Our blog & news: Get involved to help wildlife

 
 

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world;
indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." 
Margaret Mead, American anthropologist, 1901-1978
 


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  1. Calling all bird lovers! It's World Migratory Bird Day on 9 May 2020

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    On the 9th May 2020 (and 10 October 2020), it’s World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD for short). 

    It’s a global campaign  and it’s dedicated to raising awareness of migratory birds and the need for countries around the world to co-operate in their efforts to save them.

    This year, the theme is “Birds Connect Our World”.

    It was picked to highlight how important it is to conserve and restore the ecological connectivity and integrity of ecosystems which support the natural cycles that are essential for migratory birds to survive and thrive.

    The day gives us all an opportunity to discover more about migratory birds and be in awe at their amazing feats.

    Migratory birds need networks with stops

    Migratory birds travel far.  They need to be able to stop to rest and feed and breed. If you like, you could liken it as a journey along a motorway system and every so often, they need to stop for a break to fill their tummies and have a break.

    Birds need networks of sites

    They need a network of sites along these routes to breed, to feed, to rest and spend the winter.  They need different sites and habitats, irrelevant of which country they are in. They can cross incredible distances and over impossible terrains such as deserts and open seas.  They cross national borders and soar above any national agenda.  What they do need is for countries to co-operate to ensure their routes are kept open and safe for them. 

     

    Examples of migratory birds’ routes

    The East Asian – Australasian Flyway goes from the Russian Far East and Alaska through East Asia and South-East Asia, down to Australia and New Zealand – 22 countries in all.  The Flyway is home to over 50 million migratory waterbirds from over 250 different populations.   They need a system of wetlands to rest, feed and build up the energy they need for the next part of their journey. 

    Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust has an example of swan’s migrating from Slimbridge up to their tundra breeding grounds in the Russian Arctic. 

    RSPB has information about the Arctic tern who travels a rather amazing 22,000 miles a year – the longest migration of all – as they move continually between the Arctic summer and the Antarctic summer.  

    Swifts breed throughout Europe as far north as Lapland and the Arctic Circle, reaching east across Asia to China.

    So you can see how important it is that countries work together to give these birds the flight paths they need, with all the facilities along the way.




    What can be done at a national/international level:

    • Increase action globally via environment treaties such as the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and the Africa-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA).  These are vital to protect migratory birds on their international flight paths.
    • Creating habitat corridors which are protected and which go across boundaries would really help animals who migrate and fly over national boundaries. 
    • Networks of crucial sites which are imperative to migration needs must be safeguarded and managed properly.  Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas as described by BirdLife International give migratory birds all they need during their long flights - necessary feeding, breeding, nesting and sheltering grounds.

    What individuals like you & me can do:

    • Have a bird-friendly garden with safe shelters and a bird bath.  Give them bird food. Put feeders out of reach of cats.   
    • Spread the word about how important it is to protect migratory birds. 
    • Download and use birding apps – it’s a great way to connect to like-minded bird lovers.
    • Find out more about migratory birds.  There are resources on the WMBD website so fly off and nest and rest there a while and peck at all the information you can.

     This day is held twice a year , on 9 May and 10 October so you could prepare an event or attend an October event.

    Visit BirdLife International and the WMBD’s site here

     

     

  2. Please see this video from Gravitas - how nature is reclaiming its spaces due to the Coronavirus

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    Sometimes you see something on the internet or on television that really hits you hard and makes a point extremely well.

    I saw this video, this afternoon, and I wanted to share it with you.  Please share it with everyone you can.

    The ultimate message is that we SHARE this planet.  It demonstrates how dominant the human race has become - and how selfish.   I am not going to tell you anymore about it - please just watch it for yourself.   Here it is:



    Thank you, Gravitas.

    Please vow to make a difference today. 
    Find out how to reduce your impact on the earth's resources here.

     

     

     

     

  3. Please help puffins in Iceland - they need your voice

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    Here we go again.  More trophy hunters after the thrill of the kill.

    This time, it’s gorgeous, adorable puffins. 

    Companies in Iceland (the country, not the supermarket) are offering guided puffin hunts.  A hunter can pay $3,650 each for a chance to bag up to 100 puffins at a time.  How on earth can you want to do that?

    The IUCN’s Red List lists puffins as “vulnerable”.  And that means that if things don’t change for the better, they could go extinct.

