Spoon-billed Sandpipers lose their greatest champion

It was with great sadness and shock that we learnt earlier this week of the unexpected death of the eminent Russian ornithologist Evgeny Syroechkovskiy, the Chief Executive of Birds Russia. Although most British birders would probably not have heard of Evgeny, he was an absolute titan in international bird preservation, especially Arctic waders and, in particular, efforts to save the critically endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper.

Chris Collins, Managing Director of Limosa and WildWings wrote “I first met Evgeny at the Birdfair in 2010 when we were setting up the first of the Heritage Expeditions trips to survey remote Chukotka for new breeding sites for Spoon-billed Sandpiper. Although initially sceptical of the value of “citizen science” and taking birders to Meinypil’gyno (the only regular monitored site for this critically endangered species), Evgeny was soon convinced and it was an honour and a privilege to spend many weeks with him exploring the remote Russian coastline looking for new breeding sites for this special bird. The combined input of Evgeny and Rodney Russ (Heritage Expeditions Managing Director) was critical in making these trips so successful with two new breeding sites identified.

Evgeny’s unexpected passing will leave an enormous hole in the team who have dedicated their lives to saving Spoon-billed Sandpiper and we pass on our deepest condolences to them and, of course, Evgeny’s family and friends”.