ROGER CATON
Consultant Aviculturist & Independent Bird Expert
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Consultant Aviculturist and Independent Bird Expert. Offers support to enforcement agencies by providing species identification, witness statements and expert evidence. Knowledge and experience based on 50 years study of British birds in the wild and breeding them under controlled conditions in captivity. Bred or kept all the species listed on Schedule 3 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981, and many other non-schedule species. Won a national competition for aviary design in 1986.
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Close Ring Expert
Acknowledged expert on bird rings and ringing techniques, having carried out detailed studies on the problems associated with close ringing captive-bred birds. Presented a workshop at the 2004 DEFRA Wildlife Inspectors’ Training Seminar on the detection of ring tampering involving illegally-taken wild birds. Provided similar training in April 2011 for Wildlife Inspectors of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.
Expert Witness
More than 20 years experience of attending Court to give evidence as an Expert witness in cases brought under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. Consultative Administrator to the British Bird Council (BBC) for 15 years until retirement. The BBC is one of two DEFRA approved suppliers of closed rings under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. Part-time, fee-paid wildlife Inspector in the Animal Health Agency (an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) based at Temple Quay, Bristol for 8 years until retirement.
Contributor of articles on birdlife to newspapers and magazines. During the 20 year period from 1988 to 2008, worked as a freelance feature writer and photographer with approximately 1000 articles and photographs published on the breeding and management of British birds in aviculture. Acted as the British Bird Expert for CAGE & AVIARY BIRDS for 20 years. Consulted by television companies regarding the use of captive-bred birds for wildlife documentaries and educational programmes, also assisted universities in studies involving British birds.
email: rogercaton@birdexpert.com
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