    Please give puffins in Iceland your voice

    Over the last 10 years, Iceland’s Atlantic puffin population has fallen by 1.5 million.  And Iceland allows hunters to kill thousands of puffins every year.  Many end up on plates in local restaurants, served to curious tourists. 

    And by the way, companies in Iceland also give people the chance to hunt reindeer, goose, and Ptarmigan.

    Millions of people want to get a closer look at puffins every year, from the island of Alderney to Norway, the Faroe Islands, the USA and Canada.  Many of these places have puffin viewing tours, which give people the chance to see puffins alive and close up.

    So why can’t Iceland stop the hunt to kill puffin tours and put more emphasis on having hunt to see, enjoy and love tours instead?

    Please sign this petition. 

    Tell Iceland's president Jóhannesson to protect their puffins, not kill them.

    And by the way, Theresa Villiers, Britain’s new environment secretary, is being urged to ban puffins which have been killed in trophy hunts. And also to push CITES to list seabirds for global protection. 

    RSPB Spotlight Puffins

    RSPB Spotlight Puffins
    £9.99
    from the RSPB Online Shop

  4. There’s good news in Northumberland, thanks to nature lovers.

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    There’s good news in Northumberland, thanks to nature lovers.

    Nature lovers there have got together to help buy and protect a tract of land there.  It’s a 600 acre site called Benshaw Moor in Redesdale, with heather habitat, peatland and limestone waterfall and springs.

    Birdlife at Benshaw include curlew, snipe, skylark, meadow pipit and short-eared owls.

    It’s now Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s 63rd nature reserve.

    600 acres at Benshaw Moor is safe, thanks to a united effort
    ©Duncan Hutt

    Thanks to a united effort, 600 acres at
    Benshaw Moor in Northumberland is safe.

    The Trust was concerned that the land be used for business such as a commercial conifer forestry, or windfarm.  Shooting will not be allowed there any longer.

    £570,000 was raised from charitable trusts, businesses and a significant bequest.   The public donated £75,000.  The bequest came from the late George Swan, who wrote the Flora of Northumberland which was a record of the county’s plant species.  Mr Swan specified that the bequest be used to buy a site of botanical importance.

    Nature lovers will still be involved:   the wildlife charity’s team and volunteers will do surveys to better understand the site to help guide its future management.  Possible options include areas of native woodland, and conservation grazing, with Exmoor ponies or cattle.

    It just shows what can happen if we all get involved and unite for wildlife.  

    Find out how you can get involved in and help the Northumberland Wildlife Trust – even if you don’t live in this beautiful area!

    Get involved  - volunteer, visit nature reserves, go to events etc

    Support the Northumberland Wildlife Trust – donate, become a member, leave a legacy.

    There are 46 Wildlife Trusts around the UK and in Alderney and the Isle of Man – find your local here

     

  5. Save land, save species

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    The World Land Trust has just launched its new appeal, to protect forest in Kenya on the coastline.

    Dakatcha has been identified as a Key Biodiversity Area and an Important Bird Area.  It has no official protection – but the future of this habitat could be secured under the ownership of Nature Kenya.

    The World Land Trust partners with Nature Kenya and their current project is to protect 810 acres before the threats of illegal charcoal production, hunting, controlled pineapple farming and the persistent threat of deforestation see this rare area burn.

    Save land by sponsoring an acre – or even quarter of an acre, and you can help save a species.

    You can get involved by sponsoring an acre for £100, half an acre for £50, or a quarter of an acre for £25.00

    So why save Dakatcha?

    The You Tube video below shows the reasons why we should all help save the area.    It’s a vital area for people and animals locally, but it also is the case that every single healthy intact forest we can save will help us in the fight against climate change. 

    New species are still to be found here, as little is known about the forest – but it is known that endangered species such as the Clarke’s Weaver, the Sokoko Scops Owl and the Golden Oriole need this area. 


    Donate £25 to save a quarter of an acre of Dakatcha.

    Donate £50 to save half an acre of Dakatcha.

    Donate £100 to save an acre of Dakatcha.


    The World Land Trust are looking to save 810 acres and people have started to donate to save these acres already :-) 

    I’m making a donation in memory of my wonderful father on this Father’s Day.   He loved his feathered friends and his trees – and he enjoyed a family holiday to Kenya many years ago.  So the ties are there, and I can’t think of a better way to remember my father than save an acre of forest in his memory.

    Save land, save species here.