Gotta love birds: heron ecology, habits and nesting in Brookmill Park

Park Bench Science begins on 10 May at 19:30 with its first free talk at The Brookmill Pub, organised by Friends of Brookmill Park. The series brings public talks about the wildlife and natural life of the park, from birds and trees to bats and fish.

For the first event, wildlife specialist Dusty Gedge will explore the history of herons in the Ravensbourne catchment, as well as their breeding behaviour and feeding habits. It will also examine how herons differ between urban and rural areas. While the talk will focus on herons, it will also refer to other birds found in Brookmill Park, especially kingfishers, and celebrate the people who use the park and are so thoroughly engaged with herons.

Entry is free, but registration is required.

The Brookmill Pub is generously hosting this event, so please do support them by grabbing a drink or some food before or during the talk.

About the speaker:

Dusty Gedge has been birdwatching since he fell out of a baby chair aged two while chasing a robin. He became a professional ornithologist in south-east London in the late 1990s, undertaking a five-year bird survey in Deptford Creek. This led him to conduct bird surveys all over London, especially as the “unofficial” national expert on a rare bird, the black redstart. He also found the second pair of peregrines ever to nest in London, at Battersea Power Station.

Through his work on the black redstart, he became an authority on delivering green roofs in London, across Europe and around the world. For 16 years, he was President of the European Federation of Green Roof and Wall Associations and has written technical reports to support London’s green infrastructure policies. He was also chair of the Lewisham Biodiversity Partnership for 12 years. He is currently working on a series of videos about birds in London and around the world, based on his travels.

You can follow Dusty on YouTube and Instagram.

Location: The Brookmill Pub (65 Cranbrook Rd, Deptford, London)

Date and time: 10 May, 19:30

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