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Martin George

@jannerbirder.bsky.social

1.7K followers 1.6K following 1.7K posts

Bird nerd, patch worker and BTO surveyor. MSc Ornithology (mostly a seabirds thing). Proud Devonian currently exiled to North Shropshire. I also run the #Shropshirebirds feed.

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Martin George @jannerbirder.bsky.social · Oct 17

I've just created a Shropshire Birding feed for bird sightings and updates in the county.

Please use #Shropshirebirding or #Shropshirebirds in your post.

A big thank you to @jamiedunning.bsky.social for his guidance.

Don't forget to pin the feed once you've followed it!

bsky.app/profile/did:...

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Martin George @jannerbirder.bsky.social · 12h

“Archaeologists examining the nests of the Bearded Vultures in the southern Spanish mountains uncovered medieval artefacts, including a crossbow bolt, a slingshot, and a decorated piece of leather, some of which date back to around 1375.”

www.independent.co.uk/news/science...

Hoard of 600-year-old treasures uncovered in vulture nests

Archaeologists examining the nests of bearded vultures recovered an ‘extraordinary’ stash of medieval artefacts

www.independent.co.uk

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Martin George @jannerbirder.bsky.social · 13h

“If you've ever felt calmer after a walk in the park or a stroll through the woods, it's not your imagination - it's biology.”

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Wild about nature: Four health benefits of the outdoors

Spending just 20 minutes in nature can lower blood pressure, heart rate and stress levels.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Martin George

Dave Levitan @davelevitan.bsky.social · 22h

The researchers then HEARD CHEWING SOUNDS on the biologger the bat was fitted with, FOR 23 MINUTES. YES I AM SHOUTING THIS IS AWESOME. LOOK AT THIS BAT WITH A FEATHER AND BLOOD IN ITS MOUTH.

(Photo credit Jorge Sereno)

A large bat on a black background, its wings somewhat extended, with a white feather hanging off its chin

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Reposted by Martin George

Dave Levitan @davelevitan.bsky.social · 22h

EXTREMELY COOL BAT STUFF: A study out in Science today found that the greater noctule bat, Europe's largest, hunts and catches *migrating birds* while in flight. In at least one case, a bat climbed to more than 1200 feet, then chased a robin downward FAST until it caught it near the ground.

Greater noctule bats prey on and consume passerines in flight

Despite billions of passerines seasonally migrating during the night at high altitudes, only three bat species have been found to consistently tap into this rich prey resource. However, it remains unk...

www.science.org

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BTO Shropshire @btoshropshire.bsky.social · 23h

Our autumn newsletter has just been sent to BTO members and supporters in Shropshire.

It opens with a great account by @saloplarus.bsky.social of an aerial survey of nesting gulls in Shrewsbury, and also has lots of local BTO news.

It's online here:
padlet.com/martin690/bi...

#ShropshireBirding

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Martin George @jannerbirder.bsky.social · 1d

Gorgeous images! It was a great evening to be up on a west-facing hill 🙂

Martin George @jannerbirder.bsky.social · 1d

A sunny day and the urgent realisation that we had just 17 light evenings left in 2025 took me up to the Long Mynd after work, and it was glorious, but cold!

Wonderful views plus Red Grouse and lots of Stonechat. It was a delight to just stand there and watch the sun set and the moon rise ♥️

A low sun over tussocky upland vegetation on the Long Mynd, with distant hills receding towards the horizon.

Distant Welsh hills seen from a Shropshire hill as the sun sets.

Distant Welsh hills seen from a Shropshire hill as the sun sets, this time with the foreground enlivened with a grazing sheep.

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Martin George @jannerbirder.bsky.social · 1d

The feature on the remarkable rise of eBird may be of interest to you, @saloplarus.bsky.social 🙂

Martin George @jannerbirder.bsky.social · 1d

I'm long-term loyal to @birdtrack.bsky.social and think it's brilliant, but this is an interesting, encouraging read, highlighting how many young people are contributing to large, enlightening datasets and generally engaging with wild birds. At a UK level that's probably true for BirdTrack.

The remarkable rise of eBird – the world’s biggest citizen science project

In 2002, an online database was set up allowing birdwatchers to record their species observations. It is now a vast resource, shaping scientific research.

theconversation.com

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Reposted by Martin George

BTO Shropshire @btoshropshire.bsky.social · 2d

Marc's fascinating and accessible feature is our favourite #SciComm feature of the year. So far!

BTO News is always a great read, with regular articles on science, practical fieldcraft and results of BTO research. Arguably worth the membership fee on its own!

Marc Gilles @marcgilles.bsky.social · 2d

Want to know everything about bird smell?
I wrote an "Ornithological masterclass" on Avian Olfaction for BTO News @btobirds.bsky.social #ornithology
Link to the article 👉 www.researchgate.net/publication/...

