If you missed the AGM on Saturday, here is my rundown of the top ten moments from the day...
At ten, not one moment, but lots of good moments catching up with friends, members, colleagues and even the odd follower of this blog on a sunny day in London. Lots of awards for volunteers and our most prestigious award, the RSPB Medal, going to Professor Sir Bob Watson for his outstanding contribution to tackling climate change and halting biodiversity loss.
At nine, watching democracy in action as an individual member sought to challenge the decision by the RSPB to erect a wind turbine at the Lodge (see here). The AGM Chair, Vice-President Professor Ian Newton, politely rejected the call for an emergency debate. Chairman of RSPB Council, Professor Steve Ormerod, went on to say that he was happy to discuss his proposal in full Council should he put his request in writing. Steve also explained that the Council continues to take a close interest in our policy on energy given the impact that climate change will have on wildlife and the need to find an environmentally sustainable way to decarbonise our energy supplies. He was fully supportive of our decision to seek planning permission to erect the turbine. Not scripted, not planned, but entirely consistent with the transparent way in which AGMs should be conducted.
At eight, the elaborate and extensive quotations from cultural, literary and historical icons including Shakespeare, Teddy Roosevelt, Einstein, Wilde, Hopkins and even the Venerable Bede (the last was mine - I used this one here - it was the only way I could make it into the top ten).
At seven, Alan Martin, our outgoing treasurer, reflecting on five years in charge of RSPB's finances.
At six, Claire Stringer allowing us to dream about the spectacular but threatened wildlife on the UK Overseas Territories of the Carribean.
At five, Adrian Thomas, in black satin (?) trousers briliantly telling the Medmerry story (see here).
At four, Chairman Steve Ormerod's eight year old son, James standing on a chair to ask how we are going to get more young people in contact with nature.
At three, our Head of Science, Dr David Gibbons, as part of an excellent presentation on our science, showing footage from a tiny camera attached to a gannet - new technology that could revolutionise our understanding of seabird behaviour.
At two, Miranda Krestovnikoff, in her first speech as President, showing off her passion for nature and her ambitions for the RSPB. You can read more from her here.
At one, Victoria Chester, Plantlife's indomitable CEO and our guest for the day, offering another tour de force including her own impersonation of a gannet. Brilliant stuff!
If you were there, I hope you had a great day. If you missed out, well, you could always put next year's AGM in your diary now: 25 October 2014 in Birmingham. I hope to see you there.
Martin Harper has misunderstood the reason for my intervention at the AGM (see his “top ten moments”, item 9). I would like the entire paid-up membership of the RSPB to have the chance to express its view on wind turbine project at the The Lodge. A decision last Saturday to hold a members’ referendum this coming winter on such a controversial proposal would have been the best way to ensure that the council respects what Martin calls “democracy in action”.
Wind turbines on a nature reserves risk either killing or displacing birds and no amount of pre-application scientific research can deny it. Wind turbines will almost certainly kill bats, some species of which appear to be attracted to the revolving blades (see www.epaw.org/multimedia.php).
Can Martin tell us whether the turbine mast will require an aviation warning light and, if so, whether this might attract bats, or night-time avian migrants, towards the danger zone.
As to “transparency”, I have been unable to find any indication by the RSPB head office that the final date for people to express to Bedfordshire Central Council their views, either for, or against, the turbine application, was October 4th. Of course, it could be that I have missed this vital piece of information somewhere on the RSPB’s website, or in the magazine.
Fortunately, the local authority was kind enough to tell me because I asked in time. But I hope there were no members who missed the opportunity to have their say, whatever their views might be.
Peter Shrubb (East Barnet)