Hi folks,

As the new head of conservation for the trust, and after my first ever visit to the magnificent Birdfair over this last weekend (I managed to enjoy quality time at the fair on all 3 days), I just wanted to say that in all of my 30 years of professional wildlife conservation I have never been so awestruck by the unstinting energy and self-less commitment of everyone who gave their time to make this weekend such an amazing success (especially when in the face of some testing circumstances).

At a time of continued and demoralizing loss of wildlife in a world seemingly increasingly entrenched with righteous self-entitlement it was truly reinvigorating and inspiring to see, to share and to experience the fruits of your amazing altruism: thousands of happy people, unrelenting good nature, and hopefully shed loads of cash going towards making the world a better place for some seriously endangered species (and for people!).

David Bowie sang ‘we can be heroes just for one day’ – well you were more than ‘can be heroes…you were true heroes!

I look forward to working with you again to make the world  – locally and internationally  – a better place for wildlife and people.

I hope that you get some well deserved rest!

Best wishes

John

John Clarkson

Head of Conservation

The first draft of the Birdfair 2019 rota is done, thank you so much to all of you for taking the time to send in your forms, it really is much appreciated.

The rota is looking good so far, there are just a few gaps to fill. I have tried my best to give everyone the shifts they wanted, at the times they wanted.

However, with it being my first year it is highly likely that I have made a mistake or two! If I have put you on the wrong place, or not at all, it will have been by accident. Please let me know and I will get it changed asap. Do let me know as well if you think you are on too much/too little.

You will see that some gaps in the rota are marked ‘HELP!‘ If you would like any additional shifts and can help out with these roles, please do let me know by email or give me a call on 01572 720049.

I have embedded the rotas below, and I have also included a link to view the original document on google docs. If you click these links it will open up that particular rota in a new tab. You can then use the command ‘CTRL F’ to bring up a search box and type in your own name, highlighting it on the rota. Please be careful to check each day (including the Site Team/Recycling team rota if you chose them as an option) and to make sure you cycle through the whole rota to see every entry of your name.

If you’d rather not bother with the above option, you can simply scroll through the rotas below.

Thank you so much all for volunteering at Birdfair 2019!

CLICK HERE TO OPEN THE FRIDAY ROTA IN GOOGLE

CLICK HERE TO OPEN THE SATURDAY ROTA IN GOOGLE

CLICK HERE TO OPEN THE SUNDAY ROTA IN GOOGLE

CLICK HERE TO OPEN THE SITE/WASTE & RECYCLING TEAM ROTA IN GOOGLE

On the same day it was revealed that the total amount raised by the British Birdwatching Fair for conservation has passed the £5 million mark, Birdfair revealed this year’s project: protecting Western Siem Pang, a haven for five Critically Endangered bird species.

You’ve heard of Africa’s Big Five – now ready your binoculars for Cambodia’s Big Five.

Follow the tracks of the swamp-dwelling Giant Ibis Thaumatibis gigantea, by far the world’s largest ibis, as it casts an imposing shadow over the shallow waters in which it forages. Prime your ears for the mournful call of the White-shouldered Ibis Pseudibis davisoni, a gargantuan wader with a taste for invertebrates lurking in cracks in the dry ground; cracks this birds’ powerful down-curved bill is easily able to infiltrate.

And then, circling overhead ominously, could be any one of three species of Critically Endangered Asian vulture; White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis, Slender-billed Vulture Gyps tenuirostris or Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus. These iconic scavengers have been brought to the edge of extinction by the widespread use of a veterinary drug administered to cattle but lethal to vultures who later feast on their carcasses.

Five fantastic beasts of the avian kind; each spectacular enough to make even a seasoned birder sing. And the fact that all five are Critically Endangered – thus putting them among the rarest and most threatened species in the world – only adds to their mystique.

Normally, you’d have to travel far and wide for a chance of glimpsing five Critically Endangered species – but there is a place with one of the highest concentrations of globally threatened species in the world, where all the above can be found. That place is Western Siem Pang, Cambodia, a sprawling expanse of deciduous and semi-evergreen forests, through which the Sekong River flows. However, this vital forest habitat is under dire threat from the spread of human activity, such as land clearance, persecution and the grazing of livestock. Prior to 2016, the threat of a large-scale agriculture plantation could have obliterated this site altogether. Thankfully, BirdLife’s advocacy helped to get it declared a Wildlife Sanctuary and put a stop to the plans for a land concession.

However, the battle is not won yet. “Even with this new legal protection, there’s a lot more to do,” says Bryna Griffin, head of BirdLife’s Forests Programme. “It’s critical that we support the Ministry of Environment to ensure the protected area is managed effectively.  That includes helping to develop a zoning plan for the huge new site, and making sure ranger teams are well trained and organized.”