News
Friday, 3 October 2008
RSPB EAST SCOTLAND REGION-NEWS
In July 2008, another thirty-five red kites were released on the outskirts of Aberdeen. This year the birds have wing tags that are purple [left wing] and black [right wing] and are numbered 35 onwards.
Two of the releases were covered by the media. In the first, the Lord and Lady Provost, Peter and Sandra Stephen named a bird in honour of the city. It was bird number 37 and was named Nicholas, after the city's patron saint St Nicholas. The Lady Provost, was very enthusiastic about the project and loves wild birds, and her delight was evident in the press pictures, which made the front page of the P&J in the Aberdeenshire edition. Fame at last!
The second release covered by the Press was the last one when ten-year old Gregor Petchey, named bird 44, Diamond, after Aberdeen Footballer Zander Diamond. It's an honour for us that both the city and the football club are supporting the Aberdeen Red Kites project and it's a great way to reach out to as many people as possible to enthuse them about these beautiful birds.
The Aberdeen Red Kites project is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Aberdeen Greenspace through the Landfill Community Fund and Scottish Natural Heritage with additional contributions from local businesses Stewart Milne Group and Raeburn Christie, Clark and Wallace.
EAST SCOTLAND SEA EAGLES
Michael Russell MSP, Minister for the Environment was our VIP guest for the arrival of the Sea Eagles in Edinburgh on 20th June. It was a privilege and a pleasure that he was able to support the project by being there to greet the birds as they arrived on Scottish soil. With the Minister was Professor Colin Galbraith [Director of Policy and Advice, Scottish Natural Heritage] and Moira Baptie [Environment Manager, Forestry Commission Scotland] and, of course, Claire Smith [RSPB Scotland], the East Scotland Sea Eagles Project Officer.
Due to licensing issues this year's birds are fitted with colour rings on the left leg, all rings being silver over red [same for west coast birds and rest of Europe - it is the year colour] and there is a two- digit number on them that needs to be read to identify the birds. BBC breakfast news carried the release of the Sea Eagles live on 14th August and the birds behaved brilliantly, it almost looked as if they were coming out on cue. True stars!
As with last year, Jenny Lennon [Aberdeen Red Kites project officer] and Claire Smith would be most grateful if you could send reports of all sightings to them at the usual addresses, aberdeenredkites@rspb.org.uk and eastscotlandseaeagles@rspb.org.uk
LOCH OF STRATHBEG
After several years of less than satisfactory access to the Loch hides, there is now unimpeded access to the Fen and Bay hides from dawn to dusk. In order to accommodate this, the Bank hide has now been closed permanently. Over the next few years, replacing it in a new location will be considered. The route starts to the left of the metal barrier that has been used as access to the airfield for the last few years. Go through the open gate and follow the way-makers. Please observe the speed limit at all times - 20 mph, except on the new raised section where there is a
5 mph restriction. These limits are not only for our visitors safety but also for the safety of the livestock on the airfield - in the last 12 months there have complaints from the farmer regarding the speed of some of our visitors.
...........and finally thank you for all your support this year. We really appreciate all you do and are very grateful for your fundraising, pin badge sales, volunteer time, enthusiasm and commitment. THANK YOU.
[September 2008]