Skomer 42y. guillemot studies - crowdfunding‏ (1 Viewer)

Hi All,

Apologies for any cross-posting.

Some of you may have visted the Welsh island of Skomer, famous for its seabirds with many thousands of Manx Shearwaters, Puffins, Razorbills and Guillemots (Common Murres). Since 1972 Dr. Tim Birkhead and his students from the University of Sheffield have been monitoring the ups-and-downs (mostly "ups") of this population that now begins nesting each year roughly ten days earlier than it did in the 1970s.

Changes in the way natural research funding is carried out in Wales and the establishment of a new quango, Natural Resources Wales to replace the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) mean that the annual funding (just £12,000, €15,000 or $19,000) for this very important longterm study has ben cut. An effort is being made to raise this cash through crowdfunding and in just five days over a quarter of the total (£3,300) has been raised.

You will doubtless agree with me that these long-term investigations are the cornerstone of ecological and ornithological study. There is a saying in English 'that the ship was lost for a a ha'penny worth of tar' ... rather apt when talking about Guillemots in the North Atlantic. Please give generously if you can:

https://www.justgiving.com/timbirkheadguillemots/

If you can't donate then I would kindly ask that you post this to other ornithological and climate monitoring lists that you are subscribed to.

Thanks very much,

Paul Tout, Trieste, ITALY.

There are two articles in the Guardian on the same day (26/10/14):

http://www.theguardian.com/environme...t-tim-birkhead

and

http://www.theguardian.com/environm...ts-study-skomer-wales-budget-cut-tim-birkhead

and Professor Birkhead writes as a guest blogger in Mark Avery this morning with the "gloves off":

http://nblo.gs/10X3y6

The appeal is going well with over a third of the cash raised in just under a week.

Tim Birkhead is now just £50 short of the £12,000 that were needed to continue the project for 2015 and the sum was paid in just 14 days from just over 600 donations @ c. £20 per donation. Many thanks to all those on Birdforums who contributed.