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September 19, 2004
Decoy Ducks make a splash
British Decoy & Wildfowl Carving Championships 2004
The 15th Annual Competition of the British Decoy Wildfowl Carving Association will be launched with a splash this weekend (Sat 25 and Sun 26 Sept) as entrant's decoys are dropped into water to test how they float and resemble wild birds.
The national event is being held at the London Wetland Centre, Barnes SW13, for the second time in recent years and will feature more than one hundred entries from all over Britain, several of which will be tested to see if they 'sit' realistically on water.
Competition Organiser Alan Emmett said: "This is our 15th Annual Competition and the 3rd time that it has been open to non-members of the British Decoy Wildfowl Carving Association. There will be carvings of birds of all descriptions and styles, including wildfowl, sea and song
birds."
The art of decoy making (using models of birds to entice the real thing close enough to be shot or trapped) dates back many centuries, with early American Indian decoys consisting of no more than crafted bundles of straw. However, today's highly crafted and detailed decoys owe much
to North American tradition and a change of US law in the early 20th century; in 1912 the use of decoys for commercial shooting was outlawed (as they were so successful in luring ducks on migration that there was a real danger of some species becoming extinct) and so professional makers turned their attention to carving as an art form instead.
There will be carving demonstrations on both days and decoy carvings for sale at a range of prices. Doors open at 12pm on Sat 25 (when the judging also begins) with the event finishing at 4pm on Sun 26 (when prize-giving will occur).
Entrance to the event is included within admission charge to the Centre.
Posted by Surfbirds at 07:10 PM | Comments (0)
September 05, 2004
Guillemots wrecked on north west Scotland coasts
Hundreds of Guillemots are beaching themselves along the coasts of north Scotland...
Hundreds of Guillemots are beaching themselves along the coasts of north Scotland leaving RSPB staff baffled as to the cause. Guillemots have had a bad breeding season in the Northern Isles but it seems now that birds further south are being hit too. The cause remains a mystery, as does why only Guillemots appear to be affected, and not other auks such as Puffins.
A RSPB spokesperson said, "This is a cruel double blow for Scotland's seabirds. After a disastrous breeding season these birds have now been hit hard again. Hundreds of birds are coming ashore along the north west coast with reports from John O'Groats round to the Hebrides. Fifty five were picked up moribund at Achmelvich beach alone, but it is a similar story elsewhere."
On the Western Isles birds are filling the bays offshore. RSPB Conservation Officer Martin Scott said "We found 33 on one 1km stretch of beach alone. Most had already died but we took one home to try and rehabilitate it, but it didn't even survive the ten mile trip in the car. Numbers are building up
offshore and it looks likely many more birds will be beached. The survival rate of these birds is very low making it all the more depressing"
The cause of this phenomena, a seabird wreck, is not known but it is believed that the birds are starving. This may have been compounded by recent gales or perhaps even a parasite. Samples have been sent for analysis.
If you find a beached seabird contact the SSPCA. The RSPB are also asking for counts of beached birds for research purposes. These can be reported to local RSPB offices.
Picture courtesy of YVONNE BENTING/HEBRIDEAN IMAGING.
Posted by Surfbirds at 07:11 PM | Comments (0)