Nature Watch, with Ron Freethy

THERE have been many gloomy predictions in 1998 about the falling populations of some of our bird species.

I am always glad when I have some good news to report.

For some years there has been in operation a survey of kingfishers operated by the Mersey Basin Campaign, a 25-year government-sponsored effort.

Now in its 13th year, the campaign has set out to improve the quality of water in rivers and has been helped by many organisations, including the Environment Agency and North West Water.

The kingfisher is now much more common than it used to be but people are entitled to ask what the Mersey Basin has to do with East Lancashire.

The answer is a great deal because many of our rivers have connections with the Leeds to Liverpool Canal.

During the last few years, River Valley Initiatives have been set up.

Two of these - with probably more to come - have been established in East Lancashire.

These involve the River Calder and the River Darwen.

Any kingfisher sightings along with those on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal during 1999 will be eagerly received by the Mersey Basin Campaign.

These can be passed on through this column or to the campaign itself: Mersey Basin Campaign, Sunley Tower, Piccadilly Plaza, Manchester, M1 4BE. Telephone 0161 952 4279; fax 0161 952 4285; e-mail:

campaign@merseybasin.org.uk

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.