breeding bird check - network rail safety central · • it is an offence to; o intentionally kill,...
TRANSCRIPT
1. Introduction and context
2. Management operations during the bird breeding season
3. Changes to the breeding bird check (2013 v1 vs. 2019 v2)
4. Improved operating model
5. Sources of information
6. People to go to for advice
7. What next?
8. Questions
Briefing agenda
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Introduction and context
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(29th April 2018)
The Guardian
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The Telegraph
(11th May 2018)
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The Times
(13th May 2018)
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Mirror
(12th June 2018)
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August / September 2018
RSSB Public survey
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1. The Government must set out a clear policy
position for Network Rail in terms of delivering for
the environment.
2. Appropriate governance must be put in place at
organisation, route and project level.
3. Network Rail should publish an ambitious vision for the lineside estate.
4. Network Rail must value and manage its
lineside estate as an asset.
5. Network Rail must improve its communication with communities and key stakeholders.
6. Network Rail should lead a cultural change for
valuing nature and the environment across the
organisation.
Six recommendations
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Prior to the start of the next nesting season, Network Rail must
ensure that it is ready to adopt an improved operating model,
one which ensures clarity on outcomes and methods, and a
transparency and robust assurance of its approach to tree
felling and other vegetation management. In developing this
approach Network Rail should engage with, and ensure the
support of, key environmental stakeholders and expert bodies.
Varley Recommendation 2.4
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Management operations
during the bird breeding
season
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• It is an offence to;
o intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird
o intentionally take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird whilst
it is in use or being built
o intentionally take or destroy the egg of any wild bird
• It is also an offence to;
o intentionally or recklessly disturb any wild bird listed on Schedule 1 while it is nest building, or at a nest containing eggs or young, or disturb the dependent young of such a bird
Does the work need to be done?
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• It may be a defence if it can be shown that the activity was
necessary for the purpose of preserving public
health or public… safety;
o This does not apply to Schedule 1 birdso Advice should be sought to determine if the exception can be relied upono Pre-planned work is unlikely to be considered safety critical
Exceptions
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Minimum activity necessary to
reinstate safe operations
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The rest of this briefing is
only about the bird check
… assumption is that the work is required
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Changes to the
breeding bird check
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2013 vs 2019
2013 2019Extra exclusion zones even if no nests found
Exclusion zones only when nests suspected / found
Set size exclusion zone Extend exclusion to adjacent habitat
10 minutes per 220 yards 1 hour per 220 yards
No later than 0900hrs Dawn to 0800hrs
No more than 24 hours before work Up to 1 week before
Spray paint for exclusion zone Barrier tape also can be used
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Improved operating
model
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1. This is not endorsed by RSPB or BTO, but their comments
have been taken into consideration
2. It is not the solution
3. In combination with management decisions, it is a better
operating model
4. Management work still has to be justified
‘Disclaimer’
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The form…
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Details – location, observer, etc.
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• Key to the assurance of the process – we will be asked to
provide evidence
Dawn to 0800hrs
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not in wet, cold conditions
Good weather
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Understand what work will take place
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© Neil Strong
© Neil Strong
Check before;
• Tree work
• Shrub / scrub
work
• Ditch
maintenance
• Rock-face
cleaning
• Construction /
ground
disturbance
Stop regularly
Take 1 hour per eighth2 minute walk
10 minute stop
2 minute walk
10 minute stop
and so on…
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© Neil Strong
© Martin Baldwin
© RSPB
Observing;
• Habitat
• Nesting activity
• Feeding
• Actual nests
Check beyond
proposed work
Mark out exclusion zone• Size of two double beds
• Use barrier tape or spray paint
• Extend to include adjacent habitat
• Photograph to provide evidence and
assist those who need to know where
the zone is
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Birds, nests, exclusion & observation
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• Grey box provides guidance
• Use box 1 first, box 2 can be
used for extensive worksites
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• Grey box provides guidance
• Use box 1 first, box 2 can be
used for extensive worksites
• Mark on birds, nests, exclusion
zones and observation points
as shown
• Add any comments to help
those doing subsequent work
• Add length of area to provide
scale to sketch
Birds, nests, exclusion & observation
Take photographs
with location, date and time data
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If in doubt, and it is safe to do so,
STOP and seek advice
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Do NOT start work without having
completed a breeding bird check
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Sources of information
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• National Biodiversity Network (https://nbn.org.uk/)
• BTO (https://www.bto.org/about-birds/birdfacts/find-a-species)
• magic (https://magic.defra.gov.uk/)
• Local internal knowledge
• Local environment / community groups
• Projects, etc. that may have carried out surveys
• Key are the checks for Schedule 1 birds
Where to go for information
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People to go to for
advice
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• Environment specialists and managerso Routeo Milton Keyneso IP
• Framework ecology contractors (Safety Central link)o Arcadis (Eng / Wal / Sco)o Ecus (Eng / Wal / Sco)o Thomson Ecology (Eng / Wal)o WSP (Sco)
Who
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This advice and further information
may need to be obtained before
management work can be justified
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What next?
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• Trial this year to look at electronic capture of breeding bird
check forms
• Project proposals to investigate predictive techniques
enabling work to be planned around nesting birds
• Changes briefed today are the first step…
Future work
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Questions
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© James Clay