It was good to hear bird/poultry flu on BBC Radio 4 Today programme this morning but the interview between Justin Webb and the Chief Vet, Christine Middlemiss (just after 07:30), just exposed the fact that both were operating off a smattering of knowledge about the subject when it comes to wild birds. That’s OK for…
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Latest weekly bird/poultry flu update from Defra – for what it’s worth
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This week’s woefully inadequate update of bird/poultry flu in wild birds from Defra shows positive cases in seabirds (Gannet, Great Skua, Guillemot, Puffin, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull and Great Black-backed Gull), some swans and geese and another White-tailed Eagle. The positive records come from Shetland to the south coast of England. Little can be drawn…
Press release – Trees for Life, Beaver consultation
Bid to make Glen Affric Scotland’s next beaver release site A community consultation that will help decide whether beavers are reintroduced to Glen Affric has been launched in the Scottish Highlands, led by Trees for Life. The rewilding charity is carrying out the consultation on behalf of four private landowners and Forestry and Land Scotland,…
RSPB press release – White-tailed Eagles
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Iconic white-tailed eagles celebrate silver anniversary with 25th chick A pair of white-tailed eagles on Mull have recently celebrated their 25th anniversary by successfully fledging their 25th chick. Skye and Frisa are the UK’s oldest known white-tailed eagle pair at 28 and 30 years old respectively. They paired up in 1997 and had their first chick the following…
It’s always touching to get a personal reply from a Minister of the Crown
Bird/Poultry flu. A couple of days ago the RSPB sent out a strongly worded press release, which I reproduced here, which was entitled ‘Defra asleep at the wheel in bird flu emergency’. I tweeted about it later that day: I received a response from Richard Benyon himself: It’s always good to have got a Minister’s…
RSPB press release – Bee-eaters hatch chicks in Norfolk
Rare bee-eaters right at home in Costa del Cromer: but it’s a red alert for global warming Rare bee-eater chicks have hatched in a Norfolk quarry amid the UK’s first ever red warning for heat. Having previously been rare visitors, breeding attempts by these brightly-coloured birds are increasing in the UK, with six recorded in…
RSPB press release – Defra asleep at the wheel during bird flu emergency
The RSPB is calling on the Westminster government to respond to the unfolding bird flu emergency and bring together a task force of experts to deal with the current outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) currently killing tens of thousands of wild birds across the UK. A new virulent form of bird flu that…
Sunday book review – Swan by Dan Keel
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This is a book for everyone, as Mute Swans, the main character in this book, are one of the few species that most people can identify because they are large, tame, white and common. We all know things about swans – they can break your arm just by looking at you (or at least flapping…
Sunday book review – Land Healer by Jake Fiennes
This is a very fine book which will, deservedly, be in many lists of ‘books of the year’ for 2022, including in my own. For it deals with important issues and it is very well written. Also, it is in many ways based on three legs, appropriately enough for an ex-gamekeeper, of knowing much…
Press release – Internationally protected Coul Links once again under threat from golf course
Conservation Coalition concerned by new plans that would damage nature A coalition of seven environmental organisations has expressed concern over new plans for a golf course at Coul Links in East Sutherland. In June 2022, a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) was submitted to The Highland Council, by developer C4C. This notice lets the…