1 - Front cover_Summer 2011.ai 1 5/1/2011 4:58:53 PM 2 - Front inside cover_Summer 2011.ai 1 5/1/2011 4:47:57 PM 3 - editors.ai 1 5/1/2011 5:00:12 PM Editor’s note Hello and – comecome toto thinkthink of thethe welcome to Plainlain as home. It’s somethingsomething the Summer we att ththe GBG are constantly t tl 2011 edion aware of, and something we really hope our of Os – and members understand. While the chicks of isn’t it great to 2009/2010 undoubtedly marked a turning- be able to put point for the GBG, there is sll a long way to the words go – hence our focus on fundraising (talking The Great Bustard Group is the UK ‘summer’ and of a long way to go, how about cycling all the registered charity and membership organisaƟon formed in 1998 to ‘2011’ in the way to Saratov?), on membership retenon re-introduce the Great Bustard same and recruitment and strengthening our es OƟs tarda to the UK. sentence? Winter seemed to outstay its with project partners here in the UK and welcome this year and although this March overseas (parcularly with our friends and The GBG is acƟvely involved in Great was the driest on record it’s taken unl colleagues in Russia: as arcles in this edion Bustard conservaƟon and is working mid-April for the temperature to pick up and of Os expain, there has been a very with other organisaƟons, both naƟonally and internaƟonally to save for the wildlife here in Wiltshire to really welcome flow of visits between the two the world’s heaviest flying bird. respond. However as I write I can hear countries). Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs singing in my President garden in the north of the county and down We are always keen to hear your bustard- The Rt. Hon. The Lord Tryon on Salisbury Plain the Corn Bunngs and related stories and in this Os you’ll find two Vice Presidents Skylarks are pouring their song over the arcles on seeing bustards outside the UK; Dr Charles Goodson-Wickes DL grasslands. By the me this copy of Os one on Houbara Bustards on Fuerteventura, John Chiy CertZooMed. CBiol. MIBiol. reaches you we’ll have seen Stone-curlews, and another on Great Bustards in western MRCVS. Swallows and Whitethroats back around the Spain. Understandably though much of the Trustees Project Site and the emergence of many of focus for the next few months will be on David Bond (Chairman) the buerfly species that thrive on the wild Salisbury Plain and the Great Bustards here. John Browning Dina De Angelo And reading about what’s happening is only Kevin Duncan Simon Gudgeon flowers here. Estlin Waters half the story. How about coming down to While we do keep an eye on all the wildlife in see us and geng a deeper understanding of Director the local area, of course what all of us at the the project and seeing just how much the David Waters GBG will really be concentrang on is what’s birds and the re-introducon project means Contact happening with our bustards. Ten years ago to all of us who work for it? And if you do 1, Down Barn Close, very few people indeed believed that Great come, how about bringing along a friend who Winterbourne Gunner, Bustards would ever breed in the UK again, isn’t a member, and allowing us a few Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 6JP. UK 01980 671 466 but we proved them wrong: in 2007 eggs minutes to prove to them just how worthy [email protected] were laid and in 2009 the first chicks hatched. the GBG is of their support. As I said earlier in www.greatbustard.org Both were momentous events but with so this note – and as all conservaon organisa- much happening at the GBG and so many ons large and small know only too well – OƟs ProducƟon Team Editor - Charlie Moores changes being made (from the award of the members are what empowers and gives life Design - Suzy Elkins AA1 Media Ltd LIFE+ grant, to the launch of schools to a group and in the case of aracng new Print - Bath Midway Litho programmes, to the redesign of Os and the members to the GBG there can be lile more GBG website) both seem somehow to have inspiring than seeing ny bustard chicks occurred far longer ago - but, no, it was just following their mother right here on two summers back. And two summers, if I Salisbury Plain. So, please enjoy your copy of OƟs is designed by AA1 Media Ltd. may be allowed to paraphrase a well-known Os, thankyou for your support, and Tel: 07800 649498 aphorism concerning swallows, does not yet email: [email protected] hopefully we’ll see you - and a friend - down www.aa1media.com a breeding colony ensure! There is sll a huge our way in the next few months. amount of work ahead to ensure that our birds – many of which are in effect teenagers 3 4 - contents.ai 1 5/3/2011 12:43:11 PM Contents In this issue Great Bustards in Extremedura Taking the bustard to Parliament Vultures and bustards in Africa 05 GBG News 14 New Project Staff 20 Sand, sea and From birds in church, dancing Andrew Taylor joins the LIFE+ bustards bustards and more pedalling team and explains his role. Bill and Ann Jordan relate than you can shake a sck at their successful trip to the GBG have once again been 15 Book review find Houbara in Fuerteventura. busier than ever. Estlin Waters review ‘The Australian Bustard.’ 