Bulletins

This is an opportunity for birders of all ages and levels of skill to make a contribution to producing the Bird Atlas.
The fieldwork for this exciting and important project starts on 1st November, there are two main ways in which you can take part.

1. By agreeing to visit one or more tetrads (a square of 2 km by 2 km) twice each for two hours each time, and recording the birds that you see. This is called a ‘Timed Tetrad Visit’ (TTV).

It has been reported that virulent virus is now affecting Norfolks wild birds, it was first seen in British finch species in the summer of 2005. An epidemic of disease caused by this parasite occurred in 2006, peaking in the late summer/ autumn months, affecting birds over a wide geographical area across Britain.

In early summer 2007, the number of finch mortality reports caused by the disease has again begun to increase only this time there are reports of the disease affecting garden birds in Norfolk. The virus causes birds throats to swell thereby preventing them from eating so that they effectively starve to death.

Once familiar British birds that are facing an increasingly uncertain future with some on the brink of extinction will feature on a new set of first class stamps released on September 4th.

In the first of a new series exploring Britain’s endangered species, Royal Mail calls attention to ten of Britain’s rarest birds, chosen with the help of the RSPB.

Birds familair to Norfolk birwatchers like bittern, Marsh Harrier, Bearded Tit and Avocet will feature, more details can be found on the Royal Mail website

Tags: birding, norfolk birdwatching, bird watching club

Please sign The Wildlife Trusts’ animated petition and forward it to all your friends and colleagues.

In 2005 - after years of lobbying by The Wildlife Trusts and partners - the UK Government finally promised a Marine Bill to provide better protection for our seas and sea life. But we’re still waiting for it. In July 2007, Prime Minister Gordon Brown failed to include the Marine Bill in his list of priorities for the coming year.

Wild about Norfolk takes place on the September 8/9^th and the Society will be having a display stand at this event for the third year running.  We are looking for volunteers to man this stand on a rota system, and anyone interesting in helping, please contact Alwyn with time and dates available. 

The event is runs from 10am to 4pm both days and is held at Nocutts Garden Centre, Daniels Road Norwich.

Tags: bird races, birdwatching, norfolk birdwatching

The 2006 WVBS Report is currently being compiled. If any member would like to write a short article on their local birdwatching patch, notes from a field trip undertaken with the Society etc. please contact Alwyn.

The deadline for copy is the 30^th November 2007. However, Alwyn would like to know as soon as possible if anyone plans to submit an article so that he can plan ahead. (TEL 01362-637752) or by email to alwyn@wvbs.co.uk

Tags: wvbs, birding norfolk, bird watching

Articles/letters etc for the September newsletter to reach Sue Gibney by

Thursday September 13^th

by email at admin@wvbs.co.uk

Or hard copy  Sue Gibney 37 Norwich Road Lenwade NR9 5SH

Tags: norfolk birdwatching, birding, bird watching

As many of you will not have seen the raft close up it is worth describing the construction. It made solely of glass fibre. The area for the terns to nest on is 12ft long by 8ft wide with 1ft sides. This deck is divided into 10 sections by 2in high ridges. Each section has a drainage hole 1in diameter about 1in off the deck. I lengthened these holes almost to the deck but only 1/4in wide when we launched the raft. Supporting this deck are two flotation tanks running the length of the raft, 2ft 6in wide by 1ft 9in deep.

Saemangeum, the once glorious estuary on the west coast of South Korea, is dying. Open the sea-gates now. Click Here To Restore Saemangeum!

In April, 2006, dumper trucks poured their final loads of rubble and rock into the last remaining gap in a 33-km long dyke, and closed off 40,000 hectares of this vast estuary from the sea. With almost no tide, the shellfish beds - that had until that day supported the world’s largest concentration of Great Knot - started to die. By April 2007, most of Saemangeum’s tidal-flats had either been flooded, or turned into desert - huge expanses of drying mud, littered with dead shells, plastic, and even fishing boats - all part of a massive “reclamation” project, with still no clear end-use.

The July newsletter has been uploaded to the Newsletter page

Tags: birding, birding norfolk, wensum valley birding