A climate-friendly aproach to ornithology
By Robert Fletcher, Bram Büscher, Kate Massarella and Stasja Koot Among the pandemic’s most significant effects has been its impact on the global tourism industry – an important source of conservation financing in many places. In some places, this is affecting wildlife directly. For instance, fears that endangered mountain gorillas might contract the virus from …
Continue reading "Time to rethink ecotourism and conservation"
By Tom Jordan The idea of the car as the default mode of transport is embedded in modern society and birding is no exception. Can this culture be changed? By questioning our defaults, many birders will be surprised at what can be achieved. Apart from birding, my other great love is Southampton Football Club. As …
By Jonnie Fisk Birding trips abroad are a high-carbon indulgence. But that can be cut down by quite some margin by ditching air travel. I spent two weeks on Europe’s winter rails to show that productive, fulfilling and affordable birding can be had without the need for a plane or car. In January 2019 I …
By Amy Robjohns Driving has always felt like a chore for me, and with the need to try to reduce carbon emissions, I like to use public transport instead whenever possible. Birding by public transport is not always feasible as some sites are too remote, but when it works, it allows me plenty of time …
By Amanda Bourne During my doctoral research, I explored the impacts of high temperatures and drought on a desert-adapted bird – the Southern Pied Babbler Turdoides bicolor – in the Kalahari Desert of southern Africa. High temperatures and drought, both increasing with climate change, inhibit successful breeding in pied babblers and the interannual survival of two important age classes: juveniles …
By Matt Livesey For many photographers, the car is as vital a piece of equipment as the camera. Since January 2020, however, I have consciously made a transition away from travelling by car and towards engaging with nature on a much more local scale on foot. The primary reason for this is the obvious and …
By Steve Gale If you walk up to a crowd of birders and utter the words “Low Carbon Birding” there will most probably be two different responses. The first will be from shiny-eyed converts, nodding profusely as they extol the virtues of adopting such methods. The second will be one of panic, with crucifixes thrust …