22 Bustards & Vultures 08 Bustardwatch Hannah Rose talks about her Al Dawes, Project Site 16 Plain Speaking - recent trip to South Africa. Manager, reports on a flurry A Soldier‘s View of acvity and some interesng 24 Schools roundup ‘dance moves’ on Salisbury We talk to Lt. Colonel Mark Plain. Hiske, Commandant of the The latest news from our Salisbury Plain Training Area Russian and UK Schools 09 Seeking warmer (SPTA). 26 Extremedura climes 17 High Office and Os editor and keen Allan Goddard keeps tabs on bustard feathers birdwatcher Charlie Moores bustards through the Winter. Dame Elizabeth Neville reflects takes us on an exhilirang trip to Spain. 10 Meet Karen Waters on a year as Wiltshire’s High Sheriff. Karen Waters, GBG Financial 28 Summer at the site Manager and ‘Mum’ to the 18 Bustard Beat Come to the Project Site in the bustards at the Hawk Summer and you'll discover Conservancy Trust in Andover Conservaon concern grows a wealth of wildlife as well talks to Lewis Cowen. in respect of South Africa’s bustards. as breathtaking scenery and there’s always the 12 GBG welcomes new possibility of a chick or two. 19 On Camera! Russian Director Press-ganged volunteer David Waters writes about a captures wonderful footage. most interesng week spent with the new Director of our partner organisaon in Russia. 4 5 - News.ai 1 5/3/2011 12:44:46 PM GBG News Summer Garden Party The Great Bustard Group invites all to join them Go Bustard! at their Summer Garden Party, to be held in the The Warminster Community Trust are now well on the glorious gardens of the Wardrobe, The Regimen- way to their goal of creang a drove of Great Bustard tal Museum of the Rifles (Wiltshire and sculptures. These life-size creaons can be sponsored Berkshire), in the Cathedral Close, Salisbury. and painted by anyone, from local schools to naonal Tickets for what will be a wonderful evening are companies. The swi progress of this project reflects available from the GBG, 1 Down Barn Close, the rising profile of the Great Bustard across the Winterbourne Gunner, Salisbury, at a cost of £10 country and the GBG is keen to assist any such each. To reserve your cket please email enterprise. To find out more about ‘Go Bustard’ visit [email protected] or see our online www.visionforwarminster.co.uk page at www.greatbustard.org. A wonderful Woodgreen film evening The first day in April saw the annual Manuel Hinge film show hosted by the GBG at the Woodgreen village hall in the New Forest. Manuel has worked with the GBG for many years now, most notably producing the superb DVD on the project, narrated by Sir David Aenborough, an old colleague of Manuel’s. Our host presented six of his short films including an excellent look at Swis and a fascinang insight into Great Bustard geneƟcs explored Woodcock, narrated by the GBG’s own David Waters. Dr Paul O’Donoghue joined the The GBG raised over £250 through the bustard Project back in 2004 when raffle and teas and coffees. Thanks to he worked at Lackham College in Karen Waters and the team serving Wiltshire. Aer a period of travelling refreshments. and adventure Paul is now a senior lecturer at the University of Cheshire. The GBG has kept blood samples of all the birds it has reared in the Diakovka Field Staon since the first year (2004). Paul has secured the funding to study the genec make up of these samples at the Univer- sity. Great Bustard genecs are not well studied and this work will be a new and excing advance in our understanding of the species. Once the work is completed there will be a detailed write up in Os Manuel, usually to be found behind explaining the results. the camera, gave a thoroughly This study will be of great use to the GBG enjoyable and informaƟve talk 5 6 - News.ai 1 5/3/2011 12:44:02 PM GBG News A big thankyou to The Pannonic bustard populaƟon The Tintometer Ltd David Waters, travelling with the film maker Manuel Hinge, was able to visit the Great Bustard Project in Austria in March.