MEETINGS
2009
All of
our indoor meetings start at 20.00, with doors opening at 19.30.
Saturday
January 3rd 2009, 8am - 12 noon
Bird
Ringing
at Wicken Fen
Members are
invited to watch bird-ringing by the Wicken Fen
Group.
Nets
will be set in the 'Education Area' near and to the east of the visitor
centre. Wellingtons or stout boots recommended.
Bookings
with Vicki
Harley, places limited
At St Johns
Church Hall
Friday
January 9th Tim
Birkhead
The
Wisdom of Birds
Professor
Tim Birkhead was a fanatical naturalist as a boy. He raised young
magpies, rooks and owls and spent much of his time birdwatching. He
studied zoology at Newcastle, and then did a PhD at Oxford on
Guillemots, before moving to the University of Sheffield where he
researches and teaches animal behaviour and the history of science.
He has studied birds in Africa, Australia and spent 7 summers in the
Canadian Arctic investigating marine birds.
We
know more about birds than any other group of animals, but where does
our knowledge of birds come from? Who first realised that most birds
defend a breeding territory? Who first realised that most birds, like
humans, usually breed as pairs? Tim Birkhead’s investigations led
him to the 17th century naturalist extraordinaire, John Ray and the
beginning of true knowledge – sweeping away folklore and trying to
establish the truth about birds. Ray's book 'The Wisdom of God' was
the inspiration for his 'The Wisdom of Birds' and in this talk, he
will describe how we know what we know about birds.
For
information about Tim's new book 'The Wisdom of Birds' see http://wisdomofbirds.co.uk
Friday
February 13th Jim
Groombridge
Island Birds: Extinctions and
Recoveries
Jim
Groombridge studied zoology at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth,
and then worked on the conservation of island species on Mauritius,
the Seychelles) and Hawaii. He is now a Senior
Lecturer in Biodiversity Conservation at the Durrell
Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent.
Islands
have always been popular destinations, both for historical explorers
and early naturalists. Early visitors to the Hawaiian islands and the
islands of the Indian Ocean all described a rich and diverse
avifauna, including iconic examples such as the Dodo from Mauritius.
Many of the bird species found across these island systems have
become extinct over the last few centuries, and in many cases only
preserved specimens in museum collections remain, whilst other
species exist today as tiny populations close to the brink of
extinction. DNA from 150–200 year-old museum specimens has shed new
light on the population histories of many of these species, and has
enabled us to identify not only the impacts of historically declining
population size on genetic diversity, but also to reveal instances
where relatively common species today have endured and survived
severe historical population crashes. In this talk, Jim will describe
such case studies of endemic bird populations from Hawaii,
Mauritius and Seychelles, alongside evolutionary histories for some
of these island species, and will conclude by presenting examples of
the work restoring some of the most critically endangered, endemic
birds on these islands.
Friday March 13th AGM
followed by
Richard Saunders of Natural England
The White-tailed
Eagle reintroduction project
Richard Saunders worked as an
Ornithologist with English Nature / Natural England for over 10 years.
For seven years he managed the Hen Harrier Recovery Project and for the
last two years he has also been involved with the White-tailed Eagle
reintroduction.
Natural England is currently investigating the feasibility of
reintroducing White-tailed Eagles to England. This ambitious proposal
has not only investigated how eagles might exist in a lowland wetland
environment, but has explored people's attitudes towards predators and
whether we could live alongside them in a modern landscape. The talk
will cover the ecology of Sea Eagles, White-tailed Eagle conservation
including earlier reintroductions to Scotland and finally Natural
England's work do date on the feasibility study. See the Natural England Website.
Saturday
April 4th 2009, 7am - 12 noon
Bird
Ringing
at Wicken Fen
Members are
invited to watch bird-ringing by the Wicken Fen
Group.
Nets
will be set in the 'Education Area' near and to the east of the visitor
centre. Wellingtons or stout boots recommended. (approach from
the
National Trust Car Park down Lode Lane, pass the Visitor Centre on the
right, and turn left after the final building on the left).
