tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56202739181207644742024-03-13T10:24:03.582-07:00Raptor AwarenessRaising awareness about birds of prey and bringing you upto date with all the relevant news on birds of prey and their conservation. If you have the slightest interest in raptors then hopefully you'll enjoy this web blog!Jimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15695633815896301509noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620273918120764474.post-58748606221882991922015-01-21T12:09:00.000-08:002015-01-21T12:09:43.372-08:00They said what ...............<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well the last two days have been a bit of a storm in the great Hen Harrier debacle in the UK and now the Hawk and Owl Trust have dropped a ball as my father might say, but I must say something positive about the HOT and I ask you to re-think pulling the plug on supporting them just yet!<br />
<br />
Firstly I will point out I am a HOT member and have been for a number of years so like a lot of people was shocked to read the response from their chairman Philip Merrick's in the comments section of Mark Avery's two blog posts on Brood management as a possible solution for the Hen Harrier - Grouse moor conflict.<br />
<br />
My opinion on the subject is that brood management isn't the answer and like many people before me have said putting a stop to illegal killing and then working with the game shooting industry (if possible??) should be first on the agenda. On Mr Merrick's response although I don't know him I was very surprised to read a chairman of a well respected organisation was responding to such a sensitive subject in the comments section, if I was in Mr Merrick's position I would have sat back digested what has been said or asked and maybe discussed it with my fellow trustees then formulated a response possibly in the form of a guest blogger on Mark Avery's site. What Mr Merrick's has now done is cause a bit of a PR nightmare for the HOT, upset a lot of passionate raptor conservationists and maybe even a few people behind the scenes of the HOT. I hope it doesn't affect the membership numbers and here is why I won't be cancelling my subscription just yet.<br />
<br />
I have just got in from spending a fantastic day out with one of their conservation officers Chris Sperring carrying out farm visits for the community nest box scheme he has developed as part of the HOT commitment to raptor conservation in the UK. During the day we traveled to several people who's land ranged from 10 acres to over 500 acres and showed interested in having a nest box on their land to support Barn owls, each piece of land varying in size and how far they are willing to go in habitat creation but all with one thing in common they love birds of prey.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPr4A1A71wvbeFReUW5oXvRR0Jz8UY3urdRILkKZYA1vIHa1rw2J9xkQ_MsYAg1Fdae4BTDpMF_H_3jvjOHXSh9fXa2iXejmnjF3LiY3lVqPZqKJayCH87BT4R02wugKLTpH72vepWSx47/s1600/20150121_142747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPr4A1A71wvbeFReUW5oXvRR0Jz8UY3urdRILkKZYA1vIHa1rw2J9xkQ_MsYAg1Fdae4BTDpMF_H_3jvjOHXSh9fXa2iXejmnjF3LiY3lVqPZqKJayCH87BT4R02wugKLTpH72vepWSx47/s1600/20150121_142747.jpg" height="320" width="177" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
This is where Chris and the HOT come in, the community nest box scheme is free to enter, the landowner visits are free and the box if the area is suitable is also free funded by the HOT and a small group of owl enthusiasts fund raising. Now Chris doesn't just turn up and look over the hedge and hand over a box, we went onto every patch of ground and showed the landowners evidence of field vole habitat including food stores and runs. The landowners were really fascinated and ask all sorts of questions about how Barn owls locate the voles and what else can they do. Habitat creation is discussed, field margins are implemented and passion for birds of prey is ignited. In the end hopefully the Barn owl and other wildlife will benefit and for me that's all that matters the birds, so that is why I'm not pulling the plug on my membership just yet!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1D2r9gseOCY6GX2C-PA1gIFcATEqt_NG2FOAy-Xjt7iZY5kI4Ek7q4aURKBtLXqV4kj6oS-rqQp-Bjge8tEcJ5cA2NKkt09dxZYgjgtZIIh1Zr4z4vLDAcJa5Vi4Vw9lCpwU6VcQC4NRI/s1600/IMG_139243935326421.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1D2r9gseOCY6GX2C-PA1gIFcATEqt_NG2FOAy-Xjt7iZY5kI4Ek7q4aURKBtLXqV4kj6oS-rqQp-Bjge8tEcJ5cA2NKkt09dxZYgjgtZIIh1Zr4z4vLDAcJa5Vi4Vw9lCpwU6VcQC4NRI/s1600/IMG_139243935326421.jpeg" height="249" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I feel that Philip Merricks maybe jumped the gun or at least I hope he did I will wait with baited breath for a full response outlining the trusts real and current position on the Hen Harrier in the UK.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilLa5EeV3aHTjDxU0RWyluPJar4R_JF-xPLlogIGE4xy3Rlf_c9S9RvnRRuX5kmNKYi5xTegBXxE3tgggZKWYozsD_s5Dfu_Fp6peFwgncGsVgaUQhkn6eFOx3fqwWT2wBeKwCfpX32CGF/s1600/Trix+Barn+owl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilLa5EeV3aHTjDxU0RWyluPJar4R_JF-xPLlogIGE4xy3Rlf_c9S9RvnRRuX5kmNKYi5xTegBXxE3tgggZKWYozsD_s5Dfu_Fp6peFwgncGsVgaUQhkn6eFOx3fqwWT2wBeKwCfpX32CGF/s1600/Trix+Barn+owl.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
(The views on this are purely my own including any bad grammar!)</div>
Jimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15695633815896301509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620273918120764474.post-5586992180799013382015-01-19T11:55:00.003-08:002015-01-19T11:55:43.538-08:00I'm back and its time to talk books first!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hey everyone I've not fallen off the world although sometimes I see the news and think I need to get off this planet! Anyway enough about that, hopefully you are all well and enjoying birds of prey where ever you are.<br />
<br />
So to get back into the swing of things I want to talk about books and in particular two of my favourite books which I rediscovered! These two books are by the same author Mike Tomkies, and they are titled On Wing and Wild Water and Golden Eagle Years but its been a few years since I read either so I pulled Golden Eagle years back off the shelf last week after stumbling onto the publishers website.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBuOU1g1PofaRiMLp-56MAQF8zZU-vWJPcPhR7LQMMnmYCtJ7nVOIAquOmWwCblXgvWF67UCoWABJSonVDA6PMLTqHvHwoWo-7y1NECyG2B-2m4-k7mW07J6cd_3VqepAkVetpkCSLzJQo/s1600/tomkies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBuOU1g1PofaRiMLp-56MAQF8zZU-vWJPcPhR7LQMMnmYCtJ7nVOIAquOmWwCblXgvWF67UCoWABJSonVDA6PMLTqHvHwoWo-7y1NECyG2B-2m4-k7mW07J6cd_3VqepAkVetpkCSLzJQo/s1600/tomkies.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(Mike Tomkies latest book)</div>
<br />
<br />
The publishers are Whittles Publishing and I just so happened to see that a new book was due out titled The Life of Buzzards by Dr Peter Dare, sadly I don't know anymore about the book as it hasn't been released but the reason I am so interested to read this book is because despite the Buzzard being the UK's most common bird of prey as far as I know there is only one detailed book on the species by Colin Tubbs. The other great thing about Whittles publishing is they obviously like to support birds of prey and the fantastic conservationists who have studied them you just have to check out the species covered including Roy Dennis and his Ospreys, Gordon Riddle and Kestrels, Don Scott with Hen Harriers and Golden Eagles by Dave Walker plus many more! The thing I love about all these books is they are all straight from the field notes of true champions for birds of prey, each one of the named authors above will have spent hours of their time learning about their chosen species and helping everyone learn about so much more about the lives of birds of prey.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9rAzXlv-uKPkgCGoS6T5lD2r1rK7Y47hg5vDLI0pSNmeAbE_KPIpivNZqKdlZ5Bi42jLOJCzoOc0tGoGT966Codby6HP0ita6UY3xt7xxfR8fGU33RukO2b4n1EVenAC1JmjeoZIgY7m/s1600/Buzzards+thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9rAzXlv-uKPkgCGoS6T5lD2r1rK7Y47hg5vDLI0pSNmeAbE_KPIpivNZqKdlZ5Bi42jLOJCzoOc0tGoGT966Codby6HP0ita6UY3xt7xxfR8fGU33RukO2b4n1EVenAC1JmjeoZIgY7m/s1600/Buzzards+thumbnail.jpg" height="320" width="226" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This brings me back to Mike Tomkies and his work or at least the books I have read about his work, Mike spent over 35 years studying wildlife and he is probably most famous for his work studying Golden Eagles in Scotland. Not only did he take photographs, film and detailed notes of elusive wildlife but his passion helps take you into the hide with him looking in at a Golden eaglet. If you are like me and at your happiest outside studying birds of prey then you need to take a look at Whittles Publishing and the books they publish!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.whittlespublishing.com/nature_and_exploration" target="_blank"> http://www.whittlespublishing.com/nature_and_exploration</a><br />
<br />
A lot has been happening within the UK and birds of prey, persecution is still taking place with a Hen Harrier day taking place last year organised by Mark Avery and attended by Chris Packham and a group of hardy supporters in the pouring rain. There is still a war taking place though and I'm don't use the word war lightly between raptor conservationists and the shooting fraternity. Still a great blog to follow if your on the side of raptors is <a href="https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/">https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/</a> and another one which is evolving quickly is Birders against wildlife crime at <a href="http://birdersagainst.org/">http://birdersagainst.org/</a> and a fantastic resource for anyone out in the countryside. I will try and do a separate blog on them at a later date.</div>
Jimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15695633815896301509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620273918120764474.post-39242182427016403822014-04-07T11:06:00.001-07:002014-04-07T11:06:59.312-07:00And still it goes on!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm not one for politics I lead a pretty laid back life with good morals but some things really get my goat, politicians being one! I'm not going to moan on about it here but by god I wish we could get someone in power who really gives a hoot about the environment and protecting it!<br />
<br />
Sadly bird of prey persecution continues in the UK and to be honest its none stop really, maybe this is because we are becoming more aware and people/groups are making more noise about it but I definitely agree with the statement that what is found is only the tip of a very big iceberg!<br />
<br />
I get regular updates and new flashes via e-mail and social media and within the last 7 days it has resulted in the updates of the 16 birds of prey found poisoned in Scotland, a buzzard from the Peak District found in a leg trap and a poisoned Peregrine falcon.<br />
<br />
As always you can keep up to date with the latest raptor persecution in Britain check out<br />
<br />
http://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/<br />
<br />
<br />
Else where in the world Chris Packham is raising awareness on the slaughter of thousands of birds in Malta during the migration. Interestingly we had a vet from Malta visit work to ask for advice on rehabilitation and furthering her contacts, she regularly has Marsh Harrier/Honey Buzzard and other bird species brought to her for treatment after being shot by Maltese hunters. I asked her if it was getting better out there and more importantly are the Maltese government actually doing anything and her opinion was that things had improved and the government and law enforcement in Malta were working hard to stop the slaughter. It will be interesting to see if Chris Packhams work out in Malta shows otherwise. A few years ago I did weigh up spending a week out in Malta during the migration helping monitor and police the migration of thousands of birds over Malta including many species of birds of prey but in the end part of me had to ask could I stand on a view point and watch a Honey Buzzard being shot out the sky in the distance? The answer was no I couldn't!<br />
<br />
Find out about Chris Packhams work http://www.chrispackham.co.uk/<br />
<br />
My 2014 season has started monitoring wild birds of prey on my patches albeit slowly as I have a new team mate in the shape of an 8 week old Dachshund puppy who doesn't quite have the legs for a full day in the countryside yet. Early signs are that Tawny owls are having a good start to the year my faithful pair have 4 eggs and other pairs on territory. The Little owls that nested in the side of some aviaries at work are calling every afternoon and hopefully will take to one of the nest boxes I have put up for them. I feel I am behind on Ravens this year, I really need to pull my finger out and get up some trees to check nest sites. Buzzards are all in the usual places with new sites appearing and I had a lovely view of a male Goshawk in my local woods whilst out running the other evening on the side of the wood I haven't found them yet! Long eared owls are also on the cards this year with a nice evening spent in Wales with Steve Roberts locating sites which turned up one brief sighting of a male and a distant female nest calling. It will all kick off soon I love this time of year!<br />
<br />
