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| Weekly round-up: 26 June - 03 July 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| Little Swift on The Wirral becomes longest staying ever. Late spring migrants include Arctic and Paddyfield Warblers, the Black-browed Albatross reported again in The Channel and much more Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Andy Stoddart (04 Jul 2012) | |
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| Golden Eagle found poisoned in the Scottish Highlands (Conservation News) |
| Police are appealing for information after a Golden Eagle was found dead near Morar, Lochaber in March. A post-mortem conducted by the Scottish government laboratory of Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture showed that the eagle had been poisoned with banned pesticides. Read the full story |
| Written by: RSPB (02 Jul 2012) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 20 - 26 June 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| A long-staying Little Swift on The Wirral performs for the masses over the weekend and into the week. A Black-browed Albatross is photographed at sea some 30miles south of Portland, plus Pacific Golden Plover in Norfolk, possible Red-headed Bunting on the Western Isles and much more Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Andy Stoddart (27 Jun 2012) | |
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| Weekly round-up: 13 - 19 June 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| A Little Bittern in Hertfordshire gives folk the run-around before giving itself up, Black Scoter in Aberdeenshire, Roller and River Warbler still hanging around and perhaps bird of the week was a female Grey Phalarope in Highland, see the gripping photos and Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Rare Bird Alert (20 Jun 2012) | |
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| LIPU's 29th International Camp alerts on poaching! (Conservation News) |
| LIPU's (BirdLife in Italy) annual International 'anti-poaching' camp took place from April 28 to May 13. The participants' main mission was to observe migratory birds and report on illegal hunting. The spring migration of raptors in Calabria (Italian region) this year has been characterised by a significant resumption of poaching in the south of the region. Read the full story |
| Written by: BirdLife (20 Jun 2012) | |
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| When eagles dared! (Conservation News) |
| Eagles would once have soared widely across English skies, but they disappeared at the hands of man: that's a key finding from a new study looking at the historic distribution of Britain and Ireland's two largest birds of prey. Read the full story |
| Written by: RSPB (08 Jun 2012) | |
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| Weekly Round-up 30 May - 05 June 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| After all the commotion of last week things started to settle down somewhat. This week a Roller in East Yorkshire was the main draw after deciding to hang around and perform very well for visiting birders. Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Mark Golley (06 Jun 2012) | |
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| Great White Egret confirmed as a British breeding bird (Conservation News) |
| Natural England announced last week that Great White Egret had nested in Britain for the first time. This week they have confirmed that at least one chick has been seen on the nest at their Shapwick Heath in Somerset, making this a new breeding bird record for the UK. Read the full story |
| Written by: Natural England (31 May 2012) | |
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| Weekly Round-up 23 - 29 May 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| Although it was touch and go, late May finally produced a monster rarity with just a few days to spare in the shape of a Western Orphean Warbler at Hartlepool Headland. Other top birds included a Roller in East Yorkshire and Ireland's first Collared Flycatcher in Donegal. Read the round-up here |
| Written by: Mark Golley (30 May 2012) | |
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| Weekly Round-up 16 - 22 May 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
Although the coast had a good scattering of Spring scarcities, it was inland Herefordshire which struck back with the remarkable discovery of a Cream-coloured Courser.
Read the round-up here > |
| Written by: Mark Golley (23 May 2012) | |
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| High-tech help for scarce songster (Press report) |
| The latest in satellite tracking technology is being use to unlock the secrets of one of Britain's most elusive and endangered breeding birds. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (22 May 2012) | |
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| Fronting for White-fronts (Press report) |
| An international agreement to take action for Greenland White-fronted Goose will be signed today at a major international meeting in France. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (21 May 2012) | |
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| Weekly Round-up 09 - 15 May 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
Another week and the Flamborough Ficedula Flycatcher is still making the headlines. This time though for many birders it's for all the wrong reasons as DNA sequencing has proved it to be a Pied Flycatcher.
