Saturday, 29 March 2014
The next is...
Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th April - Walk and cycle event, around Ellesmere and Welshampton. A range of guided walks and bike rides to enjoy and explore the landscape
Monday, 24 March 2014
Friday, 21 March 2014
Tuesday, 18 March 2014
My name is Robert, and I'm lucky - I've seen a spoon-billed sandpiper in the wild. But sadly, it's a sight that's becoming all too rare.
Spoon-billed sandpipers are dying at a shocking rate, and extinction looks likely within the next decade if urgent action is not taken. There are two main reasons for the decline. One is hunting, particularly on the birds' wintering grounds in Myanmar and Bangladesh. The other is that the birds' habitat is under serious threat from the rapid coastal development taking place in east and south Asia.
Recent research suggests that there are only between 100-200 breeding pairs. These beautifully mottled, ground-nesting birds with their distinctive spoon-shaped beak need your help today more than ever.
Please help fund our work
As someone who already supports our work you know what a difference one person can make, which is why I'm e-mailing to ask if you can help us again.
With your help, we want to boost the wild population of spoon-billed sandpipers and stop their imminent extinction.
Working as part of a team including the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT), Birds Russia, BirdLife International, and British Trust for Ornithology, we're removing eggs from the wild to rear chicks in safety, before releasing them back into the wild.
Each chick released is fitted with a uniquely coded metal leg band and a white leg-flag to help us monitor the success of this technique.
In 2012, nine spoon-billed sandpiper chicks were successfully raised this way. Last year we raised and released 18 more healthy chicks that successfully migrated from their Siberian breeding grounds to the coasts of south-east Asia.
This innovative work boosts the number of spoon-billed sandpiper chicks that survive. And as females can lay a replacement clutch the number of chicks produced each year can be almost five times higher than if we didn't help them. Together with the captive breeding work this will buy the spoon-billed sandpiper time while we continue to tackle hunting and habitat loss.
Stopping extinction
Please donate £20 today, or whatever you can afford, to save these amazing birds. With the support of people like you we can save these birds from extinction and make sure they aren't just a memory.
Thank you.
Dr Robert Sheldon
Head of International Species Recovery
Sunday, 16 March 2014
Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th April - Walk and cycle event, around Ellesmere and Welshampton. A range of guided walks and bike rides to enjoy and explore the landscape.
Sunday 6th April - Easter event on the Cholmondely estate, a range of activities including the RSPB building bird boxes.
Sunday 27th April - Woodland day at The Mere, Ellesmere. Have a go at building a nest in a tree and other woodland activities.
Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th May - Whitchurch walking festival - a series of guided walks to explore and learn about the area.
Saturday 24th May - Shropshire Agricultural show
Tuesday 17th and Wednesday 18th June - Chester show
Tuesday 29th July - Nantwich show
Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st August - Water weekend, explore all things watery at the Mere in Ellesmere. Have a go at fishing and canoeing, find out what lives beneath the surface and join in with a range of crafts and activities. Part of International Water Week.
Saturday 6th September - Family Fun day at RSPB wildlife friendly farm, The Wall, Weald Moors. Lots of activities throughout the day - more details to come!
Saturday 20th September - Meres and Mosses festival at Cremorne Gardens, Ellesmere 11am-5pm followed by evening events. "A whole Mess of Fun!" MereFest is the Meres and Mosses annual free festival, come and discover what makes this such a unique area, activities from forest schools to spider hunts, willow weaving to birdbox building, pond dipping, canoeing, fishing, crafts tent and stalls including the science tent for the geek in you!
For more information feel free to contact Lauren Shannon - Community Engagement Officer on 07713392014 or email lauren.shannon@rspb.org.uk Or visit the Meres and Mosses events page at www.themeresandmosses.co.uk/
Download a printable PDF version.
Thursday, 13 March 2014
THE IBIS:
A complete 20-year run of the quarterly journal, from January 1954 to October 1973; 83 issues in total (only 3 were issued in 1959, as July and October appeared together, and in other years 5 were issued). Two different sizes: earlier ones 14 x 22cm, later 17 x 26cm. Condition on the whole very good, though earlier ones a little browned on the spine and foxed inside. An invaluable reference library for all ornithologists.
If you are interested please contact Rodney directly on 07854 945848 or rodney.rogers@virgin.net.