Rio Tinto | Minerals and Metals for the world

Meet the miners' mynahs
An odd mix, mines and birds? Hugh Leggatt goes on the avitourist trail with Anthony Bannister taking the pictures.

Birds and mines may seem an odd mix, but they really are a natural fit. The presence of healthy numbers and varieties of birds is an excellent indicator of the health of the environment. Many employees throughout the Rio Tinto Group are enthusiastic and knowledgeable amateur ornithologists. At an increasing number of Rio Tinto sites, monitoring birdlife has become an important part of environmental management.

The link between mines and birding has progressed strongly within Rio Tinto since 2001 when a pilot project involving 21 sites in ten countries kicked off the BirdLife International/Rio Tinto partnership. The organizations share the aim of enhancing the conservation of birds and their habitats as a means of contributing to sustainable development. The fourth annual Rio Tinto mine site birdwatching events organized by BirdLife and Rio Tinto during 2003 attracted 1,795 participants to 42 events at 27 sites. They spotted a record 1,189 species.

BirdLife International is the international confederation of national bird organizations with its headquarters in Cambridge, England. Through member organizations in 101 countries it provides management focus for conservation issues affecting birds. At Rio Tinto, many sites already had scientific bird programmes before 2001 as part of monitoring biological diversity, as well as good contact with local BirdLife partners.

This year there were more than 400 delegates from 100 countries to the BirdLife International World Conference, held in Durban, South Africa. Naturally they brought their birdbooks and binoculars ready to observe their feathered friends up close in a country renowned for its rich and exotic wildlife. And where did they go to see the birds? A mine site.



Meet the miners' mynahs An odd mix, mines and birds? Hugh Leggatt goes on the avitourist trail with Anthony Bannister taking the pictures. Birds and mines may seem an odd mix, but they really are a natural fit. The presence of healthy numbers and varieties of birds is an excellent indicator of the health of the environment. Many employees throughout the Rio Tinto Group are enthusiastic and knowledgeable amateur ornithologists. At an increasing number of Rio Tinto sites, monitoring birdlife has become an important part of environmental management. The link between mines and birding has progressed strongly within Rio Tinto since 2001 when a pilot project involving 21 sites in ten countries kicked off the BirdLife International/Rio Tinto partnership. The organizations share the aim of enhancing the conservation of birds and their habitats as a means of contributing to sustainable development. The fourth annual Rio Tinto mine site birdwatching events organized by BirdLife and Rio Tinto during 2003 attracted 1,795 participants to 42 events at 27 sites. They spotted a record 1,189 species. BirdLife International is the international confederation of national bird organizations with its headquarters in Cambridge, England. Through member organizations in 101 countries it provides management focus for conservation issues affecting birds. At Rio Tinto, many sites already had scientific bird programmes before 2001 as part of monitoring biological diversity, as well as good contact with local BirdLife partners. This year there were more than 400 delegates from 100 countries to the BirdLife International World Conference, held in Durban, South Africa. Naturally they brought their birdbooks and binoculars ready to observe their feathered friends up close in a country renowned for its rich and exotic wildlife. And where did they go to see the birds? A mine site.
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Review is published by Rio Tinto, 6 St James' Square, London SW1Y 4LD, England Telephone +44 (0)20 7930 2399 Editor: Cherry DeGeer