Bookings
with Vicki
Harley, places limited
At
Milton Country Park
Friday
April 17th Carl
Downing
Birding in
Colombia
Colombia
is usually one of those places you've heard mention, probably because
of its drug problem, but never considered visiting. In reality the
country is a birder's dream; with the highest species count of any
country in the World, over 1810, it really is a must for any serious
neotropical birder.
This huge diversity of species results from
the equally diverse range of habitats: three Andean Cordilleras, two
inter-Andean valleys, the Amazon, Orinoco, Santa Marta, Pacific and
Caribbean coasts, deserts and lakes, and the rich Chocó biogeographical
region all help to make it one of the most varied in South America.
Carl, based in Colombia, runs the Birding-Colombia
website
Friday May 8th - two talks
Christine Reid
What Future for
our Uplands
Christine Reid has worked in
forestry and agriculture policy with English Nature / Natural England
for over 10 years. She currently manages Natural England's Upland
Futures project which is developing our long term ambitions and
direction for these highly valued, yet threatened, areas of England.
Although the Yorkshire Dales, the North Pennines, the Lake District
Fells or Dartmoor may be far from Cambridgeshire, these landscapes
serve us as sources of inspiration and are home to some of our most
spectacular birds (such as the black grouse, snipe and golden plover).
We are also understanding more about the practical services the uplands
provide for people such as clean water, locking up carbon in their deep
peat soils, and their potential to reduce the impacts of downstream
flooding. The talk will cover why the uplands are important for
both nature and people, some of the challenges and opportunities they
currently face, and explain Natural England's developing vision for
these areas and how we hope it can be achieved. The presentation will
include a short film "The Uplands Matter to Me", and opportunity for
discussion
and Andy Cotton
A day trip to the Farne Islands
Andy
Cotton started his career in conservation as Assistant, then Chief,
Warden for the National Trust on the Farne Islands, Northumberland, in
1989 and 1990. Living & working on the outer group of islands, he
was responsible for visiting arrangements on Staple Island, bird &
wildlife surveys and estate & habitat management. Andy is now the
Senior Site Manager of the RSPB's Ouse Valley nature reserves, in
Cambridgeshire.
Friday
September 11th Mike Edgecombe
Eagle’s
Nest – Birdwatching in Northeast
India
Western
Arunachal Pradesh, a region of great biological diversity and
spectacular scenery, was inaccessible to birdwatchers and other
visitors for many years. Now restrictions have been lifted and
birdwatchers are able to visit Eagles Nest Wildlife Sanctuary. The
montane forests hold a range of species including three species of
tragopan, seven species of wren-babbler, ten species of laughingthrush,
four species of shortwing, six species of parrotbill, the stunning
Fire-tailed Myzornis and Bugun Liocichla, a new species discovered only
a few years ago.
Mike Edgecombe will share his video diary of a visit he made to the
region in April 2008. View some of Mike’s
video’s and read a trip
report
Friday
October 9th Moss Taylor
Richard
Richardson: Guardian Spirit
of the East
Bank
Moss
Taylor was one of many people inspired in their youth by the late
Richard Richardson, so much in fact that he felt compelled to write his
biography. Moss will illuminate and elucidate many of the anecdotes in
the book, which is nicely reviewed by Birdguides here.
At
St Johns Church Hall
Friday November 13th Ian
Carter
The
Ecology and
Conservation of the Red
Kite
Ian Carter
has written the book, titled "The Red Kite",
about the history of the Red Kite and its long association with man,
explaining why populations in many areas are now recovering, and
providing details of the serious threats still facing the Kite in parts
of its range. In his talk, Ian will bring the story of the Red Kite up
to date, including the latest information on the reintroduction
programme in England and Scotland.
Friday December 11th
Christmas
Social
Come and enjoy mince pies and
mulled wine in good company while listening to inspiring short talks by
club members.