The 2011 Wildfowling Conference will be held on
Saturday 19th March at the
Ramada Hotel and Resort Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield.

  BASC Wildfowling Conference - Invitation Letter 2011

  BASC Wildfowling Conference - Booking Form 2011

  BASC Wildfowling Conference - Final Agenda

  WHT Auction form 2011

SUMMARY OF PRESENTATIONS

The conservation status of European ducks in 2010

Richard Hearn, WWT

Currently, the statuses of many migratory and huntable ducks that predominantly winter in the UK are undergoing considerable change. Many of these species are in decline, with the largest recent decreases occurring in Pochard, Mallard, Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser and Goosander.  The reasons for this are poorly known, though it is likely shifts in distribution in response to climate amelioration is the key underlying cause. However, inadequacies with current monitoring of numbers and demographic rates at a flyway scale mean that it is not possible to fully understand the relationship between observed trends in abundance at a local and flyway scale, and the mechanisms by which possible drivers such as climate change are having an effect. This talk will look in detail at the trends of selected duck species and identify areas where knowledge is currently lacking, concluding with suggested areas for future enhancements to monitoring efforts and ways in which wildfowlers can assist with this.

  Richard Hearn - Presentation

Moving towards adaptive flyway management of migratory waterbirds under AEWA and other international treaties: optimizing the benefits

DAVID STROUD

Senior Ornithologist, UK Joint Nature Conservation Committee

There are multiple definitions of the term ‘adaptive management’ as related to environmental processes, but typically  the concept can be defined as the management of a process to achieve a sustainable outcome which involves systematic measurement and feedback of critical elements in that process to ‘adapt’ or fine-tune desired outcomes.  In the context of wildfowling (and other forms of harvest), it relates to the setting of annual bag limits on the basis of knowledge of annual productivity and mortality such that the harvest taken is biologically sustainable.

Adaptive management has been particularly developed in North America and is at the heart of the flyway based system of management of wildfowl shooting.  Assessments of goose and duck productivity are undertaken annually through systematic surveys on northern breeding areas.  Together with knowledge of mortality (from ringing returns), and more specifically past harvest levels (from bag returns), this data and information allows for the setting of (geographically differentiated) bag quotas that are sustainable.

Adaptive management lies at the heart of North American waterbird management (Blohm et al. 2006), but it relies on highly regulated federal processes, and international co-operation and shared decision making between the three North American countries.  The basic tenet that harvest levels should be sustainable is a key element of Article 7 of the EU Birds Directive.  Yet the degree to which there are formal adaptive management processes to deliver this obligation is variable between EU Member States. 

Most recently, the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement has started to explore adaptive management approaches to waterbird management at international scales.  In particular, AEWA is working to develop an adaptive management plan for the Svalbard population of Pink-footed Geese.  The geographically limited range of this goose population (Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway), and good understanding of the population’s demography drawn from long-term international monitoring schemes, suggests that a more formal adaptive approach to the management of these geese should be feasible.  This will also hopefully assist in conflict resolution consequent on the recent growth of the population.

The presentation will explore this example, and other current initiatives related to the potential adaptive management of wildfowl in Europe.  In particular, it will consider both currently available data and information, and future needs to this end.

Blohm, R.J., Sharp, D.E., Padding, P.I., Kokel, R.W. & Richkus, K.D.  2006.  Integrated waterfowl management in North America.  Waterbirds around the world.  Eds. G.C. Boere, C.A. Galbraith & D.A. Stroud. The Stationery Office, Edinburgh, UK. pp. 199-203.  [Available at http://www.jncc.gov.uk/PDF/pub07_waterbirds_part3.3.3.1.pdf]

  David Stroud - Presentation

What is disturbance, how can it be measured and when does it become significant?

RICHARD STILLMAN

Bournemouth University

Disturbance can be defined as any human activity that influences an animal’s behaviour or survival. An important point is that the animals themselves are making the decision as to when to avoid humans, the distance to which they approach humans and the time to return to a site after humans have departed. A larger behavioural response to disturbance (e.g. more animals taking flight) does not necessarily mean that disturbance is having a larger impact on the survival of animals. Most disturbance studies have measured the behavioural response (e.g. flushing distance) rather than the population consequences of disturbance (e.g. whether disturbance causes more birds to die than would have done in the absence of disturbance). From a conservation perspective it is important to understand whether disturbance decreases the survival of animals or the number of animals that can be supported by a site. I will describe research on coastal wading birds and wildfowl that aims to understand the behavioural responses of birds to human disturbance, and how these changes in behaviour influence the overwinter survival of the birds.

  Richard Stillman - Presentation

General Discussion

Disturbance research
Some members expressed concerns over the practical outcomes of such research, the difficulties of covering all the factors in the field, the many uncertainties still present, and consequently the likelihood of regulation of shooting. Richard Stillman recognised the difficulties involved but his work was aimed at understanding them better to help others manage waterfowl and their habitats more successfully. He indicated that he had not yet been able to study disturbance effects of wildfowling and was interested in doing so. It was noted that it was for this potential help to BASC in helping clubs deal with claims of shooting disturbance (eg in wildfowling consents reviews) that he had been invited to the Conference.

Waterfowl populations – management and shooting
Changing populations, especially those declining through problems on their breeding grounds or through climate change/short-stopping (so that fewer winter in this country) are creating practical problems for both conservation and shooting. Concerns were expressed about the long-term mallard and Greenland white-fronted goose declines, and problems over growing populations of Canada geese including impacts on other species. Declines tended to lead to restricted shooting. David Stroud acknowledged that it may not prove possible to restore the fortunes of the Greenland white-fronted goose.

