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A round up of the top countryside, conservation, wildlife and forestry stories as chosen by the CJS Team.
£10k gift to fix a fell - Lake District
National Park One of the Lake District’s best loved but blighted fell paths has
been given a £10,000 boost by a mystery benefactor. Walla Crag, above Keswick, is used by tens of thousands of walkers,
who for years have had to navigate across a notorious 20-metre wide
quagmire to get to the 1,000ft summit and a ‘sensational viewpoint’. Now, thanks to the anonymous local donation, work has been completed.
Ancient techniques utilising existing sub-soil up to 10,000-years-old
have been used, leaving a natural dry route to the panoramic peak. Fix the Fells ranger for the Lake District National Park, Richard
Fox, said he had been staggered by the generosity of the gift, but not
surprised that someone locally wanted to put right a troublesome blot on
the landscape. He explained: “The path at this point was 10 times wider
than it needed to be, a really horrible area of ever-spreading wet bog
which people had to plough through. This is a well-loved and much-used
route, particularly for those living and staying in Keswick. It’s
one of the few where you get that wonderful high fell feeling with very
little effort, so you don’t have to be particularly fit or agile to
reach the top and relish its unfolding sensational views. While every
Lake District view is the nicest in many respects, this really is one of
the best, taking in Catbells, Derwent Water, Buttermere fells and Causey
Pike. I can imagine that someone who really loves the place wanted
to make a real difference to all those who walk here by removing an
unsightly and boggy obstacle, leaving Walla Crag to Bleaberry Fell a
truly perfect experience.” Fix the Fells has repaired over 200 fell routes across the Lake
District and depends on donations and legacies to continue the work.
During this week’s UK National Parks Week (27 July – 2 Aug), Fix the
Fells volunteers will be undertaking work parties at Coniston Old Man,
Ullock Pike, Honister and Kirk Fell. Richard said £10,000 was a massive contribution and there was an
enormous debt of gratitude. He added: “We have now completed the work
thanks to a method thousands of years old which utilises sub soil, in
this case boulder clay deposited 10,000-years-ago by retreating
glaciers. No material was brought in at all, the technique simply
rearranged naturally occurring soils so the top one became the
well-drained, hard-wearing, boulder clay.
Orkney goose management project enters fourth year
- Scottish Natural Heritage A project to manage resident geese populations in Orkney is set to
enter its fourth year, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has confirmed. The Orkney greylag goose adaptive management pilot will allow local
people to control the resident greylag geese population. Licensed
shooting takes place with experienced local guns in August and September
before migratory birds from Iceland arrive in October. This will keep
the population down to reduce impact on farming while preserving the
species’ conservation interest. Geese taken as part of the pilot project will be recorded and numbers
monitored in summer. The aim is a sustainably managed goose population which generates
income for local people. The pilot project last year saw the
continuation of the sale of wild goose meat through licensed outlets in
Orkney. And the licensed sale of meat will resume again this year from
August to July 2016. Resident greylag geese in Orkney have increased over the past 20
years. The goose count in August 2014 recorded 22,911 birds. Wild goose meat is available only from licensed sellers in Orkney.
The pilot project is being trialled in Scotland under the auspices of
SNH and advised by the National Goose Management Review Group (NGMRG). Gail Churchill, SNH’s Orkney operations manager, "This active management work will help us meet our nature conservation obligations by maintaining a sustainable and stable resident greylag goose population. It has the support of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) who will be working closely with all of us involved in this new form of adaptive management control.”
European bird protection law saves threatened species - RSPB The European Union’s Birds Directive – often believed to be one of the world’s most progressive and successful nature conservation laws – has had a huge impact in protecting Europe’s most threatened bird species – including many in the UK, says new research by the RSPB, BirdLife International and Durham University.
Avocets
are one of a number of specially protected species which are doing well
in the UK and Europe Image: David Tipling The research, which is being published on Tuesday 28 July 2015 in the
journal Conservation Letters, reveals that the most consistent single
determinant of a species’ fate is whether it is afforded the highest
level of protection under the Birds Directive or not. In the language of
The Birds Directive this means whether a species is listed under Annex 1
or not. The research also shows that Annex 1 species fare better in those
countries which have been EU members for longer. Dr Fiona Sanderson is an RSPB scientist, working for the RSPB Centre
for Conservation Science, and lead author of the paper. She said: “We
analysed information on all bird species breeding across the European
Union. Our findings confirm that species with the highest level of
protection under the Birds Directive, such as Dalmatian pelican,
spoonbill, griffon vulture and greater flamingo, are more likely to have
increasing populations, and that these results are most apparent in
countries that have been members of the European Union for longer.” Read the paper here: Sanderson, F. J.
et al (2015)
Assessing the performance of EU nature legislation in protecting target
bird species in an era of climate change. Conservation Letters.
