Improving awareness of biodiversity

As part of Rio Tinto's global engagement efforts, BirdLife International and Rio Tinto are working together to enhance the conservation of birds and their habitats globally.

Through the Rio Tinto and BirdLife International partnership, Rio Tinto Aluminium aims to improve knowledge and interest in birds as indicators of environmental health throughout its operations, contribute to wider conservation initiatives, and work with local communities on conservation matters. Annual bird watching events are held at many Rio Tinto operations.

In 2006 Rio Tinto Aluminium managed operation Anglesey Aluminium Metal Limited (AAM) and BirdLife International held their first bird watching day. Five groups gathered at Penrhos Nature Reserve to visit various birding hotspots located across the island of Anglesey.

One of the groups headed for South Stack where the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds had opened up the Elin's Tower early to allow the group great views of the 4,000 plus pairs of guillemots and an estimated 900 razorbills. Also seen were puffins, choughs, ravens and hooded crows. In addition to birds, other interesting sightings included harbour porpoise, adder, silver studded butterfly, hummingbird hawk moth, fiven and seven spot burnet (a moth) and spatulate fleawort (a rare flower).

In 2007, AAM improved on its bird-spotting sightings recording 97 different species, three more than in 2006. 

Interesting sightings were a Little Tern at Cemlyn, lots of Manx Shearwaters off South Stack and a Nuthatch and Treecreeper at Newborough.