As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Sunday 10 June 2018

Red Arrows alter flight path for rare bird colonies



23 May 2018

The RAF Red Arrows are being forced to change their flight path at an air show because of nesting birds.

Great Yarmouth Air Show is in talks with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) over a new route to avoid disturbing little tern colonies at Scroby Sands and the beach at North Denes.

The RSPB wants the show to be postponed until September when nesting is over.

An organiser said it was "frustrating" having to make the adjustments with just three weeks to go.

The bird charity said it had raised concerns with Great Yarmouth Borough Council and the CAA in October 2016 about the air show being held at this time of year.

It said aircraft passing close to and over Scroby Sands, "will cause the adult birds to fly up from the nests" and may cause some to abandon their nests and chicks.

According to the RSPB, little terns are in decline across Europe and are among the UK's rarest sea birds.

Natural England manages Scroby Sands, a legally protected site of global importance for wildlife, and little terns are a protected species.

"We are also concerned that Natural England will allow Great Yarmouth Air Show to proceed despite these legal protections," the RSPB said.

Show director Kevin Marsh said they had already made two adjustments to the Red Arrows' flight path to give the colonies a wider berth.

He said the new flight path proposal was for the RAF display team only as it requires a longer fly-past to be able to do their turns and would not affect other aircraft.


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