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Migrant Bird Persecution in Malta - Optics
Appeal
An appeal for unwanted optical equipment to aid the struggle against persecution of migrant birds in Malta.
My name is Peter Grice and I am a fully accredited, full-time volunteer with the Wildlife Section of Lancashire Constabulary, working directly for the Force Wildlife Officer, Duncan Thomas, dealing with all aspects of wildlife issues. My speciality is birds of prey.
During September 2007, several colleagues and I attended a Birdlife Raptor Camp held on the island of Malta. We were there to observe the illegal shooting of birds (with special emphasis on raptors) as they passed over the island on their way South.
Our remit was twofold: to monitor the raptor migration and to liase with the ALE (Administrative Law Enforcement) and the local Police with regard to illegal shooting incidents. It soon became apparent that the Law Enforcement Agencies were woefully ill equipped and especially suffering from a lack of decent optical equipment.
We intend to try and remedy this is 2008 by asking people if they would kindly consider donating any spare optical equipment they may have. This will be taken out or posted to the Birdlife Malta officials who will in turn pass it on to the various Law Enforcement Agencies based on Gozo and Malta.
If anyone has any queries with regards to any of the above or would like further information with regard to shooting issues on Malta, please feel free to contact me at any time.
Thank you
Peter Grice
136 Printers Fold
Burnley
Lancashire
BB12 6PU
01282-773477 or 07870-283517
The Lancashire Wildlife Trust is holding discussions with the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company and the Port of Liverpool Police with a view to increasing the number of birdwatchers allowed access to Seaforth Nature Reserve.
Entry to the Port of Liverpool is tightly controlled under international regulations regarding port security and anyone entering the docks is required to hold a personal pass and vehicle pass issued by the Port Police.
The Port Police and MDHC have indicated their willingness to increase the number of these passes issued to birdwatchers.
The existing system whereby groups or individuals can gain access provided they give 7 days notice will not be affected.
In order to gauge the likely demand for passes LWT is asking birders to indicate whether they would be likely to apply if they do become available. At the moment we have no clear idea of how many passes are likely to be issued. The likely cost will be in the region of £5 per annum to cover the Port Police’s admin costs.
In order to qualify, birders must be or become members of the Lancashire Wildlife Trust. Pass-holders will be expected to visit the reserve on a fairly regular basis – people just looking for an insurance policy against the next (long overdue) North American passerine need not apply!
Please note that every visitor needs a pass, a vehicle pass does not give entitlement to bring non-passholders into the docks.
Please let me know if you think you are likely to apply for a pass, by email to swhite@lancswt.org.uk or by writing to Seaforth Nature Reserve, Port of Liverpool, L21 1JD.
Please let me know everyone’s names and email and postal addresses.
I’ll keep everyone in touch with progress on negotiations but am very optimistic of their success.
Steve White, 27th July 2007.
Help save the Isle of Lewis Peatlands
The RSPB has been heavily engaged with proposals for a giant wind farm on the island of Lewis. We are now urgently trying to raise awareness of revised proposals which have come forward from the developer, as people now have an opportunity to object - but they need to do this before the end of January. I would be grateful if you could publish the following note on your website as we are very keen to ensure your readers are aware that we are doing all we can to stop this development and to get their help. The situation is moving fast - we are currently reviewing the full Environmental Statement - and we will update our website in January with more information.
You may be aware that a revised planning application was submitted on 12th December by Lewis Wind Power (British Energy/AMEC) for a giant wind farm on Lewis. Most of the turbines and associated infrastructure are still located on the Lewis Peatlands SPA.
The developer has made changes to the layout and reduced the number of turbines - partly to minimise bird impacts, but we remain gravely concerned. Despite the changes, the development remains huge in scale: 181 wind turbines, each 140 metres tall, on an area designated for its special wildlife. There would be over 30
kilometres (27 miles) of overhead cables supported by 137 pylons (each 27 metres high), with a similar length again of cable underground; plus turbine foundations (each around 1000 cubic metres), hard standings, roads, quarries and no fewer than 8 electrical substations.
Lewis Wind Power believe they have addressed the threats to key bird species – including
Golden Eagles, Red-throated and Black-throated Divers, Merlin – by moving turbines, creating ‘buffer zones’ and offering ‘mitigation’ for habitat loss. They say the damage that will occur is justified – we strongly disagree.
We are especially concerned about the impacts of this development on dunlin and golden plover, which breed here in very high densities. We do not see how the developers can avoid causing serious damage to these populations.