We've had a few sighting's of Red kites over the centre and that's another thing on the bucket list for this year, I must get down to a feeding station its been 10 years since I last visited Girgrin farm.<br />
<br />
Ok I better go the puppy is trying to demolish a newspaper all over the lounge! I will write again soon sorry for the delay!!</div>
Jimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15695633815896301509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620273918120764474.post-14261977845827629822013-11-01T15:43:00.000-07:002013-11-01T15:43:06.660-07:004 months!!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Four bloody months it has taken me to write another blog post, I'm worse than my boss Jemima at updating my blog but I blame her for working me so hard!<br />
<br />
I wanted to share some videos that I have found on Youtube, well one in particular and then the others are ones I have caught bits of but they are all on eagles so I hope you enjoy! The first one is on the White Tailed Eagle and I loved it. In fact it made me look into flight for Belarus it looked such a stunning country with amazing wildlife!<br />
<br />
White Tailed Eagle video -<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx1-Os0l7Ac">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx1-Os0l7Ac</a><br />
<br />
The rest below!<br />
<br />
Philippine Eagle - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOjqZ8zxidk">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOjqZ8zxidk</a><br />
<br />
Bald Eagle - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOjqZ8zxidk">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOjqZ8zxidk</a><br />
<br />
Harpy Eagle - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqEy7Akirfw">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqEy7Akirfw</a><br />
<br />
And I know you eagle fans are secret owl lovers to so here is an Eagle owl video from the BBC<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yjmu8SWsdm4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yjmu8SWsdm4</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Enjoy!</div>
Jimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15695633815896301509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620273918120764474.post-19147700302442427982013-06-13T13:57:00.002-07:002013-06-13T13:57:48.752-07:00Once in a blue moon and a blog post!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I should probably stop apologising now for my complete neglect of this blog, life is super hectic since I started the new job. The new job is going brilliantly though here at the ICBP with lots of exciting things on the horizon. BUT this blog is not about me but the birds so I must get back on track.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPp7gjufsTApu_dSUZSqbmNs8qP6SGBmuyElBwrHPN6ZlQjTuTBWTgcawbdaU8ozGzJysvedxQvkI8s_MfnJl67TzYc1oi3KjseImJUd8jJgpk0YbXbqf0UJLmVzSWRLPq9mOFeIqsWwTz/s1600/osprey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPp7gjufsTApu_dSUZSqbmNs8qP6SGBmuyElBwrHPN6ZlQjTuTBWTgcawbdaU8ozGzJysvedxQvkI8s_MfnJl67TzYc1oi3KjseImJUd8jJgpk0YbXbqf0UJLmVzSWRLPq9mOFeIqsWwTz/s320/osprey.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I really don't know where to start with this post as it has been so long since the last one a lot of things have been going on around the world relating to birds of prey and conservation. The breeding season is well under way in the UK and although I said I wouldn't mention myself again I am back out monitoring wild birds of prey with some fantastic new species on the list. I will do a report at the end of the breeding season! With the breeding season comes the webcams from all over the world, here in the UK the usual urban Peregrines will now have chicks fledging with Ospreys also being filmed again including the great Loch Lowes Osprey affectionately known as Lady back once again and breeding!!<br />
<br />
Have a look at her attempts at <a href="http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/">http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/</a><br />
<br />
Meanwhile elsewhere in the UK raptor persecution continues to rear its very sinister and ugly head to th point where I really don't know where to start! As always one blog in particular stands head and shoulders above the rest in bringing the news to our attention <a href="http://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/">http://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEism7-51cwBtSaUiOraf8jSy9Z5nD22kthaRIvd7DYqVp76vou4a9tSA72WXhRymFOH8wFoElWUJYuHQqssNOb-kAOvyEAVaK8_KK6sVI4z95AKWpAzRwCZRWLA4VUtCH2Ve5YwP6CyWRuU/s1600/Buzzard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEism7-51cwBtSaUiOraf8jSy9Z5nD22kthaRIvd7DYqVp76vou4a9tSA72WXhRymFOH8wFoElWUJYuHQqssNOb-kAOvyEAVaK8_KK6sVI4z95AKWpAzRwCZRWLA4VUtCH2Ve5YwP6CyWRuU/s320/Buzzard.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Possibly the shocker of the summer must go to Natural England though for the underhand grant of two licences to control Buzzards on a shooting estate and Chicken farm. This would have never come to light had it not been for a freedom of information application from the RSPB who must be applauded for this. Those of you new to this on going idiotics won't realise that the government had to do a U-turn on a proposal to look into lethal control methods of buzzards affecting games stock last year after public out cry. I will actually write up a complete separate posting on this topic delving into more detail and personal opinion but the opening of canned worms can be found here <a href="http://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2013/05/23/natural-england-issues-licence-to-destroy-buzzard-eggs-nests-to-protect-pheasants/">http://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2013/05/23/natural-england-issues-licence-to-destroy-buzzard-eggs-nests-to-protect-pheasants/</a><br />
<br />
<br />
I actually have a facebook page fr this blog that as you can imagine has not been touched so I must start adding all the interesting stuff I read via e-mail or on various websites but if you want to find more stuff out take a look at the links page I have put up on the right hand side! I will also update the bird of the month page tonight with the help of the fantastic ARKive site <a href="http://www.arkive.org/">http://www.arkive.org/</a> , if you have a spare hour online and love the natural world then you have to take a look! I used this site the other day with a group of school children learning about bird of prey habitats, the video footage of Barn owls, Peregrines and Philippine Eagle had them mesmerised!<br />
<br />
Finally before I go I must thank Allen Holmes again for letting me use his images they really are awesome have a look at his work <a href="http://www.allenholmeswildlifegallery.co.uk/">http://www.allenholmeswildlifegallery.co.uk/</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60dZjNZ7RXoo1oSAck0tinhPWGrcG2XFtbvWitGTr2acmdGWikdbV8rHy6Z5-YDjf3RKHTFTVvJSUF8qjP9CiF3aXcUjVChO2hNZUREvXWISQbHToeegHK1v8OAYSYMGZMNcekSi2kvbh/s1600/tawny_owl_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60dZjNZ7RXoo1oSAck0tinhPWGrcG2XFtbvWitGTr2acmdGWikdbV8rHy6Z5-YDjf3RKHTFTVvJSUF8qjP9CiF3aXcUjVChO2hNZUREvXWISQbHToeegHK1v8OAYSYMGZMNcekSi2kvbh/s320/tawny_owl_1.JPG" width="251" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
Jimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15695633815896301509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620273918120764474.post-83593747948003362282013-04-03T14:56:00.002-07:002013-04-03T14:56:24.434-07:00BRRRRRRRR<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It won't let me upload pictures!!!!!! The laptop I am using that is because I am not part of the administration team so I have to find out how to change this with the boss who has the pass word! And I have some cool photos to show you!<br />
<br />
Anyway do we think its going to be a bumper summer this year? Well I sure hope so because boy is it cold at work especially the biting wind which blows up the flying field. I wanted to go and check a Raven nest the other day back at home but the snow was 5 foot deep at the top of the overhang and I didn't fancy my chances even with a rope! It is a good job this bird chose to build the nest under a decent over hang otherwise it might have looked like the poor Peregrine at Nottingham Trent uni.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWK6mCFoW86ncn9IylTxYdEFhD27NwSrC2nQsM3Q7vwDeod0OmAK5m-J_aKvLBr9alFktwa2Qo0IqY4A09VSXwMwOgKo29FV-lqAqY9UxPQGbpoyXZBEuNrJFJgphtO8YhyphenhyphenHSNREfM5_M/s1600/peregrine+in+snow!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWK6mCFoW86ncn9IylTxYdEFhD27NwSrC2nQsM3Q7vwDeod0OmAK5m-J_aKvLBr9alFktwa2Qo0IqY4A09VSXwMwOgKo29FV-lqAqY9UxPQGbpoyXZBEuNrJFJgphtO8YhyphenhyphenHSNREfM5_M/s320/peregrine+in+snow!.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This image only worked as I borrowed it from a FB page! What a hardcore mother!<br />
<br />
I feel for all the wildlife out there in these extreme weather conditions we have been having but one species that has appeared several times over the last month is the Barn owl. I tend to drive to work early morning and for the past month I've had 4-5 sightings of Barn owl in broad daylight which is a classic sign of the hardships of nature in winter. The Barn owl has had a roller coaster ride in the UK over the last 50 years or more and it is probably the most studied of our native owls with nest boxes schemes over large parts of the UK, fingers crossed this year proves to be a successful year to keep numbers on an upwards trend. As with any predator though their numbers are governed by their prey so the small mammal population will play a huge role in the outcome of the 2013 breeding season.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicshuEFuqjpcL2xSgEudyB0J-wZ54NxfwWgpd4Ipbhu5IwZncsgEcqZ74R_MFcUhHOaYM-GTfdjylkApY_mE0jbP8lT508SfV-t4LR6YCaBNdLA77tXqnoSs5j7CmQFuFADgBAxuH62Nu0/s1600/AH+Barn+owl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicshuEFuqjpcL2xSgEudyB0J-wZ54NxfwWgpd4Ipbhu5IwZncsgEcqZ74R_MFcUhHOaYM-GTfdjylkApY_mE0jbP8lT508SfV-t4LR6YCaBNdLA77tXqnoSs5j7CmQFuFADgBAxuH62Nu0/s320/AH+Barn+owl.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Barn Owl from my friend Allen Holmes. http://www.allenholmeswildlifegallery.co.uk</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Looking at the picture above I'm not sure a species of owl has stirred quite as much emotion in humans and folklore as the Barn owl has, as I type this I can hear the Barn owl in the aviary outside shrieking its very harsh call but they can also make snoring and hissing noises as well. It is actually the most cosmopolitan of all owls in the world only missing from the harsh arctic and antarctic regions and if you look at the classification of the Barn owl you will find owls as an order Strigiformes are split into Tytonidae which is the Barn and Bay owls alone with every other species of owl within the Strigidae. Enough of that banter this late in the evening!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Probably the first bird of prey that drew me into raptors playing a big part of my life but also what an important member of our countryside. An owl of the night with its shrieking and hissing call was often portrayed in earlier days as a creature of ill omen and bad luck even nailed to your door to ward off evil spirits. Little did they know that this bird was in fact the farmers best friend when it came to protecting his produce from rodents, the farms own pest control better than ugly modern plastic bait stations or a song bird slaying moggy!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Sadly the Barn owl now falls foul of our roads and I remember being told once that one in three Barn owl deaths are accounted for by our highways and after seeing them ghosting along the A49 to work this last month I can imagine this to be true. We keep our hedgerows trimmed down car height meaning Barn owls fly straight into the path of vehicles and also the best form of hunting habitat of rank, rough tussocky grassland is mainly found along our roads drawing Barn owl in. Lets start growing taller hedges landowners!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
That being said this species is on the limit of its range here on the British Isles and when you factor in the fast pace of life and change this country has seen I think this species has done really well to survive. Along with the hard work of various individuals and conservation groups I think we can enjoy Barn owls in Britain for years to come and who wouldn't want to!</div>
</div>
Jimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15695633815896301509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620273918120764474.post-22443326083454547142013-03-27T15:43:00.000-07:002013-03-27T15:43:10.868-07:003 months late!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Sorry for the massive lack of blogging I think it has been about 3 months since my last blog but life has been busy nonetheless birds of prey are still in the news. I have a new job however and I would like to include it a bit more in this blog as I'm sure readers will enjoy hearing about it. I will also aim to put pictures into post's as looking at other blogs by friends I have realised I don't use any and it is quite plain.<br />
<br />
My new job is at the International Centre for Birds of Prey owned and ran by bird of prey authority Jemima Parry-Jones and her brilliant team of staff. I have to say I feel privileged to work at such and establishment the collection and knowledge is brilliant and hopefully I can bring something to the table.<br />
<br />
Find out more at www.icbp.org and come and visit me sometime!<br />
<br />