Read the round-up here > |
| Written by: Mark Golley (16 May 2012) | |
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| Wild Cranes return to their motherland (Conservation News) |
| Four Cranes reared at WWT Slimbridge in 2010 and 2011 and then released into the wild as part of the Great Crane Project have returned home for the first time. More > |
| Written by: WWT (14 May 2012) | |
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| Diary of a WWT Warden - March & April (Personal Account) |
| Warden Mike Youdale gives us the low down on the coming and goings at Caerlaverock WWT. As the wintering birds start to move on the first arrivals of spring begin arriving. More > |
| Written by: Mike Youdale, WWT (14 May 2012) | |
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| Weekly Round-up 02 May - 08 May 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| As the Ficedula flycatcher remained at Flamborough the birding community is holding it's collective breath awaiting the outcome of DNA sampling to confirm the identity of this challenging bird. In the meantime a flood of new birds were on hand to keep everyone entertained with Kent scoring a mega lark double. More > |
| Written by: Mark Golley (08 May 2012) | |
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| A flyway success? (Press report) |
| BirdLife International's Partners in the Americas network have now completed three years of conservation efforts for migratory birds along the Western Hemisphere Flyway. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (05 May 2012) | |
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| Weekly Round-up 25 April - 01 May 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| This week a challenging Ficedula flycatcher in Yorkshire whose identity is still unknown could prove to be a British first. Plus a Bufflehead in Lincolnshire, roaming White Storks and some very smart looking passerines. More > |
| Written by: Mark Golley (02 May 2012) | |
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| English Black Grouse numbers doubled (Press report) |
| A survey this spring has revealed that numbers of Black Grouse have doubled in parts of northern England in the last two years. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (02 May 2012) | |
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| Weekly Review 18 - 24 April 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| Another relatively quiet week on the new rarity front but still plenty of migrants to entertain despite the miserable conditions. A very smart looking Ashy-headed Wagtail in Cheshire and a flock of White Storks in Worcestershire star More > |
| Written by: Mark Golley (25 Apr 2012) | |
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| Cahow reaches new high (Press report) |
| The Cahow or Bermuda Petrel population has reached 101 pairs for the first time since the 17th Century. For the first time since its rediscovery in 1951, the population of Bermuda's National Bird, this Critically Endangered bird has passed the landmark number of 101 nesting pairs. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (24 Apr 2012) | |
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| Weekly Review 11 - 17 April 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| Another relatively quiet week with few new birds reported but Mark doesn't let this stop him! Another packed review including Black-winged Stilt tracking and a major movement of Ring Ouzels More > |
| Written by: Mark Golley (18 Apr 2012) | |
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| Weekly review 4 - 10 April 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| Mark is away this week but we are delighted to welcome Andy Stoddart to the weekly review team. The news over the past week and Easter weekend was dominated by the Thayer's Gull in Lincolnshire. More > |
| Written by: Andy Stoddart (11 Apr 2012) | |
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| Save the sparrow (Conservation News) |
| Residents of Bupa care homes are calling on local communities to help reverse the decline in the UK house sparrow population by joining them in creating sparrow-friendly gardens. More > |
| Written by: RSPB (11 Apr 2012) | |
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| Weekly review 28 March - 03 April (Weekly Roundup) |
| A dramatic change in the weather as we moved into April meant a serious lack of new birds turning up. However the appearance of a very strong candidate for Thayer's Gull in Lincolnshire towards the end of the week is getting the larid lovers all excited. More > |
| Written by: Mark Golley (04 Apr 2012) | |
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| Falling stars of the garden (Press report) |
| Counts in the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch revealed that starling numbers are at an all time low since the survey began more than thirty years ago. More > |
| Written by: RSPB (31 Mar 2012) | |
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| Weekly review 21 - 27 March (Weekly Roundup) |
