An Evening with David Lindo – “The Urban Birder”

The Lincoln RSPB Local Group is delighted to present a special evening with David Lindo, widely known as “The Urban Birder”, on Thursday 12th March at the Robert Hardy Building, Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln (LN1 3DY).

David Lindo is an award-winning writer, broadcaster, public speaker and tour leader who has spent his life encouraging people to notice and appreciate nature in urban environments. Through his work, he has inspired thousands to discover that wildlife is not confined to remote reserves or wild landscapes – it can be found right outside our doors, in parks, gardens and city streets.

This engaging talk will explore David’s journey, his passion for birds, and why keeping an open mind and heart when out birding can transform the way we see the world. Whether you are a seasoned birder or someone just beginning to take an interest in wildlife, the evening promises insight, enthusiasm and inspiration.

The event will be held at the Robert Hardy Building, Longdales Road, Lincoln. Doors open at 6:45pm, with the talk beginning at 7:30pm. Free parking is available, though visitors are asked to observe university restrictions.

Entry is by advance ticket only, priced at £7.50 plus booking fees, available via Eventbrite. Attendees are encouraged to book early to avoid disappointment.

For further information about the Lincoln RSPB Local Group and its events, visit www.lincolnrspb.org.uk.

Join us for what promises to be an uplifting and thought-provoking evening celebrating birds, nature and the wildlife that surrounds us every day.

Date: Saturday March 21 2026
Time:14.00 -16.00
Location; Whisby Education Centre

Join us for a compelling talk by Professor Tim Birkhead as he introduces his new book, The Great Auk: The Life, Death and Afterlife of One of the True Icons of Extinction.

The great auk was a flightless, goose-sized seabird, perfectly adapted to life in the North Atlantic. Abundant, tame and easy to catch, it proved fatally vulnerable once sailors reached its remote breeding colonies. On places such as Funk Island, off north-east Newfoundland, unimaginable slaughter followed, with birds killed in their millions. By 1800 the great auk had vanished from Funk Island altogether. What followed was a final, tragic chapter: a ruthless scramble by private collectors for the last surviving birds, leading to the species’ extinction in 1844.

Yet the story does not end there. In death, the great auk acquired a remarkable and troubling afterlife. Skins, eggs and skeletons became coveted objects, pursued by collectors in a world of obsession, rivalry and dubious dealings that continues even today.

Drawing on meticulous research and rich storytelling, Tim Birkhead reveals new insights into the great auk’s life before human exploitation, its brutal destruction on the shores of the North Atlantic, and the enduring fascination with its remains. Both a gripping natural history and a cautionary tale, the great auk stands as a powerful symbol of human folly, and a stark reminder of why conservation matters.

This is the story of the great auk, told in full.

Curlew Conservation: An Overview by Mary Colwell on Monday, 13 April 2026 18:30

Curlew Action Series | Free Online Meeting – Book by clicking the following link; https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/curlew-conservation-an-overview-tickets-1983671521921?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

Curlews are among the UK’s most iconic and rapidly declining birds. Their numbers are falling primarily because too few chicks survive to adulthood — and the reasons are complex. As ground-nesting birds, Curlews are exposed to many of the environmental pressures shaping our landscapes today, from agricultural intensification and predation to habitat fragmentation and climate change.

In this introductory webinar, Mary Colwell (Curlew Action) explores why Curlews are in trouble, what their decline tells us about the wider state of our countryside, and how practical, evidence-led conservation can help secure their future.

Mary will explore the following challenges that face Curlews:

·         Why Curlews Are Declining: An overview of Curlew ecology and why poor breeding success lies at the heart of their decline, with insight into the pressures facing nests and chicks on the ground.

·         Agriculture: Since WW2, the intensification of farming practices has created unsustainable pressures on birds that nest on the land, resulting from practices such as frequent silage cutting, over-stocking, drainage and the spread of monocultures.

·         Predation: Young Curlews are easy prey, and the UK has some of the highest densities of generalist predators, such as foxes and cows, in Europe.

·         Forestry: Forestry, especially plantations, are not always compatible with breeding Curlews, which need big, open spaces free of predators. Trees close in the landscape, remove nesting habitat and can also provide shelter for a variety of predators such as badgers, foxes and crows.

·         Habitat Loss and Fragmentation: In a small, crowded country, land is pulled in many directions: housing, roads and infrastructure, recreational access, dog walking, and large-scale renewable energy developments all compete for space with Curlews.

·         Climate Change: Climate instability is not a distant threat; it is already compounding the challenges Curlews face on the ground through flooding, drought, extreme temperatures and seasonal disruption.

This free webinar is aimed at anyone with an interest in Curlews or conservation in general and will provide a clear, balanced overview of the challenges and practical solutions involved in Curlew conservation. We welcome students, naturalists, ornithologists, conservation professionals, ecologists, land managers, farmers and anyone else who is keen to understand the threats facing our Curlews.

The 60-minute event will consist of a presentation followed by a live Q&A with the tutor, using questions submitted by the audience.

Recordings of the presentation and a transcript of the Q&A/useful links will be emailed following the webinar to those who booked a space on the event.

Date: Saturday May 2nd 2026
Time:08.00 -11.00
Location; Whisby Education Centre

Situated east of Horncastle near the village of Hagworthingham and well signposted off the A158 and B1195.

James Forrester, Reserve Warden will lead a walk around this varied habitat comprising

mixed  woodland, and wet valleys and scrub. At this time of year this diverse area should be alive with newly arrived summer migrants in addition to the resident bird population and is also rich in a wide range of Flora and insects.

This promises to be a very interesting and enjoyable early summer morning.

Please note that there is a small charge for parking , also that some of the paths may be steep in places.

Date: Date in June yet to be confirmed
Time: TBC
Location; Boothby Wildland, Boothby Pagnell   near Grantham

Boothby Wildland is an ambitious rewilding project inspired by the Knepp Estate and aiming to restore 617 hectares of Grade 3 agricultural land and part of the river Glen to its natural state.

Still in its relatively early stages, this should nevertheless be a very interesting and inspirational visit.

The  2.5 hour tour will start with a brief introduction to the project, followed by a guided walk of 1.5-2.0 hours.  There are a network of public and permissive paths across the Wildland, so anyone wishing to extend their visit and explore further on their own  would then  be welcome to do so .

Cost £5.00 per head.

Date: July 18th 2026
Time: TBC
Location; Gib Point

By kind arrangement with the Warden, Richard Doan and the staff in the Visitor Centre cafeteria, outline plans are again in place for an afternoon /evening series of walks and buffet supper.             

Full details to follow nearer the time.

Date: July 18th 2026
Time: Start 07.30am
Location; Donna Nook Car Park

As part of the plan to create a footpath round the coast of England, a new section was opened during the summer of 2025. This includes the area through the dunes and scrub to the South of the seal colony as described by Phil in his article in the September 2025 LBC Newsletter. To quote Phil “ This path has massive birding potential ” especially during the migration season, so the walk should be full of promise .

Meet in the car park  7.30