HNHS News
Conference highlights varying fortunes of wildfowl and wetland birds in Herts
The 2024 Hertfordshire Bird Conference drew a capacity audience at Affinity Water’s headquarters in Hatfield on Sat 2nd March 2024. The theme was wetlands and especially gravel pits with talks by Graham White on the fortunes of waterbirds on the restored gravel pits of the Colne Valley and a talk by Herts. Bird Club Chair, Rupert Evershed, on the birds of Stanborough Gravel Pits.
This report includes links to videos allowing those who missed the conference to catch-up with the main presentations.
Lecturer explains how beavers can bring benefits for wildlife and humans
Bringing Eurasian Beavers to an estate in Essex has delivered improvements in biodiversity while helping prevent flooding in a nearby village.
The positive consequences of reintroducing a species that became extinct in Britain in the late 18th century were described by Sarah Brockless, ecologist at the Spains Hall Estate, when she gave the Gerald Salisbury Memorial Lecture in Welwyn Civic Centre on Wednesday 28 February.
Photo: Eurasian Beaver at Spains Hall Estate © Russell Savory
Wetlands and gravel pits, waterbirds and waders – the 2024 Bird Conference
Join us for the 2024 Herts Bird Club Conference from 2pm to 5.30pm on Saturday 2 March at the offices of Affinity Water, Tamblin Way, Hatfield, AL10 9EZ.
It will include keynote talks on the importance of the Colne Valley wetlands for waterbirds and the increasing popularity of Stanborough Gravel Pits as a site for viewing waders and other birds.
Alongside these presentations, by Graham White and Rupert Evershed (respectively), there will be regular conference features such as Graham Knight's popular 'What did you miss?' review of Hertfordshire last year's bird sightings and results of the Hertfordshire Bird Photograph of the Year competition. Martin Ketcher will give an overview of BTO survey work across the county.