BBAASSIINNGGSSTTOOKKEE LLOOCCAALL GGRROOUUPP APRIL 2015 NEWSLETTER http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/basingstoke Contents: From The Group Leader Notices Annual General Meeting What’s Happening? April’s Outdoor Meeting Evening Walks’ Programme May’s Outdoor Meeting March’s Outdoor Meeting Namibia Local Wildlife News Quiz Page And Finally! Charity registered in England and Wales no. 207076 From The Group Leader Welcome to the spring migration, birds, butterflies, moths and people included, migrating that is! I sit here the day before the Indoor Meeting trying to once again collate the Newsletter, another month having seemingly sped by and nothing apparently achieved – as usual the early and initial work on the Newsletter being nugatory, everything else stopping this coming to a timely conclusion, no matter how hard one tries to keep up with this, and everything else! So, with this in mind I ask you is it worth it? not the Newsletter, but the thought, effort, money and so on that’s put in to trying to stop the increasing ‘demands’ on wildlife, both within Britain and further afield that many of us try to help with, in no matter how small a way. The recent failure of the Maltese to stop the hunting of birds in spring a prime example of this – by the time you read this, if I complete it of course, the ‘hunters’ on Malta will have already started executing the latest migrants trying to wing their way north to their summering, and therefore breeding, grounds. Quotas of 11,000 Turtle Dove and 5,000 Quail have been set, although this is contrary to EU law! These figures sound colossal, perhaps titanic being a better word in the case of the dove as we are I’m sure all too aware of their continued decline in to oblivion, at least locally – it’ll perhaps now mean a trip to Martin Down NNR to ensure securing them within Hampshire this year whilst in Berkshire the story’s far, far worse, this now a bird that will need a twitch, or several as many have already found, to even hear one, let alone see one. With further regard to the EU and bird ‘conservation’ I’ve included something about a favourite holiday destination as “And Finally!” this month. Closer to home a Ruddy Duck was reported from an RSPB Reserve in Northern Ireland, and the mailings soon headed my way! As this is ‘Britain’ were the RSPB treating this bird like the more local birds used for, very poor, ‘target practice’, were these being targeted when found in Eire, where they might well be true Nearctic vagrants, and so on. The stirring of the typing fingers in to action re. this particular stifftail soon shifted to other birds perceived as not-so-native with Ring-necked and Monk Parakeet, Lady Amherst’s, Golden and the more usually encountered ‘Ring-necked’ Pheasant as well as Crane, Capercaillie, White- tailed Sea-eagle, Little Owl, Mandarin, Goshawk, Eagle Owl, Egyptian and Canada Goose being amongst those ‘spoken’ of, and what might just become of their British populations in the future. On a more positive note it appears that our interaction with one tribe of birds, the gulls, does benefit them – it having been proven that landfill sites are crucial to the health and success in breeding of these. Oh, I forgot, landfill sites; they’re being filled in, covered up and going out of circulation aren’t they! So, what do you think? What’s ‘rattled your cage’ this month and what should we try to do in the future? Peter E. Hutchins Notices House Martin Surveying During June and July surveying of House Martins throughout Britain will be taking place. If you’d be interested in helping with this, just two visits to check for nesting activity being needed over this period, please do make the Group Leader or the B.T.O aware of your interest. Both will then be happy to supply you with further details of the surveying and the areas still in need of surveyors. Stockbridge Down Surveying During the spring further surveying of the birds on / about the National Trust site at Stockbridge Down will be taking place. Yet again a small team has been assembled to carry out this work, but any help with this would be more than appreciated, even if only on an ad hoc basis. if you don’t feel able to contribute but find yourself wandering over the down in the coming months do please make a note of that which you find and pass it on the Group Leader; who’ll one again be co-ordinating the collation of all records received over this period, whether from surveyors or other less anticipated visitors. If you’ve not visited this site previously it’s definitely worth a detour, especially as