RSPB East Surrey Local Group NEWSLETTER SPRING 2015 No
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RSPB East Surrey Local Group NEWSLETTER SPRING 2015 No 57 LEADERS BLOG anyone know of any other sites that that was once the most abundant in Our 30th Anniversary year is now might benefit from similar North America, and reminds us just over and we are in the run up to the involvement or support? how fragile the natural world can May General Election. The result Now the weather is warming up it’s be. It surely resonates with us today will affect how Government treats time to get out and about again, in a world where man has still not Nature in the coming years. It’s particularly to enjoy a walk around learnt the lesson of living in therefore worth challenging one of our Reserves. We have harmony with the wonderfully candidates to explain how they see another varied programme of talks diverse creatures that share our public spending and regulatory and outings, including some planet and so ensuring their regimes responding to the ever popular mid-week local walks. Full survival. All our countless present threats to our wildlife and details can be found on our web site politicians who only give lip special places if they get into http://www.eastsurreyrspb.co.uk so service to the so called green lobby power. why not join in? should in my opinion be forced to read Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring Our advertising and recruitment John Lawrence (Group Leader). and this chronicle of an avoidable campaign seems to be paying NO LONGER A PASSENGER avian catastrophe. Brian Thomas dividends as national membership September the 1st 2014 marked the is up to more than 1.15 million. The FOLLOW USA EXAMPLE centenary of the death of Martha greater the number of members the I for one have never understood the the last surviving passenger pigeon, greater the influence we can bring continuing American love affair a species native to North America, to bear on politicians and public with firearms, notwithstanding the with flocks once so unbelievably bodies to safeguard and nurture never ending incidents of college numerous as to block out the sun Nature in their day to day dealings and other massacres there, with their passing and so turning and forward planning; also to invariably involving automatic day into night. She was so named finance our own conservation firearms. What I do admire in honour of the First Lady Martha initiatives based on sound scientific however is how seriously their Washington. The bird sadly died research and management. Legislature takes wildlife crime, aged 29 in Cincinnati Zoo. Author Regrettably the plight and and how the judges fully reflect this Errol Fuller’s recent and stunningly downward trend of our farmland in subsequent sentencing. After a illustrated book tells the birds shows no sign of abatement. very long and involved forensic astonishing story of a species that A current concern is the widespread enquiry two men were found guilty has become one of the great icons use of nicotinoids in the of shooting a bald eagle in Florida. of extinction. He describes how the countryside and the RSPB is calling One was sent to Federal prison for fast, agile and handsomely on Government to ban their use 9 months. The accomplice was plumaged creature was until more is known about the long sentenced to 18 months probation, immortalised by ornithologist and term effects on insects and bees in and 50 hours Community service at painter John James Audubon, and particular. a National Wildlife Refuge. The captured the imagination of writers maximum penalty is a year in At the end of the financial year our such as James Fenimore Cooper, prison and 100,000 dollar fine. surplus funds (£700) have been and Mark Twain. Fuller shows how The species was brought back donated towards engaging with widespread deforestation, the from the brink of extinction young people and school children demand for cheap and plentiful through efforts to ban the use of in the South East. Also with the pigeon meat and the indiscriminate DDT, which was damaging the help of a generous private donation killing of birds for sport led to the eagle’s eggs, and through the we have provided nest boxes at the species' catastrophic decline. protection afforded by the Nutfield Woodland Burial site. We Featuring rare archival images as Endangered Species Act. Clearly shall be monitoring their success well as haunting photos of live all involved were tireless in and reporting back through the birds, this book provides an bringing to justice and adequately Parish Council magazine. Does evocative memorial to a species punishing those who wantonly to no more than one weeks would welcome any records of killed a living symbol of America’s suspended sentence; surely truly possible breeding sites and freedom. derisory and ineffectual as a numbers of birds involved. Should worthwhile deterrent you have any such records please The Judge’s comments however do not hesitate to pass