| Late March is not usually known for bumper crops of quality rarities and scarce migrants but that is exactly what got delivered last week. Irish birders in particular were treated to a couple of cracking birds including a welcome addition to most Irish birders lists. More > |
| Written by: Mark Golley (28 Mar 2012) | |
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| Gulls play the field in UK schools (Conservation News) |
| A UK-wide survey of wildlife in schools has revealed that playing fields provide decent stomping grounds for some of the UK gulls including the 'red-listed' Herring Gull. More > |
| Written by: RSPB (28 Mar 2012) | |
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| Weekly review 14 - 20 March 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| No new major rarities to report this week, at least twitchable ones anyway, but a stellar cast of long stayers and a few "might have been" provide the entertainment. More > |
| Written by: Mark Golley (21 Mar 2012) | |
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| Diary of a WWT Warden - February (Personal Account) |
The next diary instalment from WWT Caerlaverock warden Mike Youdale, good numbers of Barnacle Geese and a brief visit from a showy Ross's Goose feature More >
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| Written by: Mike Youdale, WWT (20 Mar 2012) | |
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| Weekly review 07 - 13 March 2012 (Weekly Roundup) |
| Week two of our new reviews and Kent is home to yet another British Short-toed Treecreeper record, a wintering Waterthrush remains on Scilly, wandering Ibises and much more More > |
| Written by: Mark Golley (14 Mar 2012) | |
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| NEW FEATURE: Weekly review 28 February - 06 March (Weekly Roundup) |
| To coincide with the launch of our new-look website we are delighted to announce that Mark Golley will be writing a weekly review of birding's highs, and lows, from around the British Isles. Published each Wednesday, they promise to be a great read for all, we hope you enjoy them. More > |
| Written by: Mark Golley (07 Mar 2012) | |
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| Common Yellowthroat in Gwent (Personal Account) |
| February 2012 saw the finding of Britain's 10th Common Yellowthroat at Rhiwderin in Gwent, south Wales. Local birder Darryl Spittle, who was instrumental in helping release the news to the masses, takes up the story. More > |
| Written by: Darryl Spittle (07 Mar 2012) | |
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| New-look Rare Bird Alert website (Conservation News) |
| As we are sure you have probably noticed by now the RBA website has undergone a major facelift with updates to our logo, menus, navigation and overall appearance and layout. We hope you like the new look and would love to hear your feedback. More > |
| Written by: Rare Bird Alert (07 Mar 2012) | |
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| First ASBO for wildlife crimes (Conservation News) |
| Serial egg collector Matthew Gonshaw, of Bow, has become the first person in England to receive an ASBO for crimes against nature. He is also believed to be the first person to be receive an ASBO restricting him from visiting Scotland. More > |
| Written by: RSPB (01 Mar 2012) | |
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| Drought warning for wildlife (Press report) |
| The RSPB is warning that if the drought situation continues, it could spell potential disaster for wildlife. More > |
| Written by: RSPB (25 Feb 2012) | |
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| Diary of a WWT Warden #1 (Personal Account) |
| In the first of a series of regular pieces Mike Youdale of Caerlaverock WWT, gives a wardens eye view of the day-to-day comings and goings at one of the countries prime nature reserves. More > |
| Written by: Mike Youdale, WWT (17 Feb 2012) | |
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| Blizzard of birds hits frozen gardens (Press report) |
| Huge numbers of birds have swept into gardens over the last few days, the latest results from the BTO's Garden BirdWatch survey reveal. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (08 Feb 2012) | |
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| Runners needed to help Britain's birds (Conservation News) |
| Want to run? Want to help Britain's birds? Want to support one of the country's biggest bird charities? Then the Brighton marathon could be just the right event for you. More > |
| Written by: BTO (01 Feb 2012) | |
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| Pagham Harbour changes hands (Press report) |
| One of the country's most popular and internationally important nature reserves is now coming under RSPB ownership. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (23 Jan 2012) | |
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| New Birdfair for Scotland (Press report) |
| What promises to be one of the most exciting events in the birding calendar is set to launch this spring, with the inaugural Scottish Birdfair taking place on 19-20 May. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (19 Jan 2012) | |
