About John Tucker

Qualifications, I initially trained as a teacher (1965–68). Later a BSc (hons) from York University (1976–79) followed by an MSc (Conservation) from University College London (1979–80).

After six years in Africa (in Lusaka, Zambia) and then university I worked for a quarter of a century in nature conservation in Shropshire. For most of that time I was conservation officer for Shropshire Wildlife Trust and for the last five years was wildlife sites officer for the Blue Remembered Hills project based in Craven Arms in the Shropshire Hills AONB where we now live. Now early-retired I have time to follow my particular speciality, birds. I am no twitcher seeking or chasing rarities – I am more interested in common species and the way in which their numbers change through time. Changes may be brought about by alterations in land management practices or from longer-term natural trends, changes which can be difficult to determine and may include man-induced climate change.

I am involved as a volunteer in British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) population monitoring surveys, county and national distribution mapping projects and my own current research project organising a county-wide Shropshire Rookeries Survey 2008, repeating that of 1975 – see Research, Ongoing survey. I also sit on the Shropshire Ornithological Society’s conservation committee which guides and coordinates bird recording and enquiries in the county.

I continue to offer systematic bird surveys under contract - see Contract services, and Some past contracts for some of the work I have undertaken for a range of agencies and organisations.

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