Would you like to spend your week getting local people and communities to be inspired by nature? Interested in encouraging more people to visit Loch of Strathbeg? Perhaps you just fancy writing this blog once a week?
We're working with The Conservation Volunteers (the old BTCV) to employ a Natural Communities Trainee Community Ranger to work at Strathbeg for 2013. It sounds like a long and complicated title but basically you'll be getting the local community involved with the reserve, helping us fundraise, organising events and helping us develop some new visitor facilites. You'll lead walks and events and volunteer work parties out on the reserve too, so you definitely won't be spending every day in the office. You'll also get to help with interpretation, and write for press releases, blogs and all sorts of social media. If you're interested in a career in the 'people' side of wildlife work then this is an ideal place to start. If you're interested, the details are on the TCV website. There are other trainee positions available too but I'm sure they won't be as much fun as ours!
Natural Communities is a really interesting project so even if you don't fancy working for us then it's well worth reading the TCV blog http://blogs.tcv.org.uk/natural-communities/ to find out a bit more about it.
On the other hand, if you're more interested inthe wet, cold, outdoorsy side of conservation work then we'll also be looking for a new reserve intern to take over from Tom in 2013. All the details for that will be up on the RSPB Volunteering Internships page in the next few days.
Out on the reserve, you'll all be pleased to know that the roller was spotted outside the visitor centre this afternoon!
It's hopefully working for now, and has done a couple of passes of the track, so hopefully your drive to the reserve will be a little less bumpy for now.
Bird-wise, the highlights have been four Slavonian Grebe at the south end and a very unusal report of an Osprey in the dunes at Rattray. This is a very late record for this far north, although not totally unheard of. Whoever saw it didn't leave any initials in the sightings book, if it was you we'd love you to get in touch and get a few more details of exactly where and when it was seen....
Our first Dawn Goosewatch takes place at 6.30am on Saturday. There are still places available so if you'd like to come along and see the sunrise, lots of geese and possibly even a White-tailed eagle, then give us a ring 01346 532017 or email strathbeg@rspb.org.uk