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| Cornish seabirds take net loss (Press report) |
| Large numbers of seabirds continue to be killed as by-catch by Cornish fishermen, it has been revealed. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (14 Jan 2012) | |
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| Pike versus grebe (Press report) |
| Stopping the introduction of Pike into Scottish lochs could help ensure the future of one of Scotland's rarest birds, according to research by RSPB Scotland. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (11 Jan 2012) | |
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| Save the Hooded Grebe (Press report) |
| An appeal has been launched to help rid the breeding colonies of Argentina's Endangered Hooded Grebe of introduced American Mink. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (10 Jan 2012) | |
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| Cuckoos tracked to West Africa (Press report) |
| Five satellite tracked Cuckoos are revealing their migratory secrets in deepest West Africa. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (09 Jan 2012) | |
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| Med gets joint conservation fund
(Press report) |
| The whole Mediterranean region has now got a comprehensive conservation strategy in place, owing to a new international collaboration. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (06 Jan 2012) | |
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| EU ministers favour farmers (Press report) |
| The EU Environment Council in Brussels has shown its true colours by favouring the short term interests of farm lobbyists over long-term biodiversity gains. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (04 Jan 2012) | |
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| Deer are bad news for birds (Conservation News) |
| Deer may be affecting some bird species on far larger scales than previously appreciated, new research has found. More > |
| Written by: BTO (31 Dec 2011) | |
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| Flurries of owls (Press report) |
| North America reports a significant influx of Snowy Owls into the Lower 48, way south of their usual wintering grounds. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (29 Dec 2011) | |
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| Don't cause bird fat-alities (Press report) |
| Cooked turkey fat should NOT be fed to birds as it is extremely dangerous and could even kill them. More > |
| Written by: RSPB (26 Dec 2011) | |
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| Spare your holly for the birds (Press report) |
| The festive holly branches of Christmas also benefit our birdlife in the cold winter months. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (20 Dec 2011) | |
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| From one cold coast to the other (Press report) |
| For 3 years a ringing team from Spitsbergen, Svalbard have been colour ringing Purple Sandpipers in a hope to find out the wintering distribution of breeding birds. More > |
| Written by: BTO (17 Dec 2011) | |
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| Britain's most imprisoned egg collector back behind bars (Conservation News) |
| Matthew Gonshaw (49) of Cherrywood Close, Bow in East London, has extended his infamy for being Britain's most imprisoned egg collector by being sentenced to yet another jail term, for six months, following conviction for stealing and possessing wild birds eggs, including those of some of the rarest and most threatened birds in the UK. More > |
| Written by: RSPB (14 Dec 2011) | |
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| Scotland's White-tailed Eagles soar to new heights (Conservation News) |
| 2011 has proved another record breaking year for breeding pairs of Scotland's largest bird of prey. White-tailed Eagles soared to new heights despite heavy storms throughout the 2011 breeding season. More > |
| Written by: RSPB (14 Dec 2011) | |
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| Red-flanked Bluetail in California! (Personal Account) |
| North America's 2nd ever Red-flanked Bluetail outside of Alaska was found this week in California. Read the finders' account More > |
| Written by: eBird (10 Dec 2011) | |
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| Seaduck on the slide (Press report) |
| Widespread declines in the numbers of seaduck in the Baltic are alarming conservationists. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (08 Dec 2011) | |
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| Gamekeeper guilty of illegal killing of raptors (Press report) |
| David Alexander Whitefield pleaded guilty to poisoning four Common Buzzards using the lethal, banned pesticide Alphachloralose, while employed at a Culter Allers Estate in South Lanarkshire in 2009. . More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch (08 Dec 2011) | |
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| Spoony touches down at Heathrow (Conservation News) |