Sadly birds of prey are still being persecuted in the UK I could probably write something different on it everyday for a year and their would still be a backlog of stories but I did read an interesting book based on mans relationship with predators titled Tooth and Claw. Not just including raptors but other predatory species past and present on the British Isles and mans relationship(s).<br />
<br />
I've also been having a think about how I write this blog and I'm going to put a few more of my own view points and opinions instead of just news articles and links to websites and papers. Seeing as it is my blog I thought I should add a bit more of a personal opinion on all things raptor related.<br />
<br />
Your probably all wondering where my pictures are for this blog but I'm on a new laptop so I will sort it for next time and upload a couple of some birds that I work with! I promise and I won't leave it for 3 months.<br />
<br />
Right now I live next door to some vultures and eagle which is cool, I can constantly hear the screeching of one of the centres Barn owls from the owl aviaries and the squirrel that has moved in above me in the attic has just started scratching around!! Good job I'm a heavy sleeper!<br />
<br />
Pictures to come tomorrow!!</div>
Jimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15695633815896301509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620273918120764474.post-30139225699508629512012-12-27T07:07:00.000-08:002012-12-27T07:07:14.923-08:00An invitation to join Terry Pickford bird watching in the Czech Republic May 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="post-headline" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">
<h1 style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
An invitation to join Terry Pickford bird watching in the Czech Republic May 2013.</h1>
</div>
<div class="post-bodycopy clearfix" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; min-width: 0px;">
<div class="simplesocialbuttons" style="clear: left; height: 20px; margin: 10px auto 10px 0px; text-align: center;">
<div class="simplesocialbutton ssb-button-googleplus" style="float: left;">
<div id="___plusone_0" style="background-color: transparent; border-style: none; display: inline-block; float: none; font-size: 1px; height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 90px;">
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" hspace="0" id="I0_1356620618995" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="I0_1356620618995" scrolling="no" src="https://plusone.google.com/_/+1/fastbutton?bsv&size=medium&hl=en-US&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fraptorpolitics.org.uk&url=http%3A%2F%2Fraptorpolitics.org.uk%2F2012%2F12%2F22%2Fan-invitation-to-join-terry-pickford-bird-watching-in-the-czech-republic-may-2013%2F&ic=1&jsh=m%3B%2F_%2Fscs%2Fapps-static%2F_%2Fjs%2Fk%3Doz.gapi.en_US.8snFo2hrO1E.O%2Fm%3D__features__%2Fam%3DiQ%2Frt%3Dj%2Fd%3D1%2Frs%3DAItRSTMcG8pDrhZZt7LSc2ovGOSw-k1h3A#_methods=onPlusOne%2C_ready%2C_close%2C_open%2C_resizeMe%2C_renderstart%2Concircled%2Conload&id=I0_1356620618995&parent=http%3A%2F%2Fraptorpolitics.org.uk" style="border-style: none; height: 20px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; position: static; top: 0px; visibility: visible; width: 90px;" tabindex="0" title="+1" vspace="0" width="100%"></iframe></div>
</div>
<div class="simplesocialbutton ssb-button-fblike" style="float: left;">
<div class=" fb_reset" id="fb-root" style="background-image: none; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; cursor: auto; direction: ltr; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-shadow: none; visibility: visible; word-spacing: normal;">
<div style="height: 0px; position: absolute; top: -10000px; width: 0px;">
<iframe id="fb_xdm_frame_http" name="fb_xdm_frame_http" src="http://static.ak.facebook.com/connect/xd_arbiter.php?version=18#channel=f37c54ed94&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fraptorpolitics.org.uk&channel_path=%2F2012%2F12%2F22%2Fan-invitation-to-join-terry-pickford-bird-watching-in-the-czech-republic-may-2013%2F%3Ffb_xd_fragment%23xd_sig%3Df2a2b759cc%26" tabindex="-1"></iframe><iframe id="fb_xdm_frame_https" name="fb_xdm_frame_https" src="https://s-static.ak.facebook.com/connect/xd_arbiter.php?version=18#channel=f37c54ed94&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fraptorpolitics.org.uk&channel_path=%2F2012%2F12%2F22%2Fan-invitation-to-join-terry-pickford-bird-watching-in-the-czech-republic-may-2013%2F%3Ffb_xd_fragment%23xd_sig%3Df2a2b759cc%26" tabindex="-1"></iframe></div>
<div style="height: 0px; position: absolute; top: -10000px; width: 0px;">
<div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="fb-like fb_edge_widget_with_comment fb_iframe_widget" data-href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/2012/12/22/an-invitation-to-join-terry-pickford-bird-watching-in-the-czech-republic-may-2013/" data-layout="button_count" data-send="false" data-show-faces="false" data-width="100" fb-xfbml-state="rendered" style="display: inline-block; position: relative;">
<span style="display: inline-block; height: 20px; position: relative; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-bottom; width: 71px;"><iframe class="fb_ltr" id="f364f413bc" name="f22c6c8dcc" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?api_key=&locale=en_US&sdk=joey&channel_url=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.ak.facebook.com%2Fconnect%2Fxd_arbiter.php%3Fversion%3D18%23cb%3Df3f0f02de4%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fraptorpolitics.org.uk%252Ff37c54ed94%26domain%3Draptorpolitics.org.uk%26relation%3Dparent.parent&href=http%3A%2F%2Fraptorpolitics.org.uk%2F2012%2F12%2F22%2Fan-invitation-to-join-terry-pickford-bird-watching-in-the-czech-republic-may-2013%2F&node_type=link&width=100&layout=button_count&colorscheme=light&show_faces=false&send=false&extended_social_context=false" style="border-style: none; height: 20px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; width: 71px;" title="Like this content on Facebook."></iframe></span></div>
</div>
<div class="simplesocialbutton ssb-buttom-twitter" style="float: left;">
<iframe allowtransparency="true" class="twitter-share-button twitter-count-horizontal" data-twttr-rendered="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets/tweet_button.1355514129.html#_=1356620620640&count=horizontal&id=twitter-widget-0&lang=en&original_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fraptorpolitics.org.uk%2F2012%2F12%2F22%2Fan-invitation-to-join-terry-pickford-bird-watching-in-the-czech-republic-may-2013%2F&size=m&text=An%20invitation%20to%20join%20Terry%20Pickford%20bird%20watching%20in%20the%20Czech%20Republic%20May%202013.&url=http%3A%2F%2Fraptorpolitics.org.uk%2F2012%2F12%2F22%2Fan-invitation-to-join-terry-pickford-bird-watching-in-the-czech-republic-may-2013%2F" style="height: 20px; width: 112px;" title="Twitter Tweet Button"></iframe></div>
</div>
<div unselectable="on;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
The Czech Republic is one of the best-kept secrets in the birding world. Few British birdwatchers venture to this fascinating and friendly country to explore the mountains, extensive reed beds and thousands of fish ponds which are the habitat for many of Europe’s rarest breeding birds. With over 200 recorded breeding species and an unbelievable 405 recorded species to wet your appetite this is a birding paradise.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span id="more-10457"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Saker-Falcon.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10468" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Saker-Falcon.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="Saker-Falcon" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<em><strong>Saker Falcon, Obora image</strong> </em><strong>Dusan Boucny</strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
Yet the Czech Republic is less than two hours’ flight away, accommodation is first- class and food and drink are still remarkably cheap and very enjoyable if you know where to go.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
Terry Pickford, one of Britain’s foremost raptor experts with over 45 years experience has been leading small birding groups to Southern Bohemia and Moravia each May since 1995. Groups consist of seven people and under Terry’s expert leadership you will expect to tick off an average of 140 species. As expected raptors are very much on the menu, species include Imperial Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Saker Falcon, Honey Buzzard, Red and Black Kites, Hobby, Montagu’s Harrier, and on rare occasions Red-footed Falcon, Pallid Harrier and Lesser-spotted Eagle have been observed.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Imperial-Eagle.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10465" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Imperial-Eagle.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="Imperial-Eagle" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<em><strong>Imperial Eagle image by Dusan Boucny</strong></em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
In May 2013 Terry will lead the seven days of a two venue visit to the republic, the first four days beginning from the atmospheric old town of Trebon in Southern Bohemia. From this heavily forested region you will be invited to join Terry as he explores the internationally famous Trebonsko Biosphere reserve, where it is not uncommon to observe four or even five raptor species soaring above your head together.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/3-trebonsko.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10458" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/3-trebonsko.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="3-trebonsko" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<em><strong>The fabulous Trebonsko Biosphere Reserve</strong></em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
With more than 500 ponds each constructed in the Middle Ages, these extensive lakes surrounded by vast woodlands now support the largest population of White-tailed eagles in the republic, estimated to number at least twenty nesting pairs. There will also be great opportunities to see Scarlet Rosefinch, European Bee- eaters, Corncrake, Black Stork and a large variety of Woodpeckers before travelling along the Austrian Border to enjoy the last three days of your trip at your final venue in southern Moravia. Here your holiday will continue from the prestigious Hotel Hranicni Zamek, locally known as the <a href="http://hotel-hranicni-zamecek.czechtrade.us/" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;">Little Border Chateau </a>, near the town of Lednice. Dinner each evening is taken in the hotel dinning room, bring your binoculars, with panoramic views over-looking one of the largest fish ponds in the region providing an unrivalled vista from your table. Look out for: Marsh Harrier, Hobby including many species of waterfowl: Red-crested Pochard, Black-necked Grebe, Gadwall and Garganey plus rare or uncommon waders rarely seen in the UK. You are also likely to see the Roe deer, Eastern Hedgehog and Pine Marten crossing the lawn as evening encroaches. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Montagus-Harrier.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10466" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Montagus-Harrier.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="Montagu's-Harrier" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<em><strong>Montagu’s Harrier</strong> </em><strong>image by Dusan Boucny</strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
Tucked away in an obscure corner of Southern Moravia, just 30 minutes from your hotel, along its border with Austria and Slovakia, you will visit ‘Obora’ one of the republic’s last flood planes regarded as an absolute gem by Gerard Gorman. At the southern tip of this unique region the Dyje and Morava rivers converge and the flood-plain between is a complex of riverine forests with old gnarled oaks, ashes and elms.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PURPLE-HERON.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10475" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PURPLE-HERON.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="PURPLE-HERON" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<em><strong>Purple Heron </strong> </em><strong>image by Dusan Boucny</strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
Obora is regarded as one of the most important habitats inside the republic for a variety of rare and threatened breeding species of raptors, including Imperial Eagle, Honey Buzzard and Saker Falcon. There is also a good selection of woodpeckers: Middle Spotted, Black, Grey-headed and Syrian; the Golden Oriol and Corncrake can be seen and heard also in good numbers here. You must also look out for both the Purple and Squacco heron along the river and pond edges.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/White-tailed-eagle.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10467" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/White-tailed-eagle.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="White-tailed-eagle" /></a><em><strong></strong></em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<em><strong>White-tailed Eagle </strong></em><strong>image by Dusan Boucny</strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
