Green MSP lodges motion praising veteran ornithologist
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North MSP Ariane Burgess has lodged a motion at the Scottish Parliament highlighting Roy Dennis’s lifetime commitment to osprey conservation.
The veteran ornithologist and wildlife consultant has worked in the Highlands and Islands since 1959, most notably on the conservation of rare birds and the reintroduction of lost species. From 1970 to 1990 he was the RSPB’s senior officer in northern Scotland and is well known across the region.
Moray-based Mr Dennis (83) was recognised with an OBE in the New Year’s honours list. He had received a lifetime achievement award from the Raptor Research Foundation in November, while he was given the RSPB species champion accolade at the most recent Nature of Scotland Awards.
Ms Burgess, Scottish Green MSP for the Highlands and Islands, said: “It’s heartening to see Roy’s work being recognised in this way. The motion I lodged before the festive break quickly gathered cross-party support and recognises the huge impact the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation has had in safeguarding our wildlife, especially birds of prey like ospreys, for future generations.
“All the awards given to Roy emphasise how essential nature recovery is to the planet and also how important this work is becoming to society. Our environment owes a great deal to the years of dedicated work put in by people like Roy Dennis and he thoroughly deserves this recognition.”
Mr Dennis, who received an MBE in 1992, said he was "really honoured" to be awarded an OBE.
"As I've always said, it's not work – it's a life," he said.
Mr Dennis has led projects to reintroduce the white-tailed eagle, red kite, osprey and golden eagle.
Working as part of the RSPB for more than 30 years, he won the charity's Golden Eagle Award in 2004 for being the top Scottish conservationist of the last 100 years. Together with a long association with the Fair Isle Bird Observatory, he set up the Highland Foundation for Wildlife in 1995.
In 2017, the foundation changed its name to the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation to reflect his "inspirational contribution to nature conservation".
He said recently that he was pleased to see nature projects being more valued by society.
"It's only now that there is real worry about climate and nature, especially by the young," he said. "That pleases me because I've been doing this for a very long time."
