30/08/2024
Finally emerging from 'swift lockdown' - https://mailchi.mp/726bd044b271/news-from-start-birding-17223786
Join indoor or outdoor classes and learn about birds and their story. Beginners welcome. Based in Leeds.
Learn how to use your binoculars with speed and accuracy; how to find the bird you've seen in your bird book and how to identify birds by their songs and calls. Choosing a birdwatching guide will help you to learn about birds more quickly and you'll discover just how many species it's possible to see where you live. Book a class and you'll receive a friendly, professional service and a list of all the birds seen on your visit.
Finally emerging from 'swift lockdown' - https://mailchi.mp/726bd044b271/news-from-start-birding-17223786
On World Environment day, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust shares The State of Yorkshire’s Nature report. Download via the link
The first ever State of Yorkshire's Nature report sets out how Yorkshire's wildlife is fairing.
Almost 'swift lockdown' - https://mailchi.mp/0fb620e924d0/news-from-start-birding-16533916
This is terrible news! I couldn’t get through a summer without hearing the amazing song of a blackbird. If you have a garden, you might like to help the BTO with their very important survey. If this virus is marching northwards towards Yorkshire, we may start to see the drastic effects very soon.
Mystery solved about our visiting bearded vulture in 2020
In case you missed it
https://www.facebook.com/100064728907772/posts/847190350781921/?
Peak birdsong season - https://mailchi.mp/5d9538b45241/news-from-start-birding-16532196
Just back from a great tour in Suffolk with “hotter than Spain” weather, fantastic company and lots of wonderful birds including Dartford Warbler, Stone Curlew, Nightingale, Hobby, Barnacle Geese with chicks, lots of Avocets, Bittern and Cuckoo. Contact [email protected] for details of all classes and my next residential tour.
I’d love to go to this and show my support but I’ll be in Leeds rehabbing grounded swifts, swallows and martins.
Rivers choking on pollution, precious woodlands destroyed, seas overfished & peat bogs burned. Nature in the UK is being assaulted.
Our swifts are here! - https://mailchi.mp/10834ba98f87/news-from-start-birding-16531268
News about the Leeds Birdfair
https://www.facebook.com/100068128098787/posts/766017412345855/?
Sorry to disappoint all you lovely Leeds Birdfair supporters but the event is on hold at the moment. We hope to be back soon at a new venue and at a different time of the year.
I’m immensely grateful to all the volunteers at Rodley Nature Reserve for hosting and supporting this enjoyable event since our first Birdfair in 2016. I was so pleased that we were able go ahead last year after 2 years of pandemic restrictions and a year with mechanical problems when the new access bridge over the canal was installed.
During that pause, I became heavily involved in rehabbing grounded swifts (for Leeds Swifts) the first of which arrive in early May, which is why last year’s event was brought forward from the end of June. By that time I could have up to 40 birds all needing feeding by hand every hour. Consequently, organising spring and early summer events has become too hair raising to contemplate.
Added to this, Rodley no longer has sufficient volunteers to be able to run such a big event and bringing the event forward to May has complicated this for them with it coinciding with holiday times. The Reserve has to rely on the cricket club to be able to use their parking facilities which cannot be guaranteed in the summer months. Also, I’ve been offered some really interesting talks by conservation experts and the Reserve is unable to accommodate talks and workshops due to lack of space.
Over the next few weeks I’ll be looking at venues in Leeds with the hope that we can relaunch the Leeds Birdfair very soon with an exciting programme of events. Watch this space. I’ll also be looking for a team of volunteers to help get the event back on the Leeds calendar. Contact me at [email protected] if you’d like to help
Linda at Start Birding
Yorkshire birdsong - https://mailchi.mp/46138033dc87/news-from-start-birding-16527864
This is encouraging! Let’s hope it puts an end to raptor persecution in (ashamedly) one of the worst places in the UK
Press release from North Yorkshire Police (18 April 2024): HEN HARRIER OPERATION ON THE HUNT FOR SUSPECTS IN THE YORKSHIRE DALES On Wednesday, (17 April 2024), a National Harrier Task Force operati…
A fantastic spring day in Nidderdale yesterday visiting Gowthwaite, Scar House and the moorland above. Lovely to see so many species including dipper, grey wagtail, pied flycatcher, barn owl, swallows and martins, moorland waders, red grouse, ring ouzel, wheatear, siskin, redpoll and crossbills.
Come and see my Start Birding stall at Otley Green Fair today from 10am to 4pm at the Otley Courthouse. I’m here to answer all your questions about birds in the area, migration, bird biology and swift conservation
Migration Celebration - https://mailchi.mp/fc9e80c0c594/news-from-start-birding-16504364
When I explain why we have to be careful not to disclose the nest sites of birds I'm often met with disbelief that people still collect bird eggs
Press release from Norfolk Constabulary (20th February 2024): Norfolk man illegally collected almost 3,000 eggs A prolific egg collector has admitted illegally hoarding thousands of rare birds’ egg…
The amazing Mark Pearson is training to run a half marathon for fellow rehabber Jean Thorpe who rescues and returns so many of our injured and persecuted birds of prey back into the wild. Here’s how you can help
Weʼre raising money to help Jean Thorpe Wildlife Rescue rehabilitate raptors and other wildlife by running a Half Marathon on 28th April!. Support this JustGiving Crowdfunding Page.
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Looking for signs of spring - https://mailchi.mp/9be51d643c3a/news-from-start-birding-10445296
Fascinating research revealing yet more incredible migration journeys by waders
Researchers have built on our understanding of Whimbrel migration by fitting 13 young birds with GPS trackers in an effort to reveal how they undertake their first journey to West Africa. They found that young birds performed less direct migrations.
Twice this month that I’ve heard wonderful news about choughs. First, the successful release of birds in Kent missing in the county for 200 years and now this. I wonder how long we’ll have to wait before we see them in Leeds!
Cornwall Wildlife Trust has revealed that Chough are being away from coastal hot-spots in the county with regularity, suggesting that the species might now be spreading inland.
Such a brilliant article and so well said Lucy McRobert. Bravely written. I despair at times but take heart. Each year I’m encountering a growing community of genuinely interested people who are keen to learn more about our wildlife, the challenges faced by each species, our part in their decline and how we can help.
More people than ever are professing an interest in nature, but the evidence shows a worrying lack of understanding when it comes to wildlife. Lucy McRobert looks at why this is important and what can be done about it.
It’s bad enough that people shoot and then dump pheasants but this makes me very, very angry! Such beautiful, native birds that so many of us love to see.
In response to yesterday’s blog where I wrote about the latest reported incident of the illegal fly-tipping of shot gamebirds (pheasants in Gloucestershire – here), blog reader Paul Bra…
A fabulous fortnight - https://mailchi.mp/30834c6a0848/news-from-start-birding-10442976
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Fabulous spring moorland birding this week with lots of waders breeding/passing through and these guys repairing last year’s nests
Only 2 more sleeps until my 2022 north and west Norfolk tour. Looking forward to seeing flocks of pink-footed geese and swirling clouds of knot on The Wash
Fabulous day at Teesside yesterday. Lovely company, beautiful sunshine and these guys! (Excuse the camera shake)
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