If you would like to join Terry or require addition information before making any decision, please contact Terry Pickford by using the the following e-mail: <strong><a href="mailto:Czech.Birding@raptorpolitics.org.uk" style="color: #666666; text-decoration: initial;">Czech.Birding@raptorpolitics.org.uk</a></strong> before the middle of January 2013 to register your interest.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
The visit begins from Manchester airport departing on Wednesday 22 May returning on the 29 May. Throughout the trip you will be staying in first class pension and hotel accommodation complete with en-suite facilities based upon a B/B arrangement. Travel will be by mini bus and throughot the visit Terry will be assisted by Jaroslav Simek one of the republic’s most experienced bird watchers and member of the Czech Republic’s Rare Breeding Bird Committee.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<strong>Trebon General Information</strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/TREBON.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10494" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/TREBON.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="TREBON" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<strong>Trebon’s</strong> <strong>main square</strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
Trebon is located on the bank of Lake Svet (World Pond) in the heart of the <strong>Trebonsko Protected Landscape Area</strong>, which has been designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The town square is dominated by the Old Town Hall, with its 31-meter tall observation tower. This square is encircled by burghers’ houses, featuring Renaissance and Baroque gables and a vaulted arcade. Trebon’s other historical monuments include a chateau with a park, an Augustinian monastery with <strong>St Giles’ Church</strong>, and the Schwarzenberg Vault, with a chapel where chamber music performances are held in the summer.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<strong>Svet Pond</strong> is a man made lake, used for fish farming and water recreation, constructed by the Rozmberk family’s regent in 1571. <a href="http://www.jiznicechy.org/en/bg/plans/rozmberk.gif" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Rozmberk Instructional Trail</a>, a 22 km marked interpretive cycling trail, begins at the dam on Svet Pond, just south of the old city center. <a href="http://www.jiznicechy.org/en/bg/plans/svet.gif" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Cesta Kolen Sveta</a>, a 12 km hiking and cycling trail circles the pond itself. The Schwarzenberg Vault is a 19th century Neo-Gothic structure, built as a mausoleum for the Scwarzenberg family, located in its own park south of Svet Pond.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Cervene-Blato.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10495" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Cervene-Blato.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="Cervene Blato" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<strong>Cervené Blato</strong> (Red Marshland) Nature Reserve is located in the south-western part of the Trebonsko Protected Landscape Area. It was established in 1953 to protect the peat-bog, an Ice Age relict that preserves an unusual plant and insect community as well as many pairs of breeding Night jar.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Bog-home-of-Green-Sandpipper.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10496" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Bog-home-of-Green-Sandpipper.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="Bog home of Green Sandpipper" /></a></div>
<div id="meta">
<div id="title_div" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<strong>Cervene Blato - Breeding haunt of Green Sandpiper</strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<strong>Lednice Region: information and characteristics of the town and Castle:</strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
Lednice is situated on a flat bank of the River Thaya, which creates numerous picturesque shoulders, canals and ponds there. It is an important border town. Lednice is one of the most attractive and most visited places in the Czech Republic. Since the year 1996, this “Garden of Europe” is a part of the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Lednica-Park.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10497" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Lednica-Park.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="Lednica-Park" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
The most attractive monument of the Lednice-Valtice historical complex is Lednice castle. It is one of the most beautiful buildings in the romantic historical architecture. In the year 1632 the Lichtenstein family built the castle as their summer family residence. They also owned a nearby castle Valtice which was their main residence. Lednice castle was built in Italian style of villas and it became a Moravian pearl of a baroque architecture. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
Between these two castles Lednice and Valtice was created a beautiful park full of valuable historical objects. It was developed over three centuries. When you walk through the park, you can see a romatic ruin of John’s Castle, Hunting lodge built in classicism style, Temple of Apollo with the Doric portico; Pond mansion; Border Castle; Belvedere; a viewpiont Reistna Colonnade; Rendez-vous also called Temple of Diana; Three Graces; Aqueduct; Obelisk; Waterworks and Minaret. You can also see if you are lucky European Beaver, Night Heron and Great Reed Warbler as well as at least four species of woodpecker.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<em><strong>Czech Birdwatching-Image Gallery by Terry Pickford </strong></em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Hotel-Reception.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10510" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Hotel-Reception.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="Hotel-Reception" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<strong>Hotel Reception: Little Border Chateau-Moravia</strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dinning-in-dungen1.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10512" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dinning-in-dungen1.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="dinning-in-dungen" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<em><strong>Dinning out: Southern Bohemia</strong></em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Group-having-Dinner.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10513" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Group-having-Dinner.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="Group-having-Dinner" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<em><strong>Dinning in the old Castle Dungeon: Southern Bohemia</strong></em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Pond-from-dinning-room.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10514" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Pond-from-dinning-room.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="Pond-from-dinning-room" /></a><strong></strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<strong>Little Border Chateau Dinning Room View over Pond</strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<strong><a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Long-eared-owl-01.jpg" style="color: #666666; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10515" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Long-eared-owl-01.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="Long-eared-owl-01" /></a></strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<strong>Long-eared owl: Photographed in Chateau Grounds</strong> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Short-eared-owl.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10516" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Short-eared-owl.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="Short-eared-owl" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<em><strong>Short-eared Owl: Photographed in Local Graveyard</strong></em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Sumava-Mountains-2010-birdi.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10546" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Sumava-Mountains-2010-birdi.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="Sumava-Mountains-2010-birdi" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<em><strong>Sumava Mountains: Birding Group 2010</strong></em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/River-Habitat-Scarlet-Rosef.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10519" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/River-Habitat-Scarlet-Rosef.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="River-Habitat-Scarlet-Rosef" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<em><strong>Sumava Mountains: Scarlet Rosefinch Habitat</strong></em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Scarlet-Rosefinch.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10521" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Scarlet-Rosefinch.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="Scarlet-Rosefinch" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<em><strong>Sumava Mountains: Scarlet Rosefinch</strong></em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Crested-Tit-Sumava.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Crested-Tit-Sumava.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); padding: 5px;" title="Crested-Tit-Sumava" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<em><strong>Sumava Mountains: Crested-tit</strong></em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Fire-crest.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10523" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Fire-crest.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="Fire-crest" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<em><strong>Sumava Mountains: Firecrest</strong></em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Corncrake-2.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10520" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Corncrake-2.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="Corncrake-2" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<em><strong>Obora Flood Plain Moravia: Corncrake</strong></em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Immature-white-tailed-eagle.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10525" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Immature-white-tailed-eagle.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="Immature-white-tailed-eagle" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<em><strong>White-tailed Eagle: Trebonsko: Southern Moravia</strong></em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Trebon-Fish-Farming.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10526" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Trebon-Fish-Farming.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="Trebon-Fish-Farming" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<em><strong>Trebonsko: Carp Production on a huge scale result, 20 breeding pairs White-tailed Eagles</strong></em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Eyrie-containg-triplets-whi.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10529" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Eyrie-containg-triplets-whi.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="Eyrie-containg-triplets-whi" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<em><strong>Trebonsko: Eyries containing White-tailed Eagle triplets common</strong></em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Montagus-Harrier1.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10531" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Montagus-Harrier1.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="Montagu's-Harrier" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<em><strong>Moravia: Male Montagu Harrier image taken from Mini Bus</strong></em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Montagus-Harrier-Female.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10532" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Montagus-Harrier-Female.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="Montagu's-Harrier-Female" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<em><strong>Moravia: Female Montagu Harrier captured from Mini Bus bringing nesting material</strong></em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Penduline-Tit.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10533" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Penduline-Tit.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="Penduline-Tit" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<em><strong>Moravia: Penduline Tit nest</strong></em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/penduline-tit.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10538" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/penduline-tit.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="penduline-tit" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<em><strong>Moravia: Penduline Tit</strong></em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Merlin.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10535" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Merlin.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="Merlin" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<em><strong>Southern Bohemia: Northern Merlin rare summer migrant from Russia, captured near Trebon</strong></em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Ringing-Blue-Throat.