A BIT OF A FLAP! CONTROVERSY AS DUKE AGREES TO BECOME PATRON OF BIRDING ORGANISATION

                                                                              

THERE has been a backlash to the news that the Duke of Cambridge has agreed to become patron of the BTO in succession to his grandfather, Prince Philip.

Describing the news as "very exciting", the BTO issued the statement below. 

"The patronage reflects the close alignment between two of The Duke of Cambridge’s long-standing areas of interest - supporting communities to protect their natural environment for future generations and helping children and young people to build their skills, confidence and aspirations.

"These are areas where the BTO is doing a growing body of work.

"With the support of His Royal Highness, the BTO wants to deliver the benefits of public participation in science through nature to many people, including those communities that have traditionally been under-represented." 

But despite the "excitement" of the BTO hierarchy, many in the birding community - including its own members - are dismayed.

This is because of the Duke's longstanding enthusiasm for  shooting grouse and other gamebirds - in keeping with a longstanding Royal tradition.

By close of play today, the BTO's Facebook page had received more than 350 complaints such as these below. 

Kate Willis: "Another grouse shooter that kills for fun and takes his young son along to watch." 

Shona Magill: "OMG Has the BTO lost the plot?"

Stuart Foster: " I can't think anyone less fitting for this. He takes his son shooting for goodness sake!"

Honor Wheeler: "I was considering joining this organisation, but, alas, with royals as patrons, I'm no longer interested."

Stuart Keen: "Oh dear, the BTO have just put a serious dent in their credibility."

Sid Durruti: "I've donated to the BTO over the years. No more."

Andrew Huyton: "I think I'll be cancelling my membership unless HRH denounces grouse shooting at the very least."

Brett Skerry: "Like making Mr Fox patron of chickens."

The BTO has not responded to the protests.

Before the brouhaha erupted, its chief executive Dr Andy Clements, said: "I am delighted that The Duke of Cambridge has become our patron, following on from his grandfather who worked so tirelessly on our behalf. 

"We hope that we will be able to support the Duke's strong interest in protecting the environment through our evidence-based work around environmental issues in the UK."

COUNCIL KEEN TO MAKE WETLAND RESERVE MORE ATTRACTIVE TO WADERS AND WILDFOWL

Target species for Cress Marsh include spoonbill and lapwing

A BUSY winter is ahead at Cress Marsh - the  bird reserve near Grimsby created by North East Lincolnshire Council to provide a home for  waders and wildfowl likely to be displaced by future industrial development in the area.

NELC and its regeneration partner, Engie, are keen to make the site, at Stallingborough,  more attractive  to birds such as Spoonbills, Little Egrets, Cormorants, Redshank, Golden Plover, Curlew and Lapwing. 

To this end, tall vegetation is being  cleared in order to enhance the habitat.

Says NELC's ecology technician, Siân Niblo: “Predators can hide in tall grass, and the birds prefer wide open space for roosting, so we have all been pitching in to clear vegetation  from the lagoon at the centre of the site. 

"This has to be done by hand and is no easy task, but it is important to make the ground more appealing for our feathering guests.” 

Sian is currently compiling a log of birds that have been recorded at the site, and, to date, she has 111 different species on her list.

The birds share Cress Marsh with butterflies, dragonflies, deer, foxes  and a herd of cattle which will be there until next month.

Meanwhile, the reserve - known as a mitigation site - has been shortlisted for a national award,  the Innovation in Property and Asset Management category of the local government achievement awards.

the site  was developed after consultation with Natural England, the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, the RSPB, the Humber Nature Partnership, the Environment Agency and landowners.

The chief feature is a large central lagoon, which feeds seven more water-filled ‘cells’ via pipework infrastructure.                                  

Rosebay willow herb and other invasive plants are being removed by hand

                                               

The bird hide that overlooks the main lagoon

                                          

Cress Marsh is open to birds - but not to the public

The main lagoon - not too many birds so far but the council hopes to make it more bird-attractive

The Wryneck says: Cress Marsh was an excellent initiative, but ornithologists monitoring the site have been underwhelmed by both the quantity and variety of species recorded. Benchmarked against the RSPB's Frampton Marsh reserve, near Boston, Cress Marsh performs poorly. One factor could be the overhead power cables which pose an obvious collision threat to birds, particularly after dark. It seems an odd oversight that this issue seems to have been disregarded by the various wildlife organisations which were consulted during the planning stage.