Richard Baines

Richard is an experienced ornithologist/ecologist who has been studying and working as a Nature Guide and in Wildlife Conservation for 30 years. From recording UK migrant birds as a volunteer for Flamborough Bird Observatory to monitoring Siberian migrants in China; he has become highly experienced in bird identification and ecology. He was born in North Yorkshire and lived here for most of his life. He has worked extensively with the North York Moors National Park (NYMNP) including a project in 2014 surveying a large area of open moorland for breeding waders such as Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria). In 2015 he will be managing a volunteer Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur) survey in partnership with the NYMNP and Forestry Commission. His time in East Yorkshire working for East Riding of Yorkshire Council as a Countryside Officer created a wonderful opportunity to get to know fantastic areas such as the Yorkshire Wolds. After moving into private work in 2003 he started working with many farmers on Environmental Stewardship Schemes in this area. His professional and volunteer work has often included sensitive species surveys requiring UK government approved protected species licenses for a wide range of birds such as Barn Owl, Little Ringed Plover, Black-throated Diver, Golden Eagle, Greenshank and Merlin. He worked in many diverse landscapes, from the north of England to Caithness and on the Hebrides. His overseas work included a project conducting ornithological surveys at Fedorovo camp approx 50km east of Apatity on the Kola peninsula in Russia. He has travelled extensively especially in Asia, recently spending 3 months birding in Thailand. He returned from Gujarat in December 2015 with a great passion for Indian birds and of course the food! He is currently studying part time for his MSc in Environmental Conservation. Richard is very keen on always increasing his knowledge on the ecology of birds and other wildlife. His greatest asset is his knowledge and enthusiasm, he loves passing on his experience of wildlife to a wide range of ages and abilities.