The WWT and JNCC speakers acknowledged the concerns and both emphasised the importance of shooting bag returns to help understand what factors are important in declining populations. The exploration of adaptive harvest management in both Scotland, for its geese, and at the AEWA level, may show the way waterfowl management is going and provide an opportunity for wildfowlers to contribute to the process. John Swift expressed the view that a bag limit system within Europe, as part of an adaptive harvest approach, is not realistic, although can, and does, work well at the local level.  Richard Hearn noted that adaptive harvesting should restore shooting opportunity when formerly-declining populations increase again rather than just restrict shooting for declining populations.

It was suggested that the shared interests among those present should lead to identifying problems and working together to help address them. Wing collections from the fowlers’ bag, for age and sex determination of ducks, and feather collections for analysis of origins and movements, were identified as potential areas of joint work. John Harradine welcomed the interest expressed and indicated that discussions with WWT/JNCC etc colleagues would get underway to see if useful, cost-effective research of this sort could be done to mutual benefit.

Land Purchase
Much discussion focused on issues relating to land purchase by BASC for member benefit. Tim Russell summarised the process to date following actions agreed at previous Wildfowling Liaison Committee, Wildfowling Conference, and BASC Council meetings. Some members felt this was not enough. John Swift confirmed that Council continues to consider the matter at length and is awaiting a new paper for its next meeting. Lee Freestone (Conference chairman) acknowledged that the paper is proving a difficult one to prepare given all the issues that have to be addressed.

Club celebration
Robin Francis (South Hampshire WA – check) cordially invited delegates to join his club’s 50th anniversary celebrations on Saturday 11 June at Broughton, near Romsey, Hampshire.

Conservation and management of wetlands plus scientific studies, the only ways to keep Snipes hunting durable

GUY-NOËL OLIVIER

Honorary Chairman of CICB (International Snipes Hunters Club) and Expert of OMPO Institute (a scientific Institute dealing with conservation on migratory birds of the Western Palearctic).

Guy-Noël Olivier in his presentation on conservation and management of wetlands plus scientific studies explains why, from his point of view, this is the only way to keep Snipe hunting durable.

For 51 consecutive years, he has been a passionate Snipe hunter and he wants young generations to benefit from his experience in management of wetlands and, by doing so, to the conservation of Snipe species.

He explains how two international NGOs, OMPO and CICB, joined their efforts in 1995 to fill up vast gaps in knowledge left by ornithology on those rather secretive and rapid migrant species. These two associations being at the origin of many technical and scientific research and studies; the results of these are really positive and they must be continued.

A description is given of the three different species of Snipes frequenting accidentally, more often, commonly our region, the Western Palearctic.

For him, the word conservation has two meanings:
- The first one being the preservation and restoration of habitats. Without these, no presence of birds, no possibility for them neither to rest nor to feed during their migrations or their wintering. which means repercussion on hunting. He explains why the four fundamental requirements are essential for a well-managed Snipe territory.
- The second meaning of the word conservation consists in all studies undertaken with the entire collaboration of Snipe hunters. They are indispensable to carry on the progress in techniques and sciences as they are the collectors of essential materials.

An evocation of populations estimates and of the conservation status is advanced for Faeroes Islands subspecies as well as for nominal race called Common Snipe (Gallinago g. gallinago).

Consequently, taking into account all that has been said, done and will be continued in the future, the speaker is rather confident on the durability of the species, that is to say the future of Snipe hunting.

  Guy Noel Olivier - Presentation

Working dog nutrition, practical advice based on sound nutritional knowledge

CHRIS GORDON

Chudleys dog food
  
My objective today is to try and give you an overview of what the wildfowling dog needs and some practical guidance on how to achieve this through dietary management. It’s based on sound science of exercise physiology and many years of practical application and experience of Chudleys’ nutritionists in the working environment.
So what is it we want form our dogs;
Stamina and recovery
Scenting ability.
health
Low stress physiologically and psychologically.
And of course we want this not just on the day, but for the duration of the season.

In many ways the wildfowling dog is no different to any other form of working dog – level of training (fitness and utilisation of diet), size, body condition score BCS, nature and intensity of work along with temperature and weather are all factors that may influence your preparation and diet of a wildfowling dog in the season.

What matters in nutrition –
fat, carbohydrate & protein,
vitamins, minerals & antioxidants
fat type
water
functional foods

During work your dog -
Uses fat for sub-maximal energy
Uses fat and glycogen for maximal energy
Also consider loss of water, energy reserves and muscle

Why use fat –
50% or more energy comes from fat
There is more energy in fat reserves than in glycogen
Protein < 10% energy for work

Energy reserves matter –
BCS pre-season is critical as is diet type and training.
Energy from fat improves performance.
Energy from carbohydrates for recovery, sprinting & fat utilisation
Protein for tissue maintenance, repair and immune system
Antioxidants reduce free radicals & maintain immune system
Functional ingredients for mobility, liver and energy metabolism
Vitamins & minerals for energy use and overall health
Water – vital but often neglected.

Practical suggestions

1) Consider the extent of work load
2) Choose a diet with a high proportion of energy from fat , Chudleys Working Range
3) Introduce diet 6-12 weeks before start of season
4) Introduce training at same time
5) Feed twice per day, largest meal after work  
6) Choose diet with high antioxidant support, QLC
7) For older / susceptible dog consider chondroprotective agents
8) DO NOT FORGET WATER SUPPLY
9) Feed to condition, react to changes
10) Enter season carrying some fat reserve. Use closed-season to re-establish condition.
11) Changing diet in closed-season
12) Look after the old dog

Performance on the day is more a matter of preparation than what you feed that morning.

  Chris Gordon - Presentation