Bempton

On Wednesday 14th some of the ringers were involved with climbing instructors from the Joint Services Mountain Training Wing who descended into the Gannet colony beneath the sheer cliffs at Bempton in East Yorkshire.

Under the umbrella of the RSPB and sponsored by the government, satellite trackers were fitted to several breeding adults giving immediate information on the movements of these birds as they flew out to sea. The project is part of a huge expansion in the 'renewable energy' wind pylons which the Crown Estates are sanctioning in the sea around the UK. As many as 7000 pylons may be erected in the area off Bempton near Dogger Bank and it is essential to know the feeding flight patterns of these very specialised birds before final permission to proceed is granted.

Sadly, due to reserve sensitivities and local politics it was not possible to involve more people from Foxglove, but Foxglove produced the resolution to the problem of getting the birds tagged and we await the outcome with interest. The trackers are fitted on the tails of the birds and cost £1200 each! More information will be passed on as it becomes available. Pictured is a lone tagged Gannet preparing to launch itself back to sea with the catching team in the background, an untagged Gannet and 'H' and Andy going over the edge into the colony below!

For more information on this particular project go to:
www.rspb.org.uk/Images/langston_2010_tcm9-203501.pdf