Watch out for this chap Clive when your down at the Ouse!!
Please note new venue for monthly meetings - see map
Latest Information - 5th February 2008
Rather dejectedly, I have today to convey that shooting at Alkborough is no more. Why? I don't know, mismanagement, missed opportunities, misrepresentation, no friends in the right places, whatever, it is a very poignant day for AWAC, wildfowling on the Humber and minority sports.
AWAC, a small responsible club, has carried out the traditional sport of wildfowling in a very professional and sustainable way for many years on this site and as a conservation minded club has carried out significant improvements to this exciting location on the Humber Estuary.
Why has ABP refused the lease when initially they supported it with provisos which which could have been met in their entirety? The club had SSSI consent from Natural England, permission to recommence shooting from the site owners EA and NE, a very active involvement in the stakeholder process and a very strict management plan in place. ABP have a clear policy on Estate Management, part of which is reproduced below and the club was very active in voluntarily ensuring this site, designated as favourable condition by NE, was always at its best as the pictures below partly demonstrate. It is heartbreaking that AWAC will not be able to continue to be worthy custodians of this remarkable area.
From a personal point of view countless hours seem to have been wasted, many people have assisted and wished us luck and I thank them for that. - Time to move on to the next challenge! It is ironic that this has happened on what is World Wetlands Day, an annual and unique event, because wetlands are the only habitat to have a day to denote their importance and steer forward their conservation. Appreciatively, the role of wildfowlers in the upkeep of these wonderful areas is widely recognised.
ESTATE MANAGEMENT
To ensure that ABP manages its estate in such a way that landscape and flora and fauna interests are maintained; that ABP fly-tipped material is removed and efforts made to find those responsible; to ensure compliance with all legislation
Latest Information - 11th November 2007
Disappointingly, after a great deal of collaboration and support to the stakeholder process, Alkborough Wildfowlers have still been unable to recommence shooting, however, negotiations are still continuing with all relevant bodies - Watch this space!
Members please note - For Health and Safety reasons, shooting at Alkborough has been suspended during construction work on the managed realignment site, the club is taking an active part in the planning and future management of the region and is fully supportive of this exciting project, which undoubtedly will have a significant impact on the bio-diversity of the area.
The development is the largest flood storage and habitat creation scheme in Europe and will ultimately be developed as a new National Nature Reserve. Over the next two years, 440 hectares of agricultural land alongside the Humber at Alkborough will be returned to the estuary through the removal of existing flood defences. By removing the existing defences, water will be allowed to flood the farmland creating an exciting new inter-tidal habitat.
Sunset at Alkborough Flats - The first big tide after the breach!
Members enjoying a cuppa after a hard mornings work cleaning the foreshore!
Before!!
After!!
Interesting study released, wildfowling having no obvious effect?
Wildfowl
Austin, G. E., M. M. Rehfisch, et al. (2007). "Population size and
differential population
growth of introduced Greater Canada Branta canadensis and re-established Greylag
Goose
Anser anser across habitats in Great Britain in the year 2000." Bird Study
54(3): 343-352.
Aims: During 2000, an extensive survey of introduced Greater Canada Geese and
re-established
Greylag Geese in Great Britain was undertaken in order to update population
estimates last made
between 1988 and 1991.
Methods: A randomized stratified sample of 1329 of the 61 510 tetrads (2 km × 2
km unit) in Great
Britain was surveyed. The habitat categories, or strata, were based on the
proportion of water cover,
urbanization, and upland/lowland in each tetrad. Non-urbanized strata were
further divided into
northern and southern reporting areas.
Results: In 2000 there were an estimated 88 866 full-grown Greater Canada Geese
and 24 522 full grown
Greylag Geese in Great Britain. Since the 1988-91 survey, Greater Canada Geese
have
increased by 166% and Greylag Geese by 170%, an average per annum rate of
increase of 9.3% for
Greater Canada Geese and 9.4% for Greylag Geese. The increase in Greater Canada
Goose
numbers since the 1988-91 survey has occurred mainly in habitats which had
previously held low
goose population densities, particularly the `no water' lowland habitat.
Although densities were still
relatively low in this habitat (<0.5 geese per km2), because of its extent it
supported 56% of the
total Greater Canada Goose population in 2000. The greatest increase in
re-established Greylag
Goose numbers has arisen from an expansion into lowland habitat with some water
cover.
Conclusion: There was no obvious decline in the 8.3% per annum Greater Canada
Goose growth
rate that caused the population to treble between 1976 and 1991. Greylag Goose
numbers are
increasing at a similar rate to those of the Greater Canada Goose.