Many thanks to everyone for your kind words and your continuing interest in this thread. I'm delighted that so many of you seem to be enjoying not only my photos but also the reports of the ups and downs of the life of these amazing and beautiful birds.
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Originally Posted by wwatling  What type of nesting bird shots did you take to get your Schedule 1 licence? Did you also have to get a letter of recommendation from another photographer? How did you handle that? Any suggestions? William. |
In answer to William's questions (and for the benefit of anyone else thinking of applying for a Schedule 1 Licence from Natural England):-
1. Unless you have held such a Licence before your application must be accompanied by photos of at least "...6 different non-Schedule 1 species at the nest..." and featuring "...one or more adult birds showing normal breeding behaviour." This is to demonstrate that you have developed the necessary skill and fieldcraft to be able to photograph nesting birds without unduly affecting their chances of breeding success.
As I said in one of my earlier posts, I have generally made it a life-long rule
not to take photographs at nests. Fortunately however, I was able to put together the necessary 6 photos of nesting birds (mainly from shots taken in my own garden) and the subjects were - a female Blackbird sitting on the nest; a Robin flying into its nest with food; a Green Woodpecker feeding at its nesthole; a Great Spotted Woodpecker entering and leaving a nestbox; a Blue Tit feeding young at a nestbox and a Great Tit doing the same.
2. No, I didn't have to get a letter of recommendation from another photographer. I spoke to the staff of the Licensing Division at Natural England (who were extremely helpful throughout the process) and explained that I didn't actually know any other Schedule 1 Licence holders personally. However, I did have to produce two written character references from people familiar with my photographic work and commenting on my suitability to hold such a Licence. Here again I was fortunate in having two colleagues (solicitors) who are interested in wildlife, who know of my passion for wildlife (and Kingfishers in particular) and who had seen many (probably far too many
) examples of my earlier photos of Kingfishers in my garden. One of them is a prize-winning amateur photographer himself,though not of wildlife, and was therefore able to comment authoritatively on my photographic skills - such as they are
I hope that's helpful William.
Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder)
PS. as to the question - 'are the pair nesting this year again?' - this Diary is about
this year's nesting activity