the butterflies there are often unmatched elsewhere locally and the flowers of the open chalk downland are sure to more than brighten your day. Brian’s Bees The honey that was on sale at recent Indoor Meetings will hopefully continue to be available for some time yet! Thank you to all those that purchased this locally sourced product, and to all those that do you in the future! Please do remember when considering to source honey in the future that this both locally produced, some of you may even know the bees, and that a donation to the Group is made on each purchase! Local Group Website The Local Group website continues to be worked upon by our trusted band of computer- literates, well Tim. Carr, so if you haven't been to the site for a while, why not take a look and tell us what you think. Any thoughts on what we should, or should not, include within the site will always be appreciated, this then helping to make the site more relevant to current group members, and helping to get across the right message to potential members. Link: http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/basingstoke/ The continuing and ever-increasing work on the website has seen your Local Group website become the 2nd most visited in Britain in the past; an exceptional rise in the use of this and something to be justifiably pleased with – there are people out there interested in the Local Group and what it’s doing! Newsletter Mailings Do we have your email address? If not, please do pass it on so that the Group can communicate with you in a more environmentally sensitive manner! The monthly Newsletter being an example of this, saving resources, money and time by being mailed to you, rather than hard copies being created and perhaps only sitting partially read until the next one appears. With regard to this, it’s hoped that the lack of hard copy recently will be resolved in the very near future! Bird Food We are happy to supply any bird food to you at any time, just call on 01256 – 770831, 07895 – 388378 or mail us on [email protected] and we will arrange delivery to you. If you have any requirements that are not listed, please do let us know and we will ensure that they are available when you, or your birds, need them. Bird Food Pricelist: The below are examples of just a few of the items that we can supply. Please do enquire after anything else and we will provide you with a cost, time of delivery etc. As both of us are currently working in / about Basingstoke delivery can be expected to be completed within a day of an order being received – can you get that service anywhere else? Prices vary according to the seasonality of the foods, where we are able to source them from, and so on, but a few for reference are: Wild bird Mix 40p/lb. or 88p/kg Peanuts £1/lb. or £2.20/kg Black Sunflowers £1/lb or £2.20/kg Sunflower Hearts £1.10/lb or £2.42/kg Niger £1/lb or £2.20/kg Fat Squares £1 each Fat Pecker Balls 25p each Also available are a range of birdboxes and feeders. A variety of items will be available at most Indoor Meetings but if there is something ‘missing’ that you want, please do let us know. Peter & Alison Annual General Meeting THE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS BASINGSTOKE LOCAL GROUP ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The thirty-sixth Annual General Meeting of the Basingstoke Local Group of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds will take place on Wednesday 20th May 2015 at The Barn, Church Cottage, Church Street, Basingstoke at 7.45pm. AGENDA 1. Chairman’s Introduction 2. Apologies for Absence 3. Minutes of the thirty-fifth Annual General Meeting 4. Matters Arising 5. Chairman’s Report 6. Treasurer’s Report 7. Appropriation of Surplus 8. Elections 9. Any Other Business Nominations for the Committee, together with the names of the proposer and seconder, should be given to the Secretary by Tuesday 28th April 2015. Geoff Sharp Secretary What’s Happening? A few of the forthcoming local events that will hopefully help keep you entertained as the days continue to disappear under darkness: Hampshire & Isle Of Wight Wildlife Trust http://www.hwt.org.uk/ Bluebells At Hannington Bluebells – Chris Bean Date 26th April Time 10:30am to 1:00pm Join us for a walk over the Downs at Hannington to look at the Bluebells. Meet at 'Michaels Field' off Ibworth Lane, Hannington, NW of Basingstoke, RG26 5TZ; Map reference SU 542 554 6 Basingstoke Wildlife Watch Date 26th April Time 05:30am to ‘mid-morning’ Early Birds Dawn Chorus – birds and breakfast! In conjunction with Overton Biodiversity Society.