As with Nethy and Deshar last year you will be able to follow the progress of this year’s ospreys, Rothes and Mallachie, on Google Earth.

Google Earth is a free piece of software that simulates our planet with satellite photography.

Downloading Google Earth for free
Google earth is available free from the Google website: http://www.google.com/earth

Adding the osprey data to your Google Earth software
It's easy to add the osprey satellite data to your copy of Google Earth - just follow the steps below:

Launch the Google Earth software
Go to the Add menu and click Network Link...
Enter Loch Garten Ospreys in the Name field
Paste the following address into the Link field
http://www.rspb.org.uk/kml/lochgartenospreys.kml

Click OK to add the Loch Garten Ospreys data to the Places list on the left hand side of the screen.

Using Google Earth to keep an eye on the ospreys
Once the ospreys are in your list of Places you can double click them to zoom straight to their location. You can also use the standard Google Earth controls to zoom and pan around the globe.

Choosing how often to update Google Earth
The satellite data will be updated approximately once per day. To make sure you have the latest updates, you can tell Google Earth how often to refresh its data. To do this, right click on the Loch Garten Ospreys item in your Places list and choose Properties. Go to the Refresh tab and change the options so that it updates Periodically every 12 hours.

20th July 2009

Joint media release issued by the RSPB on behalf of Veolia Environmental Services and the RSPB

Your views sought on new wetland development

A unique partnership between the RSPB and Veolia Environmental Services is delivering a new 270 hectare wetland nature reserve on the South Essex marshes. The two organisations have signed a 150-year lease for a peppercorn rent on Bowers Marsh, which adjoins Veolia's Pitsea landfill site. The RSPB is inviting residents in South Essex to give their views on the RSPB’s proposals for this new nature reserve.

The public consultation is being held at the Pitsea Mount Community Hall, Brackendale Avenue, Pitsea, Basildon on Friday July 24 between 1pm – 8pm and Saturday 25 July 10am – 3pm.

RSPB and Veolia staff will be on hand each day to answer your questions and take your suggestions. There will also be artist's impressions and information available on display.

For anyone not able to make this event, the RSPB would be happy to discuss the future of Bowers Marsh. The RSPB's South Essex office is on 01268 559158.

Paul Levett, Deputy Chief Executive of Veolia Environmental Services says,

"We have worked closely with the RSPB in south-east Essex for nearly a decade. Within Basildon and Castle Point, the Veolia ES Cleanaway Pitsea Marshes Trust has contributed over half a million pounds towards the purchase of nearly 258 hectares of land at West Canvey Marshes, public access and other infrastructure improvements at Vange Marshes and the employment of a full time RSPB Wildlife and People's Project Officer.

"The land covered by this new lease will form part of the 15 square kilometre 'green lung' of the South Essex Marshes. We welcome the active involvement of the RSPB in building on the 20 years of restoration already completed at our Pitsea landfill".

Richard Powell, Regional Director, RSPB, Eastern England adds:

"We are extremely excited by our partnership with Veolia and this significant and very welcome opportunity to extend our existing interests in the area at West Canvey and Vange Marshes. 550 hectares of additional land for nature conservation and public access will mean we can make a real difference to the living landscape of South Essex – for wildlife and for people. This is a marvellous contribution to the South Essex Greengrid and Thames Gateway Parklands.

"This is a long-term commitment by Veolia and the RSPB and shows how waste management and nature conservation organisations can work together for the good of our environment, our wildlife and our communities."

I have just come across the butterfly website at: http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/index.php

This appears to be the definitive website on this subject.