Conference hears concerns over threatened waders and dwindling wildfowl
National concerns over how to protect breeding populations of wading birds and local worries about dwindling numbers of winter wildfowl featured at the 2023 Hertfordshire Bird Conference.
More than 80 HNHS / Herts Bird Club members and guests learned how the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) is supporting efforts to halt an alarming reduction in the number of Curlews and other internationally important breeding populations of wading birds in Britain.
They also heard from Josh Kalms of the Hertfordshire & Middlesex Wildlife Trust about the bird life of Stocker's Lake near Rickmansworth, including signs of 'short-stopping' where fewer winter wildfowl cross from the continent. Anyone who missed the conference, or would like to watch the main presentations again, will find video links posted below.
'Heartwood - 14 Years old': catch up with the annual Salisbury Lecture online
A excellent lecture by Prof Brian Legg and Tim Wright of the Heartwood Monitoring Group on the evolution of Hertfordshire's 'new' forest attracted a capacity audience of 90 at Welwyn Civic Centre. For those who missed the Gerald Salisbury Memorial Lecture, a video of the presentations can now be viewed on YouTube.
Tim and Brian not only talked about the remarkable volunteer effort organised by the Woodland Trust that has seen 600,000 native trees and shrubs planted on former arable land near Sandridge, but also a fine selection of the flora and fauna that have been identified there.
Herts Bird Conference set for Saturday 4 March
The Herts Bird Club - British Trust for Ornithology conference makes its welcome return as a 'live' event from 2pm to 5.30pm on Saturday 4 March at the offices of Affinity Water, Tamblin Way, Hatfield (AL10 9EZ).
Paul Noyes from the BTO will give a featured talk about conservation action for wading birds, while Josh Kalms of the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust will provide an overview of the many waterfowl and other species found on the Stocker's Lake reserve near Rickmansworth.
Gerald Salisbury Lecture 2023 - Hertfordshire's 'New' Forest wildlife
A Happy New Year to all our members – and thanks to everyone who has renewed (or is about to renew) their subscriptions – which fall due every January!
We are looking forward to the Gerald Salisbury Memorial Lecture on the evening of Wednesday 22 February when Tim Wright and Prof. Brian Legg will talk about the flora and fauna of Heartwood Forest outside St Albans. More than 600,000 native trees and shrubs were planted over nine years on previously arable farmland and HNHS / Bird Club members have been working with other volunteers to monitor the site's wildlife from the start.
Wildlife artist Ernest Leahy (1942-2022)
The HNHS and Herts Bird Club have learned with sorrow of the death of the popular Hertfordshire wildlife artist Ernest Leahy, aged 79, who was also a keen birder and long-standing member of the society.
Ernie, who was a generous contributor of illustrations to the Herts Bird Report and pictures to raise money at HNHS conferences was largely self-taught.
Featured picture is Ernie's painting of Fieldfares feasting on apples, contributed to the Herts Bird Report, 2013