MARTIN FLIES THE FLAG FOR BIRD-FRIENDLY FARMING

Nottingham venue for the conference

ABOUT 350 members attended the showcase annual members’ weekend at the East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham.

That’s well down on the days when the event would sometimes attract more than 800, plus a further 200 day visitors.

Even so, it proved to be a superb event with presentations from top communicators - many of them RSPB staff - plus sales stands featuring everything from bird feeders to Christmas gifts to binoculars and ‘scopes.

One of the most encouraging presentations came from Martin Lines, who farms south-west of Papworth in Cambridgeshire, and who, in January this year, was instrumental in setting up the Nature Friendly Farming Network (nffn.org.uk).                                                            

Martin - farmer who speaks up for Nature

He recalled the time, not so many years ago, when food production was the sole imperative, resulting in dykes being filled in and hedgerows being ripped out - activities greatly to the detriment of many birds.

But he is in the vanguard of a movement that aims to restore lost habitat in order to encourage the return of traditional farmland species, such as skylarks and corn buntings, plus butterfies, bees and other wildlife.

The wildflower margins to his fields encourage pollinator insects which are invaluable on his crops, and the beetle banks he has created provide a habitat for creatures that prey on harmful slugs.

“The aim of the network is to help recreate a vibrant countryside,”he declared. “For so long, the voice of nature-friendly farmers were drowned out by others, but, with the backing of groups such as the RSPB, we are now being heard.

Martin ended with a call to members to write, expressing appreciation, to those farmers who were doing their bit for birds and wildlife.

Another star speaker was conservation scientist Ellie Owen whose life changed when, aged just 16, she went on a solo trip to Fair Isle and photographed a puffin with a single (rather than numerous) sandeel in its bill.
                                   

Ellie - authority on puffins

 It alerted her that all was not well, and she began her study, which continues, on the diet of this iconic marine species.

Now working for the RSPB, she is responsible for the hugely successful ‘puffin paparazzi’ project which encourages people to submit photographs of birds with food in their bills.

Last year, no fewer than 1,402 photographs were submitted by some 602 participants, providing valuable insights not only into the range of  different  fish favoured by puffin but also how the health of sandeels in being adversely affected by changes to plankton caused, apparently, by rising sea temperatures.

Among admirers of a collage, depicting a puffin (made from the individual photographs), was former US president Barack Obama who even  took to Twitter to express a favourable comment.

Among other inspirational speakers at the event was the RSPB’s project manager for reserves, Adrian Thomas who is helping to spearhead the campaign to save Lodge Hill in Kent - the UK’s top breeding habitat for nightingales - from being lost to development.

But it was with a presentation about wildlife gardens, both his own and those of others, that really enthused his audience.                                             

Adrian was happy to sign copies of his very impressive book

To his delight, kingfishers and bathing sparrowhawks are already being attracted to the pond which he recently created with the help of a friend. He also has a pair of stock doves in one of his nestboxes.

“Gardens provide one of the UK’s most diverse habitats,” he said. “I know they face no end of disturbance from cats, dogs and a lot else, but they are all different which is what makes them so valuable.”

In response to a question, Adrian expressed his concern at the growing extent to which mysterious chemicals are used on plants and bulbs in garden centre.

The effect of many of these was to confuse beneficial insects or disrupt their breeding behaviour.

He noted that one of the better firms was B&Q which has a policy of sustainability in how it sources supplies. 

The conference also heard an intriguing presentation from the RSPB’s recovery projects manager, Hannah Ward, about the ongoing initiative to boost the UK breeding population of black-tailed godwits.

Hannah Ward - godwit chicks look "ridiculously cute"

 As a UK breeder, the species became instinct in the 1800s because of hunting, egg-collecting and land drainage, but it returned in the 1930s.

However, it has failed to make much headway, and there are only a few nesting sites - the most notable being the Nene Washes which has about 90 per cent of the summer population in Britain.

Project Godwit has involved creating habitat, protecting nesting sites with fencing and culling predator such as foxes and carrion crows - a regrettable practice because these creatures are part of the ecosystem but necessary if the godwits are to succeed.

Under a technique known as ‘headstarting’, some eggs have been taken from nests and incubated in a controlled environment in Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust labs at Welney.

“As chicks, the birds look ridiculously cute,”said Hannah.

The scheme has worked well, and once capable of flying, the young birds, with colour rings on their legs, are released into the wild where they soon acclimatise.

Black-tailed godwit - helping hand from Hannah

A couple of the birds have been spotted in France and Portugal on their way to wintering grounds in Senegal and other parts of West Africa.

Reports of sightings are always welcome, and more information is available at
www.projectgodwit.org.uk.