DOI: 10.1111/conl.12196
Stressed young birds stop learning from their parents and turn to wider
flock – University of Cambridge Juvenile zebra finches that experience high stress levels will ignore
how their own parents forage and instead learn such skills from other,
unrelated adults. This may help young birds avoid inheriting a poor
skillset from parents – the likely natural cause of their stress – and
becoming trapped by a “bad start in life”. Highly-social zebra finches learn foraging skills from their parents.
However, new research has found that when juvenile finches are exposed
to elevated stress hormones just after hatching, they will later switch
strategies and learn only from unrelated adult birds – ignoring their
parents’ way of doing things and instead gaining foraging skills from
the wider network of other adult finches.
Researchers
say that spikes in stress during early development may act as a cue that
their parents are doing something wrong, triggering the young birds to
switch their social learning strategy and disregard parental approaches
in favour of acquiring skills exclusively from other birds in the flock. Image: Zebra Finches (Merijn Loeve) The changes this stress could create in the patterns of individuals'
social interactions may impact important population-wide processes, such
as migration efficiency and the establishment of animal culture, they
say. The new study is published today (23 July) in the journal Current
Biology. Read the paper here: Farine, D. R.,
Spencer, K. A. & Boogert, N. J. (2015)
Early-Life Stress Triggers Juvenile Zebra Finches to Switch Social
Learning Strategies. Current Biology. DOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2015.06.071
Stirling study highlights noise threat to Atlantic cod – University
of Stirling Atlantic cod could be at risk from noise created by wind farms and
other off-shore developments, according to new University of Stirling
research.
A
study carried out by the University’s world-leading Institute of
Aquaculture found that Atlantic cod exposed to noise levels common in
land-based aquaculture facilities exhibited significantly reduced rates
of egg production and fertilisation. Image: University of Stirling But the researchers believe this could also have implications for
Atlantic cod in the wild. Dr Andrew Davie, of the University’s world
leading Institute of Aquaculture, said: "We need to be cautious as our
study focused on the noise generated in enclosed, on-shore aquaculture
facilities, while in wild context cod have greater opportunity to escape
from noise disturbances. However, as noise generated by off-shore
engineering and shipping increases, the soundscape of our oceans is
undoubtedly changing and the implications for native fish stocks needs
to be investigated. Given that the shallow banks of the North Sea
populated by Atlantic cod are also popular proposed sights for off-shore
wind farms, and that the noise levels these can create are comparable to
those used in our research, the potential harm they pose to Atlantic cod
in the wild is a concern.”
Green Bridges: A literature review (NECR181) – Natural England Published 27 July 2015 The aim of the project is to identify and analyse evidence to inform
understanding of the cost effective design and positioning of green
bridges and similar infrastructure (including retro-fitting green
features to existing grey bridges) to address landscape, access and
ecological severance, connectivity and integration issues on the road
and rail transport network, and to maximise the delivery of landscape
benefits and ecosystem services.
Where is the Common Blue? – Butterfly Conservation
Conservationists
are seeking the help of millions of holidaymakers heading to the coast
this summer in a bid to solve the mystery of a disappearing butterfly.
The Common Blue is the most widespread of the UK’s blue butterflies
but in recent years its numbers have declined and in 2012 reached its
lowest level on record. As part of this year’s Big Butterfly Count,
Butterfly Conservation has teamed up with the National Trust to ask the
public to look out for and record the Common Blue on the coast. It is thought that the butterfly may be faring better on coastal
sites than inland as habitats by the sea tend to be relatively unspoilt
due to their inaccessibility. Modern intensive farming, forestry and
building development has reduced the wildflower habitats needed by the
Common Blue – factors believed to be behind the butterfly’s decline.
