About
ABOUT
David Wege
My childhood passion for birds, birdwatching and all things “nature” led me to an amazing 30-year career in international bird and biodiversity conservation with BirdLife International. Most recently, that passion for birds and the nature around us has drawn me away from my desk to re-connect with the nature I love. Starting with incredible nature-based bushcraft training provided by Woodcraft School, I re-discovered tracking, foraging, thriving outside – what I think of as “nature craft”. However, it was learning to read and interpret the tracks and signs left by animals as they pass across the landscape that resonated with the scientist and conservationist in me, and has led me on a path of much deeper connection with our other-than-human friends.
ABOUT
David Wege
Every time I walk outside, nature reveals just a little bit more, and this learning journey is one I’m keen to share with as many people as possible – it is engaging, stimulating, connecting and incredibly important. People I have recently worked with have variously described me as: engaging, friendly, personable, conscientious, competent, gentle and generous when sharing expertise, and patient – characters I attribute to spending time in nature and learning from nature. I would like to invite you to do the same – whether for professional development or personal enjoyment.
Experience
(2020 – present)
Provision of bespoke Tracking training and mentoring for Ecological Consultancies, conservation NGOs and individuals (including Woodland Trust, Shetland Amenity Trust, MKA Ecology, Apricot Centre and others).
(2022 – present)
As an associate tutor, I deliver one and two day courses (Introduction to Wildlife Tracks and Signs) at a range of Field Study Centres across southern England.
Illustration of mammal tracks and trails, bird tracks and animal portraits for publication. My illustrations have been used by RSPB, WWF Sweden, British Wildlife journal, and are included in my books (Mammal Tracks of Europe, and Bird Tracks: a field guide to British species).
(2020 – present) Provision of wildlife photos for Wildniswind (the online wilderness school for wilderness education and nature mentoring) course materials and social media – Wildniswind.
(2015 – 2023)
Assisting with teaching on a number of Woodcraft School’s Wildlife Tracking residential courses and Tracker Evaluations. Responsible for trainees at the woodland camp.
(2017 – 2019) Strategic conservation and science planning, and institutional capacity development advice to conservation NGOs in the Americas. Previously (1989 – 2017) Americas Director of Conservation and Science, Senior Conservation Manager, Caribbean Program Director, Research Manager – publishing agenda-setting conservation publications, research papers, multi-million US$ fundraising, provision of technical support, strategic planning, conservation planning and priority setting.
Qualifications
- Track & Sign: CyberTracker Level 4
- Trailing: CyberTracker Level 3
- Applied Bushcraft: NCFE Level 4
- Wildlife Identification and Tracking: NCFE Level 4
- MSc in Conservation: University College London
- BSc Environmental Biology: University College Swansea
Selected Publications
- Wege, D. C. (2024) Mammal tracks of Europe: a field guide to the tracks and trails of European mammals. Cambridge, UK. Available at: http://www.davidwegenature.uk
- Rhyder, J. and Wege, D. (2024) Bird tracks: a field guide to British species. Cheltenham, UK: The History Press.
- BirdLife International (2010) Ecosystem Profile for the Caribbean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot. Washington, DC: Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund.
- Perdomo, L., Arias, Y., Leon, Y. and Wege, D. (2010) Areas Importantes para la Conservacion de las Aves en el Republica Dominicana. Grupo Jaragua y el Programa IBA-Caribe de BirdLife International. Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana
- Wege, D. C. & Anadon-Irizarry, V. eds. (2008) Important Bird Areas in the Caribbean: key sites for conservation. Cambridge, UK: BirdLife International (BirdLife Conservation Series 15).
- Wege, D.C., Long, A.J., Mai Ky Vinh, Vu Van Dung & Eames, J.C. (1999) Expanding the protected areas network in Vietnam for the 21st century: an analysis of the current system with recommendations for equitable expansion. Hanoi, Vietnam: BirdLife International Vietnam Program (Conservation Report 6).
