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September 30, 2002
The No Airport @ Cliffe Big Sit
The No Airport @ Cliffe Big Sit, Sept 28th 2002- A days birding within the "fooprint" of the proposed airport, by RSPB Warden Alan Parker.
As part of The RSPB NAAC campaign, birdwatchers throughout the UK were urged to send in their Sept 28th records to the birding news services, dedicating them to the campaign, while all RSPB reserves were also asked to send in day lists. These records would give a "snapshot" of how many species were recorded in the UK on this particular day. In order to highlight the importance of the area under direct threat from the airport "footprint"- as published in various reports- I spent a day roaming the area accumulating a species total , principally spending time at Northward Hill, The mudflats/river E of Egypt Bay and Allhallows seafront:
It was a clear, moonlit night still when I arrived at Northward Hill at 5 am, with mist patches which fortunately didn't cause problems. First bird was Mallard calling near my office, closely followed by Greenshank, one of very few passage waders remaining on the reserve. I stationed myself in a field directly below the wood [ at a point indicated as the site of the airport terminal buildings !] and waited for dawn, as always an impressive experience here, filled with bird sounds . Little Owl called on cue, as did Water Rail from the marsh, corvids were added in fine style when 2600 rooks and jackdaws hurried from the wood at 6.20. After waiting for a Buzzard to emerge, which it didn't, I did a quick tour of the wood, usefully getting Bullfinch which is only just still with us. It was obvious that no passerine movements were taking place, and with a surprising lack of Blackcaps, it didn't look good for a big total. I returned to the office- the reserve House Sparrow stake out- for breakfast [and a chat with Perry Haines, who was about to organise TV, Radio and Press interviews with Jools Holland at Cliffe] then headed out across the reserve towards Egypt Bay. Various expected species were found on our two new reservoirs, which are already holding good numbers of birds, including Kingfisher, Pintail and Ruddy Duck. The fields at the north end produced Stonechat and Whinchats, and an unexpected covey of Grey Partridges. On to the seawall near Egypt Bay where various low tide species were added- Rock Pipit, Brent Goose, but not many waders yet. Looking back towards the wood revealed a good selection of raptors up in the now hot, calm conditions, these included Buzzard, Hobby and two Marsh Harriers, so I phoned these and my total so far, 74 species by about 11, into Rare Bird Alert.
It was then time to press on to Allhallows to catch up on low tide waders, all of which duly appeared, as did Little Egrets and a distant Med Gull, and a couple of coasting Grey Wags. Returning to the office for lunch, and a catch up session with Adrian Thomas, RSPB public affairs officer, who was collating national records from there, I added up the score and found it was 90 by 1 o'clock, not bad for a quiet day. We wrote the birds up on a board by the marshland viewpoint- nice to see a steady trickle of birders there throughout the day, while I contemplated tactics. Several easy species had eluded me so far- Shelduck, Snipe, Gadwall, Wheatear and GS Woodpecker should surely be about. A thrash around strategic bits of the marsh found a Snipe[sitting on a deluxe pond dipping platform built for our NAAC open day], a late Sedge Warbler, a Bearded tit where they should be and a GSW in a dead willow in Decoy Fleet. With the tide coming up, another look at the river seemed the best bet, and Arctic Skua, Avocets and a surprising juv. Gannet sitting on the water made it 97, with feral pigeon [well, they do count] and at last a Wheatear making 99! But no amount of scoping could bring up a Shelduck [I knew there was a flock off Cliffe fleet] or a passing Sandwich Tern, and a quick dash to Allhallows failed to produce any Shelducks in Coombe Bay either. So in a final bid to make 100, I rushed back to our Barn Owl nestbox to catch its emergence, but you know what its like with owls and big lists.There's never one around when you need one!! So 99 it was, and not a bad total considering the lack of migrants, indeed this emphasises the vital importance of this area for a whole range of birds.
