{"id":245423,"date":"2023-02-24T20:55:43","date_gmt":"2023-02-24T19:55:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=245423"},"modified":"2023-02-24T20:55:50","modified_gmt":"2023-02-24T19:55:50","slug":"the-rspb-is-betraying-its-members","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=245423","title":{"rendered":"The RSPB is Betraying its Members"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"723\" height=\"344\" data-attachment-id=\"245425\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?attachment_id=245425\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-754.png?fit=1200%2C571&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1200,571\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"image-754\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-754.png?fit=723%2C344&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-754.png?resize=723%2C344&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-245425\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-754.png?resize=1024%2C487&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-754.png?resize=300%2C143&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-754.png?resize=768%2C365&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-754.png?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From <a href=\"http:\/\/cliscep.com\/2023\/02\/18\/the-rspb-is-betraying-its-members\/\">Climate Scepticism<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By <a href=\"https:\/\/cliscep.com\/author\/jitthacker\/\">JIT<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How do you get a charity whose raison d\u2019\u00eatre is keeping birds safe to endorse the wholesale destruction of those self-same birds? It\u2019s a question I found myself asking in response to a comment by&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/notalotofpeopleknowthat.wordpress.com\/2023\/02\/04\/reuters-are-challenged-over-partisan-reporting-on-climate\/#comment-241043\">Ray Sanders on Notalot<\/a>&nbsp;a fortnight ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ray linked to two Guardian articles, the first an&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/commentisfree\/2023\/jan\/31\/sunak-nature-save-nightingales-swifts-environment-plan\">opinion piece by the RSPB\u2019s CEO Beccy Speight<\/a>, and the second a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/business\/2023\/feb\/02\/sizewell-c-nuclear-plant-will-not-harm-the-nature-reserve-next-to-it\">response to it from someone at Sizewell C<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s some of what Speight said in her piece:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Make no mistake: our natural world is in crisis, and we are far beyond the point where words alone will fix it. For proof, you need only look to the annual&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/environment\/2023\/jan\/31\/woodpeckers-sparrows-annual-uk-bird-count-rspb-big-garden-birdwatch\">Big Garden Birdwatch<\/a>, which has shown a catastrophic decline over the past 14 years. And if you look for them in late spring, you\u2019ll see that nightingales, turtle doves and swifts have almost vanished from our skies.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I would hazard here that most of us see swifts, while few indeed see turtle doves or nightingales. That\u2019s by the by. Speight could have picked a third bird that is genuinely rare. She didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So the publication of today\u2019s more detailed route map to delivery [the environment plan] is positive \u2013 but its policies must permeate through all aspects of government. Last year alone we saw approval of the Sizewell C nuclear plant, which will be built on top of one of the UK\u2019s most important wetland nature reserves.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A quite extraordinary phrasing, I think you\u2019ll agree: \u201cLast year alone\u2026\u201d implies a list is beginning. But Speight only finds one thing to object to: Sizewell C \u2013 which is in fact being built next to, not \u201con top of\u201d Minsmere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Protected areas must be more than lines on a map. We have seen protected areas declared on land and at sea, but without the funding needed to restore, maintain and improve their condition, these spaces won\u2019t reach their potential.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Send money now. Wild places do not need money. They need leaving alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At our own farms and on the land of the farmers we work with, we have seen how encouraging wildlife can lead to reduced use of pesticides as well as allowing natural pollinators to thrive.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019m afraid this is the wrong way about. Reduce pesticides and get more wildlife. You don\u2019t get more wildlife and then reduce pesticides, because the wildlife dies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The commitment to support landowners who set aside 10-15% of their farmland for nature by 2030 is welcome \u2013 but the plan will need to be much more ambitious to deliver this. Developing nature-based solutions to the climate crisis and protecting land and marine habitats will also be vital.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whoops \u2013 now suddenly Speight casually drops in that fateful term, \u201cclimate crisis.\u201d There is no \u201cclimate crisis.