Golden Eagles at a nest in Scotland. I will be hosting a talk on the Friday to summarise the results of the 2015 national survey of this species.
With the rain sheeting down outside, all our minds naturally turn to the British Birdwatching Fair! This tented city with its lecture tents, stands thronged with Conservation NGO’s, optics marquees, and travel companies big and small; is the must be place for mid-August, the 18,19 & 20th to be precise. Already an amazing 420 exhibitors are confirmed, including for the first time stands representing Mongolia, Belize and Iran!
As ever the RSPB will be out in force meeting our members and highlighting the challenges that face birds and wildlife across the UK – and overseas. This year we will be placing a particular emphasis on our ambition to acquire and manage more nature reserves – to save declining species and trial new techniques to bring people closer to birds and wildlife.
The Birdfair of course has a serious side – raising funds for threatened species and habitats around the world. Working in partnership with Birdlife International, we have chosen the remote islands of Rapa Iti in French Polynesia in the Pacific to receive the generous donations made by visitors, exhibitors and from the surplus ‘profits’ made by this fantastic event. And the money is of sufficient size – over £300k in most years, to make a massive difference for the chosen project. For more click here.
The islands of Rapa Iti are overrun with invasive non-native mammals, and money from Birdfair will help local Birdlife partners eradicate these predators, and prevent the endemic Rapa Iti fruit dove and a host of endangered and range restricted petrels and shearwaters from local extinction.
I always find the fair has hidden depths and ‘treasures’ often in the form of the many expert lecturers and speakers who speak on their own work and the challenges they face. Don’t miss them, but select carefully as there are so many fantastic 20 minute talks. This year many of your TV favourites from Spring and Autumnwatch, the One show and other programmes will be at the Fair participating in discussions and debates. A big welcome to RSPB’s President Miranda Krestovnikoff, and also to Steve Backshall making his first appearance at the Fair on Saturday and Sunday morning.
To help you plan, listed below are the range of RSPB staff speakers who will be ‘performing’ during the three days of the fair.
Day
Location
Time
Lecturer
Title
Friday
Lecture Marquee 3
10.30 - 10.50
Guy Anderson
Tracking the prospects for Spoon-billed Sandpipers
Lecture Marquee 2
11.30 - 11.50
Adam Rowlands
Celebrating 70 years at Minsmere
2.30 - 2.50
Stuart Housden
Some good news for Golden eagles & the challenges they face
Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre
Stephanie Morren
Successes and challenges in nature conservation
Saturday
Jennifer Smart
LIFE in a world full of predators – saving the UKs Black-tailed Godwits
1.30 - 1.50
Matt York
The Hanson RSPB Wetland Project: Creating RSPB Ouse Fen
Sunday
Andrew Bielinski
The Crook of Baldoon – from willow coppice to wonderful wetland
I hope this whets your appetite and I urge you to plan your visit now. The excellent website offers green travel and accommodation advice, as well as everything else you need. Tickets can be purchased online, and if you want to volunteer Tim Appleton and his team await your call. Look at the website for more details.
Do remember that RSPB members can purchase discounted tickets on the Sunday.
See you at Rutland in August!
Stuart is an Executive Director of RSPB and helps organize the RSPB’s Birdfair attendence. He recently stepped down from his role of RSPB’s Director, Scotland after 23 years in post.
Great to hear of the emphasis on acquiring and managing more reserves - just what's needed in a UK with a very uncertain nature conservation future. And the Rapa Iti project sounds brilliant. Great stuff.