Results from this summer’s Big Butterfly Count will provide key
information to finding out the importance of coastal sites for the
Common Blue. Butterfly Conservation Head of Recording, Richard Fox, explains:
“Sunny cliffs, sand dunes and coastal grasslands provide perfect
conditions for the Common Blue’s main caterpillar foodplant - Common
Bird’s-foot-trefoil. As a result, some of the UK’s largest Common Blue
colonies occur around our spectacular coastline. The combination of
butterflies, sea and sky provide a beautiful blue backdrop to time spent
on the coast. Sadly, Common Blues are not as common as they once were
and we need the public’s help to locate remaining colonies.” Matthew Oates, the National Trust’s specialist on butterflies, said:
“This is a great opportunity to add some useful butterflying to your
family seaside holiday while you are out on a walk along the coast or
wandering through some sand dunes. Common Blues love the extra heat of
sunny coastal grasslands and also like to breed in farm fields sown with
White Clover along the coast. We’d love to know where our top coastal
Common Blue colonies are, and what else you may see. The National Trust
owns some seriously good seaside holiday butterfly sites, like Ballard
Down in Dorset, Compton and Brook Downs on the Isle of Wight, Kynance
Cove in Cornwall, and Whiteford Burrows on Gower.”
Study
shows bee-friendly crops create a hungry gap for rarer bees – Game &
Wildlife Conservation Trust A new study published in Biological Conservation identifies that we
need to rethink the type of special flowering crops that we grow to help
our ailing bee populations. The three-year study is investigating whether current
pollinator-friendly management provided the right conditions for all
pollinating insects not just bumblebees, and whether it helped increase
the diversity of all farmland bees and wasps. Interestingly, the study
showed that although bumblebees and honeybees foraged widely within sown
flower habitats that are recommended within flower-rich agri-environment
schemes, the majority of bee species preferred naturally occurring wild
plants such as hogweed, cat’s ear, and scentless mayweed, which are not
currently included in pollinator mixes. These plants are commonly found
in uncultivated areas of farmland such as field margins, access tracks
and hedgerows. Thomas Wood explains the significance of this study, “It is now
widely acknowledged that pollinators provide a crucial service in
pollinating our crops, thus helping to put food on our table. As a
consequence much energy and resources are being directed at schemes that
are supposed to prevent further declines of our important pollinating
communities. However, as our study reveals, the current provision of
flowering habitats, which includes species such as red clover,
bird’s-foot trefoil and knapweed are predominantly aimed at bumblebees,
which have large colonies and longer foraging range and not the wider
bee and wasp communities. So far there has been very little assessment
on the response of other wild bees to these options, despite the fact
that these other bees make up the large majority of species diversity.”
International team fits satellite tags to keep tabs on UK's rarest
raptors - RSPB
East Anglia is an extremely important region for Montagu’s harriers,
with three out of just seven nesting attempts in the whole of the UK so
far this year being recorded in the East of England. Researchers from the Dutch “Montagu’s Harrier Foundation”, together
with conservationists from the RSPB, fitted one male and two female
Montagu’s harriers with the lightweight tracking devices, which will
last for the lifetime of the birds and relay real time location data
back to the team. Mark Thomas, who leads on Montagu’s harrier conservation work for the
RSPB, said: “This is an exciting and important application of satellite
tracking technology that will help us to monitor their movements and
locate their feeding areas to understand more about these harriers’ not
just here in the UK, but in their wintering grounds in Africa and on
their migratory journey in between.” The first Montagu’s harrier fitted with a satellite tag in the UK,
also called Mark, returned to nest in the exact same field this year in
which he had been fitted with the device in 2014, but not before
revealing the whereabouts of a UK breeding “Monty’s” wintering grounds
in Senegal and Mauritania for the first time via his high-tech backpack.
Surprising first data for rare British duck - WWT
Britain’s
most threatened breeding duck has been tracked here for the first time
to find out where it goes in winter – and the answer turns out to be
rather surprising.
The tragically misnamed ‘common’ scoter – there are only about 40
British breeding pairs left – only nests in a tiny handful of places in
the Scottish Highlands. The birds from a single loch seem very
tight-knit and are quite likely to be related, so it was expected they
might migrate together to a similarly small area to overwinter. WWT Research Officer Ed Burrell said: “It feels like this mysterious
species wants to keep flummoxing any human interest in them. But in fact
their winter wandering gives us some clues to help solve their problems.
The fact they stay apart in winter is a bit like the Royal family never
flying together, it means they can’t all be affected by a single issue
like a storm or oil spill. So that means that whatever is causing their
decline is more likely to be in the summer when they’re all together in
the Highlands. That helps us to concentrate our investigations. Their
breeding sites are managed by Scottish & Southern Energy and Forest
Enterprise Scotland, who along with RSPB Scotland and SNH are working
with us to try to crack the question of why this British species’ future
is so perilous.”