The moor is a very special place, both in national and international terms. The fragile peatland habitat (blanket bog) is found only in a few areas in the world, and though the turbines could be taken down after the lifetime of the development , the supporting infrastructure would cause irreversible damage to the structure of the peat, altering the water pattern and soil make-up forever. Our independent peat expert advises us that the developers have seriously under-estimated the damage to the habitat.
The developers seek to justify all this on the grounds that the development would bring an interconnector allowing electricity to be exported from the Western Isles to the mainland. This, they argue, would enable the Isles to be developed as a renewable energy powerhouse, creating local employment and bringing much-needed income to the community. We simply don’t believe that it is worth damaging such a valuable place, when there are viable alternatives. An interconnector to the Western Isles can be delivered without this development. We need renewable developments to help us in the fight against climate change, but if we are trying to protect the environment, the last place we should put them is on one of the best wildlife sites in Europe. The Scottish Executive’s own research shows that Scotland can exceed its renewable energy targets without the need for development on sensitive sites such as this.
The RSPB will be objecting to this wind farm in the strongest terms – but we are only one voice. The more objections the Executive receives, the more ministers will have to listen to our arguments.
That is why I am asking you, at a time when you will have Christmas and other things on your mind, to take the time to write a letter or e-mail objecting to this development. Objections need to be with the Scottish Executive by the end of January. Please send a letter to Consents and Emergency Planning Unit, Scottish Executive, Meridian Court, 5 Cadogan Street, Glasgow G2 6AT or
e-mail.
Further information about what is proposed is available from:
our website, where we will be posting information as well as our objection letter as soon as we have had a chance to review the developer’s Environmental Statement (which runs to hundreds of pages!)
the developers' website.
Please help us stop this development – and thank you for your support.
Martin Scott
RSPB Conservation Officer, Western Isles
Volunteering at Marton Mere
With the New Year approaching you may find yourself thinking of ways to get more out life. Maybe you’re fed up of your routine - looking for a challenge, a new experience or a change of scene.
Well look no further because Blackpool Council’s Park Ranger Service and the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers are kicking off January with two new and exciting schemes! You are being offered the opportunity to get involved in the management of your local parks and nature reserves as well care for the people and wildlife within them.
Blackpool’s Park Ranger Service require a dedicated band of Volunteer Rangers to support the work of their service. The volunteers will support the service with a wide variety of duties such as conservation work, public events, litter picking and patrols and public liaison. The Volunteer Rangers will work from Stanley Park Offices and Marton Mere Nature Reserve but will be expected to work throughout the borough. A basic uniform, formal induction as well as training workshops will be provided free of charge.
Anyone wishing to find out more is advised to come along to a Volunteer Ranger drop-in recruitment session either on Wednesday January 24th
from 4.00pm – 7.00pm or Saturday January 27th from 10.00am – 12.00pm at Stanley Park Offices, West Park Drive (in front of
Myerscough College Garden Centre).
Alternatively you can contact the Park Ranger Service direct on 01253-478478 or download an application pack from their
website
You may also apply through Blackpool’s Volunteering
Centre.
Cllr David Owen, Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, said: “Volunteering is a great pastime that has made an immeasurable contribution to communities, organizations and individuals across the country. Today’s volunteers are active, dynamic, creative individuals who possess the skills, desire, patience and time to accomplish a wide variety of exciting and rewarding tasks.”
He added: “Our parks, open spaces, nature reserves and trails are there for everyone to enjoy because many people have served over the years to preserve, protect and improve them but volunteering is not just beneficial for Blackpool’s green spaces, it benefits you too.
It can give you the opportunity to pursue a special interest such as walking, natural, history, teaching, spending time outdoors, enjoying the company of fellow volunteers and visitors and can give you a new perspective of other facets of your life.”
The second scheme, primarily targeted at young people, is a nationwide, charity run initiative from the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) who have created a new youth volunteering charity, simply known as V.
Over 3,000 opportunities for volunteering have been created for young people nationally and some 63 organisations share £10 million of grants from the charity and now the young people of Blackpool are to benefit as well!
Blackpool Council has become involved in a partnership with the BTCV to launch their project Greenday here in Blackpool in January 2007. Young people can become involved in conservation full days or half days at a number of locations across the borough including Stanley Park, Kincraig Lake, Woodland Gardens and Marton Mere Local Nature Reserve.
Cllr Ivan Taylor, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “The V funding gives us a real opportunity to get young people in Blackpool volunteering in a way that makes a difference to both them and their town. They will be able to get involved in new and exciting projects like helping make Blackpool a better place to live and helping preserve and protect their local environment for future generations whilst learning valuable new skills.”
