Standing up for Nature
Today’s the last chance to have a go at this simple little quiz. Any entries to be posted as comments on this blog by 10pm. Which five species of bird have I seen over the years at Stanwick Lakes and omitted from the list? A signed copy of A Message from Martha or…
The good thing about this strange statement from the NFU is that they are wanting more vaccination of badgers. One of the strange things is that they seem to think that it is the job of wildlife charities to provide it rather than their own industry or government. This represents, it appears, quite a lurch…
Dr Dave Leech is a Senior Research Ecologist at BTO, where I oversee the Nest Record Scheme (NRS) and the two standardised ringing projects, the Constant Effort Site (CES) scheme and the Retrapping Adults for Survival (RAS) scheme. My job involves developing survey methodology, analysing data and communicating the results to volunteers and the general…
This infographic has been sent to MPs by the Moorland Association and BASC recently. It allows me to make a few points. 1. They say: ‘Managing heather helps preserve and protect UK’s biggest carbon store‘. Not so according to The Times (1 October) reporting a recent study by Leeds University : ‘The owners of…
Dear Andy I hope you are well. I’ll be coming to parliament a week today on a rally organised by the RSPB, the Wildlife Trusts and the League Against Cruel Sports, and supported by some other countryside organisations too. If you are around and could spare a few moments to talk then I’d be very…
It seems like the grouse shooters are in a corner and they are not sure what to do next. So they are falling back on the tactic that has served them well up until now – do nothing, give no ground, wait and see. Grouse shooting is in a corner – a corner of its…
Oscar writes: While walking through a heathland last year I came across a family of Stonechats moving through the heather. I positioned myself slightly ahead of them and waited for them to come closer, which, luckily for me, they did. This image shows the two young birds perched on top of a clump of…
I seem to have reviewed 32 books on this site in 2014. They are all listed below. Reviewing books is a personal affair. I try not to say that books are good or bad – only that I like them or not. From that, you’ll have to make your own minds up. And I know…
Ralph says: ‘Black Friday causes Santa to have existential crisis‘
very nice blog by Findlay Wilde about coming runner up in the Animal Hero awards. I’m quite jealous that Findlay has had his photo taken with Brian May, but then Bohemian Rhapsody was at No 1 when I heard I had a place at Cambridge. Well done to Dominik Reynolds who won the award…