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September 22, 2005
Purple Martin Admitted to Category A of the British List
The British Ornithologists‚ Union Records Committee (BOURC) has admitted Purple Martin Progne subis to Category A of the British List following the occurrence of a juvenile at Butt of Lewis, Outer Hebrides on 5 ˆ 6 September 2004 (sight record, photographed).
PURPLE MARTIN, WESTERN ISLES, BUTT OF LEWIS SEPT 2004 © Martin Scott
21 September 2005
A Press Release from the
BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS‚ UNION RECORDS COMMITTEE
and
BRITISH BIRDS RARITIES COMMITTEE
Purple Martin
Progne subis
This individual was followed by a record of a single bird from Flores, Azores on 6 September. These records were associated with a vigorous weather system resulting in a strong westerly airstream across the Atlantic.
This North American species is a long distance migrant, breeding throughout most of the United States and southern Canada. It winters in eastern South America as far south as Argentina. They are early autumn migrants, moving south by late August and are unknown in captivity.
Although these records probably relate to the nominate race which breeds widely throughout eastern North America, racial identification is not possible from the descriptions and photographs available.
These are the only Western Palearctic records. The only extralimital records prior to these had been from the Pribolof Islands, Alaska, and north of the breeding range in Canada.
There are at least four rejected Western Palearctic claims from the 19th Century:
1839/1840 Dublin, Kingstown, obtained, no date, now at Museum of Science and Art, Dublin.
1842 Greater London, Brent Reservoir, Middlesex, killed, September, now at Booth Museum, Brighton.
1854 Yorkshire, West Colne Bridge, near Huddersfield, no date.
1878 Essex, Colchester, 26th September.
Two other species of North American hirundine have occurred in the Western Palearctic ˆ Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor and Cliff Swallow Hirundo pyrrhonota.
Eric Meek, Chairman of BOURC commented „'Long-hailed as a potential addition to the British List, the finding of the Purple Martin at the Butt of Lewis must rank as one of the outstanding birding moments of recent years. The Butt of Lewis is not exactly the easiest place in Britain to access but, nevertheless, a respectable number of birders did make a successful journey before the bird moved on.
The quality of the descriptions and photographs left no doubt as to the bird‚s identity and Neotropical congeners such as Southern Martin P. elegans (which has been recorded once in Florida), Caribbean Martin P. dominicensis, Cuban Martin P. (d.) cryptoleuca and Grey-breasted Martin P. chalybea could all be ruled out.
With no evidence of the species ever being kept in captivity, BOURC were unanimous in accepting Purple Martin onto Category A of the British List.‰
The British List now stands at 571 species
(Category A = 549; Category B = 12; Category C = 10).
Posted by Surfbirds at 04:09 AM | Comments (0)
Endangered Turtles Face New Threat on the West Coast
On September 20th, the Pacific Fisheries Management Council, which is responsible for managing fisheries off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington, will vote on a controversial proposal to gut protections for critically endangered sea turtles. Environmentalists are supporting the continuation of the existing time and area closures which have successfully reduced the risk of sea turtles being injured or killed by gillnet fishing.
"Not one sea turtle has been observed caught, injured or killed since the closures went into effect. Why should we throw out something that is working so well?," asked Robert Ovetz, PhD, Save the Leatherback Campaign Coordinator with the Sea Turtle Restoration Project.
The measure to be considered on Tuesday will be to establish a procedure to allow exemptions to rules protecting endangered species such as the leatherback sea turtle. If approved, the decision goes to NOAA Fisheries for final approval. In October and November the council will consider interim exemptions to closures protecting sea turtles from gillnets on the West Coast.
Most at risk is the critically endangered leatherback sea turtle. Estimated to be 100 million years old, scientists now warn that it could go extinct in the Pacific in the next 5-30 years unless efforts are made to reduce the threat of being injured or killed by longlines and gillnets. The number of female nesting Pacific leatherbacks has declined by 95% since 1984. The US Pacific Coast is an important migratory route and foraging area for leatherback sea turtles and other marine species frequently caught by gillnets.
"The time and area closure provides urgently needed protection for the leatherback and other marine species from being injured or killed by gillnets. Granting exemptions to a handful of vessels would sabotage these efforts to prevent the leatherback from extinction," said Ovetz.
In 2001, NOAA Fisheries also closed waters off Monterey Bay, California, and in the vicinity north to the 45° N latitude intersect with the Oregon Coast from August 15 through November 15 in response to the threat of a lawsuit. The region north of Point Conception had recently been closed during El Nino years as the result of another lawsuit in 2002 to protect loggerhead turtles, another species facing threat of extinction due to mortality caused by industrial fishing.
Known as "curtains of death" because they catch and kill everything in their path, large gillnets (also known as driftnets) were banned by the United Nations on the high seas in 1991. Along with sea turtles, gillnets also injure or kill sperm whales, humpback whales, fin whales, Steller sea lions and other threatened and endangered species. In fact, according to observer data obtained from NOAA Fisheries, 64 dolphins, whales , seals and sea lions have been killed by the gillnet fishery since 2002.
