Lincolnshire Bird Club News
The Lincolnshire Bird Club makes every possible effort to ensure that the information published on its website is accurate and up to date, but does not accept any responsibility for errors or omissions and reserves the right to make amendments at any time and without prior notice.
The Lincolnshire Bird Club makes every possible effort to ensure that the information published on its website is accurate and up to date, but does not accept any responsibility for errors or omissions and reserves the right to make amendments at any time and without prior notice.
Thursday, May 20, 2004
Red Kites
During summer 2004, the Red Kites in the Chilterns Project will be bringing you up close and personal with a family of red kites. The project is using Big Brother style CCTV technology to get an insight into the breeding behaviour of a pair of red kites, as they build their nest, lay and incubate their eggs and rear their chicks. How long before they are breeding in Lincolnshire?
To see the birds visit http://www.chilternsaonb.org/caring/red_kites_nestwatch.html
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Osprey Shooting!
Taken from the Lincoln Echo website
See http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=57685&command=displayContent&sourceNode=57237&contentPK=10014584
An endangered bird of prey was starting its recovery in Lincoln today after it was shot twice. The wounded osprey was found in the North Scarle area. It had been shot in the chest and leg with an air rifle or shotgun. The bird was taken to the Weirfield Wildlife Hospital in Rookery Lane, Lincoln, and is now being treated by vets. Ospreys were hunted to extinction in Britain in the early 20th century and were only reintroduced in 1954.
Staff at the wildlife hospital worked for hours yesterday to repair a broken femur in the injured bird's right leg, which may have been caused by the shot. Hospital spokesman Dave Townsend said that the bird was expected to survive. "It is terrible to think it has been shot but the vet has said its wounds should heal in time and we will be able to release it," he said.
Weirfield volunteer Neil Stait will be caring for the bird during its rehabilitation. "We are extremely happy with its progress since yesterday's operation," he said. "It certainly seems more interested in things but we are still having to force feed it. "Following the operation, we are hoping to start physiotherapy on its leg today to get it up and about again as soon as possible."
"Ospreys are extremely rare and we have certainly not had one in here before," said Mr Stait. "We hope that with a bit of work the bird will be fully recovered within six weeks or so and we will be able to release it into the wild."
RSPB spokesman Grahame Madge said: "The osprey is one of our most charismatic birds of prey. This fish-eating bird was heavily persecuted.
"It is ironic that in the year bird lovers are celebrating the 50th anniversary of their return, we are reminded of the osprey's continued vulnerability."
A spokesman for Lincolnshire Police said that shooting an osprey was a criminal offence because it is a protected bird under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. "It is classed as a schedule one bird and as a result anybody convicted of injuring an osprey can be given a six month prison sentence and/or a £5,000 fine," he said.
Anyone with any information relating to the incident is asked to call PC Nick Willey on (01522) 882222.
Thursday, May 06, 2004
BTO Winter Farmland Bird Survey
After four years of mud, sweat and tears, the organisation and fieldwork of the Winter Farmland Bird Survey has been completed, teasing apart the results is already yielding some interesting results.
Click here to see results - http://www.bto.org/survey/special/wfbs/sqrsurvhome.htm
Sunday, May 02, 2004
BTO Nightjar Survey 2004
What better way to spend a warm summer evening than listening to Nightjars?
This summer sees a survey of breeding Nightjars and we are looking for help in the north and east of the county. If you can spare a couple of evenings this summer to visit a site to listen for Nightjars please
contact me and I will check where your nearest sites are. You might be lucky to see and hear other species such as Woodcock, Grasshopper Warbler and Nightingale. Contact Simon.Gillings@bto.org
Butterfly Records Please
Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch Recorder
All butterfly records would be very welcome this year, especially Dingy and Grizzled Skipper records.
Butterfly Conservation would like all current and old sites for these species surveyed in 2004 so that the latest information on these species can be added to the 2000+5 Butterfly which is due to be published in early in 2005. Thanks to all of you who have contributed records in the last few years and hope you will continue in future years.
Contact allan.binding@ntlworld.com