Half of Scotland’s wild flowers found on their road verges. -
Plantlife
Scotland's
road verges are home to over 550 different species of wild flowers and
are one of the most frequently viewed habitats in the country.
Plantlife estimates that 556 species of wild plants are found on
Scottish road verges, including highly threatened flowers such as
spignel and greater butterfly-orchid. This equates to half of all
Scotland's wild flowers. Road verges also constitute one of the most
frequently seen habitats in Scotland, giving millions of people every
day direct contact with the changing seasons and colours of the
countryside. Road users are also given a seated view into the
astonishing changing landscapes and habitats of Scotland, from forests
to moors. For lots of people, the flower-filled verges they see on their daily
commute or trip to the shops are their main contact with nature. In addition, 88% of these verge plants provide nectar and pollen for
bees and other insects, making road verges essential refuges for insect
life; bird’s-foot trefoil alone is a food plant for 132 species of
insect. The good news is that Scotland's 9,386 ha of rural verges appear to
be flourishing this summer and providing swathes of natural colour on
Scotland's roads for its users to enjoy and providing a valuable haven
and food bank to the country's wildlife. From primroses, which were
voted Scotland's favourite wild flower, in spring, to swathes of
meadowsweet and ox-eye daisies in out in summer, not to mention marsh
orchids and devil’s-bit scabious that are also currently flowering, our
verges are home to a huge variety of wild flowers and consequently a
host of diverse wildlife. Dr Deborah Long, Head of Plantlife Scotland, explains, “Scotland's
road verges are stunning, especially at this time of year when if you’re
lucky you can spot melancholy thistle, ragged robin and meadow
cranesbills. With a closer look you’ll see even more, brightening your
journey. It’s not just us enjoying the knapweed and scabious –
bumblebees, hoverflies, butterflies are there too and reminding us all
how important it is we recognise and celebrate our road verges. I’m
proud to have these species growing here for everyone to enjoy on their
everyday journeys to work or school."
Environmental groups call on PM's intervention as 10 green policies
scrapped – The Wildlife Trusts
Within
the first three months of the new government ten different environmental
policies have been watered down or scrapped, according to analysis by a
group of leading UK environment organisations Red-tailed bumblebee Jon Hawkins Surrey Hills
Photography
These range from support for renewable energy technology and tax
exemptions for low carbon vehicles, which have existed for over a
decade, to privatisation of the Green Investment Bank and the scrapping
of the Green Deal, the establishment of both being achievements
celebrated by the last Conservative-led government. Protection for the natural environment has also been weakened with a
u-turn on a ban on fracking in protected areas. And the UK has cited an
‘emergency’ to exempt itself from an EU-wide ban on neonicotinoids. Environmental leaders have called on the Prime Minister, as a matter
of urgency, to clarify his government’s approach to environmental
protection and climate security in what is a vital year for action on
climate change. In a public letter to the Prime Minister, written in
response to the findings, the heads of the UK’s leading environmental
groups said: “We welcomed the Conservative manifesto commitment to
‘being the first generation to leave the natural environment of England
in a better state than that in which we found it’. Unfortunately, ten
green policies which could have helped you to achieve these goals have
been cancelled or weakened in the past three months. These policies
were developed over many years, often with cross-party backing, and with
the support and involvement of many businesses and charities. Only one
of these decisions, to end subsidies for onshore wind, was a commitment
from your manifesto. We have, as yet, seen no positive new measures
introduced to restore the health of our environment or grow the low
carbon economy.” Read the public letter to the Prime Minister (pdf)
Statement on the Government’s decision to allow the emergency use of
neonicotinoids on Oil Seed Rape
- Bumblebee Conservation Trust The recent announcement that the government has granted use of
neonicotinoid pesticides on 5% of oil seed rape crops this autumn was
one of immense disappointment for the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. We
believe that this has now set a precedent for further emergency
applications and that the UK Government has in effect lifted the EU
temporary ban on the use of neonicotinoids. We have written to the Secretary of State for the Environment, the
Rt. Hon. Elizabeth Truss asking to see the data and case studies used to
persuade to Expert Committee on Pesticides (ECP) to grant this
derogation. In particular we have asked the government to justify this
decision in light of: 1) Its investment in the development and implementation of a National
Pollinator Strategy for England (of which we are both a signatory and
member of the Pollinator Advisory Steering Group) 2) Defra’s ‘call to action’ to encourage the general public and
industry to do more for pollinators 3) The considerable body of evidence demonstrating significant legal
and sublethal effects of neonicotinoid pesticides on important wild
pollinatos such as bumblebees and solitary bees. To read the letter in full click here (pdf)
BBS
results - some respite for Britain's Birds - BTO BBS results image via BTO Some stay, some go, but 2013 to 2014 was a good year for many of the
UK’s birds. The latest results from the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS)
brought some short-term, positive news for a suite of both migratory and
resident species against a backdrop of long-term declines for many,
long-distance migrants in particular. The BBS Report 2014 reveals the
latest short and long-term trends for 110 species, focuses on
increasing coverage in the uplands and takes a look at recording how
birds were first detected during the 2014 surveys. A huge thank you to all the dedicated volunteers who contributed to
the survey in 2014.