| In the latest stage of the inspiring project to save the Spoon-billed Sandpiper from extinction, the first batch of birds have arrived in the UK. Read the latest from the team and watch some fantastic footage of the birds arriving at Heathrow's animal reception centre. More > |
| Written by: WWT (16 Nov 2011) | |
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| A century of protection, and the poisoning continues (Press report) |
| Exactly a century ago, the barbaric acts of putting baits laced with deadly poisons out into the countryside to kill wildlife was outlawed. Yet despite this, a new report, published today by the RSPB, shows that this practice remains a major problem for the UK's birds of prey. More> |
| Written by: RSPB (04 Nov 2011) | |
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| Cyprus kills its millionth migrant (Press report) |
| The ongoing toll of migrant birds in Cyprus has topped a new benchmark this autumn, as over one million have been illegally trapped and killed already this autumn. More> |
| Written by: Birdwatch (20 Oct 2011) | |
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| Lake Natron reprieve (Press report) |
| Tanzania's Director of Environment has affirmed that there will be no soda ash mining at Lake Natron without addressing the concerns of conservationists. More> |
| Written by: Birdwatch (14 Oct 2011) | |
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| Red-backed Shrike breeds on Dartmoor (Press report) |
| Red-backed Shrikes, once extinct in Britain, bred again on Dartmoor this summer, the second successive year of breeding in Devon this century. More> |
| Written by: Birdwatch (28 Sep 2011) | |
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| Bird song complexity due to brain power (Press report) |
| The term 'birdbrain' may take on a whole new meaning as a study has found a link between the size of a songbird's brain and the complexity of its songs. More> |
| Written by: Birdwatch (22 Sep 2011) | |
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| Record number of Golden Eagles poisoned (Rarity Review) |
| Four Golden Eagles, the most recorded in a single year, were among 29 birds illegally poisoned last year, according to an RSPB report. More> |
| Written by: Birdwatch (14 Sep 2011) | |
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| Spoonbills return and successfully breed at Norfolk reserve (Conservation News) |
| Staff at one of Natural England's flagship reserves are celebrating the return and successful breeding of eight Spoonbill pairs. 14 young have successfully fledged this year, up from six last year, and is just rewards for the hard work and dedication of the reserve staff. More> |
| Written by: Natural England (12 Sep 2011) | |
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| Looking out for vanishing woodland birds (Conservation News) |
| Two formerly widespread British nesting birds have now become so scarce their numbers will be monitored by a special panel of experts charting the UK's rarest breeding birds. More> |
| Written by: RSPB (07 Sep 2011) | |
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| Avian fallout from Hurricane Irene (Personal Account) |
| Whilst the human cost and devastation to infrastructure caused by Hurricane Irene is still being counted along the eastern seaboard of the United States, expat birder Angus Wilson describes the avian fallout in upstate New York. More> |
| Written by: Angus Wilson (31 Aug 2011) | |
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| Species count put at 8.7 million (Research) |
| The natural world contains about 8.7 million species, according to a new estimate described by scientists as the most accurate ever. More> |
| Written by: BBC (23 Aug 2011) | |
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| Roseate went to The Americas (Press report) |
| The BTO recently received a recovery of a ringed Roseate Tern in a breeding colony in New Hampshire in the USA. More> |
| Written by: BTO (18 Aug 2011) | |
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| White-tailed Eagles released in Scotland (Conservation News) |
| Sixteen White-tailed Eagles have been released at a secret location in Fife, as the East Scotland Sea Eagle project's reintroduction scheme enters its penultimate year. More> |
| Written by: Birdwatch (16 Aug 2011) | |
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| They think its all over... and it could be in six minutes! (Conservation News) |
| With the Premier League kicking off this weekend the RSPB is asking people to think about the threats facing rainforests and calling for support to help save and protect them and all their wonderful wildlife. More> |
| Written by: RSPB (13 Aug 2011) | |
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| Campaign for Irish Curlews (Conservation News) |
| A campaign has been launched by BirdWatch Ireland to raise funds for the country's declining Irish Curlew population. More > |
| Written by: Birdwatch Ireland (02 Aug 2011) | |
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