Birdwatchers flock to Reading shops

21st April 2004

Photo: Gordon Langsbury

At this time of the year Reading's hundreds of birdwatchers expect to be enjoying a visit to the Town centre shops! The reason is the return to their breeding grounds of some of Britain's rarest birds, even rarer than the Golden Eagle! The birds arrive, mainly from Western Europe, at the end of March or early April.

While shoppers rush around Broad Street, Friar Street and The Oracle in one of the country's top ten retail destinations, most are completely unaware of the rare birds flying above their heads. Only about 200 Black Redstarts are believed to breed in Britain and a small number have chosen the roofs of Reading's shops as their home.

These birds are much more numerous in their continental breeding range where they live on mountains right up to the snowline. Rocks and boulder strewn slopes are their preferred habitat. In recent times they have moved closer to human habitation with a liking for old buildings and industrial sites in lowland areas on the continent but in Britain, there are much smaller numbers.

Last year a survey was completed by a group of local birdwatchers in Reading town centre to identify their whereabouts. This is a challenge as the birds have special protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This means that it is illegal to approach the birds at their breeding sites and disturbance is not permitted at all. The survey identified a small number of breeding pairs around the centre of the town. So, when a property is to be re-developed all building work that could cause disturbance has to wait until the birds have finished bringing up their young.

The Planning department of Reading Borough Council are very aware of the survey and have been actively looking at how they can encourage the birds in the town centre. They have plenty of guidance available to them as in London Boroughs some important experience has been gained on how to manage and develop suitable habitats. Flat, gravelled roofs with nest cavities are popular with the Black Redstart and there is plenty of scope in Reading for including these in new developments.

So, in the next few weeks don't be surprised to find birdwatchers, clad in their green jackets and armed with binoculars, mingling with the shoppers and looking upwards instead of in the shop windows. The main survey work usually takes place early in the morning and on Sundays when the streets are quieter and the rather weak song of the bird can be heard. The song has been likened to many things including a quick, scratchy warble, or a cloth bag full of ball bearings being scraped together.

Colin Wilson, Chairman of the long established Reading Ornithological Club, catering for all Berkshire's birdwatchers, said 'Spring is an exciting time of the year for all birdwatchers. But for those of us who live around Reading, we are blessed with a surprisingly good selection of birds and sites to watch but few greater pleasures than seeing this beautiful, rare species in our town centre. Our members are keen to help encourage these birds and add a new, harmless dimension to a visit to the town centre. The Reading Ornithological Club has organised a survey for the 9th of May this year and we will compare the results with last years to see if the measures are working'.

For Further information and comment:

Colin Wilson, Chairman, Reading Ornithological Club, Blakeney, St Catherine's Road, Frimley Green, Camberley, Surrey, GU16 9NP. Tel 01252 837411, Mobile 07899 066687.

Reference Notes for Editors

The Black Redstart was reported to number between 80 and 120 pairs in 'The New Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland 1988-91'. Gibbons, Reid, Chapman. T&AD Poyser
The Golden Eagle was estimated to have 420 breeding pairs in Britain in 1993. 'The New Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland 1988-91'. Gibbons, Reid, Chapman .T&AD Poyser
The principal organisation for birdwatchers in Reading is the Reading Ornithological Club with 200 members. www.theroc.org.uk Established in 1947 it offers a programme of indoor and outdoor meetings and walks to birdwatchers, experienced or completely new to the subject. Indoor meetings are held at the Reading University during the winter months. Further details from Renton Righelato, Hon Secretary, 63 Hamilton Road, Reading, RG1 5RA. Tel 0787 981 2564. email: renton.righelato@theroc.org.uk
The Reading Ornithological Club produces an annual record of the Birds of Berkshire, a detailed compilation of the bird sightings across the County, free to members and available to the public at £5 including postage.
Other local contacts are Beverley Walker, Environment Officer, Reading Borough Council, John Lerpiniere, Committee Member and survey organiser, Reading Ornithological Club, 14, Pierce's Hill, Tilehurst, Reading RG31 6RB Tel. 0118 9426225

Photograph, courtesy of Gordon Langsbury FRPS, President Reading Ornithological Club