Page 19 - Out Birding Autumn 2023

View from the Chair
I’ve been at it again and did a 10-day cruise as ornithologist and
guide which went around the Western and Northern Isles, taking
in some world-class seabird colonies such as St Kilda, Foula,
Treshnish Isles and the Shiants. Thanks to the generous policy of
the company that allows crew to take partners at ‘mates rates’, and their strong equal opportuni􏰀es policy, I was able to take George as my welcome guest. That said, it was o􏰁en the other way around when he was able to invite me to dine with him for some excellent meals. We were fortunate enough to be able to land at St Kilda and we witnessed a tale of two species, both badly affected by bird flu. The Great Skua (or Bonxie) has suffered huge losses to the virus, and this was showing in the low numbers of birds turning up at their colonies at St Kilda and Foula this year. Local es􏰀mates suggest that approximately 5 – 20% have returned in Shetland and around 30% in St Kilda. Meanwhile, a wholly unscien􏰀fic impression I got of circula􏰀ng the island of Boreray, the second largest gannet colony in the world, was that the numbers were holding up there, in spite of many adults dying from the virus last year. However, there were almost no club sites, the gatherings of immature birds that eventually recruit into the breeding popula􏰀on. This suggests that any deaths last year have resulted in new pairs of young adults moving into the gaps le􏰁 by dead birds. The Bonxies have been a malign influence since their food supply has shrivelled up. Many birds have taken to a􏰂acking other birds, including the Ki􏰃wakes and Leach’s Storm-petrels on St Kilda. Perhaps these lower numbers of Bonxies will give these other species some respite.
We have taken some important decisions on the GBC Commi􏰂ee during the last three months. Following Liz’s detailed look into the condi􏰀ons of the Club’s liability insurance policy, it was clear that we needed to sharpen the way treat health and safety during our events. While we have never had to make an insurance claim (thankfully), it is something that I don’t want to be le􏰁 having to fight our corner if something bad happened. It is so much be􏰂er that we pay a􏰂en􏰀on to our safety during events and ensure that nothing goes wrong than having to make a claim a􏰁erwards. We are all grown-ups, so I don’t want to labour the point, and it is thanks to the mature way that we deal with our safety that has resulted in our excellent safety record. O􏰁en, what insurance companies want to see is a process that demonstrates we have considered the safety of our members on events and taken appropriate ac􏰀on. If we were to make a claim, they will want to see a paper trail that demonstrates that we have followed our process.
To this end, you will see we have appointed a member of the commi􏰂ee who will be our Health and Safety Officer, and Richard Lazenby was pleased to volunteer for that role (thanks Richard!). The other thing you will see is a change to our processes for events. You won’t be able to turn up on spec to an event; you will have to register your a􏰂endance with the event leader. By doing so, you will be declaring that you
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