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10541" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Ringing-Blue-Throat.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="Ringing-Blue-Throat" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<em><strong>Trebonsko Reserve, Southern Bohemia: Jaroslav Simek ringing Bluethroat</strong></em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Middle-spotted-woodpecker.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10542" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Middle-spotted-woodpecker.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="Middle-spotted-woodpecker" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<em><strong>Middle-spotted woodpecker, photographed in hotel grounds</strong></em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/hawfinch.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: initial;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10543" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/hawfinch.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="hawfinch" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<em><strong>Hawfinch photographed in hotel grounds</strong></em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Bee-eater.jpg" style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10544" src="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Bee-eater.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 10px auto; padding: 5px;" title="Bee-eater" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<em><strong>European Beeeater photographed in breeding colony just 20 Km from hotel</strong></em></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Jimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15695633815896301509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620273918120764474.post-55716156965077290072012-11-08T10:34:00.001-08:002012-11-08T10:34:42.083-08:00Egg on my face!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I believe you have to laugh in life and most importantly be able to laugh at yourself! Well I had to laugh at myself the other day!<br />
<br />
I love my running and I'm really fortunate to have some nice hill's with amazing scenery to run around. Not only is it good for health (apparently) I normally get some cracking views of wildlife especially birds of prey.<br />
<br />
Sunday morning I decided to go for a run around and over my favourite hill, it was a lovely morning with blue skies and sunshine the sightings of buzzard and kestrel as I got to the hill. I decided to run round the bottom of the hill alongside some farm land before going up and over back to my car.<br />
<br />
Now I'd like to say I'm good at identifying native birds of prey by sight and sound as I spend plenty of time in the field watching them but sometimes you get it wrong, or in this case embarrasingly wrong. As I ran round the path next to the fields I heard an alarm call from a bird of prey and my ears pricked up straight away.<br />
<br />
I slowed down to a jog and looked over in what I thought was the direction of the noise and noticed a gnarly bare Oak tree then I heard the noise again. At first I thought Kestrel and scanned the tree for a visual, then the noise again but it was actually more hawk like. I had stopped running at this point and heard the alarm call of another bird straight after the hawks alarm call but still no visual.<br />
<br />
The noise started again and I checked the fields but with no binoculars it would have been impossible to see a Sparrowhawk in the grass. What was also odd was a couple of crows were wandering about in the grass not paying the blindest notice to what sounded like a fight near them. Then the noise again exactly the same as the other few times and the penny dropped.<br />
<br />
The noise was coming from the farm behind the Oak tree, and then it started again right on cue. It was a hawk and its prey but a recorded one on replay designed to keep birds off the livestock feed on the farm. How stupid did I feel, and not only that I was freezing cold stood their like a right plonker looking for a bird that was in fact a plastic box in a cow shed. Lesson learned!<br />
<br />
I bet the crows had a laugh about it!</div>
Jimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15695633815896301509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620273918120764474.post-64833554452807034442012-11-04T03:50:00.000-08:002012-11-04T03:50:08.939-08:00What is the answer to Amur massacre?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Like everyone who has read the news about the Amur falcons in Nagaland I found it deeply distressing especially watching the video but how can this sort of thing be stopped.<br />
<br />
I have thought about this over the last day or two and also read peoples responses to the actions going on in India. I feel when something very shocking and far from what I might except comes into the public eye we need to take a step back and look at the bigger picture.<br />
<br />
I weighed a few things up in my mind before I wrote this because as a westerner I don't have to worry about basic things that other countries/regions might not have. I bet like you reading this I hold birds of prey in a different light to these people so the video really shocks me to the core. This doesn't mean that I'm less appalled by the slaughter of Rhinos for ivory or the deforestation of our rainforests for palm oil but these are normally for the greed of man. In the case of the people hunting the Amur falcon I feel its more a case of surviving. <br />
<br />
This is a very emotive thing that is happening and it would be very easy for me to dam and blast the people in the video, anything that involves cruelty to animals is shocking but what about the people who are carrying such a thing out, why are they doing it?<br />
<br />
Despite the double dip recession, unemployment, cuts with councils I still feel in my country we are very priviledged. Despite supermarkets pulling the strings we can still eat out in the UK for as little as £10 for two in some pubs! But this wasn't about me standing on my soap box preaching about what we have.<br />
<br />
I presume the people of Nagaland still work the land and live off very little, so when the oppourtunity to make some extra money comes along or harvest extra food they will take it with both hands. Isn't that what they are doing taking advantage of nature? <br />
<br />
I have read the Amur falcon appears in Nagaland in its vast numbers between October/November before moving on with their migration, the locals of this region must have noticed this and want to take advantage of this bounty of what they consider food or financial gain. Its man surving by whatever means and happens in so many guises.<br />
<br />
This doesn't mean its neccessarily right and I believe the way of resolveing this involves two important things which are education and political lobbying. The support of the local government bodies needs to be behind any action plan and that plan needs to include educating the locals about what they are doing and how they can find alternatives. What is the point of taking away nets and policing the locals without offering support and alternative means of farming or earning a living. <br />
<br />
This is just my opinion on what is a really sad situation for a stunning little falcon which makes the most amazing migration of any bird of prey. We as humans should use our intelligence and foresight to help and support each other before we start deciding the fate of the worlds wildlife.</div>
Jimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15695633815896301509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620273918120764474.post-91175833841902997712012-11-02T13:03:00.000-07:002012-11-02T13:03:19.879-07:00Strong Stomach Needed!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Some news just dropped in which urgently needs sharing with all raptor enthusiasts. It makes for distressing reading and the photos are upsetting, but the message needs to be spread.<br />
<br />
I'm sure if you follow this blog you will be aware of the hunting of birds including birds of prey on migration in Malta, sadly this still continues but I have just received this link showing the awful killing of thousands of Amur falcons on their mammoth migration.<br />
<br />
I have been fortunate enough to see the amazing spectacle of thousands of these little falcons coming into an evening roost in Southern Africa. If something isn't done about the massacre taking place it might soon be all over.<br />
<br />
Take a look at the link below there is also a video but it is especially graphic!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.conservationindia.org/campaigns/amur-massacre">http://www.conservationindia.org/campaigns/amur-massacre</a></div>
Jimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15695633815896301509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620273918120764474.post-10232646711784188052012-10-20T11:19:00.000-07:002012-10-20T11:19:00.942-07:00Standing up for Raptors!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In my last post I asked who is going to stand up for birds of prey in Britain. Well if the government are going to drag their feet it is pleasing to read that one group are doing all they can to halt the persecution of birds of prey in their area.<br />
<br />
The North West Raptor Group has launched Operation Bowland Raptor Rescue with the aim of monitroring Peregrine nests which have seen a decline in productivity since some licences were removed from NWRG field workers. The operation aims to bring persecution of such birds to the public domain to highlight just what happens. If you have an interest in birds of prey and any relevant experience towards the operation you are asked to get in touch. More information can be found at <a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/2012/10/18/operation-bowland-raptor-rescue-launching-spring-2013/">http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/2012/10/18/operation-bowland-raptor-rescue-launching-spring-2013/</a><br />
<br />
I wish the operation the best of luck!</div>
Jimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15695633815896301509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620273918120764474.post-44168417888592714212012-10-20T10:54:00.003-07:002012-10-20T10:54:56.937-07:00Will it ever stop and who's going to really stand up for raptors?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Its amazing really what can happen in the space of a couple of months when you follow bird of prey persecution in Britain closely.<br />
<br />
Maybe not surprising to some is the fact that birds of prey are still being persecuted, and proving this recently was the eventual news release about the suspicious death and movement of a Golden Eagle in Scotland. Movement you might ask, how does something move when it is dead? Well after no movement from the birds satellite transmitter for over 12 hours it then randomly moved in the middle of the night and found itself under a tree near a lay-by some 15km away. Diurnal birds of prey don't tend to move in darkness if your unsure. If that doesn't smell odd, I forget to mention both it legs were broken in a way very similar to that of a spring trap. Check out the full story here <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/325140-conservationists-appalled-by-eagle-death">http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/325140-conservationists-appalled-by-eagle-death</a><br />
<br />
More recently was the news of a Golden Eagle being found shot on a Grouse more in Dumfriesshire, the bird is still alive luckily and I'll keep you posted on its outcome. You can read more here <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/326377-condemnation-as-golden-eagle-found-shot">http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/326377-condemnation-as-golden-eagle-found-shot</a><br />
<br />
So with birds like the Golden Eagle being persecuted and many more including the now rare breeding Hen Harrier with possibly only one pair breeding in England this year, you might expect the government to take action. Sadly not yet in fact a backward step was taken when our environement minister Richard Benyon declined a complete ban on owning Carbofuran a known favourite for poisoning wildlife and birds of prey in particular. What makes this decision even more distasteful is the fact that Carbofuran has no legal use in our country, so why allow it to be legally owned ?????<br />
<br />
The RSPB Birdcrime 2011 report has recently been released and it asks the government to finally stand up against wildlife crime and bird of prey persecution in particular. You can read it yourself here <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/Birdcrime_2011_edit_tcm9-324819.pdf">http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/Birdcrime_2011_edit_tcm9-324819.pdf</a><br />
<br />
You can also read the recent report released by the Environmental Audit Committee’s inquiry into the extent of willdife crime in the UK. Its a pretty damning report, maybe this will make the government take action?<br />
<a href="http://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2012/10/19/overview-of-parliamentary-wildlife-crime-report/">http://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2012/10/19/overview-of-parliamentary-wildlife-crime-report/</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmenvaud/140/140.pdf">http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmenvaud/140/140.pdf</a><br />
