Waxwings - I actually went out looking for them in east Northants yesterday and failed completely despite many recent local records. Did see lots of rowan berries, industrial estates and redwings though! Will I ever see a waxwing this winter?
Farmland birds - a short blog of a week ago has attracted a large number of comments - mostly from a so-called 'Essex peasant' otherwise known as Essex farmer and NFU mouthpiece Guy Smith. The comments are mostly longer than the original blog! Guy has problems with Hope Farm, the Farmland Bird Index, and most things that the RSPB does. Makes for an interesting read if you are interested in that type of thing.
Dancing - now is the time to download Bird is the word to try to get it to be the Christmas Number 1.
Last date to order from the RSPB before Christmas - 15 December.
A love of the natural world demonstrates that a person is a cultured inhabitant of planet Earth.
And I guess this is what this debate is all about - point scoring. Personally I can't explain in enough words how uninterested I am in that and it's certainly not why I follow Marks blog.
Now, making a profit is something I do know about - it's my day job. But there's profit and there's profit isn't there. Profit at all cost is the unhealthy and non sustainable side of business and I am guessing, that like many large commercial businesses, particularly those with shareholders, there will be some large farming businesses where this is all that matters. And their motivation will be that every square inch of land that is farmed (whilst still cross complying of course) and stuff the wildlife. Any moral or altruistic duty doesn't figure here.
Fortunately we are living in a more enlightened age these days - more and morelarge businesses have sustainability policies, environmental policies, CSR, and yes - they do stick to them and make more profit as a result.
In a farming context look at Jordan's cereals and Yeo Valley - the latter's recent advert made me weep with joy as they managed in 2 minutes to connect sustainable and organic farming with young people far more effectively than anything the NFU has managed. And they must be raking the money in - wildlife pays!
Does the NFU advocate their members to have these policies in place? Can't find it on their web site.. Under their link 'Environment' there is a further link headed 'Wildlife Issues'. What about some Wildlife Advice?
Anyway the point I'm trying to make (not score) is that business is moving on in terms of sustainability, CSR etc - pay attention at the back!
Also kids are being educated in environmental issues, climate etc. The most telling for me was when my daughter asked why there were no butterflies in a field of dominant rye grass. The next generation will be more demanding and will want answers and buy accordingly so time to move on. Farmers should be welcoming the RSPB with open arms! (and thankfully a great many do)
All this coming from a member of the Public eh