On this podcast we talk to Sarah Harris. Until recently, Sarah managed the BTO's Breeding Bird Survey, and in the first half of this episode she'll be sharing some of the fascinating insights that this survey has given us, including the biggest winners and losers in Scottish birds, and some of the reasons for their good or bad fortunes. Sarah changed jobs recently to take over management of the Seabird Monitoring Programme, and we'll also find out about this vital survey. After an interlude of bird calls, we find out when Sarah would travel to in her time machine, why she prefers Hobbys to Swifts, and her prediction for the next first for Scotland...SOCSOC website - https://www.the-soc.org.uk/Branches – what’s going on near you? https://www.the-soc.org.uk/local-branchesWhat’s coming up at Waterston house? https://www.the-soc.org.uk/about-us/art-galleryCreditsMany thanks to Xeno Canto for allowing access to the library of recordings, and in particular, the following recorders who’s sandpiper and Mediterranean Gull calls were used.Xeno-canto - https://xeno-canto.org/Niels Van Donink XC580136 Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) :: xeno-cantoMarc Anderson XC732012 Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) :: xeno-cantoUku Paal XC725188 Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) :: xeno-cantoIrish Wildlife Sounds XC717681 Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) :: xeno-canto BTO SurveysIf you’re interested to get involved in the BTO surveys that Sarah described, have a look here: https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/birdtrack/surveysIf you’d like to know more about the Breeding Bird Survey results, you can access all of the reports back to 1994 here: https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/breeding-bird-survey/bbs-publications/bbs-reports Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this podcast we talk to David Steel. David works with seabirds on the Isle of May and as such is well placed to talk about the spread of Avian Influenza through our seabird colonies, which species we should be most concerned about, and why we might remain hopeful. After this, David tells us where (or when, I guess!) he'd go if he had one go in a time machine, shares some of the best birding advice he's been given, and toys with the idea of putting Northumberland seawatchers into a birding room 101....SOCSOC website - https://www.the-soc.org.uk/Branches – what’s going on near you? https://www.the-soc.org.uk/local-branchesWhat’s coming up at Waterston house? https://www.the-soc.org.uk/about-us/art-galleryCreditsMany thanks to Xeno Canto for allowing access to the library of recordings, and in particular, the following recorders who’s Redshank and Greenshank calls were used.Xeno-canto - https://xeno-canto.org/Stanislas Wroza -XC588469 Common Redshank (Tringa totanus) :: xeno-canto Peter Boesman - XC640465 Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) :: xeno-cantoAvian InfluenzaIf you find any single dead or dying raptors, geese, ducks or swans, or groups of five or more dead birds of any species, please note:DO NOT TOUCH the birdsPlease report the bird(s) to DEFRA, using the phone number 03459 33 55 77.Be prepared to give some details of the location – a grid reference or what3words can be helpful.The purpose of this GB Wild Bird Surveillance Scheme is to capture information on the general location and strains of avian influenza that might be prevalent in the UK. This data then helps government build up a picture of the current risks, and shapes how they then respond in policy terms. The scheme does not attempt to identify every bird with HPAI in the UK, nor even within a specific area. Indeed, further birds will not be tested within a 10 km radius and within a fortnight of an original positive finding.' As such, there will be many reports of dead birds that will appear not to have been responded to. Please do not assume your information has been ignored, and please do continue to report dead birds (as requested above) for as long as this outbreak of Avian Flu persists.https://www.gov.scot/publications/avian-influenza-bird-flu/pages/dead-or-sick-wild-birds-what-to-do/#:~:text=Report%20an%20injured%20animal%20to%20the%20Scottish%20Society,pass%20to%20humans%20but%20this%20is%20very%20rare. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.