them on to give substantial backing for the me. (Tel. 01883 742740). need to introduce vicarious liability Keith Brandwood into England. It has of course In connection with the above your already been introduced in Committee has recently sent a Scotland. As I have quoted before strong letter of objection to Surrey in these columns we have 5 million County Council concerning a planning application, illegal Common Buzzard Now supporters of wildlife organisations in this country; if every one of them disturbance and interference with compare the recent case of a former the colony of martins nesting at gamekeeper found guilty in asked their local MP when they come canvassing for the Oxted Quarry. A decision has been Norfolk of killing no less than 10 deferred until June. buzzards and a sparrowhawk as forthcoming election why they voted against or abstained in the Lapwings and other species also well as possession of pesticides and breed in the unfilled western other items to prepare poisoned vote on this subject we might be getting somewhere. portion and it is the writer’s belief baits. Who knows how many birds that conditions should have been . Brian Thomas in total might have been involved attached to previous applications so in this crime? In sentencing, the LOCAL SAND MARTINS as to permanently preserve a unique Judge rightly criticised the running Sand martins are one of the earliest piece of local biodiversity. of some shooting estates. He said: of our summer migrants, sometimes Brian Thomas "Those who employ gamekeepers arriving in the first week in March. LOCAL BIRD SIGHTINGS have a strict duty to know what is Therefore by the time you read this It’s been a truly unique 2014/15 being done in their name and on article they should be a common Winter for local birds. For their property. They also have a sight in our area. These birds, whatever reason be it mild duty to ensure that their which breed in colonies, have been conditions on the near Continent gamekeepers are properly trained recorded nesting in dry drainpipes not forcing migrants to move to and capable of keeping abreast of and natural sandy banks of rivers, relatively warmer climes or the complex laws relating to the use but in our area they invariably nest whether they haven’t needed to of poisons. In other industries, in exposed banks of working or move because of an abundance of employers as well as the employee recently finished sand quarries. food; birds like redpoll, siskin and could be facing prosecution in such Sand martins breed across Europe, brambling have been conspicuous cases and I hope therefore that this Asia and North America, with by their absence. For the first time case can serve as a wakeup call to European birds wintering in Africa ever I haven’t seen either redpoll or all who run estates as to their south of the Sahara. A sand martin th brambling in the duties. It is clear that the Buzzard ringed in Godstone on 5 August Warlingham/Woldingham population in Norfolk is increasing 1966 was recovered in Missour, th area (my local patch for over 60 and this is something to be Morocco on 13 April 1967. years), and only one siskin. Also applauded and not seen an Local records from the first half of th unusual has been the local ratio of inconvenience by those who choose the 20 century show breeding winter thrushes with fieldfares to run shoots." colonies at Caterham, Moorhouse, considerably outnumbering Bob Elliot, Head of RSPB Nutfield area, Oxted, Reigate, the smaller redwing. Investigations, said: "This is the Tilburstow Hill and Limpsfield A barn owl has been regular at worst case of bird of prey Common. Since 1970 breeding Cheverells Chelsham, and tawny poisoning we are aware of in colonies have been recorded in the owls are more than holding their England, and one of the worst in Godstone area, Holmethorpe own in the area. One or two Short- the UK. Finding the carcases of Sandpits, Limpsfield, Moorhouse, eared owls have graced the fields nine poisoned Buzzards in a bag at and Oxted. Although these near Beech Farm for several Lambert's home was truly dreadful. attractive birds are still relatively months, feeding on the numerous Unfortunately this is a part of a common each summer, breeding field voles, but little owls have wider national problem”. You must colony sizes appear to be down sadly and inexplicably become very now be guessing the severity of the compared to older records. scarce. It’s now early April and if sentence. Well a 10 week This summer we are hoping to you are travelling on the B269 near suspended sentence with costs was carry out a breeding survey of our Botley Hill you are virtually handed down - how on earth does local sand martins.The area we will guaranteed seeing common this fit the crime for the ‘worst case want to cover will be from the buzzard, and now stand a good ever’ in England? How else can North Downs south to the Sussex chance of encountering numbers of this be viewed other than a single border and from the west of red kite and raven.