NERF Conference

Northern England Raptor Conference
20 November 2010
Rishworth School, Rishworth, Halifax, HX6 4QA


This year's annual NERF Raptor Conference is being hosted by Calderdale Bird Conservation Group at the prestigious venue of Rishworth School.

The conference committee has drawn together an exciting and varied program that will address a wide range of issues that are of interest to Raptor Workers, including habitat management, the use of technology to track and monitor individual birds as well as contributing to the debate surrounding the status of eagle owls and lowland hen harriers.

There is ample on-site parking. Registration, coffee and exhibits will be available for delegates from 0830 and the conference will open at 0915. Lunch and afternoon refreshments will be provided.

This year’s conference has four themes and each theme has two highly respected speakers. Some of the issues are extremely contentious and delegates will have an opportunity to put in-depth questions to the speakers at the end of each session. Paul Irving, NERF Chairman, will also bring us up to date with current developments within the Forum.

Habitat management

· Alistair Crowle, Natural England
The effects of 60 years of management of upland SSSIs
· Simon Thorp, Heather Trust
Heather Burning Regulations, three years on

Analytical science

· Lee Walker, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme
· Arjun Arun, RSPB
Peregrine persecution in the NERF region, a 10 years study

Monitoring

· Stephen Murphy, Natural England
Hen harrier dispersal - satellite tracking
· James Leonard, RSPB
The use of technology, including cameras for monitoring, research and crime detection

Species studies

· Dr Andrew Kelly, Belfast University
New research into the status of eagle owls
· Paul Castle, Wiltshire Raptor Group
Montagu’s harriers and lowland hen harriers

Delegate Fees
£10.00 for delegates aged 14 – 18 years and £20.00 for adults. Once again demand for places at this year’s conference is expected to be high. Please book early to avoid disappointment.

This is a high profile national conference and one for which we are proud hosts, any birder with an interest in raptors is bound to find something of interest here, to book please contact midgleybirder@yahoo.co.uk