Winchester and District RSPB group met at St Boniface Hall, Chandler's Ford.

Group leader, Maurice Walker, said the RSPB had collected 350,000 corks over the last 18 months to be used by the Cornish sculptor, Robert Bradford, to create a giant eagle, eight metres high, with a wing-span of 12 metres.

The eagle will be on display at the Eden Project as part of the campaign for the use of real corks.

Maurice asked for signatures on a petition against the propose airport on the North Ken Marshes. It is an internationally important site for both resident and migrating birds and an airport there would be an environmental disaster.

Maurice then introduced Richard Coomber, of Ornitholidays, who gave an illustrated talk on "Wildlife Wanderings Down Under". He used slides to illustrate the flowers, birds and animals that may be seen across Australia from Perth in the south-west, through Ayer's Rock in the centre to the North Territory and Kakadu and across to Cairns and the Barrier Reef.

Tea, coffee and biscuits were available at the interval and a raffle raised £40.

The next meeting is at the Stanmore Hotel, Winchester, on Tuesday, November 5th at 7.45pm when Ian Rumley-Dawson will present "Birds of Spitsbergen".

* A concert on a sea theme in aid of the RSPB will be given by The Madding Crowd at St Boniface Church, Hursley Road, Chandler's Ford on Saturday, November 16th, at 7pm.