A new open access research paper reviews 114 studies on lead contamination in European raptors. Lead exposure in birds has been studied extensively for more than 50 years, so it is no surprise that this latest study found evidence for the high occurrence of contamination, especially in scavengers. Monclús, L., Shore, R.F. & Krone, [...]
The use of reintroduction techniques to restore extirpated native species is a fantastic conservation tool. In my mind, that we have to resort to reintroductions is a consequence of past failures to look after our biodiversity, but we live and we learn. The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world [...]
The Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Waterbird Conservation, known as AEWA, was signed on 16 June 1995 in The Hague, the Netherlands. AEWA is an intergovernmental treaty dedicated to conserving migratory waterbirds across Africa and Eurasia encompassing 119 countries of which 80 are currently Contracting Parties. It is the largest legally binding instrument [...]
The way the uplands of the UK are managed has been an ongoing discussion for decades but never before has the spotlight been so bright. Should the emphasis be on farming, forestry, renewable energy, carbon storage, flood protection, biodiversity, outdoor recreation/tourism or intensive sporting management (primarily driven grouse shooting)? Arguably, and without looking up [...]
Today is International Dawn Chorus Day – it is the first Sunday of May each year. My perception is that there’s been a lot more promotion of Dawn Chorus Day this year than I previously remember? I’m usually an early riser and tend to get out on the local patch at first light, which [...]
Langholm Moor will be known to many people as a place where some clever research was done to look at Hen Harriers and grouse moor management. There has been lots written about this, but for further reading the project website is a good starting point: Langholm Moor Demonstration Project, neatly summed up by Dr Mark [...]
Rather spookily I’ve been reminded of my PhD twice in the last few hours. This morning, whilst looking up a reference, I came across an old paper* of mine in Wader Study Group Bulletin (now Wader Study) and then over lunch there was a Tweet on my Twitter feed from Georgie Bray who is [...]
I’ve been hugely fortunate to have worked on the Critically Endangered Sociable Lapwing for the last 15 years, not just because it is a fabulous study species that has taken me to some wonderful places, but also because I’ve had the privilege of working with many great colleagues (indeed friends). A significant component of [...]
At the turn of the year I decided to keep a record of my UK birding trips and calculate the amount of carbon they generate. During the month of January my UK birding resulted in 0.139 tonnes of carbon and 114 bird species recorded. February was a relatively quiet month for birding in the [...]
I used to be a conservation optimist but I’m increasingly pessimistic about our chances of saving species from extinction and habitats from continued destruction and degradation. There is no doubt we have the tools and knowledge but I just don’t see the political will and global leadership. However, whenever I visit Sonadia Island in [...]
