the last year.
Peter Exley
Tuesday 10th October 2006
Peter’s talk covered a wide range of the Society’s work – the strap line gives one a taste of its involvement – For Birds – For people – For ever. Now there are laws to protect birds and their habitats which was not the case over 100 years ago when the Society was founded. With over 1 million members and an income of c.£65 million the Society is largely responsible for this, and has considerable power to forward conservation arguments. Now its work also extends to protecting species and habitats overseas where it works together with local conservation groups and its international partner, BirdLife International. For example, the rapid decline of vulture numbers in India due to the use of Diclofenac a chemical used in agriculture has been arrested, and the Indian government has banned its use. A substitute, Meloxicam has been produced by Medivet which protects the cattle but does not affect the vultures. Efforts to help the Balearic shearwaters and albatrosses are under way. Surveys have been carried out on the Isles of Scilly and Lundy on a regular basis to monitor seabird populations, and the rat population on Lundy has been eliminated, which is helping to protect the breeding birds. Species that we are more familiar with such as corncrakes, Dartford warblers, and woodlarks have been helped. For example the Dorset Heathland project survey revealed an increase in the number of woodlarks to 1,500 pairs in the UK. Nightjars too are making a significant comeback due to dedicated heathland work. Upland and farmland birds are also the subject of monitoring – choughs, cirl buntings and stone curlews have shown quite dramatic increases in population thanks to the work of the Society and its volunteers.
The RSPB is fully engaged in fighting bird crime and has issued maps of bird crime hotspots. Unfortunately Devon is high up on the list. The Society works closely with the Wildlife Liaison Officers stationed in many police forces to enforce the laws protecting birds, and relies on its members and volunteers to bring the health and welfare needs of birds to the attention of the general public. Through their support political pressure can be brought to bear on the Government to protect birds and their habitats.
The Society’s 1+ million members, 11,500 volunteers and 185 local members’ groups in the UK provide a very important source of support both financial and otherwise. There are now 1,000 volunteers in the Southwest who take part in many of the activities organised by the RSPB in an effort to `Show People Birds’. These include the Avocet cruises, the Big Garden Birdwatch, the Exeter Peregrine Watch and viewing points set up at Berry Head and Land’s End. Peter praised the efforts of the volunteers and members who raise £4 out of every £5 donated to the Society, which spends 86% of the charitable income on current and future conservation work.
Peter also spoke of the Reserves – there are now 22 sites in 12 locations in the Southwest with three new reserves to be added – Venn Ottery, Goosemoor and Greylake. These provide very important areas for birds and some are managed specifically for certain species. Without the support of its members, the Society would not be able to buy and maintain such areas and would not qualify for some of the Government grants that are available. This was especially true concerning the purchase of Manor Farm in December 2005.
Another important aspect of the Society’s work is connected with climate change; wind farms and their impact on the environment and birds are an important topic together with the re-emergence of the Severn Barrage proposal. RSPB and other conservation bodies fiercely oppose this as a very costly and damaging proposal.
There are 2.9 million birdwatchers in Great Britain, but only just over one million of these people are members of the RSPB. The Society has achieved a great deal since 1889, just imagine what we could achieve if we could raise that figure to two million members… there is much work to be done!
Jo le Roux