\u201d Point to where it is described as such in the IPCC\u2019s AR6. You can\u2019t, because, as pointed out by Joe Public in a comment&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/cliscep.com\/2023\/02\/14\/climate-change-lexicon-apply-more-heat\/#comment-137234\">here<\/a>, they didn\u2019t. This is not the language of a serious person (see&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/cliscep.com\/2023\/02\/14\/climate-change-lexicon-apply-more-heat\/\">my previous article&nbsp;<\/a>on alarmist language). And the CEO of the RSPB should be a serious person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Above all we must see measurable progress by 2030. Not flattening the curve, but progress. This means a fully realised plan for how we will protect 30% of our land and seas, with assurances that these spaces will not just be given a certain status on paper, but will actively work to help nature\u2019s recovery.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Why would we protect 30% of our land and seas? We don\u2019t protect 30% of our people from crime. Altogether a singularly bland and partly wrong comment by Speight, who if she cared about birds, should be spitting feathers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What about the pushback from Sizewell C? This comes from Julia Pyke \u2013 director of financing and economic regulation<em>.<\/em>&nbsp;First Pyke criticises the characterisation of Sizewell C being \u201con top of\u201d Minsmere \u2013 as mentioned above, it\u2019s next door. \u201cOn top of\u201d is imprecise vernacular. Then Pyke claims that habitat creation will lead to a 19% net gain in biodiversity via the Sizewell C project. They are going to turn some arable land into wetlands, so they might well have a point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The RSPB themselves state that the greatest threat to nature is climate change. We agree. That is why we need to stop burning fossil fuels by developing an affordable, low-carbon energy mix mostly made up of renewables and nuclear, including Sizewell C.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just when I was agreeing with her, she had to go and drop that little hand grenade. I didn\u2019t know what the RSPB thought was the greatest threat to nature \u2013 more on that in a moment. But \u201cwe agree\u201d tells me that Pyke knows as little about the topic as Speight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the RSPB thinks climate change is so serious, they should be supporting Sizewell C. The fact that they aren\u2019t is telling. We need energy, so where do RSPB propose we get it from while balancing the need for energy to be low-carbon&nbsp;<em>and&nbsp;<\/em>the needs of the birds they exist to protect? (The clue\u2019s in their name.) Of course wind turbines are out, and the only viable alternative is\u2026 nuclear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not so fast. Speight opposes Sizewell C, and by implication, the RSPB does too. Does it oppose wind farms? With the honourable exception of their (lost) battle against Neart na Gaoithe, my answer was no. But I thought I would search the RSPB\u2019s site for a policy position on wind turbines. Here\u2019s what I found under \u201cPolicy Spotlight\u201d:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Powering Healthy Seas<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Powering Healthy Seas is an RSPB report looking at how we can work in harmony with nature as we expand offshore wind. Experts in wind energy and conservation come together to painting a picture [sic] where seas are full of life and energy sources are secure and sustainable.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I couldn\u2019t quite believe what I was looking at. When I clicked to read the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rspb.org.uk\/globalassets\/downloads\/pa-documents\/powering-healthy-seas-report_rspb_august-2022.pdf\">report<\/a>, things only got worse. The full title of the report, dated last August, is<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Powering Healthy Seas: Accelerating Nature Positive Offshore Wind<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you are wondering now whether \u201cNature Positive\u201d and \u201cOffshore Wind\u201d belong next to one another in the same sentence written by the&nbsp;<em>RSPB<\/em>, me too. How has a charity whose only job is to protect birds (clue&nbsp;<em>still<\/em>&nbsp;being in the name) managed to twist itself into this particular pretzel?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The contents of the report are as bad as its title suggests. Here\u2019s another horrifying juxtaposition on the contents page:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"245427\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?attachment_id=245427\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/00rspb_contents.png?fit=686%2C95&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"686,95\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"00rspb_contents\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/00rspb_contents.png?fit=686%2C95&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/00rspb_contents.png?resize=723%2C100&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-245427\" width=\"723\" height=\"100\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/00rspb_contents.png?w=686&amp;ssl=1 686w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/00rspb_contents.png?resize=300%2C42&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the Foreword, Kerry ten Kate (RSPB trustee and Chair of Conservation Committee) says this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We are at a crossroads for nature and for the climate. To achieve net zero and national energy security, we need rapid decarbonisation, leaning heavily on renewable technology and particularly on offshore wind.