On Saturday afternoon, I went for my annual RSPB members' weekend run south of York University campus. As I passed a man-made lake beside a new-ish development, I did a double-take as I saw two great crested grebes perform their spring courtship ritual. Along with the arrival of migrants (first swallow ticked this weekend) it is one of the great sights of spring and so I slowed, enjoyed the show and then moved on.
Just that morning, we had been reminded by Mike Clarke, my boss, that back in the mid nineteenth century, there were just 50 breeding pairs in Britain. They had been heavily persecuted for their feathers for use in hats and also by the clothing industry as 'grebe fur'. Following a long campaign by by the fore-fathers and mothers of the RSPB, this type of exploitation was banned. And today, there are about 12,000 breeding pairs in the UK.
It is perhaps understandable that many take the presence of this bird for granted. They are a common sight for this generation. Yet, the only reason why we have a chance to enjoy these majestic birds is because good men and women decided to take a stand nearly 150 years ago.
So what better ambition can there be than fighting to ensure species that are currently threatened are so common in the future that they are taken for granted? On our watch today, we are trying to save species such as the turtle dove whose population has crashed by 90% in my lifetime. As my colleague, Tara Proud, explained so eloquently to our members yesterday, the good men and women of RSPB, Conservation Grade, Natural England and Pensthorpe Conservation Trust have come together through Operation Turtle Dove try to give this species a lifeline.
Today's challenges seem more complex than those of the past: persecution still sadly persists, but so does habitat destruction from changing landuse and the insidious impacts posed by the introduction of non-native invasive species. This is now compounded by the threat of dangerous climate change. Yet, if we want turtle doves to be a common feature of our grandchildren's summer we have to take a stand today. And, with our members help, that is what we shall continue to do.
Photo credit: Andrew Parkinson (rspb-images.com)
Doubt you know the disappointment felt by myself (and probably others)I really thought I had a promise from both yourself and Mike Clarke to seriously back the e-petition of Chrissie's.I obviously realise both of you have lots of other things needing attention and of which you undoubtedly do good work but in this instance both of you gave a impression different to what in my opinion you actually carried out.
I actually feel more let down by as I see it both of you more or less breaking a promise than had you both replied to me that for x reasons your hands were tied or even saying you had other priorities.
It especially rankles that as a example the latest bird magazine came with a double page flyer asking to save the Cuckoo and migrant birds when a simple one page flyer asking members to back the e-petition may well have got the 100,000 signatures that may have had a big impact.
Their is some problem that needs solving on the Cuckoo front anyway before England can again enjoy them because lots of places abroad or even the Hebrides are doing well with them whereas we easily know the reason for the poor Hen Harriers disappearance in England and have missed another chance to help the bird.
You are so polite to say a little harsh Martin,it is a serious understatement.
A little harsh, Sooty. At the same Members' Weekend, we also had a session on the uplands of Britain and the breadth of work that we are doing to save these places and our role in the fight to stop illegal persecution of birds of prey. While I accept that I will not be able to convince you that we are doing enough, I shall outline our future plans through these pages soon.
Oh for some similar people to those of almost 150 years ago who today I think would make a spirited defence of saving the Hen Harriers,the destruction of the nesting H H in England is completely down to what happens at home so to speak.Nothing to do with migration or anything else and the situation instead of improving seems to even get worse.
Why can't these wildlife organisations about twenty of whom can make a trip to Europe to lobby for various things that other country's control and so they have absolutely no influence get together to try and save the H H.(Guess it is all about getting some freebies and free trip to somewhere a bit special).
Glad the Members Weekend went off well. I will try to be there myself next year. The conservation of the Turtle Dove is so important and it is very hartening to see the number of well qualified organisations in this country that are working together to that end. However as the Turtle Dove is migratory and flies across and into Europe from Africa in the Spring it will also need the UK to work with our European colleagues in this cause to be reasonably sure of an improvement in the status of the Dove. That is why I am extremely concerned about the so called "renegotiation of certain EU laws " upon which this Government seems so desparate to embark. Their undeclared agenda may well to be opt out of a number of the EU environmental laws including some of the very laws that afford the Turtle Dove at least a reasonable level of protection at present. I know the RSPB will be watching this situation very carefully. With regard to saving our ever declining wildlife, what is needed is much more cooperation with our European colleagues NOT less. It is very unlikely that we can reverse the loss of biodiversity on our own.