- Stattersfield, A.J., Crosby, M.J., Long, A.J. & Wege, D.C. (1998) Endemic Bird Areas of the world: priorities for biodiversity conservation. Cambridge, UK: BirdLife International (BirdeLife Conservation Series 7).
- Wege, D.C. & Long, A.J. (1995) Key Areas for threatened birds in the Neotropics. Cambridge, UK: BirdLife International (BirdLife Conservation Series 4).
- Collar, N.J., Gonzaga, L.P., Krabbe, N., Madroño Nieto, A., Naranjo, L.G., Parker, T.A. & Wege, D.C. (1992) Threatened birds of the Americas: the ICBP/IUCN Red Data Book. Cambridge, UK: International Council for Bird Preservation.
Selected Papers
- Kohler, M. and Wege, D. (2021) The Ornithological Skills Pyramid: creating a benchmark for the ecological consultancy community. In Practice 111: 36-39.
- Wege, D. (2021) The Art of Tracking – for birders. Birds of Andalucia 10(4): 14 – 17.
- Lowen, J., Wheatley, H., Hermes, C., Burfield, I. and Wege, D. (2019) The 2018 IUCN Red List in the Neotropics. Neotropical Birding 24: 48-54.
- Donald, P. F., Fishpool, L. D. C.,.... and Wege, D. C. (2018) Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs): the development and characteristics of a global inventory of key sites for biodiversity. Bird Conserv. Internatn. 29: 1 99–215
- Wege, D. (2011) BirdLife in the Caribbean. World Birdwatch 34(4): 12-15.
- Goerck, J. M. and Wege, D. C. (2005) The challenge of implementing the Important Bird Area program in a Megadiversity and Mega-threatened country. USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-191 2005: 1250-1255
- Gage, G. S., Brooke, M. de L., Symonds, M. R. E. and Wege, D. (2004) Ecological correlates of the threat of extinction in Neotropical bird species. Animal Conservation 7: 161-168.
- Adsett, W. A. and Wege, D. C. (1998) Natural history of the little-known Speckled Antshrike. Cotinga 10: 24-29.
- Wege, D. C. (1997) Ecuador’s Endemic Bird Areas. Pp. 43-50 in B. J. Best, T. Heijnen and R. S. R. Williams. A guide to bird-watching in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Otley, UK: Biosphere Publications.
- Collar, N. J., Wege, D. C. and Long, A. J. (1997). Patterns and causes of endangerment in the New World avifauna. In J.V. Remsem, ed. Natural history and conservation of Neotropical birds. American Ornithologists’ Union (Orn. Monogr.). Pp. 237–260.
- Wege, D. C. (1996) Threatened birds of the Darien Highlands, Panama: a reassessment. Bird Conserv. Internatn. 6: 175-179.
- Long, A. J., Crosby, M. C., Stattersfield, A. J. & Wege, D. C. (1996) Towards a global map of biodiversity: patterns in the distribution of restricted-range birds. Global Ecol. and Biogeogr. Letters. 5: 281-304.
- Collar, N. J. and Wege, D. C. (1995) The distribution and conservation status of Bearded Tachuri Polystictus pectoralis. Bird Conserv. Internatn. 5(2/3): 367-390
- Wege, D. C., Howell, S. N. G. and Sada, A. M. (1993) The distribution and status of Worthen’s Sparrow Spizella wortheni: a review. Bird Conserv. Internatn. 3: 211-220.
- Wege, D. C. and Collar, N. J. (1991) The Blue-cheeked Amazon Amazona dufresniana: a review. Bird Conserv. Internatn. 1: 317-328.
Gratitude
I’ve had the good fortune to have had some amazing teachers and mentors on my life-long journey of learning, appreciating, conserving and educating about nature and our place in this beautiful world. As a child I roamed the local fields, hedgerows and woods, discovering plants and animals that my parents would patiently help me identify and appreciate. The foundation was set for an insatiable curiosity about Mother Earth, and I love that she is infinitely incredible. More recently, I have learnt from or been inspired by many wonderful humans, including especially Nigel Collar, John Rhyder, Paul Francis, Miriam Schulz, Karen MacKelvie, Lee Stoffer – thank you all.