<br />
So watch this space, hopefully not to long though for the sake of the birds of prey still out there trying to survive.</div>
Jimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15695633815896301509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620273918120764474.post-18105080160166824482012-09-23T02:21:00.001-07:002012-09-23T02:21:12.022-07:00Bird of the month page updated!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I had to pick the Eurasian Hobby after this years sighting of them! Make sure you check out the videos if nothing else!<br />
<br />
You can find it on the right hand side of the blog!</div>
Jimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15695633815896301509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620273918120764474.post-22508852606874277222012-09-23T02:08:00.001-07:002012-09-23T02:08:43.571-07:00I wish it was sunnier!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have just been reading through and catching up on whats on the Raptor Politics site and also Raptor Persecution Scotland blog.<br />
<br />
I read a piece on the Raptor Persecution Scotland blog relating to a game keepers diary which had made me thinking back to conversations I have had both recently and in the past relating to my passion, Birds of Prey. I wanted to share them with you in this post because although I'm a glass half full kind of guy when I read and hear things like this it brings me crashing back down to earth.<br />
<br />
The RPS article which can be read here <a href="http://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2012/09/20/dear-diary/">http://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2012/09/20/dear-diary/</a> relates to a gamekeepers diary. It really doesn't make pleasant reading and as I read it further and the blatant illegal activities grew I thought this can't be true, can you be so stupid to write this stuff down? Yet maybe it is because I have read equally upsetting diaries from Victorian times and the game keepers gibbet is a not to distant memory. This made me think of some conversations I have had with people from all walks of life relating to raptors in the wild.<br />
<br />
I have friends who shoot, the majority farmers as I'm from a farming background and I get told the odd story ludicrous story from a rough shoot one in particular that a Barn Owl got flushed over the guns and shot accidentally! Is that really a case of misidentification and if so they shouldn't be shooting or is it something more deep rooted that when man has a gun anything with tooth and claw should be shot dead to help the shoot? Needless to say I never got any further trying to find out if this story was just a pub tale.<br />
<br />
I spoke to a farmer who is a good friend of my fathers and someone I respect. He also has links with an urban nesting pair of Peregrines which I had recently found out about. I mentioned I would like to see the pair one day and does anyone monitor their activities each year. His response surprised me when he said "I was hoping you could come and remove them as they make a right mess each year!" I quickly pointed out that they are Schedule 1 birds afforded the highest protection and he should be pleased to have them. He happily let me visit the site which was outside of the breeding season so no sign of the birds but it was an interesting site and also interesting to speak to the maintenance chap who said they were actually no problem at all. It was the pigeons who made the mess and the falcons regurlarly hunted them so they were more than welcome! <br />
<br />
I have also had my fair share of run ins with gamekeepers and one local keeper in particular who I'm sure would eradicate me if he could. I have been in the same pub with him a couple of times and have mutual friends and on one of these meetings I plucked up the courage to ask if I could monitor the birds of prey within his woodland. The response I got was sharp, I was told in no uncertain terms that I was never to set foot in his woods and if I were ever to ring a bird of prey he would shoot it! Needless to say I never tresspass and wouldn't want to monitor birds within his woods for fear of letting him know where they are!<br />
<br />
My final story was the most recent as it is on my patch that I montior and ring birds of prey on. I bumped into one of the chaps who runs a small rough shoot on the land who I get on well with, he mentioned he had seen a winged tagged buzzard and I explained my mentor had tagged the young from this year to montior dispersal. The next part of the conversation baffled me though! He asked if buzzards had bred in a small copse where they have a release pen, they hadn't so I told him this and he then told me he had been in their feeding the poults when a Buzzard flew up from the ground and into a tree. On closer inspection he found a dead poult but imagine how amazed I was when he said "I had my gun with me but I decided I couldn't shoot it"!!!! So not 5 minutes before we were talking about me closely monitoring the buzzard then he mentions contemplating shooting one! I pointed out that really wouldn't be clever and it is a criminal offence that I would report immediately to both land owner and police if I heard or found this going on.<br />
<br />
I have also read on a falconry forum the call from some members to cull Buzzard because of the effect they are having on their hunting trips and attacking their birds. I've also lost count of the amount of back garden bird feeders who have played hell with me about Sparrowhawks killing their little birds, my own Granma was the last one!<br />
<br />
Maybe the extracts from the RPS gamekeeper diary are true then based on my experiences! But it just brings home that birds of prey are still under immense pressure from all walks of life! I believe anyone who comes across such stories needs to keep a calm head and explain things in a polite manner! Whether the authorities will back the persecution up is still to be seen!<br />
<br />
Maybe it will be sunnier for some species of birds of prey soon but education is the main key in my opinion!</div>
Jimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15695633815896301509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620273918120764474.post-74860614266925077362012-09-13T03:51:00.001-07:002012-09-13T04:01:35.490-07:00Hobby Hunting with Ben & Holly!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have just recently spent a fab few days at the ICBP helping out at their annual Falconry Weekend and as always Jemima made me feel very welcome as did the rest of the team and it all went very well!<br />
<br />
I got to meet so great new people and also some old friends, I ran a little activity area for children as it was also International Vulture Awareness Day on the Saturday so we did lots of fun vulture related activities right outside Delectable the Griffon Vultures aviary! Make sure you visit <a href="http://www.icbp.org/">www.icbp.org</a> the Owl evenning are due to begin!<br />
<br />
Now I have heard several people at the ICBP talk about Hobby's flying over the centre and even that they breed nearby and it has always intrigued me. The Hobby (Falco subbuteo) is a small but long sharp winged falcon that is classed as a British bird of prey but not one that winters here, at this moment in time I imagine many British Hobbies will have started their migration back to Africa. The migration is based primarily on food supply and weather, the Hobby loving to hunt birds like Swallows and House Martins and Dragons flies and other bugs. Our warm weather wakes up the dragon flies and brings the Swallows and House Martins back to their breeding grounds along with the Hobby.<br />
<br />
Hobbies have spread fairly well over the last 10 years or so from parts of Eastern UK across and up into the Midlands and North of England. My area of Cheshire has a few hotspots for seeing them especially when feeding and it is not unheard of to find a number of Hobbies hunting over the same area.<br />
<br />
Whilst packing away some fencing with Ben after the ICBP event I heard a falcon(s) calling excitidly. It call didn't quite fit the call I am more use to of the Kestrel but sounded like a group of falcons which I put down to young birds with their parent(s). I thought could it be a family of Hobbies still around?<br />
<br />
The next day I was in the horse paddock moving another fence and it was another fine sunny day when I heard the calling again, fast repetitive kew kew kew kew as if an adult was being greeted by hungry young beaks! I mentioned it to Ben a bit later on, he had heard it the day before and sad as I am I played both the Kestrel and Hobby calls which I have on a phone app. He agreed that it sounded more like aHobby so we decided to go and see if we could get a visual.<br />
<br />
I know Hobbies often use old crows nest which are usually on open ground in a tree like Oak. We heard the calling of what I thought was young birds but in the next field on and as we walked along a band of trees we got our first visual, four Hobbies playing and chasing each other above trees in the distance. We stopped under a tree and watched as the birds came in and out of view, sometimes the birds landed and one went up and into a large Oak and out again. An adult bird came in and the young started calling, rushing to meet the bird one youngster looked to receive a food item in mid air. Then the noise subsided and they vanished off over the woods. Ben seemed to get a couple of long distance shots with the camera and we made our way back to the centre.<br />
<br />
That evening Holly wanted to see the Hobbies so we made our way across the the fields to the site where me and Ben had stopped. Sadly no sign of the birds this time but I walked a little closer to get a better look with my binoculars at the Oak presumed to be the nest site, sure enough a large stick nest could just be made out in the tree.<br />
<br />
I read afterwards in Anthony Chapmans book The Hobby that the birds start to disperse from their breeding sites around 4 weeks later. It is important to point out that the species is protected by law and nest sites should not be appoached during the breeding season to avoid disturbance.<br />
<br />
A real highlight for my summer sightings this year!<br />
<br />
To find out more about such a stunning little falcon check out what Arkive have to say <a href="http://www.arkive.org/eurasian-hobby/falco-subbuteo/">http://www.arkive.org/eurasian-hobby/falco-subbuteo/</a> </div>
Jimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15695633815896301509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620273918120764474.post-29376243110680175842012-08-06T13:38:00.001-07:002012-08-06T13:38:32.473-07:00An important thing to sign Raptor fans!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I just needed to share with you three links to some very important pages the first is a petition that you need to sign and is regarding the awful shooting of migrating birds over Malta. Many of these birds include Honey Buzzards, Marsh harrier and Osprey.<br />
<br />
It just takes 2 minutes and they are nearly at their total of 5000!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Stop_Spring_Hunting_in_Malta/?tta">http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Stop_Spring_Hunting_in_Malta/?tta</a><br />
<br />
If the above is a bit new to you don't worry BBC Radio 4 Nature have done a piece investigating the hunting in Malta.<br />
<br />
Find it here at Raptor Politics.org <a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/2012/08/02/bbc-radio-4-nature-series-7-bird-wars-on-malta/comment-page-1/#comment-11124">http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/2012/08/02/bbc-radio-4-nature-series-7-bird-wars-on-malta/comment-page-1/#comment-11124</a><br />
<br />
And if you have a spare 30 minutes and follow the illegal persecution of raptors in the UK why not voice your concerns to the European Environmental Commission, the more sent through the more likely action will be taken don't leave it to someone else!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/2012/08/03/voicing-our-concern-to-the-europenan-environmental-commission-on-the-lack-of-protection-for-britains-birds-of-prey/">http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/2012/08/03/voicing-our-concern-to-the-europenan-environmental-commission-on-the-lack-of-protection-for-britains-birds-of-prey/</a><br />
<br />
All of the above will surely only take you half an hour, surely thats better than watching Eastenders!<br />
<br />
Thanks.</div>Jimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15695633815896301509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620273918120764474.post-49639452631541319312012-08-05T14:52:00.001-07:002012-08-06T08:06:10.704-07:00Step away from the Olympics!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well the Olympics is well underway and I have just been interrupted in starting this post by watching the fastest men in the world race 100 metres. Its all very exciting and makes me very proud to be British. Enough about that though as I'm sure you might have come here to get away from all the Olympic talk.<br />
<br />
I must apologise if I post something below that I have posted in a previous edition, I have just sifted through my inbox and files and realised they are well over due a tidy up since my last post. Their is lots to pick through below from news in the field, new papers and a book to be released. Hopefully you will find something interesting or useful to read.<br />
<br />
