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More birding newsBritish Ornithologists' Union Records Committee
New Chairman for BOURC - May 2002
At the BOU's recent Annual General Meeting, Tony Marr retired as Chairman of the BOU Records Committee (BOURC) after serving his four-year term..
BOU Council have appointed existing BOURC member, Eric Meek, as the new Chairman of BOURC.
Originally from Northumberland, Eric has lived in Orkney for the past 21 years, working there as the RSPB's Area Officer. Whilst in Northumberland, Eric worked as Head of Geography at Blyth (Tynedale) High School. In his spare time he co-ordinated the monitoring of Merlin throughout the county, co-authoring several papers on the species, and through ringing studies of Goosander, helped to elucidate the drakes' moult migration. He also acted as secretary to the Northumbria Ringing Group and helped to run the Hauxley Ringing Station, publishing a note on the identification of Paddyfield Warbler. Since moving to Orkney, his interests in raptors have continued (with papers on Merlin and Hen Harrier) and extended to include Pintail, skuas, Mute Swan and the affects of aero-generators on birds. A note on the occurrence and identification of Tennessee Warbler has also appeared under his name. Eric has served on the County Records Committees of both Northumberland and Orkney and was a member of the Scottish Birds Records Committee from 1990 to 1998 before joining the BOU Records Committee in 1999. He has also served as a member of the BTO's Ringing & Migration Committee in the mid-'70s. He has travelled widely in search of birds, with trips to all continents except Antarctica and when not birding enjoys botanising and drinking real ale!
Britain's oldest bird is still going strong (April 2002)
Britain's oldest wild bird has reached the age of 50 and is thought to have flown five million miles. Records from the national bird ringing scheme show the Manx shearwater has been flying between the British Isles and South America for half a century.
The seabird was discovered in a colony on the island of Bardsey which lies off the Lleyn peninsula in north Wales.
The bird has been ringed four times, in 1957, 1961, 1977 and earlier this month. It was thought to be around five years old when ringed for the first time.
To read this story in full http://www.ananova.com/yournews/story/sm_569543.html
English Nature launches Hen Harrier Project (April 2002)
English Nature launched its Hen Harrier project in the uplands this week (April 26th 2002) with the encouraging news that 35 Hen Harriers - the most endangered bird of prey in England - have been seen across the moors of northern England in the past fortnight.
Sir Martin Doughty, English Nature's Chair said, "This is very encouraging news as we launch our Hen Harrier project, and we hope that these birds will be able to successfully breed and produce chicks in safety. The Hen Harrier is one of England's most spectacular birds of prey and nothing can be more memorable than seeing males 'sky dancing' in front of prospective mates in their annual courtship displays."
English Nature has become increasingly concerned about the status of the Hen Harrier in England. Following a prolonged decline, the English population now consists of just a handful of breeding pairs and there is the very real danger that the species will become extinct as a breeding bird within the next few years. English Nature is committed to restoring the English population and has set up a Hen Harrier project which will run for at least three years.
The project aims to: monitor the remaining Hen Harrier population in England and their breeding success; identify the factors that are currently restricting Hen Harrier numbers; and take subsequent measures to increase the Hen Harrier population in England.
As part of the survey, English Nature would like to hear from anyone who has seen Hen Harriers in England this spring and summer. Please phone Richard Saunders, Hen Harrier Project Officer, English Nature Cumbria Team: telephone: 01539 792800 or by e-mail at richard.saunders@english-nature.org.uk
The Hen Harrier was once a fairly common and widespread bird in Britain and there are breeding records from many English counties from the early 19th Century. Numbers declined mainly as a result of persecution by those seeking to protect poultry or gamebirds. By the end of the 19th century only a small population of birds survived in the Hebrides in western Scotland and on Orkney.
Northern England was recolonised in the mid-1960s and in the 1970s and 1980s up to 25 nesting attempts were made in each year in Cumbria, Derbyshire, Durham, Lancashire, Northumberland and Yorkshire. The population has not increased further and from the mid 1990s there has been a significant downturn in fortunes. Hen Harriers arrive back on their breeding grounds in March and April.
For more information visit: www.english-nature.org.uk