The
June 2013 Magazine No.173
Harrier Suffolk Ornithologists’ Group
Spring into action Once again spring has been delayed this year. With March being the coldest for fifty years, it’s not surprising it was initially quiet on the birding front (for instance Spotted Flycatchers were only noted in numbers in early June). But hopefully we won’t have a repeat of last June’s weather - the wettest on record since 1910, that resulted in breeding productivity being largely down - although according to the BTO there were some surprising winners too1. But over this period it has been productive for the SOG Council too. The web site development project continues to progress and all of our publicity thinking and materials have now been upgraded in preparation for another round of fundraising.
necessarily the opinion of all of SOG’s Council. State of Nature - a sorry tale On 22nd May twenty five conservation and research organisations published the ‘State of Nature’. In the editor’s opinion this was a major media event and with it came a substantial report that delivered an unprecedented stock-take of UK wildlife. But it made depressing reading. While a few species had lately made gains (notably Otters, Red Kites and the Silver Spotted Skipper), on the whole it was a dismal picture of decline (notably Hedgehogs, Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers and the Garden Tiger Moth). Of the 3148 species analysed (which only represents 5% of the UK’s total of 59,000 species) 60% have declined in the last 50 years. Of these 13% are now in danger of extinction. Over that same period 93% of meadows, 90% of coppiced woodland and 80% of heathlands have been destroyed, along with 44 million pairs of breeding birds disappearing. Across vast swathes of arable East Anglia spring is now silent!
The switch to a full-colour Harrier throughout seems to have been universally welcomed, but it has financial significance, as does the return of SOG bursaries, so we need to be out and about raising monies and improving our profile throughout this summer and autumn. But, to be successful, we still need volunteers to help man stands and support collection drives - so, if you are willing, please let Roy Marsh know as he is co-ordinating the action.
Why these declines? Well it’s a litany of the usual suspects. Although climate change was a contributory factor in the decline of some wildlife in most habitats, so also were pollution and invasive species. Depressingly man appeared to be the chief culprit in the form of damaging farming practices, ill-considered land management practices and increasing recreational disturbance putting both flora and fauna under pressure.
Now I’m afraid it’s time for a bit of a polemic - and I have to admit that what follows is not
But to secure positive changes, such as reduced pesticide use, or countering habitat fragmentation,
1 c.f. BTO News #303, Breeding season 2012, early results’ indicated that the weather had little impact on Song Thrush, Blackbird and Robin breeding success.
THE HARRIER – June 2013
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