Firstly their have been some scientific papers that have dropped into my inbox from various sources, sadly I don't subscribe to the sites publishing the papers so only have access to the abstracts but you can find the links to these below.<br />
<br />
The first one assesses the risk of extinction to the critically endangered Bonellis eagle in Italy - <a href="http://www.bto.org/about-birds/bird-id/bto-bird-id-summer-buzzards-common-buzzard-and-honey-buzzard?dm_i=IG4,VKOX,4BMHAI,2LTST,1">http://www.bto.org/about-birds/bird-id/bto-bird-id-summer-buzzards-common-buzzard-and-honey-buzzard?dm_i=IG4,VKOX,4BMHAI,2LTST,1</a><br />
<br />
The next two are based on falcons, the first on vocalisations in Lanner Falcons and the second of the relationship between brood size and prey selection in Peregrine falcons in a specific region<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.springerlink.com/content/f5g4k6577819051h/">http://www.springerlink.com/content/f5g4k6577819051h/</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.springerlink.com/content/npgp66w817304718/">http://www.springerlink.com/content/npgp66w817304718/</a><br />
<br />
When you open one of the above links if you look to the left hand side of the page you will also find other bird of prey related papers which might be of interest.<br />
<br />
Next their is a couple of recent newsletters the first being from the Belize Raptor Research Institute showing the work they are doing and the Solitary Eagle nest and young they are monitoring. The second from the Neotropical Raptor Research Group which has a nice article from the Belize group but also further tropical raptor species news.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/13983865/1359194174/name/Summer%202012%20Issue%204%20Belize%20Raptor%20Research%20Institute%20Nesl">http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/13983865/1359194174/name/Summer%202012%20Issue%204%20Belize%20Raptor%20Research%20Institute%20Nesl</a> - Belize Raptor Research Institute<br />
<br />
<a href="http://neotropicalraptors.org/Newsletter%20PDFs/NRN%20Newsletter13%20English.pdf">http://neotropicalraptors.org/Newsletter%20PDFs/NRN%20Newsletter13%20English.pdf</a><br />
<br />
The Green Balkans.org site announced in May the first Griffon nest recorded in recent decades on the Balkan Mountains, if you haven't seen this news you can read more here <a href="http://greenbalkans.org/show.php?id=1475&language=en_EN&cat_id=35">http://greenbalkans.org/show.php?id=1475&language=en_EN&cat_id=35</a> but you can keep right upto date with more receent news at <a href="http://greenbalkans.org/category.php?language=en_EN&cat_id=35">http://greenbalkans.org/category.php?language=en_EN&cat_id=35</a><br />
<br />
You can find an interesting story from the Peregrine Fund on their continued work to save the stunning Orange Breasted Falcons, sadly some birds they came across had bot fly infestation and you can find out more in this link <a href="http://www.peregrinefund.org/news-release/242">http://www.peregrinefund.org/news-release/242</a> make sure you also check out the rest of their news pages and why not sign up to their e-newsletter.<br />
<br />
I have a few videos now for you to check out the first from Munir Virani working for the Peregrine Fund and trying to further highlight the plight of vultures in India and Africa <a href="http://talentsearch.ted.com/video/Munir-Virani-Why-I-love-vulture;TEDNairobi">http://talentsearch.ted.com/video/Munir-Virani-Why-I-love-vulture;TEDNairobi</a><br />
<br />
The next video is on the amazing Harpy Eagle, it isn't in English but that doesn't really matter as the footage is fantastic <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXyUmaLQIJg&feature=em-share_video_user">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXyUmaLQIJg&feature=em-share_video_user</a><br />
<br />
The final video might help any budding raptor enthusiasts in identifying the Common Buzzard and Honey Buzzard, its been produced by the BTO and if you look to the left of the screen you will find many more videos designed to help with bird ID including several raptors <a href="http://www.bto.org/about-birds/bird-id/bto-bird-id-summer-buzzards-common-buzzard-and-honey-buzzard?dm_i=IG4,VKOX,4BMHAI,2LTST,1">http://www.bto.org/about-birds/bird-id/bto-bird-id-summer-buzzards-common-buzzard-and-honey-buzzard?dm_i=IG4,VKOX,4BMHAI,2LTST,1</a><br />
<br />
But if you really want to scrub up on your raptor identification then you need to head to something like the Batumi Raptor Count, in its 5th year it is holding a bird festival at the end of September <a href="http://www.batumiraptorcount.org/projects/batumi-bird-festival">http://www.batumiraptorcount.org/projects/batumi-bird-festival</a><br />
<br />
Finally a new book is due to be released in Sept/Nov based on the Boreal or Tengmalms owl, it always excites me when a specific in depth book is due to be released on any raptor species . You can find it here on Amazon to pre order <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Boreal-Owl-Behaviour-Conservation-Forest-Dwelling/dp/0521113717/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344203293&sr=1-1">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Boreal-Owl-Behaviour-Conservation-Forest-Dwelling/dp/0521113717/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344203293&sr=1-1</a><br />
<br />
Hopefully something of interest in the above, I'm about to fall asleep faster than Usain Bolt can win the 100metres. Keep coming back as I'm currently compiling a piece on illegal vulture killings Muti in Africa.</div>Jimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15695633815896301509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620273918120764474.post-76828367220387629772012-07-23T14:12:00.002-07:002012-07-23T14:12:22.029-07:00I'm still alive and so is the blog!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm still alive and so is the blog!!!<br />
<br />
But where have I been and what has been going on in the bird world? I have been busy continuing with my BTO bird ringing training with another season under my belt. I must admit a very wet season which has affected some species more than others, Sparrowhawks were thin on the ground this year.<br />
<br />
Whats happening in the bird of prey world or what has been happening? Lets start on home soil here in the UK. The fight goes on between land owners/Gamekeepers and birds of prey in Britain, two stories which highlighted this were the government body DEFRA announcing the idea to implement a management plan for Common Buzzard and its effect on Game birds predominantly Pheasant. One of the management methods mentioned in the plan was the movement of birds and also the destruction of Buzzard nest sites! This caused a lot of disgruntled e-mails and responses and a U-turn was swiftly pulled by DEFRA. My view on this is simple, despite the fact I lean towards birds of prey I have many friends who shoot including gamekeepers and they have backed my view up that Buzzards only have an impact for a very short period and then the Pheasant soon wise up and grow up. My other thought like many others is how can you manage a native species for a species which is introduced in its millions. <br />
<br />
The other story came from Scotland and again highlights the sometimes fraught relationship between land owners and birds of prey. A Scottish sheep farmer claimed Golden Eagles were causing extreme pressure on her sheep farming with a pair killing £9000 of livestock. Again a simple mathmatical sum based on the price of lambs would show the pair would have to kill a ridiculous number of lambs, and why has no one got any evidence of Golden or White Tailed Eagles actively taking lambs? I'm not claiming it doesn't ever happen but and know hill farmers have it tough but maybe it needs further research.<br />
<br />
You can find out more and keep up to date as always at <a href="http://www.raptorpolitics.org.uk/">http://www.raptorpolitics.org.uk/</a> and <a href="http://www.raptorpersecutionscotland.blogspot.com/">http://www.raptorpersecutionscotland.blogspot.com/</a> <br />
<br />
If the kids have now broken up and your looking for something to do why not take them down to the International Centre of Birds of Prey as its still as great as ever with some of this years babies now out and in training. The new website is now live take a look <a href="http://www.icbp.org.uk/">http://www.icbp.org.uk/</a><br />
<br />
Over the next month I am going to try and do a few specific blogs on topics that have come up recently ranging from killing vultures for Muti medicine and my view on the state of raptors in Britain. I'll also blog the latest links to raptor papers I have had in my in box over the last 2 months so keep checking back.<br />
<br />
Thanks for bearing with me! <br />
<br />
</div>
Jimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15695633815896301509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620273918120764474.post-59931169748969248592012-05-30T14:55:00.000-07:002012-05-30T15:03:57.852-07:00Introducing a friend!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
If some of you have been on my long list of websites on right hand column of the blog you might have come across a friend of mine and his website, if not then let me introduce you to him. Allen Holmes is a freelance wildlife photographer and artist but he does all this in his own time not as a profession. He is based in Rotherham and when he's not working shifts he's out around his local areas getting some cracking images of our natural world, he has also been known to travel a bit further than Rotherham!<br />
<br />
I had the pleasure of meeting Allen in 2009 whilst taking part in a BBC production out in Africa, he's one of those unassuming guys that has one of the nicest sense of humours you will meet. He told some of the worst jokes I have heard but somehow made them funny! Thankfully his photography is top notch and when you see his artwork well it could bring tears to your eyes I think it is that good. <br />
<br />
I bet you want to see some photos don't you! Sometime ago Allen sent me some images of raptors he had photographed on his outings so below I will share some with you.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zXStgOwGGRy2vX7EmtQXeFrslj9ji-gWddbaU6zNge4Kur8Ns3UjbZH9yppa6n0FdwYM-oJjfpksMC6fxzKUjBRx3AdNaahp-ISh8r8CzxFrnx4We6ruiRWJEQ3jNTe0i9PEk89yw1Q2/s1600/045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zXStgOwGGRy2vX7EmtQXeFrslj9ji-gWddbaU6zNge4Kur8Ns3UjbZH9yppa6n0FdwYM-oJjfpksMC6fxzKUjBRx3AdNaahp-ISh8r8CzxFrnx4We6ruiRWJEQ3jNTe0i9PEk89yw1Q2/s320/045.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkaMaxUXRdRXEN0otYTsebbPhhhBhoVnKmOL4b6POFuXKHnFbYPQ-_eeq4jP7BOZ3MGMApBUK9GEKEJ982pFBu1PAyG2UFBHtdj-f_JuOSl0FAflafDIm2D1OTj1xXTVKe02EFk5dqFoo/s1600/IMG_9561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkaMaxUXRdRXEN0otYTsebbPhhhBhoVnKmOL4b6POFuXKHnFbYPQ-_eeq4jP7BOZ3MGMApBUK9GEKEJ982pFBu1PAyG2UFBHtdj-f_JuOSl0FAflafDIm2D1OTj1xXTVKe02EFk5dqFoo/s320/IMG_9561.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJw4xCPB8-7vmTtjTuM_1vrbJTYO3R4gouGsF2Xf2Sz3DLyGXMyQVe2ZxJ1N0VQbQ0kyDk8r8BRXg3StccB7N9wTYTtYV17rfe9OZRWRKaFe48k3j7HvfZlCCE-s54xGqNb9LHf7vbzVa/s1600/IMG_3683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJw4xCPB8-7vmTtjTuM_1vrbJTYO3R4gouGsF2Xf2Sz3DLyGXMyQVe2ZxJ1N0VQbQ0kyDk8r8BRXg3StccB7N9wTYTtYV17rfe9OZRWRKaFe48k3j7HvfZlCCE-s54xGqNb9LHf7vbzVa/s320/IMG_3683.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0I96zpZ4ke-tG-LAJg7VsU1WIqYzhktnzEib0Da3huB4FvQCHwzCLlg6__6w478nyrZskx4Uka9JcMVpn_TCn0J7CFk66gdhDPztwpfkIsdSbCbIZvdRva-t9tFw26A86M_xHuljaQkSe/s1600/IMG_7303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0I96zpZ4ke-tG-LAJg7VsU1WIqYzhktnzEib0Da3huB4FvQCHwzCLlg6__6w478nyrZskx4Uka9JcMVpn_TCn0J7CFk66gdhDPztwpfkIsdSbCbIZvdRva-t9tFw26A86M_xHuljaQkSe/s320/IMG_7303.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFXIv5OJQYO3NrTCqIcXsL8nel8U2rHfNfNRRoZEI-AeIFFk2d2VT9An-xkEUpG7_wkKhWc7nYc1I5NjJ7qEeUPF2LyVf9CoP58vOhIJOdQ0aHRVA7x7T2pgcal6OVjiwZo0swgfcIlne/s1600/028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFXIv5OJQYO3NrTCqIcXsL8nel8U2rHfNfNRRoZEI-AeIFFk2d2VT9An-xkEUpG7_wkKhWc7nYc1I5NjJ7qEeUPF2LyVf9CoP58vOhIJOdQ0aHRVA7x7T2pgcal6OVjiwZo0swgfcIlne/s320/028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
There are several more of these and many other species on the his website, but more recently he was lucky enough to get his best shots of an Osprey and it was in his home town of Rotherham.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOaLoYnVdLWhv6lPJ2MMdrb20xg8gzA70kEzqMtFxLFzRdXYvv2z2O2tKWBIYD4kP09eh61gGPpHvwna2xsPR3ilZNq9rOPlzz38GneejZcNGOQ5UW1-ymNMlvlTfQgBCu8dr7xZmpXDm/s1600/Osprey_094a_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOaLoYnVdLWhv6lPJ2MMdrb20xg8gzA70kEzqMtFxLFzRdXYvv2z2O2tKWBIYD4kP09eh61gGPpHvwna2xsPR3ilZNq9rOPlzz38GneejZcNGOQ5UW1-ymNMlvlTfQgBCu8dr7xZmpXDm/s320/Osprey_094a_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOp7jAkndY3UPQJHRLzQCkB6CehZmw8ICOwKA1a6bjlTakXt-a7csPu8CUlT6hNi2aQ-X8Zpcb-olZx2wAO_y_RHLekWSBeW6nAuDRaywn_Ekb2EcITe1jbIFBEiyENeZuPrzEID8s6ELF/s1600/Osprey_106_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOp7jAkndY3UPQJHRLzQCkB6CehZmw8ICOwKA1a6bjlTakXt-a7csPu8CUlT6hNi2aQ-X8Zpcb-olZx2wAO_y_RHLekWSBeW6nAuDRaywn_Ekb2EcITe1jbIFBEiyENeZuPrzEID8s6ELF/s320/Osprey_106_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I got in touch with Roy Dennis and he informed me that this was a male bird rung in Contin, Easter Ross on July 15th 2009. The bird was identified by his blue leg ring.<br />
<br />
