Hello, I’m Andrew. I live in the north of Scotland, and typically work in the Scottish Highlands and Islands as an ecologist, ornithologist and ECoW where I own and run Purple Plover, an environmental consultancy that tries to offer practical advice and pragmatic solutions to clients’ needs and problems.

I believe in research-led conservation and allowing science to drive the debate. I’m interested in how technology can help solve the world’s environmental problems rather than adding to them.

In my spare time I like to get out into the wilds of the Scottish countryside so there are a fair few photos on here taken on my days off.

To find out what I am currently working on and interested in, go to my Now and my useful links pages.

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Andrew Whitelee Environmental Clerk of Works Shetland
Andrew Whitelee Breeding Bird Survey Shetland

Career Highlights

I have had a varied working life, starting off in computing in the 1990s and running my own IT consultancy in the 2000s. I then decided to go back to university and follow my passion for wildlife, the outdoors and the environment. Since 2007, I have been working in conservation, firstly as a lecturer, then running my own wildlife tourism business and latterly, ecological consultancy. I moved up to Scotland in 2013 to work as an upland ecologist and ornithologist and have been up here ever since.

My specialism is birds, and my particular passion is waders (the birds not the big wellies used by fishermen) and I have spent a lot of time observing them and studying them. I’ve also volunteered for and am a former trustee of a wader conservation charity called Wader Quest and now sit on their “Wader Guru” panel, answering questions about waders. You can find out more about the conservation charities I support here.

Memberships

FELLOW OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY

MEMBER OF THE BRITISH ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY

MEMBER OF INSTITUTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATION OF ECOWs

Environmental Skills

BSc in Environmental Conservation

Ecologist and Ornithologist (Schedule 1 Licence Holder)

Otter Survey Licence Holder

ECoW and EnvCoW

Experienced Environmental Advisor and Manager

IT and Computing Skills

BSc in Computing Science

Proficient in Microsoft Office suite

Report writing

Spreadsheets and data management

Certifications

SITE MANAGEMENT SAFETY TRAINING SCHEME (SMSTS)

BESC - OVERHEAD LINES

FIRST AID AT WORK

CSCS CARD (PROFESSIONALLY QUALIFIED PERSON)