It's interesting to think about what this tally would have been like 23 years ago when I started work at Northward Hill. For a start I wouldn't have got Sparrowhawk or Hobby [or Ruddy Duck!] and I would have been most surprised to see Mediterranean Gulls and Little Egrets. Finding wetland birds would have been a lot harder, as all of Northward Hill's lowlands were still arable then. But in the wood I would have easily found Yellowhammer and Tree Sparrow, with Corn Buntings nearby [couldn't find any of these on the day] and if memory serves, Marsh Tit and Coal Tit as well. Also I wouldn't have had a Mitsubishi turbodiesel 4X4 to chase around in, and would have ended up with even sorer feet. But similarly, the conservation movement is now in much better shape to see off this outrageous threat than it would have been then - No Airport @ Cliffe !
for more NO AIRPORT AT CLIFFE information, please visit dedicated pages on the RSPB website at: www.rspb.org.uk
Posted by Surfbirds at 11:18 PM | Comments (0)
September 26, 2002
Malta
Maltese bird hunters and bird trappers must not be given concessions on Europe-wide bird protection laws as a 'sweetener' to aid Malta's entry to the European Union, says the RSPB. The Society has today launched a campaign to urge its members to write to the Minister for Europe, Peter Hain MP, asking the UK government not to cave in to political pressure from Malta and Europe.
From material issued to the press by the Maltese government, the RSPB believes that a 'behind-the-scenes' deal between the European Commission and the Maltese government could allow the island's bird hunters and trappers to continue plundering nine species of bird, which migrate northwards through the island in spring en route to breeding sites in elsewhere in Europe. The birds most at risk include quail and turtle dove and seven species of finch, especially goldfinch, chaffinch, greenfinch and linnet.
The RSPB's international director, Alistair Gammell, said: "It is outrageous that the European Union and the Maltese government should be attempting to broker a deal that would undermine the future of bird protection in Europe. Any concession given to Malta, however 'limited', will risk becoming permanent. Worse still, other countries in southern Europe may use this as a precedent to return to the mass killing of migratory birds the Birds Directive was designed to halt.
"We are urging the UK government to stand firm on this issue and not compromise laws that other European countries have successfully abided by for more than 20 years.
"In its submission to the recent World Summit on Sustainable Development, the Maltese government recognises that the hunting and trapping of birds on the island is not sustainable: yet despite this, and just weeks after the summit, Europe's governments are apparently prepared to endorse these practices. We demand Europe proves its commitment to sustainable development by requiring Malta to end these practices and comply with laws on bird protection rather than trying to flout them."
Before Malta is entitled to join the European Union its government has to transpose all of the existing European directives into Maltese legislation. The Birds Directive, which governs the protection of birds across the existing 15 members of the EU, was first introduced in 1979. Malta is seeking an exemption to continue the traditional hunting of quail and turtle dove and the trapping of seven species of finch, most of which are also familiar birds in the UK.
Graham Wynne, the RSPB's chief executive, has written to Peter Hain MP, Minister for Europe, and to Margot Wallstrom, the European Commission for the Environment, urging the UK government and the European Union not to overturn Europe's bird protection laws.
The RSPB's members and concerned members of the public are being urged to write to: Rt Hon Peter Hain MP, Minister for Europe, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AH.
For further information and to arrange an interview, please contact:
Grahame Madge, RSPB press officer, on 01767 681577.
Out of hours, please telephone: 07702 196902
There are also webpages at www.rspb.org.uk/caffairs/malta with details of how to get involved.
Posted by Surfbirds at 11:18 PM | Comments (0)
September 25, 2002
Canada's birds and wild spaces under threat
The Canadian Nature Federation (BirdLife in Canada) has released a report detailing critical conservation threats facing Canada's National Wildlife Areas and Migratory Bird Sanctuaries. Illegal poaching, resource development, the presence of toxic chemicals, and climate change are just some of the challenges facing Canada's 49 National Wildlife Areas and 94 Migratory Bird Sanctuaries. These areas protect essential wildlife habitat for species at risk and migratory birds, especially in degraded southern landscapes, coastal regions, wetlands and the Arctic. Together, they make up an area twice the size of Nova Scotia.
