Raptors in Wales - BTO ‘Cudyll Cymru’ Project.
One of the most common questions I get asked by people who are interested in my posts on raptor monitoring is how they can get involved. I always point them in the same direction, and that is towards the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). Well now, if you’re based in Wales, you have no excuse not to get involved in raptor monitoring and conservation as they have recently launched project ‘Cudyll Cymru’ encouraging anyone with an interest in raptors to take part and monitor one or more of the five species this project is specifically aimed at.
Before I get into this specific project, I am lucky to live on the border of England & Wales, and a large part of my monitoring is carried out in Wales. One particular project is a long-running (50 + years) study of Peregrines in Northeast Wales. My activity levels in Wales started just as the last recognised raptor study group (that I knew of) dwindled to a meeting of only 5 to six hardcore field workers. These meetings have largely stopped, and as far as I’m aware, Wales has no recognised raptor study group(s) or recognised voice for bird of prey monitoring in Wales (there is, of course, the Welsh Ornithological Society).
One of the biggest things I worry about when it comes to raptor monitoring is legacy and who or how we are going to continue to monitor this group of birds we hold so dearly. Many raptor study groups have changed over time, once a very secret collective of older men, who would meet to discuss their findings on rare and elusive species I’m pleased to say I think this has changed for the better. When I say better, I mean more inclusive and diverse in their memberships and what they share publicly. This shouldn’t be taken as a slight on those ‘older men’ as the world of birds of prey was no doubt different, we had the organochlorine outbreak, egg collecting, pigeon racers persecuting raptors and the ongoing issues of persecution with game bird shooting.
I welcome change though and as we no longer seem to have a recognised collective of Welsh raptor study groups why not let the BTO and their first project ‘Cudyll Cymru’ become the new gateway into bringing like-minded people together? It can at least try, and it has my full support.
Welsh Peregrines - Could this study reach 100 years of sites monitored?
I recently met with Charlotte the Project lead and Callum a research ecologist with the BTO to discuss how I can get involved on a personal level across the sites I cover in North Wales but also find out a bit more about what the BTO have planned. The first step is the project mentioned above, focusing on 5 species that are under-recorded but also easily observed in Wales with a bit of knowledge and effort. Those 5 species include buzzard, kestrel, sparrowhawk, red kite and raven, the latter often considered an honorary raptor based on its life traits.
I cut my teeth on monitoring buzzards across Cheshire in fact if I go back and look at my earliest notebooks every one of those species will figure. Admittedly, I only monitored one raven nest at the time, but they kicked the season off and what a start with their incredible display flights. I spent hours watching buzzards, learning their behaviours and finding their nest tree. I still get excited when I find a Kestrel nest and had great fun this year following a local pair trying to pin them down to a nest site (and failing - although I don’t think they bred). Sparrowhawks were always my bogey bird but that’s more because I just didn’t put the effort into them and often only found a pair when the noisy chicks were branching. Red kites were a pipe dream back then but I have since been lucky enough to monitor several pairs.
This project and the species couldn’t be better to introduce new people into the world of raptor monitoring and, at the same time, provide much-needed data for under-recorded species. So, what are you waiting for? Based in Wales with a passion for nature and, in particular, raptors? Why not look at the project home page and register your interest - Who knows, if you’re in North Wales, I might see you out in the field for a day’s raptor monitoring.
Nothing better than monitoring raptors - and it never rains in Wales!