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dear Kerry, you don\u2019t know what you are talking about, and for that reason you shouldn\u2019t be anywhere near any Conservation Committee, let alone be its Chair. You are endorsing the wholesale destruction of birds. You are supposed to be protecting them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This report, Powering Healthy Seas: Accelerating Nature Positive Offshore Wind, is a collaborative effort between industry and conservation groups.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You mean a collaborative effort between an&nbsp;<em>industry that kills birds<\/em>&nbsp;and a&nbsp;<em>charity created to protect<\/em>&nbsp;them. Message received.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019m not going to dwell on the contents of this report. Read it for yourself if you have a strong stomach. You could summarise it by saying that it acknowledges that wind turbines are terrible for birds, but that there is a \u201cclimate emergency,\u201d so offshore wind is necessary, so we\u2019re going to do all these other things (a \u201cNature Positive\u201d approach) to make sure that the pressure on birds goes down in sum. Unfortunately the only premise that makes any sense is that wind turbines are terrible for birds. The rest is nonsense. You cannot justify any generation technology that kills birds UNLESS there is no viable alternative that DOESN\u2019T kill birds. [We have seen that the CEO opposes Sizewell C.] Thus, even if we WERE in a \u201cclimate emergency,\u201d a BIRD CHARITY could still advocate nuclear energy, and not hitch its wagon to a technology that KILLS BIRDS. And this \u201cNature Positive\u201d approach of theirs lists a lot of things that have nothing whatsoever to do with wind turbines \u2013 like removing rats from islands \u2013 which we should be doing anyway. I suppose the argument here is that the funding for such schemes will come from wind farm developers. Nevertheless, it is nothing short of pathetic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s very simple for the RSPB, or it should be. If the question is \u201cWind farm?\u201d the answer is \u201cNo. Nowhere, never, not while we still draw breath, not while we live to prevent harm to the beautiful and amazing feathered animals we share this planet with.\u201d The RSPB should hate wind farms like Ahab hated the white whale. They should fight them on sea and land, everywhere. There are no excuses, no exceptions and no grey areas. There are no right places to site wind farms. The wrong place is the sky. No amount of carbon dioxide \u201csavings\u201d from wind power can outweigh the direct losses from the birds it kills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The RSPB, we note, has more than a million members. I judge that its members hope and believe that the RSPB exists to protect birds and that their subs contribute to that aim. Therefore, by endorsing wind farms, the RSPB is betraying its members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Remember in the Foreword Kerry ten Kate mentioned the report was a collaborative effort? This is from the Acknowledgements:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We have worked with RenewableUK in the development of this report, taking on board their views and advice to refine its key messages, and for which we are very grateful.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">RenewableUK sounds like a fairly bland organisation, doesn\u2019t it? Who they? The&nbsp;<em>wind industry\u2019s trade association<\/em>, which exists to promote wind power. At least&nbsp;<em>they<\/em>&nbsp;know what they\u2019re for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oh, and then:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This publication has been produced with the financial contribution of European Climate Foundation.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, I doubt that a report produced with the wind power trade association could ever have come out with&nbsp;<em>my<\/em>&nbsp;opinion about offshore wind. I also doubt that ECF would have funded it unless they thought they were going to get an answer that was acceptable to&nbsp;<em>them<\/em>. Cynical of me, I know. The ECF\u2019s funders include the bland-sounding Children\u2019s Investment Fund Foundation, as well as all the usual billionaires. CIFF has also funded XR, and the Centre for Climate Integrity, which exists to litigate against fossil fuel companies. [Useful info on these groups at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.influencewatch.org\/\">influencewatch.org<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The RSPB also lists a suite of organisations that endorse their report:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"723\" height=\"142\" data-attachment-id=\"245428\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?attachment_id=245428\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/00endorsers.png?fit=842%2C165&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"842,165\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"00endorsers\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/00endorsers.png?fit=723%2C142&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/00endorsers.png?resize=723%2C142&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-245428\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/00endorsers.png?w=842&amp;ssl=1 842w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/00endorsers.png?resize=300%2C59&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/00endorsers.png?resize=768%2C150&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These organisations have also betrayed their members. When it comes to wind power, they should be getting their nails out. Instead, they\u2019re getting their tongues out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dear RSPB, it\u2019s simple. Protect birds. Oppose things that kill birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dear Ms. Speight, you are the CEO of the RSPB. The \u201aP\u2018 stands for Protection, not Prevention. If you genuinely care so much about carbon dioxide emissions, endorse nuclear power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Featured Image<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A photo of a beautiful not-dead gannet, with kind permission of Adrian R Yallop. The photo of the not-alive gannet was by YT. On the horizon, too small to see, is the Sheringham Shoal windfarm. Coincidence? I did not undertake a post mortem, so perhaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"723\" height=\"542\" data-attachment-id=\"245429\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?attachment_id=245429\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/00img_5376.jpg?fit=4032%2C3024&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"4032,3024\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;1.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone 11&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1665840964&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;4.25&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;32&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00013900472616069&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"00img_5376\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/00img_5376.jpg?fit=723%2C542&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/00img_5376.jpg?resize=723%2C542&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-245429\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/00img_5376.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/00img_5376.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/00img_5376.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/00img_5376.jpg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/00img_5376.jpg?resize=2048%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/00img_5376.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/00img_5376.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/00img_5376.jpg?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/00img_5376.jpg?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/00img_5376.jpg?w=1446&amp;ssl=1 1446w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/00img_5376.jpg?w=2169&amp;ssl=1 2169w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dear RSPB, it\u2019s simple. Protect birds. Oppose things that kill birds.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":245429,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-245423","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"hentry","7":"category-uncategorized","9":"fallback-thumbnail"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/00img_5376.jpg?fit=4032%2C3024&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-11Qr","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":183375,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=183375","url_meta":{"origin":245423,"position":0},"title":"Net Zero Watch welcomes RSPB U-turn on offshore wind","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"18\/01\/2022","format":false,"excerpt":"London, 18 January \u2013 Campaign group\u00a0Net Zero Watch\u00a0has welcomed the decision of the RSPB to speak out about the threat that offshore windfarms represent to wildlife. The RSPB has warned that the Government\u2019s planned expansion of offshore wind power could drive some\u00a0seabirds to extinction. Their warning coincides with the publication\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/0Screenshot-2022-01-18-133153.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/0Screenshot-2022-01-18-133153.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/0Screenshot-2022-01-18-133153.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/0Screenshot-2022-01-18-133153.