Newsletter (2012 1-Summer) – Copeland Bird Observatory

2 months ago

What to do if you Find a Stranded Manx ShearwaterEvery September, thousands of young Manx shearwater fledglings leave the comfort of their burrows in the UK/Ireland and head for their wintering waters off the coast of South America. They head out to sea but can be blown inland as a result of bad weather. This can also happen during foggy nights, when mainland lights cause them to become disorientated and stranded on land.CBO has been working with Manx shearwaters since the 1950s and the Copeland Islands currently host around 4,500 breeding pairs during the summer months. Our ringing projects with these birds provide vital insight into their migratory and feeding behaviour, with academic experts conducting important research on the island every year.If you discover one of these seabirds stranded on land, you can place them in a ventilated cardboard box in an undisturbed area (if you find more than the one stranded bird please place them in separate boxes). Please prevent dogs from approaching the birds to avoid unnecessary stress and do not attempt to feed them.The birds can only be released at nightfall on the coast.Copeland Bird Observatory has a small team of dedicated volunteers who can assist with the release of Manx shearwaters if they are found stranded.You can send us a message on Facebook or contact the numbers below:Wesley - 07837 449264Niall - 07805774603David - 07934 416668If our volunteers can make it to your location quickly and if the bird is uninjured, we may also be able to ring the bird by placing a special metal ring around their leg, which will allow us to see if they return to CBO as adults.You can read more about saving stranded manxies here:birdwatchireland.ie/grounded-manx-shearwaters-need-a-helping-hand/ You can also email us at CopelandBirds@outlook.com for more information.🐦Image: A young Manx shearwater being released at Whitehead, Co. Antrim. ... See MoreSee Less

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Copeland Bird Observatory

4 months ago

We were delighted to welcome DAERA Minister Andrew Muir MLA to Copeland Bird Observatory on Wednesday. 🌞🐦We talked about the history of the Observatory and shared information about our long term research projects, such as the ringing and tracking of our Manx Shearwaters and our gull colour ringing projects. We took the opportunity to thank the Minister for the continued generous support received from the Department over the years.Thank you to all our supporters who have helped us reach the 70 year mark and will keep us going for many more to come!If you are interested in spending a weekend at the observatory or would like more information, check out the website - www.thecbo.org.uk/ ... See MoreSee Less

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Copeland Bird Observatory

4 months ago

We were delighted to welcome DAERA Minister Andrew Muir MLA to Copeland Bird Observatory yesterday. 🌞🐦We talked about the history of the observatory and shared information about our long term research projects, such as the ringing and tracking of our Manx Shearwaters, our Eider ringing project on Mew Island and our gull colour ringing projects. Thank you to all our supporters who have helped us with these projects and many more over the years!If you are interested in spending a weekend at the observatory, you can email our booking secretary at davidgalbraith903@btinternet.com 🌅 (spaces are going fast!) ... See MoreSee Less

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Copeland Bird Observatory

4 months ago

Last weekend, a team of ringers and volunteers set out to Mew Island and Old Lighthouse Island (where the Observatory is located) to colour ring gull chicks. 🐤Colour ringing allows us to track the movements of our birds and monitor their behaviour. You can see where sightings of our herring gulls and lesser black back gulls have been reported on our website here: www.thecbo.org.uk/colour-ringing-our-gulls/You can also report your own sightings directly by emailing us at CopelandBirds@outlook.comKeep an eye out for our colour rings, which are orange with 3 numbers followed by a ‘:C’ (e.g., 028:C).Many thanks to everyone who helped out! ... See MoreSee Less

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Copeland Bird Observatory

8 months ago

Yes, we’re celebrating 70 incredible years of CBO activity at the Malone Hotel on 27th April, but we’re not just looking back respectfully. Do try and join us and find out about the work of CBO as we enter our 71st season. Enjoy a three-course meal and a keynote address by Dr Ollie Padget as he describes the importance of CBO in high-end Manx shearwater tracking studies. There will be prizes galore – Copeland Gin! Paintings, optics, overnight stays, Bird books…In addition to having the opportunity to review some of the observatory’s ornithological highlights - Fox sparrow, Subalpine warblers, Radde's warbler, Barred warblers, Woodpeckers, Hoopoes, Wrynecks, Shrikes, Flycatchers, Starts, Chats, Rosefinches, Nightjar, White's thrush (to mention a few) - and pay respect to the pioneering men and women who had the foresight and the courage to establish the Observatory in the first place, we will be looking ahead to what we expect will be an action packed 2024 season. This will include a major drive on our large-gull colour ringing project (Herring & Lesser black-backed) and we are extending our annual gull-nest census to Mew Island. Our 2024 plans also include deploying tern-shelters and a new sound system on Lighthouse Island as we try to entice Arctic terns to breed, and placing additional motion cameras on the Puffin slope to monitor evidence of their breeding. We will be continuing our long-term ringing programmes of Manx shearwater, Black guillemot, Storm petrel, Eider, and Passerines/near-Passerines (last year this brought a new species – a Nightjar), and we will be making an extra push on habitat management by introducing a new mechanical Allen scythe to control the bracken. All this, and training new ringers and welcoming work and survey visits by scout and student groups. 2024 will be action packed, but we need your support!So, whether you're a seasoned islander or just starting out, you will be more than welcome to join us to support Northern Ireland's only bird observatory as it celebrates this milestone anniversary.Saturday 27th AprilCommencing with Reception at 18:00The Malone Hotel,60 Eglantine Avenue,Malone RoadBelfastBT9 6DY Dress code: SmartTo get your tickets go towww.eventbrite.com/e/copeland-bird-observatory-70th-anniversary-dinner-tickets-785749697497?aff=o... ... See MoreSee Less

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