Stop Press (02 Nov 2016): This event is now fully booked! See contact details below if you'd like to add your name to the waiting list.
Join us for an afternoon of gentle science and fascinating discovery exploring the lives and fortunes of iconic Manx birds in the company of international and local experts.
When: Saturday 12th November 2016 2.00-6.00pm
Where: The Manx Museum, Kingswood Grove, Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 3LY
Who: For anyone interested in birds, wildlife and the Isle of Man's natural heritage
How much: The afternoon conference is free and open to everyone of all ages
Why you should join us to celebrate Manx birds
Through attending Celebrating Manx Birds - a joint Manx BirdLife and Manx Ornithological Society production - you’ll discover the extraordinary lives of some of the Isle of Man’s iconic wild birds.
A world-class faculty of speakers from the island and beyond will share their inspirations and revelations, their hopes and fears for the future. They’ll reveal the fascinating new insights that are shaping conservation efforts to build a better future for wild birds and the environment.
Attendance at the conference is free at the door (subject to availability). To guarantee your place, please call 07624 428953/455972 or email jthompson | at | manx.net or download the booking form.
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ProgrammeKindly sponsored by SCS and the Isle of Man Society for the |
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| 1315 | Doors open for registration | |
| 1400 | Celebrating Manx Birds, part 1 see speaker synopses below >>
Chairman’s welcome Opening address The secrets of Manx Shearwater navigation: historic accounts to modern experiments The story of the Shearwaters of Mann and their return from oblivion Solving the mystery of Hen Harrier movements across the British Isles Insights on roosting Hen Harriers on the Isle of Man |
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| 1530 | Afternoon refreshment break | |
| 1600 | Celebrating Manx Birds, part 2 see speaker synopses below >>
Curlews in crisis: reasons for their decline and hope for their conservation Charismatic Choughs KEYNOTES Celebrating Manx birds and other wildlife The State of Nature |
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| 1800 | Close |
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You are cordially invited to the
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Whether or not you are able to join us for the conference, you are cordially invited to the post-conference buffet at the beautifully restored Ballacregga Corn Mill in Laxey.
Tickets are £16.50/person and include a hot and cold buffet supper:
- Italian meats platter
- Pasta pepperonata with rocket and Parmesan (V)
- Homemade cod goujons / Homemade chicken goujons
- Chipped potatoes
- Cheese platter with a selection of Manx and international cheeses
- Fruit platter with a selection of seasonal fruits
- Selection of homemade cakes, and pouring cream
- Tea, coffee and biscuits
To make your dinner reservation, please call 07624 428953/455972 or email jthompson | at | manx.net or neilgmorris | at | manxbirdlife.im or download the booking form.
We greatly look forward to welcoming you.
Speaker synopses
The synopses below provide you with a more detail about each speakers' presentation:
The secrets of Manx Shearwater navigation: historic accounts to modern experiments
Ollie Padget
PhD student, Oxford Navigation Group, Dept. of Zoology, University of Oxford
The discovery of the ‘homing’ ability of Manx Shearwaters across vast oceans inspired a generation of researchers. Yet exactly how these charismatic wanderers pinpoint their home colonies has remained the Shearwater’s secret. Ollie will describe:
- The search for the mechanisms involved in Shearwater ‘homing’
- Testing the ‘sun-compass’ as a basis for navigation
- How experiments have answered key questions about animal behaviour
The story of the Shearwaters of Mann and their return from oblivion
Kate Hawkins
Curator of Natural History, The Manx Museum
Kate will describe the rise, fall and rise of the Shearwaters of Mann, bringing us up to date with the latest news of this enigmatic species’ and its restoration on the Calf of Man:
- From abundance to oblivion
- Bringing the Manx Shearwater ‘home’
- Future ambitions and considerations
Solving the mystery of Hen Harrier movements across the British Isles
Blánaid Denman
Project Manager, Hen Harrier LIFE+ Project, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Blánaid will describe the fascinating work that is revealing the local and international movements of Hen Harriers, and how this understanding is leading to improved conservation efforts for the species.
- Where do Britain’s Hen Harriers go and why?
- Local and international perspectives
- The implications for conservation
Insights on roosting Hen Harriers on the Isle of Man
Louise Samson
Forestry Warden, Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture
Louise will share some of the insights gained through a collaborative project to better understand the roosting patterns and behaviours of hen harrier on the Isle of Man:
- The importance of the Isle of Man as a hen harrier roost location
- New insights and novel roosting behaviours
Curlews in crisis: reasons for their decline and hope for their conservation
Dr Samantha Franks
Research Ecologist, British Trust for Ornithology
With European populations of Curlew in fast decline, Samantha will share her fears and hopes for this evocative species:
- Why Curlews captivate us: their natural history, cultural value, and role as environmental indicators
- Understanding the drivers of Curlew decline
- A roadmap to saving the Curlew across the British Isles
Charismatic Choughs
Allen S Moore
Project Co-ordinator, Manx Chough Project
The Isle of Man has a significant proportion of the global population of the Chough, probably more so than for any other bird species. Allen will share his insights on:
- Benefits to the Chough of Manx agriculture
- Other benefits conferred by our landscape
- Research and conservation
KEYNOTES
Celebrating Manx birds and other wildlife
Dr Tim Graham
Chief Executive, Manx Wildlife Trust
Tim will share his growing appreciation of the diversity and character of the Isle of Man’s wild places and its wildlife, explaining his passion for the environment and his take on its conservation and the challenges facing it:
- Drawing inspiration from the Manx countryside and its wildlife
- Iconic treasures among the national fauna and flora
- Aspirations and priorities for a better future for Manx wildlife
The State of Nature
Dr Martin Harper
Director of Conservation, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
As the RSPB’s conservation champion, Martin will give his perspective on what is the state of nature today and why nature matters so much:
- What’s driving change in the fortunes of nature?
- What can we do about it?
- Examples of success: conservation interventions that work
Celebrating Manx Birds 2016
We hope you enjoy this year's inaugural Celebrating Manx Birds event. If you have any suggestions of species, topics or speakers we should consider for next year's programme, we'd be delighted to hear from you. Please send your ideas to jthompson | at | manx.net. Thank you!