The project days will begin in January 2007. Further information can be obtained by contacting Sonia Edwards, North Lancashire Project Officer, and BTCV. Tel. 01772-204647
or visit BTCV.
Vandalism at Marton Mere
Marton Mere has suffered many separate incidents of serious
vandalism in the past two months (two of which happened this
week). All areas of site infrastructure including hides, access
controls, signage and the water pump station and security
fencing/ machinery has been attacked. These attacks are happening
in mid week evenings during half term as well as Friday school
nights and Saturday school nights. All incidents has been
reported to the Police and they are currently gathering evidence
as well as CCTV footage from the cameras on the adjacent Marton
Mere Holiday Village. We have secured the site the best we can
through improved maintenance, increase in staff presence,
involving the Police and through a good working relationship with
the security staff at Marton Mere Holiday Village. £2,000 has
been spent in vandalism repairs and the hides have been kept open
as much as possible without leaving them too vulnerable. It would
be appreciated if people are vigilant on site while we are on a
heightened alert, reporting any suspicious behaviour to Lisa Kersey or the Police and passing on any useful
information regarding who may have done such damage.
The Birds of Lancashire
and North Merseyside - Sponsor a species
The last full avifauna of the county was Clifford Oakes’
‘Birds of Lancashire’, published over half a century
ago in 1953.
Ken Spencer published ‘The Status and Distribution of Birds
in Lancashire’ in 1973 to mark the reorganisation of local
government, which resulted in the historic boundaries being
radically altered. However, this was not the hoped for full
re-write, as Ken himself acknowledged when he stated in the
preface that he would have liked to produce “something more
expansive”.
Now at last the eagerly awaited new ‘The Birds of Lancashire
and North Merseyside’ is due for publication in March 2007.
The book is the result of much hard work by a large number of
individuals. To assist with raising the money required for
publication, birders were invited to ‘Sponsor a
species’ for only £10 per species. As of 4th October, just
55 species remain to be sponsored. They are:-
Mandarin, Green-winged Teal, Blue-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck,
Ferruginous Duck, Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Quail, Black-throated
Diver, Great Northern Diver, Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe,
Cory’s Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, Balearic Shearwater,
Little Shearwater, Shag, Glossy Ibis, Pacific Golden Plover,
American Golden Plover, Stilt Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper,
Marsh Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Arctic Skua, Common Gull,
Herring Gull, Iceland Gull, Kittiwake, Gull-billed Tern,
Guillemot, Razorbill, Little Auk, Woodpigeon, Turtle Dove, Alpine
Swift, Little Swift, Tawny Pipit, Tree Pipit, Red-throated Pipit,
Rock Pipit, Thrush Nightingale, Bluethroat, Siberian Stonechat,
Aquatic Warbler, Melodious Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Greenish
Warbler, Crested Tit, Rose-coloured Starling, Lesser Redpoll,
Arctic Redpoll, Common Redpoll, Common Rosefinch, Dark-eyed
Junco.
It would be nice to think that all species will be sponsored.
Will you please help by sponsoring one or more of them? Perhaps
one was a life tick which you first saw in the county, or maybe a
bird you particularly like.
All sponsors will be acknowledged in the book.
Contact Bob Pyefinch at 12 Bannistre Court, Tarleton, Preston,
PR4 6HA, or by telephone on 01772-814348, or email to check availability.
Please make cheques payable to ‘Lancashire and Cheshire
Fauna Society’.
wing-tagged Hen Harriers
Please report all sightings of wing-tagged Hen Harriers to David Sowter, 5 The Grove, Penwortham, Preston PR1 0UU telephone 01772-749220 or 07597-265797. For further information click here
Blackpool
Council’s Park Ranger Service
Blackpool’s new Park Ranger Service work with a variety of
partners to achieve environmental targets as well as promote,
interpret and manage Blackpool’s ecological assets. We have
organised monthly drop-in sessions to ensure Park Rangers are
available and identifiable to valued park users. If you have a
question about local wildlife or wish to find out more about our
events, activities and environmental education sessions we would
love to hear from you. Alternatively if you have an idea, comment
or concern please drop in for an informal chat.
We look forward to meeting you. Meet the rangers on the 15th of
every month 15:00–18:00 at Stanley Park visitor centre.
Taking an active role in encouraging people onto local green
space, the Rangers are committed to community projects, park
events, environmental education and training programmes as well
as wildlife conservation. The Rangers organise practical
conservation work days and manage a Volunteer Ranger Service.