The Canadian Nature Federation report comes on the eve of a meeting in Halifax of Canada's federal and provincial ministers responsible for environment. It concludes that one of the greatest threats to this network of protected areas is lack of resources. The current annual budget is C$1.7 million.
"That's just 15 cents per hectare," said Julie Gelfand, President of the Canadian Nature Federation. "It means sites are not managed, enforcement is sporadic, there are health and safety concerns, and the ecological integrity of the sites is at risk. In contrast, the United States spends more than 12 dollars per hectare on wildlife refuges."
The Canadian Nature Federation has applauded Canadian Prime Minister's Johannesburg commitment to reinvest in federal protected areas, noting that National Wildlife Areas, Migratory Bird Sanctuaries, Marine Protected Areas and National Parks are the backbone of wildlife and habitat protection in Canada.
"Adequate funding for all four is crucial to protecting the wilderness, plants and animals that are so important to Canadians," said Gelfand. "This report outlines a series ecommendations to ensure the health of wildlife areas, upon which Canada?s species at risk and migratory birds depend for survival."
For a full copy of the report, see www.cnf.ca
The Canadian Nature Federation (CNF) is a member-based non-profit nature conservation organisation. CNF and Bird Studies Canada are the BirdLife International Partners in Canada.
Posted by Surfbirds at 11:18 PM | Comments (0)
September 17, 2002
Taxonomic recommendations for British birds and changes to the British List
In the October issue of the British Ornithologists Union's journal, Ibis, the BOU publishes the latest taxonomic recommendations for British birds by the Taxonomic Sub-committee of the BOU Records Committee (Knox et al. 2002. Ibis 144: 707-710). A full copy of the paper can be viewed at www.bou.org.uk.
The following changes to the British List take immediate effect.
Anseriformes and Galliformes move to the start of the list
Black-browed Albatross (Thalassarche melanophris) note new generic name
Houbara Bustard (Chlamydotis undulata) remove from Category A
Macqueen?s Bustard (Chlamydotis macqueenii) add to Category B (the only record since 31 December 1949 is currently under review) (split from Houbara Bustard (C. undulata))
Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) note the correct spelling of the scientific name
Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus agricola treat as monotypic
Eastern Olivacaeous Warbler (Hippolais pallida) replaces Olivaceous Warbler (H. pallida) on Category A
Western Olivaceous Warbler (Hippolais opaca) added to Category A (split from (H. pallida))
Sykes's Warbler (Hippolais rama) add to Category A (split from (H. caligata))
Arctic Warbler (Phylloscopus borealis) the British records should be treated as belonging to the nominate race
Iberian Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus ibericus) note the correct scientific name
Firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla) note the correct spelling of the scientific name
Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix) add to Category A (split from (C. corone))
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) note the correct spelling of the scientific name
Pine Bunting (Emberiza leucocephalos) note the correct spelling of the scientific name
Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus) treat as monotypic
These changes bring the British List to 564 species
(Category A = 541; Category B = 14; Category C = 9).
In addition, the following change should be noted:
Category D species (Category D does not form part of the British List totals)
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus note new scientific name (split from P. ruber)
Reference
Knox, A.G., Collinson, M., Helbig, A.J., Parkin, D.P. and Sangster, G. 2002. Taxonomic recommendations for British birds. Ibis 144: 707-710.
ENDS
BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION
The Natural History Museum, Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 6AP, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1 442 890 080 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7942 6150 Email: bou@bou.org.uk
Website: www.bou.org.uk / www.ibis.ac.uk
Posted by Surfbirds at 11:18 PM | Comments (0)