Alderney Bird Observatory a soaraway success
SUCCESS on a par with ‘any other similar institution in the British Isles’ has surpassed the Alderney Bird Observatory founders’ expectations.
The observatory was established in March last year and has released its inaugural annual report.
Chairman Paul Veron said more than 13,000 birds had been caught, ringed and released in 2016, with five species recorded on the island for the first time.
These included the pomarine skua, a seabird that usually breeds in the far north of Eurasia and North America.
Four species of warbler were also found, including the Pallas’ warbler and the western bonelli.
The ABO has also featured on BBC’s Countryfile Spring Special, which he said had ‘showcased Alderney to audiences measured in millions’.
‘None of us involved with setting up the observatory imagined in our wildest dreams what an incredible success the initiative would be,’ he said.
‘Nor did we anticipate how much positive national and international publicity it would bring to Alderney.
‘The ABO has captured the interest and imagination of people far and wide. We are beginning to see the benefits of vocational tourism to Alderney for people with particular interests in ornithological and other natural history fieldwork.’
Mr Veron added that ‘few other British bird observatories, if any, have had such an impact in their first year of operating.’
Honorary warden John Horton said he had spoken to bird watchers in the UK who were aware of and excited by the observatory’s work.
‘A very recent chance encounter I had with a passing bird watcher at Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory in the UK summed up this wonderful project,’ he said.
Along with its TV coverage, Mr Veron said the other big successes were surpassing 100 full members and establishing a strong working relationship with Naturetrek and other specialist wildlife travel operators.
The observatory’s future also appears secure, with full renovation of its field study centre and base set to commence in the next few weeks.
