Update on volunteering

Since our Choughs fledged earlier this year we have ahd reports of the female juvenile being seen near Aber Falls on the North Wales coast. This is interesting as juveniles from our nest last year headed West rather than North..

Three Choughs have been seen flying in and out of the nest cavern but no-one was able to see any coloured rings so no ID.

We have been developing a woodland walk at Portmeirion with the help of the garden staff there and those of us doing have been learning a lot about trees, fungi and lichens etc. It's been huge fun!

As well as all that I have learned to do the commentaries on the Puffin Island Cruises going out from Beaumaris. That is fantastically enjoyable. There was one cruise when birds were just popping in and out of the water all round us - Puffins, Razorbills, Guillemots, Black Guillemots, Cormorants Shags, Kittewakes, Fulmars, Gannets, Eider Duck, Sandwich Terns and Greater and Lesser Black Backed Gulls. Harbour Porpoise and seals completed the picture! Marvellous! :-)))

I am having a great time with the RSPB!

Jenni

Hi Jenni

Wow you have been busy and great to hear you are having such a good time.

Thanks again for all your time and input as a volunteer.

Just spent a lovely day on the stand at the Slate Museum in Llanberis. We were running a workshop for kids on the theme of "Feed the Birds", making rings of fruit and 'Cheerios' to hang trees and bushes.

It was fairly frantic at times with loads of families enjoyng themselves. I was very interested that almost all said they had feeders in the garden and many appreciated ideas we were giving them for making their own!

"Feed the Birds" does really seem to be an accepted part of life for most people now and helping them to give the right foods in the right way is an important job for the RSPB. I am going to make a poster about the dangers of the nets that are still being sold on fat balls and peanuts which I hope we can use on our stands and at the bird sanctuary where I also volunteer.

Jenni

Hi Jenni

I posted an earlier thread this week about nets on fat ball feeders.  I am in the middle of writing to manufacturers and retailers about the making and stocking of these nets.  I had a thought when getting the info ready for the letters that if we had posters in our local shops and newsagent it might highlight the danger of these nets as I am sure a lot of the public are unaware.  I also thought that if the Rspb designed a poster with their logo on it and made it available for the community to download I am positive the members would print some out and distribute them in their local shops.  I know it would be more expense for the RSPB but such an excellent cause.  

That's a very good idea Lolly! It would not be very expensive for the RSPB to do, if it was just put online as a jpeg that we could download. I hope someone picks up this idea. I'll mention it when I go into the Conwy Reserve next and see if the staff there could pass it up the line and make sure someone thinks about it.

Jenni

Thanks for the reply Jenni.  I have just been out topping up the feeders in my garden and low and behold my neighbour has suet balls in a suet feeder with the nets still on them!  I should maybe start a new thread on posters for mesh or nets and see what the community response is.  It would be great if you could pass this on at Conwy as I am sure loads of people would print out a jpeg poster or two.

Yes Lolly I think they would.

I have seen yur thread and between us we could keep pushing it up till we get a response from the Moderators.

Jenni

Hi Jenni,  the more I think about these downloadable posters the better the idea seems.  The RSPB could over a period of time design many posters of many subjects ie the dreaded trich disease and all downloadable.

That's exactly what I've been thinking! Let's hope someone sees this and responds. If not i think I'll write to head office if you don't object.

Jenni

Lolly

I also thought that if the Rspb designed a poster with their logo on it and made it available for the community to download I am positive the members would print some out and distribute them in their local shops.  I know it would be more expense for the RSPB but such an excellent cause.  

Hi Lolly/Jenny - Interesting discussion here regarding netted fat balls & posters relating to these. This is a discussion which seems to be going on elsewhere too, so you might like to check out Ian's reply here

Thanks  Carol

Replied to Ian.

Thanks Carol! I've read Ian's post and I'm pleased our idea is receiving consideration.

Thanks

Jenni

Hi Jenni

Lovely response from Ian.  I should have added earlier that I certainly would not object to you writing to head office.  Maybe the children at one of your workshops would like to design a poster.  Kids always do the best drawings.

Another brill idea Lolly! :-))

You're good you know!

Jenni