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":365059,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=365059","url_meta":{"origin":245423,"position":1},"title":"The Shocking Solar Farm Bird Deaths the Mainstream Media Aren\u2019t Telling You About","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"05\/02\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Solar farms, coming soon to a field near you, are an ecological disaster turning productive land into a nature dead zone. Birds frequently fly into the panels mistaking them for water, while electrocution and incineration are common. Blanketing large areas once open to sunlight causes massive habitat disruption and reduced\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"climate alarmism\"","block_context":{"text":"climate alarmism","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=climate-alarmism"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/00Screenshot-2025-02-03-185411.jpeg?fit=1011%2C627&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/00Screenshot-2025-02-03-185411.jpeg?fit=1011%2C627&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/00Screenshot-2025-02-03-185411.jpeg?fit=1011%2C627&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/00Screenshot-2025-02-03-185411.jpeg?fit=1011%2C627&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":206023,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=206023","url_meta":{"origin":245423,"position":2},"title":"Bee-eaters in Norfolk \u201aworrying sign of climate change\u2018","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"27\/06\/2022","format":false,"excerpt":"By Paul Homewood h\/t Joe Public Rare \"rainbow birds\" trying to breed in the UK was a \"worrying sign of how our climate is changing\", the RSPB said. The charity said bee-eaters had been making nest burrows in a small quarry at Trimingham, near Cromer, Norfolk. The exotic birds are\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/0image-47.png?fit=697%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/0image-47.png?fit=697%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/0image-47.png?fit=697%2C768&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":392393,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=392393","url_meta":{"origin":245423,"position":3},"title":"Anger As SNP Backs Biggest Wind Farm on the Planet Just Days After Trump Condemned Turbines","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"02\/08\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The SNP has signed off on the world\u2019s largest offshore wind farm in what conservationists are calling \u201ca very dark day for seabirds\u201d.","rel":"","context":"In \"birds\"","block_context":{"text":"birds","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=birds"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0AQPqRWBTGi7Kg8xGeITQlIiRzYF7CIv701DZwi0Xb6t5q53N8VmXNjdwgVf8dpgzR5z5BB9uOyefPbR5qs22yA-uOvnLgs_51orDuh07UmDPAaDSJP8u_elaLmX4_k47sWZRVSVsHY7K1FYl4-s6XNB0w_B7-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0AQPqRWBTGi7Kg8xGeITQlIiRzYF7CIv701DZwi0Xb6t5q53N8VmXNjdwgVf8dpgzR5z5BB9uOyefPbR5qs22yA-uOvnLgs_51orDuh07UmDPAaDSJP8u_elaLmX4_k47sWZRVSVsHY7K1FYl4-s6XNB0w_B7-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0AQPqRWBTGi7Kg8xGeITQlIiRzYF7CIv701DZwi0Xb6t5q53N8VmXNjdwgVf8dpgzR5z5BB9uOyefPbR5qs22yA-uOvnLgs_51orDuh07UmDPAaDSJP8u_elaLmX4_k47sWZRVSVsHY7K1FYl4-s6XNB0w_B7-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0AQPqRWBTGi7Kg8xGeITQlIiRzYF7CIv701DZwi0Xb6t5q53N8VmXNjdwgVf8dpgzR5z5BB9uOyefPbR5qs22yA-uOvnLgs_51orDuh07UmDPAaDSJP8u_elaLmX4_k47sWZRVSVsHY7K1FYl4-s6XNB0w_B7-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0AQPqRWBTGi7Kg8xGeITQlIiRzYF7CIv701DZwi0Xb6t5q53N8VmXNjdwgVf8dpgzR5z5BB9uOyefPbR5qs22yA-uOvnLgs_51orDuh07UmDPAaDSJP8u_elaLmX4_k47sWZRVSVsHY7K1FYl4-s6XNB0w_B7-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":269098,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=269098","url_meta":{"origin":245423,"position":4},"title":"BBC &amp; The Black Winged\u00a0Stilt","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"24\/07\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"\"It\u2019s been a big, big change but it\u2019s produced some wonderful results,\" said Izzy Donovan, senior site manager.","rel":"","context":"In \"BBC\"","block_context":{"text":"BBC","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=bbc"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/image-707.png?fit=1200%2C821&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/image-707.png?fit=1200%2C821&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/image-707.png?fit=1200%2C821&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/image-707.png?fit=1200%2C821&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/image-707.png?fit=1200%2C821&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":247817,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=247817","url_meta":{"origin":245423,"position":5},"title":"The Fall and Rise of Regional Puffins","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"15\/03\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"One of the problems encountered when trying to get to the bottom of the question of puffin numbers is a frustrating lack of detailed historical data.","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image-475.png?fit=1020%2C573&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image-475.png?fit=1020%2C573&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image-475.png?fit=1020%2C573&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image-475.png?fit=1020%2C573&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/245423","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=245423"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/245423\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":245430,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/245423\/revisions\/245430"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/245429"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=245423"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=245423"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=245423"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}