You can find out more about the Rangers and how to get involved
by contacting: Head Ranger, Parks and Green Environment
Department, Blackpool Council, Stanley Park Offices, West Park
Drive, Blackpool, FY3 9HU. Telephone 01253-478478
Avian
Flu
Joint Statement from the UK and Scottish Chief Veterinary
Officers - HN1 confirmed in dead swan in Fife, Scotland
Tests from the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) have
confirmed that the sample from the swan found dead in Fife,
Scotland did contain the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian flu virus.
There is no reason for public health concern. Avian Influenza is
a disease of birds and whilst it can pass very rarely and with
difficulty, to humans this requires extremely close contact with
infected birds, particularly faeces.
If you find a dead swan, goose or duck or three or more dead
wild, or garden birds together in the same place, please report
this to Defra, via the Defra Helpline on 08459-335577. The
current Defra helpline opening hours are Monday to Friday 6:00am
to 10:00pm and Saturday and Sunday 6:00am to 10:00pm.
They may wish to have the birds examined for signs of specific
diseases. They will advise you on what action you should take.
If the dead bird is a single, small garden, or wild bird then you
do not need to call Defra.
Request
for newsletter copy
If you would like to contribute a short article for inclusion in
the Fylde Bird Club newsletter please send it to the new
newsletter Editor Kinta Beaver
Fleetwood
Marsh Nature Park
Fleetwood Marsh Nature Park is now open 7:30am-7:30pm daily.
Access via Jameson Road.
Gift Aid
As Fylde Bird Club (FBC) is now a registered charity, all
donations made to FBC qualify for Gift Aid. This means that FBC
can claim repayment of tax (an extra 28p for every pound donated)
on all donations. Donations include membership subscriptions and
sponsorship money for events organised by FBC. To qualify for
Gift Aid you must pay an amount of income tax and/or capital
gains tax at least equal to the tax that the charity reclaims on
your donations in the tax year. So, if you would like any
donations that you make to FBC to be considered Gift Aid
donations, please consider completing our Gift Aid form. The Gift Aid form can be downloaded here or please ask Paul Ellis for a copy of the Gift
Aid form at FBC monthly meetings.
RSPB
Volunteer Opportunities in the Fylde
Following great success in 2006 volunteers are once again
required for the annual Black-tailed Godwit Nestwatch at Newton Marsh. Follow
the link for all the necessary details.
For further information on any of these projects contact RSPB
Area Conservation Manager Andrew Gouldstone at the RSPB, Myerscough
college on 01995-642251.
Ribble
Discovery Centre
Walks start from the Ribble Discovery Centre, are free and
last two to three hours. Please wear stout footwear and bring warm
and waterproof clothing and a drink.
Walks may be cancelled at short notice due to extreme weather
conditions.
All participants are responsible for their own health and safety.
Talks maybe subject to change or cancellation at short notice.
Views and opinions expressed by speakers are not necessarily
those of the RSPB.
For details ask at the centre or telephone 01253-796292.
RSPB, Ribble Discovery Centre, Inner Promenade, Fairhaven, Lytham
St.Anne's FY8 1BD
Plea for more WeBS Counters
click here for details
Disturbance
to wader roosts on our coast and estuaries
A campaign is slowly forming with the aim of giving our wader
roosts some protection from disturbance. All forms of human
disturbance should be recorded, such as jet-skis, microlights,
dog-walkers etc. Large stretches of our coast and estuaries are
classified as RAMSAR Sites, SSSIs and SPAs however these
designations offer no practical protection from human
disturbance. The aim is convince the authorities that this
is a serious problem and that action must be taken. Whilst
many records of such disturbance already exist, the more we
have and the higher their quality, then the more evidence we
will have to press our case.
So if you witness disturbance please record as many of the
following as possible:
Location, date and time
Species disturbed and approximate numbers
Duration of disturbance
Reaction of birds: e.g. flew off and didn't come back
or flew around and came back
Nature of disturbance: e.g. jet-skis, dog-walkers etc
Number of people and vehicles/animals involved
If aircraft please try to note the registration number and
estimate the altitude
Please e-mail all your records of disturbance to the Fylde Bird Club
illegal hare coursing
There has been a request for help from the Police to combat illegal hare coursing in Newton Marsh.
Please make detailed notes and report anyone seen on the marsh hunting with dogs to the police
BEAT involvement
Fylde Bird Club has been invited onto the Blackpool Environmental Action Team (BEAT) Nature Watch Group run by Blackpool Borough Council's LA21 Unit
Rossall Point
The coastguard tower at Rossall Point is open to Fylde Bird Club members for seawatching. The keys are available from the Marine Hall, Fleetwood between 8am and midnight, you may need to knock on the side door if the front door is closed.
Why not convert your hobby into a recognised qualification?