RSPB conservation manager Stuart Benn is back with a new blog.
Inspiring the Next Generation
I was born on the 4th of July but I didn't spend my birthday week putting on a song and dance routine like Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. Instead, I was fitting satellite tags on golden eagle chicks, and I wasn't alone – 18 year old Luke Curno came along too.
It’s become fashionable to knock the young – that they’re obsessed with the virtual world and their interest in nature stops with Sonic the Hedgehog. But some people are challenging that view and, just as importantly, doing something about it. One of those is Lucy McRobert who, with others, set up A Focus on Nature - an organisation run by young people, for young people to get them involved in as well as enthused and passionate about the natural world.
I like what they do, I like it a lot, so I got in touch. One thing led to another, AFON ran a competition on the theme of bird of prey persecution and Luke won with his video about peregrines in south-west England. His prize – a day out helping RSPB North Scotland fit satellite tags to golden eagles!
Luke lives in Devon – not the most convenient for North Scotland but his dad, Greg, stepped in and drove them both up north making a wee holiday of it.
And what a day we had – brown hares, mountain hares, peeping common sandpipers, and spotted flycatchers on the drive in, then a steep climb in the sun to the eyrie to get the chicks. Lovely, healthy twins – one male and one female - which Luke has called Errol and Sorcha (Gaelic for ‘wanderer’ and ‘brightness’). Whilst we got on with the delicate business of tagging, Luke filmed the whole thing – bit of editing still to be done but keep an eye out for ‘Eagle tagging – the movie’ coming out soon!
Job done we had a leisurely walk out and a chance to talk about those eagle chicks and what they’ll do and see. To talk about the different sides of land management in North Scotland – those carrying out fantastic and visionary restoration work whilst others are still stuck in the Victorian era. To take time out to watch frogs and froglets hop off. To appreciate how lucky we are.
Luke is now back down south with a different view of life than when he set off. He’s said he’ll never forget the day and nor will I – it really was extra special and particular thanks are due to Anders Holch Povlsen who owns the ground where we tagged, and to Lucy - we couldn't have done it without them.