week’s blog about switching my membership from the National Trust to the National Trust for Scotland attracted a lot of views and over 50 comments. The comments, both here and on social media, were very varied and ranged from ‘did that ages ago myself’ to ‘you have no right to do that’ and from…
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Where next?
The RSPB has pulled out of the failed Peak District Bird of Prey Initiative – well done, a bit slow, but good for them. It’s interesting that this closely followed the publication on the RPUK blog of the intended press release about the failure of the project over recent years and the publication of an…
RSPB members signing up for licensing
The RSPB has used its campaign email to encourage signatures for Ed Hutchings’s e-petition in favour of licensing of grouse shooting. This is good to see. This has pushed the signature total over 4000 so it’s heading upwards at a reasonable pace and looks set to double its numbers of yesterday morning by close of…
When will Jeremy Corbyn make an environment speech?
We’ve had Theresa May’s environment speech – I’m looking forward to Jeremy Corbyn’s now (please). There are some great advantages that a left-leaning philosophy has over a right-leaning one when it comes to the environment at all times and at these times: you can attack the market for failing (which it does) to deliver for…
We are 11,400 ahead
Here is an update on three e-petitions about grouse shooting: Gavin Gamble’s e-petition in favour of banning driven grouse shooting – c26,115 signatures Jane Griggs’s e-petition supporting grouse shooting – c14,714 signatures Ed Hutchings’s e-petition in favour of licensing grouse shooting – c2,390 signatures Last week saw the ‘Gamble-ban’ e-petition adding another 570 signatures and…
Young people in Birdwatch
The post came early enough this morning for me to grab the latest Birdwatch magazine (February) on my way out to the station. And I always first turn to my column to remind myself of what I wrote over a month ago – and so, by now, I’ve written another column (March) and am thinking…
Guest blog – Driven Grouse Shooting on Borrowed Time by RSPB chair Kevin Cox
Kevin Cox was appointed Chair of RSPB Council in October 2017, having previously served on Council from 2011-2016. He has been a Council member and trustee of World Land Trust for the past 12 years, as well as Chair of its trading company. He helped Birdlife Bolivia set up a protected area for the critically-endangered…
Paul Leyland – Scaeva pyrastri
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This is a great hoverfly to come across on a summer walk. In a good year it is widespread throughout England & Wales but more thinly spread in Scotland. It occurs in a variety of habitats where nectar rich flowers are growing. It is very active and an expert flyer, so is easily seen amongst…
Bird flu – which birds (2)?
This blog follows on from an earlier post today. I’m interested, mainly because I am interested in birds, but also because I am interested in ecology, and also because I have reason to be interested in the impacts of avian flu on poultry keepers, in how commercial poultry flocks get avian influenza and the role…
Bird flu – which birds?
It looked as though we might get through this winter without avian flu arriving on our shores but no such luck. After the first case was detected at the swannery at Abbotsbury there is now another case involving 13 wild birds in Warwickshire. Let’s hope that there are no more cases affecting poultry and poultry…