Finally if you thought his photography was good I personally think I have saved the best till last from Allen, as an artist he is incredibly talented and below is an example!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdpC3U3c_cwnHbT5jQTVEYMyyHVp1a1t2PHjA21TgzPex8aFPF2PMZgsguHcbAV8F5MFIYiIRk_CY9M4Jb02xrflFG-S2Ax24JBtuTYp8GH60RBnbS516SGvPBAapCEFtkzQ4U0ZjYvA1/s1600/IMG_2964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdpC3U3c_cwnHbT5jQTVEYMyyHVp1a1t2PHjA21TgzPex8aFPF2PMZgsguHcbAV8F5MFIYiIRk_CY9M4Jb02xrflFG-S2Ax24JBtuTYp8GH60RBnbS516SGvPBAapCEFtkzQ4U0ZjYvA1/s320/IMG_2964.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Now all I need to do is give you his webpage so you can enjoy his work as much as I do <a href="http://www.allenholmeswildlifegallery.co.uk/">http://www.allenholmeswildlifegallery.co.uk/</a><br />
<br />
(Please note all the above images are copyright to Allen Holmes Photography and must only be used with Allens Permission, please respect this!)</div>Jimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15695633815896301509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620273918120764474.post-43697827411052956622012-05-29T15:01:00.000-07:002012-05-29T15:01:13.627-07:00Beating the Buzzards???<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I thought I would let the dust settle before I blogged about recent defra plans to find a solution between Common Buzzards Buteo buteo and Pheasants released for game shooting. <br />
<br />
Firstly I attach a link via the raptor persecution scotland blog <a href="https://raptorpersecutionscotland.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/buzzard-control-experiment-overview.pdf">https://raptorpersecutionscotland.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/buzzard-control-experiment-overview.pdf</a><br />
<br />
If you have read that and everyone elses views then I have no doubt you will have made up your own minds and thoughts on the prospect of managing buzzards to help aid game shooting and a non native species but below my thoughts on the topic.<br />
<br />
The majority of pieces I have read have jumped straight to the mention of destroying buzzard nests and potentially the birds themselves but I think we need to understand it from the start. What Defra have done is become the main sponsor of a study into the effects the Common Buzzard is having on Pheasants and the shooting industry and the first word that jumped out to me is SPONSOR.<br />
<br />
Basically this means our government are stumping up the British taxpayers money thought to be in the region of £400,000 to pay for this study to be carried out. I for one think it is wrong for a government organisation to be spending a large amount of tax payers money on 1) a commercial enterprise(s) 2) Something that has very little effect on society. Surely if the shooting fraternity were so concerned about the subject their organisations would fund this, but then maybe they did the clever thing realising how soft our government organisations are .<br />
<br />
Secondly what effects do buzzards really have on what is largely an unnatural managed enterprise? Their is no doubting that the population of buzzards have risen dramatically in the last 20 years but lets not forget that is because man and mainly the shooting industry pushed this bird into very small pockets of Britain. If this was a celebrity we would be so proud of how well they have bounced back, but when we attach the same emotions to nature things get misunderstood. The buzzard is a survivor like any other wild animal and pheasants make up part of its food chain, can you blame it when it is thought 40million game birds are released each year. I have spoken to several game shooters and gamekeepers over the years and they tend to fall into two catergories, those who are dead against any thing other than a clients gun taking one of their birds and those who realise that predators are part of the bigger picture and if protected must be accepted.<br />
<br />
I accept that shooting is part of our rural heritage, brings in large amounts of money and provides jobs within rural communities and can have positive effects on conservation and biodiversity but I can't accept that this allows them to decide when we can intefere with another species biodiversity. People can argue that we need to address the balance but how can that be used when 40million non-native species are released.<br />
<br />
Now as for the management techniques that Defra have suggested I think the only one worth looking at is adding more cover for game birds, I sometimes wonder what some keepers do to protect their game legally, I know of one keeper who waits for his birds to feed for 20 or so minutes, he admits buzzards will kill his poults but he only really has an issue for the first couple of weeks then the game soon gets wise. Survival of the fittest surely and I'm sure shooting parties want the best sport meaning the fittest birds. Removal of Buzzards will never work as birds would just repopulate as the food supply will remain the same. Culling birds won't work again as the same above will happen and how many buzzards would need to be culled, surely we would be stepping back 20 years and would it stop just their, how many raptors might get persecuted by mistake?<br />
<br />
Back in 1981 we came up with laws to protect our wildlife so should we really be bending these to suit the needs of commercial activities? Especially as this government announced they would be the greenest to date! The only way I see this being resolved is if we respect our natural wildlife and work together to protect everyones interests! Trying to man handle nature will never work!<br />
<br />
</div>Jimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15695633815896301509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620273918120764474.post-51123147834849137312012-05-20T13:43:00.001-07:002012-05-20T13:43:18.498-07:00Hello<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I didn't realise how time consuming maintaining a blog would be and I must apologise for my lack of blogging. The world of birds of prey is still very active especially as here in the UK most birds of prey with be incubating eggs or rearing young. The Ospreys have returned breeding and that includes the amazing Lady of Loch Lowes possibly the oldest breeding Osprey!<br />
<br />
Web cams and tracking has never been more popular with the chance to view a whole host of birds of prey on nest sites and also follow the journeys the birds take. You can find some of these web cams in the website links page just scroll down.<br />
<br />
Bird of prey persecution is still a problem in the UK and this has included another Goshawk being targetted and English Hen Harriers presumed to be down to one breeding pair. Sadly in my opinion when the perpetraitors are caught the sentences they are given are little deterrant. So we could see the first extinction of a breeding bird in England for some time!<br />
<br />
Some new websites being added to the website links page are listed below<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bocn.org/">http://www.bocn.org/</a> - The Barn owl conservation network<br />
<br />
<a href="http://welshkitetrust.org/">http://welshkitetrust.org/</a> - Welsh Kite Trust<br />
<br />
<a href="https://wiki.ceh.ac.uk/display/pbms/Home">https://wiki.ceh.ac.uk/display/pbms/Home</a> - Predatory bird monitoring scheme<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wildlifewhisperer.tv/">http://www.wildlifewhisperer.tv/</a> -Simon Kings Wildlife Whisperer site<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.savethefalcons.org/Home.aspx">http://www.savethefalcons.org/Home.aspx</a> - Save the falcons<br />
<br />
I'm hoping to update the bird of the month page and also add some new stuff to the site including a video page with some ID tips. I am also in the process of setting up a new fund for birds of prey to raise money for a variety of different conservation projects globally with an interactive map to help you see where money will be going! Also I will be announcing my first bird of prey related fundraising challenge, its going to be a tough one! Watch this space for the webpage coming soon!<br />
<br />
In the mean time why not get yourself down to <a href="http://www.icbp.org/">http://www.icbp.org/</a> and see their birds up close and personal, they are about to celebrate their 45th birthday! Congratulations Jemima and the team!<br />
</div>Jimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15695633815896301509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620273918120764474.post-86180629456859283532012-03-16T08:01:00.000-07:002012-03-16T08:01:59.917-07:00The blog is still ALIVE!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Where have I been? its March already!!! <br />
<br />
Well I saw in the new year with friends and family, moved house for the first time, put up numerous new houses for birds of prey in my area and went to South Africa and saw lots of amazing birds of prey!<br />
<br />
I have lots of stuff to blog about as birds of prey have never been that far from the news! Sadly I don't have internet at my new flat yet and work doesn't allow access to blogs on the work network so I am currently pirate blogging!<br />
<br />
I will be bringing you all this stuff to you in the next week through my pirate blogging! In the mean time enjoy this new website below for some awesome webcams including Peregrine and Barn Owl<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wildlifewhisperer.tv/">http://www.wildlifewhisperer.tv/</a><br />
<br />
Have you signed the e-petition for birds of prey yet as well, if not they need your support it only takes 2 minutes to sign!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/23089">http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/23089</a><br />
<br />
More coming soon! <br />
<br />
Keep following.</div>Jimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15695633815896301509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620273918120764474.post-54748360841263142062011-12-24T13:07:00.000-08:002011-12-24T13:07:56.772-08:00Merry Christmas!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: red;">MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAVE A FANTASTIC NEW YEAR, THANKS FOR FOLLOWING THE BLOG!</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_B2cVIFmRXA/TvY-7uc3miI/AAAAAAAAABY/7w1rvBym3b0/s1600/santa+owl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_B2cVIFmRXA/TvY-7uc3miI/AAAAAAAAABY/7w1rvBym3b0/s1600/santa+owl.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div>Jimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15695633815896301509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5620273918120764474.post-69854581500037283842011-11-20T13:52:00.000-08:002011-11-20T13:52:19.578-08:00Raptor persecution in the UK past and PRESENT! Sign the e-petition!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">As the year draws to an end including another breeding season for British birds of prey we can look back and reflect on not just breeding successes and failures but also the persecution that birds of prey have had to face.<br />
<br />
527 crimes relating to birds of prey were reported relating to birds of prey in 2010 which is actually down on previous years but the sad fact still stares us in the face that it is still taking place! I'm sure you will also be aware more will have gone undetected or not reported, but what are the main causes of persecution.<br />
<br />
The RSPB bird crime report 2010 shows a variety of case studies and areas of persecution reported to them but the two main areas of persecutin from the 527 reported were Shooting and destruction of birds of prey 227 reported cases and poisoning and use of poisoned bait 128 cases reported. Details of such activities can be found in the report but even if the arguement that these cases are not proven surely something is going on if so many have been reported. They can't all be mistakes can they?<br />
<br />
The gamekeeper and shoot managers get the brunt of these cases and most of you who follow this topic will have read various articles between the two interested parties, those for birds of prey and those for the shooting fraternity usually always of the same substance but sadly breeding figures aswell as persecution evidence shows birds of prey just don't thrive on shooting estates. The sensitive subject lies with who takes the blame when such crimes are brought against the shooting estates where the majority of raptor persecution seems to be taking place in the UK. My opinion and various other's is that it should fall not just with the person(s) in question but the landowner in the form of vicarious liability. This is soon to be introduced in Scotland and surely it will make landowners take an interest in whats happening on their land.<br />
<br />
A petition has been started to bring the subject of vicarious liability to the House of Common's for England, surely for the sake of British birds of prey it is something that should be at least discussed if we are to try and change the victorian image some people have of birds of prey in the UK. Who are we to say what can and can't live and survive on this island?<br />
<br />
To make a stand against bird of prey persecution take five minutes to sign the petition below<br />
<br />
<a href="http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/23089">http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/23089</a><br />
<br />
To read the full RSPB Birdcrime 2010 click here <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/birdcrime2010_tcm9-293799.pdf">http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/birdcrime2010_tcm9-293799.pdf</a><br />
<br />
</div>Jimmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15695633815896301509noreply@blogger.com0