West Midland Bird Club 
Studying Birds in Staffordshire, Warwickshire, 
Worcestershire and the West Midlands since 1929

Avian influenza. What do I do?

If you find one dead bird of prey, 3 or more dead gulls or wild fowl, 5 or more dead birds of any species: report online at 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/report-dead-wild-birds asap. If you want to submit a report without providing contact details, phone Defra on 03459 33 55 77 Do not touch or pick up any dead or dying bird. Defra May arrange to pick up dead birds to collect and test

The UK is currently experiencing a Waxwing winter with increasing sightings across the West Midland Region. They often favour Urban locations with berries including supermarket car parks and our gardens. Please let the Club know if you see any Waxwings using our record submissions page on this website informing you how to record all you birding observations.


MEMBERS’ UPDATE


A new policy on ringing birds and the presence of rare birds, on club reserves.


AN INTRODUCTION

by Roger Broadbent, Club Chairperson


This policy – which was adopted by the trustees on the 3 rd of December 2023 - supersedes all previous WMBC ringing policies and statements and is primarily intended for the management of ringing activities on Club reserves at Harborne, Ladywalk and Belvide, although it could be made available for any landowner genuinely considering inviting WMBC members to ring birds on their land. The Club Management Committee (MC) is greatly appreciative of the current Chair of Trustees, John Macmillan, who established a working group consisting of Dave Jackson the Club conservation officer and MC member, Club reserve managers Paul Bateman (Harborne), Richard King (Ladywalk) (both also MC members) and Steve Nuttall (Belvide), Ross Johns (Harborne ringer), Kevin Whiston (of Ladywalk ringers), and Kevin Clements (of Belvide Ringers). Thanks are not only due to all who served on the working group but also to our vice presidents Jim Winsper, and Graham and Janet Harrison as well as Dave Emley who made very helpful comments once the working group recommendations were presented to the MC and the Trustees. The MC then

proposed some further changes – including the preamble to the Policy which recognises the value of the evidence that ringers provide through their dedication to scientific research that gives us a greater understanding of bird life across our Region -  before unanimously recommending to the Trustees that the policy be adopted. The resulting policy is therefore very much a WMBC team effort!


An important change in Club policy concerns ringing during the breeding season. Much consideration was given to stopping mist netting entirely during the breeding season on all Club reserves. Under the policy as finally approved, it can only be carried out throughout the year if a site is approved as a Constant Effort Site (CES) by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) with the Club’s consent. Currently only Ladywalk is deemed suitable for consideration as a CES and the policy allows a 3-year period to establish a CES site at Ladywalk. If that is not achieved, Ladywalk will then fall into line with Belvide and Harborne which will cease mist netting during the breeding season from this year. Another important change is that all ringers on our reserves will now have to be Club members with the exception only of ringers in training.


Finally, I must emphasise the importance of Parts 3 and 4 of the policy which apply to all Club members, not just to those engaged in ringing, and explains what is to happen if a rare bird is trapped during a ringing session on a Club reserve or is known to be present on a reserve. Because of their importance they are now on the News and Events Page of the website. Parts 1 and 2, which are quite long and largely bureaucratic in nature and only applicable to ringers, reserve management teams and the Management  committee, can be obtained on application to the Secretary.


I commend the policy to all interested parties.



There is plenty of information at hand within these pages, however, please do not hesitate in using the contact us page via the menu or the secretary@westmidlandbirdclub if you would like to take a personal approach to gathering information; the Club Secretary will be pleased to deal with any enquiry. There is great scope to become involved in a wide range of Club activities, likewise you can go about your birding activities on a personal level and simply enjoy what the West Midland Bird Club has to offer in assisting your interests.

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