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Martin George @jannerbirder.bsky.social · 2d

Glad you had a nice break, you deserve no less 🙂 People tell the Balearics are lovely.

I've met birders who say things like "It's wonderful, once you escape the trackie-bottom and back-to-front baseball cap wearing hordes at the airport!"

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Martin George @jannerbirder.bsky.social · 3d

Thank you very much!

Majorca sounds nice. Did the sun shine on you?! 😎

I bumped into Anna at her day job last week (not on a shout), it was good to see her after what’s probably ten years. I was impressed she recognised me. She was probably thinking “Who on Earth am I talking to?” 😆

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Martin George @jannerbirder.bsky.social · 3d

Wow, Deb! I hope you were all able to dodge those lethal beaks?!

Were any of the birds found in Shropshire, please? If they were I will follow up discreetly through the approved channel 🙂

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Martin George @jannerbirder.bsky.social · 3d

A Manx Shearwater was found grounded on an Oswestry industrial estate on 9 September and was safely released from Ynyslas beach the following day 😮

#ShropshireBirds

www.bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk/news/2552177...

Seabird given hand with winter migration after surprising Oswestry ju-jitsu class

Kerry Mackay contacted Manx Shearwater Rescue after she found the seabird poking its head in at her son’s jiu-jitsu class.

www.bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk

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Reposted by Martin George

Ian Sheppard @iansheppard.bsky.social · 3d

A composite shot from back in 2018 of salmon leaping at #Shrewsbury weir. #Shropshire

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Martin George @jannerbirder.bsky.social · 4d

Great images, Ian! This one and the Kestrel 🙂

Reposted by Martin George

Ian Sheppard @iansheppard.bsky.social · 4d

Two Grey Herons having words at Venus Pool nature reserve #ShropshireBirding

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Martin George @jannerbirder.bsky.social · 5d

It does!!

Martin George @jannerbirder.bsky.social · 5d

Ah, sorry, Rhys, I thought I saw that you'd gone for it. No, I didn't get the chance either, sadly. Work got in the way, as usual!

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Martin George @jannerbirder.bsky.social · 5d

Excellent, Rhys, they have such a dashing profile.

Did you manage to get an pics of the Oswestry YBW?

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BTO Shropshire @btoshropshire.bsky.social · 12d

Some of us think the excellent BTO News magazine is worth the membership fee on its own, but then there's early access to highly regarded online training, and your gateway to the wonderful world of field ornithology, from simple garden surveys to ones requiring higher skills. Come and grow with us!

BTO | British Trust for Ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social · 13d

Feed your curiosity with a BTO membership! For just £3 a month, you'll have access to the latest news, research and resources, including exclusive content just for members, so you can learn more about #birds, their lives and their world. 🐦

Start your membership today ➡️ www.bto.org/support-...

A Little Owl looks in the direction of the camera. Wording alongside reads: Be curious, join today.

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Martin George @jannerbirder.bsky.social · 12d

Enjoyed a very quiet first visit to Haughmond Hill near Shrewsbury for the Winter Bird Survey, an addition to @bbs-birds.bsky.social for this winter. Just 24 species seen, but that does include a few Crossbills.

Some sites are still available, see www.bto.org/get-involved...

#ShropshireBirds

The view from Haughmond Hill across green fields with standard trees and hedgerows to Shropshire's famous Wrekin Hill.

The view from Haughmond Hill towards the Stretton Gap and the hogback hills of The Lawley and Caer Caradoc, under a blue sky with some white fair weather clouds. The foreground vegetation is fading from green to brown as autumn slowly takes hold of the trees and shrubs.

A map of the Shropshire region for BTO surveying. It looks unfamiliar because it is based on whole 10km squares rather than the precise geographical county outline. The orange areas contain currently available squares. For more info go to https://app.bto.org/bbs/public/request-square.jsp?s=WINBS

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Reposted by Martin George

West Midlands Ringing Group @westmidlandsrg.bsky.social · 13d

👀 Want to see conservation in action?
Join us for updates on bird ringing across the West Midlands, from robins to warblers.
Follow, share & spread the word, together, we can give nature a voice! 🕊️ #BirdsOfBritain #CitizenScience

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West Midlands Ringing Group @westmidlandsrg.bsky.social · 13d

📊 Bird ringing helps answer BIG questions:
✨ Where do our garden birds migrate?
✨ How long do they live?
✨ How can we protect them from habitat loss?
Every ring tells a story and every story guides conservation. 🌍💚

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Reposted by Martin George

West Midlands Ringing Group @westmidlandsrg.bsky.social · 13d

🔔 Ever wondered what bird ringing is all about?
In the West Midlands, our volunteers carefully fit tiny ID rings to wild birds 🐦 unlocking secrets of their journeys, lifespans & survival.
Here’s why it matters ⬇️ #BirdConservation #WestMidlands

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