Curlew Spotting
Following on from April, I have spent at least one day every week in Mid Wales talking to farmers and monitoring curlew. Some Curlew have begun nesting, so this month was important to mark out nesting sites and monitor the success of this year’s breeding pairs and eggs. I have successfully now used a new way of monitoring Curlew nests through drone surveying, thanks to the help of Logan Crimp for piloting the drone. I used heat mapping and the drone cameras to identify and confirm the exact locations of nests. It made quite a unique game of Curlew hide and seek!
I also attended “Curlew Conversations: Conservation”, presented online by Curlew Action and the Biological Recording Company. It was great to hear speakers share the progress of projects from North Yorkshire and Northern Ireland, especially considering how the Curlew LIFE project has led to the positive transformation of habitats and the success from careful predation management. As I work more with curlew, I look forward to presenting Land of the Curlew to wider audiences with my colleagues.
Finding new project officers!
Since we received funding for Land of the Curlew, the team have been eager to recruit a new project manager and two new project officers. I got involved with helping to find project officer by summarising CVs and cover letters for the team to pick interviewees. During this process, it has been insightful to see what GWCT employers are looking for in project officer candidates, as it has given me aspirations to improve my own portfolio, such as gaining more volunteer and training experiences.
I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the successful candidates, and I’m looking forward to working with them on the project! So far, we have Kaylee Fay continuing from her Conservation Assistant role in becoming one of the new Project Officers. Kaylee has already begun on the project with her new role, and the other project officer should hopefully be decided soon! The new project manager has also been appointed, and is due to start in July.
Showcasing my placement experience
As part of passing my university placement experience, I have been asked to produce a poster of all my experiences with GWCT so far. It has been another great opportunity to reflect on everything I have gained from my placement year. Hopefully this also helps to summarise to you, the reader, on my role and what future placement students can expect.
Early planning for Royal Welsh Agricultural Show
From what my colleagues tell me, the annual summer Royal Welsh Agricultural Show is GWCT Wales’s biggest event of the year. So to get ahead on planning, the team and I have started brainstorming this year’s activities and talks for our stand. We are hoping that our stand will provide attendees with information on our projects and our work with people of the countryside through celebrating Welsh land, language, heritage and culture.
I would also love to hear any ideas of what you would like to see at our stand this year. Please send suggestions and get involved in the conservation by emailing me: rgrant@gwct.org.uk .
I look forward to seeing many of you there!