I understand that a petition has been lodged with the assembly objecting to the proposed path along Rumney Great Wharf on the grounds of disturbance of roosting waders. Presumably possible to sign online but don't know how to go about it.
Successfully twitched Willow Tit at Nelson this morning. First I've seen in Britain since 2005 !
5 comments:
My experience of foot and cyclepaths at such coastal/ estuarine sites (both in terms of the physical survey over winter and passage periods and the literary reviews of publised research) show that disturbance to roosting waders is largely unfounded. There are plenty of examples out there, but to summarise:
Birds become used to people and can become remarkably tame, allowing people to see them at very close quarters. This tolerance is encouraged by frequent visitation and by the people not being outlined against the sky, keeping moving etc - current usage by birdwatchers at RGW will be occasional, with a great deal of standing still watching birds and of course being outlined by the sky - creating a lot of disturbance - any wonder birders think that lots of people using a footpath will cause lots of disturbance??
A new footpath will increase the numbers of people using the area considerably, in winter as well as in summer. Birds will become increasingly used to this.
Sensitive areas can be screened effectively using fences or vegetation, such as blackthorn. Having strips of water, in ditches, between the track and the areas used by the birds, greatly increases the tolerance of the birds for people.
People can be deflected from sensitive areas by providing a new track with a very good surface, so long as their views are at least partially retained.
Observation points and hides encourage people to restrict their potentially high-profile viewing activities to controlled locations. Most people also respond well to requests to avoid disturbing the birds.
As long as crunchy gravel is avoided, noise disturnbance should not be a problem!!
In my opinion we'd be better off helping to inform some of the suggestions above and encourage usage of the wharf to educate the masses to the amazing Severn estuary amd the birds it supports?
Understand your point Randal. I have now managed to find where this petition is and it seems that only 3 people have signed ! Without support from the various conservation organisations it would appear to be doomed to failure anyway.
Roger Price who instigated this petition has asked me to post his comments as he cannot access this site. He writes as follows-
' The against the Coastal path Petition has just been posted. It needs the support of all conscientious and responsible birders and conservationists. I have personal experience of RGW and Peterstone going back 30 years. I have previously written a letter to the various official bodies involved with this project. Cardiff Birders are in danger of losing this asset. To sign go to www.assemblywales.org.get involved/petitions/view sign up. I hope you will. Roger Price GOS and RSPB member'
Clearly there are different views here so probably best left to individuals to decide if they want to sign.
never mind the waders what about the owls? Put a road there they should and perhaps the owls will find peace else where hopefully up the valleys.Perhaps Randall's right a footpath would be a good idea (perhaps) people will use it instead of trampling through the grass disturbing everything in its path.
Roger, thanks for the reply. Just a quick question. How exactly will a footpath cause the loss of Rhymney Great Wharf? Strong claims indeed.
Have you ever walked along the Severn Way that runs along the Severn on the 'other' side of the estuary? The estuary, the birds and the various warths still seems to be there. In fact they were still there yesterday when I left. I watched various walkers, cyclists and runners using the footpath and the only disturbance I noted was caused to lapwing which were roosting in an adjacent maize field (the actual cause of the disturbance was the farmer ploughing his field) and by a peregrine playing havoc with the high tide roosts at New Passage. I'm happy to send you a copy of my field notes if you'd like to collaborate this.
The fact remains, that for the more open minded this provides a fantastic opportunity to give birders/ wider public, hides, vantage points and access to this wonderful estuary. The more people that use the estuary (birders or otherwise), the more likely that the fears/ prejudices that I suspect drive most peoples concerns of a footpath will diminish.
R.M.Snowdrop
CBC and DMFCM member (Dennis the Menace Fan Club)
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