Mark writes: The reward for information about the deaths of 12 Red Kites and four Buzzards in Ross-shire keeps increasing; £5k from the RSPB, £5k from an anonymous donor and over £1k from the public so far. To contribute, visit this Just Giving page. Do Wood Ducks cross the Atlantic sometimes? And did the…
BLOG POSTS
Saturday cartoon by Ralph Underhill
Mark writes: Ralph’s cartoon reminds me of a speech by Robert Kennedy as follows: University of Kansas, March 18, 1968 ‘Our Gross National Product, now, is over $800 billion dollars a year, but that Gross National Product – if we judge the United States of America by that – that Gross National Product counts air…
That makes a lot of sense
The pilot badger cull was inhumane and ineffective. The NFU says that farmers are ‘bitterly disappointed’ that it won’t be rolled out further.
Guest Blog – Where is the UK’s Youth Nature Conservation Movement? by Danny Heptinstall
Danny Heptinstall is a 24 year old birder, naturalist and aspiring conservationist currently researching red kites at the University of Aberdeen. Here he presents a shortened version of an article that asks “Where is the UK’s Youth Conservation Movement, and what can be done to find it?” I’m a young conservationist, and I get annoyed…
Guest blog – Let’s not let our wildlife-rich grasslands fade away by Colin Raven
I can trace my interest in nature back to childhood walks in the 1960s with my grandparents and their whippet Rip, to West Meadow and Lord’s Ground near the fenland village of Willingham in Cambridgeshire. With their tall hedgerow elms and a kaleidoscope of wildflowers, these ancient pastures, teeming with rabbits for Rip to chase,…
Letter to my MP – response from Defra 3
The last part of the letter I received from Defra, via my MP Andy Sawford, was as follows: ‘4. Dr Avery asks about the main animal welfare concerns surrounding the rearing and release of pheasants and red-legged partridges. It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) to cause any unnecessary suffering to an…
More bits
isn’t this result on whaling absolutely fantastic (see also here, here, here)? I heard my first Blackcap this spring at Stanwick Lakes on Monday – a March Blackcap IPCC – we’re doomed, but not if we do something (lots, soon) BGBW results I was distracted a few times in a meeting the other day by…
Botany
I’m not very good on flowers – but I know what I like. I like the spring and I have noticed, at least I think I have noticed, that there are lots of yellow flowers around at this time of year. As well as the daffodils and primroses, there are aconites and celandines, and I…
A new month
Since it is a new month I have decided to turn over a new leaf. From now on I will: take up game shooting vote Conservative enjoy Flat racing more than National Hunt racing give up going to Stanwick Lakes take up botany give up birding stop being vegetarian four days a week give up…
Letter to my MP – response from Defra 2
Following this morning’s blog… I also asked: 2. What are the economic costs of road traffic accidents caused by Pheasants? and here is Defra’s reply: ‘2. Defra does not currently hold information relating to the economic costs of road traffic accidents caused by pheasants or red-legged partridge and is not aware that such information is…