Saturday cartoon by Ralph Underhill
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RSPB calls on NE to act (Bowland Gull Cull 1)
RSPB press release: The RSPB has learned that large numbers of protected birds are being killed on a grouse moor in Lancashire. A RSPB staff member working in the Bowland area discovered two estate workers shooting nesting lesser black-backed gulls – on a grouse moor managed by the Abbeystead Estate – leaving their chicks to be…
A few things
A few things that caught my eye this week: Bee-eaters in the Guardian my Tree Bumblebees have now ended their stay in my bird box The Times carried an obituary of Stephen Tindale today on Wednesday, when the plague of ants caused anguish at Wimbledon, the Black-headed Gulls were feasting on them in the air…
Important new seabird data from 5-year GPS study
Over a 5-year period, 1300 seabirds of four species (Shag, Kittiwake, Razorbill and Guillemot) were tracked to see where they went when foraging from their breeding colonies. These data were then applied to all breeding colonies around the UK to produce predictive maps of marine use by these four species. these predictive maps could be…
Stephen Tindale 1963-2017
I learned earlier this week of the sad passing of Stephen Tindale. Stephen was one of the most thoughtful environmental thinkers of his generation and a skilled campaigner. Stephen was director of Green Alliance (1996-97), and from there moved to be Special Advisor for Michael Meacher (1997-99) when Michael was an environment minister in the…
Getting antsy about ants
Every year there is ‘flying ant day’ – although it is usually a lot more than a single day. This is when the small black garden ant takes to the air for aerial sex – yes, love is in the air! The video above from the Sussex Wildlife Trust shows some of what is happening….
Białowieża forest update
Yesterday UNESCO called on the Polish government to halt the logging of the World Heritage Site of Białowieża forest. This is good news – but will the Polish government listen? Most governments would be highly embarrassed to be hosting an international summit and be criticised for its actions by its guests. UNESCO’s 41st World Heritage…
Today’s yesterdays
The Today programme, increasingly irritating but still necessary listening on Radio 4 mornings six days a week, will be 60 years old in October. And to celebrate, it’s asking its listeners what have been the major changes in the world in that time and over recent years. As usual, in their pick of issues yesterday…
Pro grouse shooting MPs investigated
I keep an eye on the ups and downs of the politicians who have played any part in the debates over the future of driven grouse shooting and other topics which interest me. Four MPs are being investigated by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards – two of the four are Conservative MPs with seats in…
Are you inspired by Hen Harriers in the PDNP?
Are you inspired by Hen Harriers in the PDNP? Would you like to be? Then this is your opportunity – complete the consultation by the end of July. The whole plan is very weak on biodiversity preferring to talk about people all the time. I’ll come back to this. Many thanks to Bob Berzins…