BBS 2016

This report of bird population trends as measured by the Breeding Bird Survey (and Waterways Breeding Bird Survey) is the result of, first, the voluntary work of around 3000 volunteers (including me) who collected the data, followed by the analytical and presentational skills of BTO staff aided by JNCC and the RSPB. There are two…

The Well-Read Naturalist (1)

I have to admit that John (Johannes) Riutta’s excellent website, The Well-Read Naturalist, first came to my attention when he wrote a very kind review of my A Message from Martha, but I have been dipping into it regularly ever since. I like the ethos of the site ‘The Well-read Naturalist publishes reviews and news…

Birdwatch and British Wildlife

I didn’t plan it, but if I’d thought about it then maybe I would have done. In my columns in the current issues of British Wildlife and Birdwatch I discuss two issues where opinions differ. In British Wildlife I discuss the rather poor working relationship between animal welfare organisations and nature conservation organisations and contrast…

Your species champions at Westminster

Westminster MPs have stepped forward to become champions for different endangered species (and a similar scheme exists in Scotland).  There is an interesting article about this in the current BBC Wildlife Magazine written by James Fair. I’m quoted in the article and my point is whether these MPs will speak out for their species on…

Trusted trustees (3) – Sir John Randall

Former Conservative MP for Uxbridge (1997 by-election until 2010), and then for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (until 2015), Sir John Randall is a birder and trustee of the RSPB – although he has just had to resign after being made the Number 10 Policy Unit’s Special Advisor on the environment. John was a parliamentarian with…