Download the full report here (pdf)
Log your ‘hog on The BIG Hedgehog Map – a new Hedgehog Street initiative
- PTES
A
third of our hedgehogs have been lost in the UK in the last ten years
and now over 34,000 volunteers are helping to stem the decline. But as
Hedgehog Street, a national campaign led by British Hedgehog
Preservation Society (BHPS) and People’s Trust for Endangered Species
(PTES), enters its fourth year, the charities are calling on more people
to help their efforts by launching The BIG Hedgehog Map online where
people can record their sightings of hedgehogs (dead or alive) and
pledge to make a hole in their garden fence.
There are about half a million hectares of garden in the UK, a vast
potential resource for hedgehogs. A simple action such as creating a
small hole the size of a CD case in shared garden boundaries removes
physical barriers for hedgehogs, which typically travel about a mile
each night in order to gather food and search for a mate. Fay Vass, CEO of BHPS says: “To reverse the decline of hedgehogs we
need to know where they are, and we need to maintain their living
spaces. Please help by telling us when you see hedgehogs and make small
holes in your garden fences to create hedgehog highways all across the
country. By acting together we can really benefit the species.”
Extinct animal found alive and well at DWT nature reserve – Devon
Wildlife Trust An animal that has only been recorded once in the UK before and was
thought to be extinct has been found alive and well living on a Devon
Wildlife Trust nature reserve. The remarkable discovery was made by expert naturalist Rob Wolton who
is a member of the Devon Fly Group and the Dipterists Forum which
specialises in the study of flies. Rob said: ‘I took a recent trip to
Devon Wildlife Trust’s Old Sludge Beds nature reserve on the outskirts
of Exeter specifically to look for flies. Imagine my surprise when I
examined my catch that evening to find it included a fly that was
presumed extinct in Britain, not having been seen for 147 years!
Definitely one to add to the list of Devon specialities.’
Conflict in the Uplands? Collaboration and consensus more like it! -
The Moorland Association AS one of the biggest celebrations of field sports in Britain gets
underway attention is focussed on controversy in the uplands. Joining
the CLA Game Fair at Harewood House, near Leeds, members of The Moorland
Association (MA) – who are responsible for some of England’s rarest and
most protected high ground – are reporting notable gains. They say it is
an exciting time with effective upland partnerships working together.
This has meant a fresh look at how a raft of benefits can be reaped from
the fragile landscapes loved by millions. MA director, Amanda Anderson, said while some were seeking to create
conflict in the uplands by highlighting potential problems, others were
dedicated to solving them and improving the beautiful land for all. She
explained: “This is a very positive time marked by co-operation,
cohesion and pioneering initiatives, benefiting not just the moors but
wildlife and rural economies into the bargain. Government targets for
setting these vulnerable areas on the road to recovery have been
exceeded, the Uplands Alliance launched – bringing together all
interested parties – and moorland management hailed for far-reaching
peatland restoration action.” Mrs Anderson said £52.5 million was
invested annually by owners on moorland conservation and protection and
warned of the dangers of putting grouse shooting at risk. She added: “In
the late 1990s, driven grouse shooting and habitat management stopped in
the Berwyn Special Protection Area in North Wales which then saw serious
declines in bird species. It’s a stark warning! Despite its conservation
designations, lapwings became extinct, golden plover declined by 90
percent, curlew by 79 percent, black grouse by 78 percent and ring ouzel
by 80 percent. The number of hen harriers, whose decline has frequently
been blamed on moorland gamekeepers, fell by 49 percent after the
management for red grouse was abandoned and gamekeepers lost. The
message is simple, lose moorland keepers and expect lose-lose for
conservation, livelihoods and visitors. Natural Resources Wales has
since recognised the importance of managing vegetation and predator
control and ploughed £240,000 into upland estates to replace the work of
gamekeepers. This is a tiny, short-lived shot in the arm with tax
payer’s money, and is not a long-term sustainable solution.”
Park Authority Welcomes Allt Duine Announcement - Cairngorms
National Park Authority The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) has welcomed the news
that Scottish Ministers have refused the Allt Duine windfarm due to the
unacceptable impact on the Cairngorms National Park and wild land. The CNPA lodged its objection to the proposed windfarm near Kincraig
in May 2011 in response to a Section 36 Scottish Government consultation
on the proposal. The 31 turbines would have been sited just outside the
Cairngorms National Park – the closest structure being 900 metres from
the edge of the Park – and with tracks to the site within the National
Park boundary. The Park Authority objected to proposals on the grounds of the very
significant impact it would have on the special qualities of the Park
and particularly on the sense of wildness that people can enjoy here. CNPA Board Convener Duncan Bryden, said: “We are extremely pleased
that our concerns about this particular windfarm on the very edge of the
Cairngorms National Park have been listened to by Ministers. This would
have been the closest windfarm to the Park and was a wholly unacceptable
proposal.
Young people given a voice in future of Northumberland National Park
- defra The creation of the country's first National Park Youth Cabinet will
give young and local people an active role in their National Park. Young people are to take their place at the heart of decision-making
for Northumberland National Park with the creation of the country’s
first National Park Youth Cabinet, Environment Minister Rory Stewart
announced today (31/7). The new cabinet will give local people
aged 16-25 an active role in governing their National Park and encourage
others to help look after it – today and for the future. Environment Minister Rory Stewart said: "With more than 90 million
annual visitors to our National Parks they are an essential and very
valuable part of rural life, bringing jobs and investment. It’s
absolutely right young people – the future custodians of our natural
world – have a say in how they are run. Important projects like
this make that happen, giving teenagers and young adults first hand
understanding of their true value – not just in monetary terms – but as
part of our precious natural heritage." Glen Sanderson, Chairman of Northumberland National Park Authority,
said: " We have enjoyed working with young people for a long time –
through apprenticeships, training schemes, and our wide range of
activities – and we genuinely value the creativity and inspiration that
young people bring. Our Youth Cabinet puts young people at the
heart of what we do at the National Park as they are an integral part of
the decision making process, and we listen and learn much from their
views. National Parks are amongst Britain’s most valued treasures, and
we are ensuring that we do all we can to encourage young people to learn
about, explore, and care for our National Parks so that future
generations can continue to enjoy these national assets for years to
come."
Rare bee-eaters breed in Cumbria - RSPB Two pairs of rare bee-eaters have set up home and are raising chicks
at a quarry in Cumbria. With their kaleidoscopic plumage, bee-eaters are one of Europe’s most
striking and beautiful birds. They are normally found nesting in southern Europe and are a very
rare breeding bird in the UK. However, visits have increased in recent
years, prompting speculation of colonisation. Last year, two pairs
successfully raised chicks on the Isle of Wight and prior to this, birds
nested in County Durham in 2002, Herefordshire in 2005 and in Sussex in
1955. The Cumbria bee-eaters are residing at Hanson UK’s Low Gelt sand
quarry near Brampton in the North Pennines, where they have made nests
by burrowing tunnels in the quarry banks. They were discovered by the
quarry’s foreman who noticed the colourful birds flying amongst the
site’s colony of nesting sand martins. Hanson UK alerted the RSPB
who quickly set up 24-hour nest protection programme in June. Mark Thomas, from the RSPB, said: “Bee-eater sightings have really
been on the increase in recent springs and we’re delighted to confirm
they are breeding in the UK for the second consecutive summer. Pushed
northwards by climate change, it is highly likely that these exotic
birds will soon become established visitors to our shores thanks to
partnerships like this one with Hanson.”
Scientific Publication Shaffer, J. A. and Buhl, D. A. (2015),
Effects of wind-energy facilities on breeding grassland bird
distributions. Conservation Biology. doi: 10.1111/cobi.12569
Foltza, S. L., Rossa, A. E., Lainga, B. T., Rocka, R. P., Battlea, K.
E. & Moorec, I. T. (2015)
Get off my lawn: increased aggression in urban song sparrows is related
to resource availability. Behavioral Ecology. doi:
10.1093/beheco/arv111
Girardet, X., Conruyt-Rogeon, G. & Foltête, J. C. (2015)
Does regional landscape connectivity influence the location of roe deer
roadkill hotspots? European Journal of Wildlife Research. DOI:
10.1007/s10344-015-0950-4
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