This year, 1,007 scientists from 97 countries and 281 non-governmental organizations from 62 countries delivered a letter to the United Nations urging it to implement a moratorium on industrial longline and gillnet fishing in the Pacific.
Resources:
• For a copy of the Sea Turtle Restoration Project's new book Striplining the Pacific on the impact of longline fishing on the Pacific leatherback go to: http://www.seaturtles.org/press_release2.cfm?pressID=259
• For a copy of the scientist and NGO letters to the UN go to: http://www.seaturtles..org/press_release2.cfm?pressID=261
• For information about the Pacific Fisheries Management Council meeting go to: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2005/pfmc0905.html
• For a review copy of the Sea Turtle Restoration Project's new documentary film Last Journey for the Leatherback? contact Robert Ovetz, PhD.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––
The Sea Turtle Restoration Project is a California-based international marine conservation organization that works to protect sea turtles and other marine species in the United States and in countries around the world. For more information about sea turtles and the Sea Turtle Restoration Project, please visit: www.seaturtles.org and www.savetheleatherback.com
SEA TURTLE RESTORATION PROJECT
POB 400/40 Montezuma Avenue • Forest Knolls, CA 94933 USA
Ph. +1 415 488 0370 ext. 106• Fax +1 415 488 0372
robert@seaturtles.org • www.seaturtles.org
Posted by Surfbirds at 04:07 AM | Comments (0)
September 16, 2005
Andrew Lassey and Lars Svensson appointed to BOURC
The British Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee (BOURC) has appointed Andrew Lassey (Yorkshire) as an Ordinary Member of the Records Committee to replace retiring member Dr Tony Prater (RSPB) and Dr Lars Svensson as an Ordinary Member of the BOURC Taxonomic Sub-committee (BOURC TSC) to replace retiring member Dr Andreas Helbig.
Andrew Lassey lives in East Yorkshire were he spends at least six hours a day around his beloved Flamborough Head having taken early retirement in 1996. He set up an observatory-style recording system at Flamborough in 1974, established the Flamborough Ornithological Group, and in 2001 oversaw the accreditation of Flamborough to the bird observatory network. He has been ringing birds since 1974 and is Chairman of the East Yorkshire Ringing Group. During the 1990s he ran Flamingo Holidays leading trips throughout Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Siberia. He left the company in 1999 to concentrate on expedition-type studies in the Middle East and Kazakhstan. He has trapped over 5000 birds during over 100 trips to Siberia, Oman and Kazakhstan which has enabled him to amass an extensive library of in-the-hand photographs of many species and subspecies. He has an extensive list of interest species including a 20-year study on Lesser Whitethroats (and has handled all recognised races); Hippolais warblers; Isabelline group of shrikes; Phylloscopus warblers (including the chiffchaff complex and Plain Leaf Warbler); wheatears; and buntings.
Lars Svensson lives in Torekov, south Sweden, and is widely respected as the author of the Identification Guide to Passerines originally published in 1970 and now into its 4th edition. He was founder of the Swedish Rarities Committee in 1971, and its chairman for 15 years. He was awarded his PhD from Uppsala University in 2004, and his expertise in identification and taxonomy are recognised worldwide. He has travelled widely in the course of extensive ornithological research, encompassing both fieldwork and museum-based projects. His other publications include Fågelsång i Sverige (Bird Song in Sweden – CD and booklet, in cooperation with Benny Andersson), 1990; Soviet Birds (cassette), 1984; The Hamlyn Guide to the Birds of Britain & Europe (in cooperation with Håkan Delin), 1986, and the Collins Bird Guide (in cooperation with Killian Mullarney & Dan Zetterström), 1999. He has authored numerous papers on identification and taxonomy in various journals, and is currently an identification consultant for Birding World and Dutch Birding. His appointment continues to build on the increasingly international and collaborative nature of the work of the TSC.
Eric Meek, Chairman of BOURC commented, ‘We are delighted to welcome Andrew Lassey and Lars Svensson to the BOURC and BOURC-TSC respectively. They both bring with them a fantastic wealth of expertise and will be invaluable in our deliberations. Central Asia, perhaps more than any other geographical region, is the area from where some of our most exciting vagrants emanate and where some of the most interesting taxonomic developments are taking place. Andrew and Lars, who have worked together in this region, are ideally placed to provide us with the very latest information from the area as well, of course, as having a great breadth of experience elsewhere. We look forward to working with them over the coming years’..
Posted by Surfbirds at 12:20 PM | Comments (0)
Exhibition Celebrates London's Wild Side
An exhibition by wildlife photographer and writer Iain Green opens at the London Wetland Centre on Sunday 25th September 2005. Visitors to the centre will be greeted by photography which explores the nature of the capital through the changing seasons, inhabiting ancient woodlands or living on high-rise office blocks. The exhibition is drawn from Iain’s unique new book, ‘Wild London’ (Tiger Books, October 2005).
Highlights of the exhibition include photographs of the first peregrines to fledge in central London. You can also see images of the floral anarchy in Downing Street, seals in the Thames, bee orchids, black redstarts and tranquil urban wetlands.
The exhibition represents a departure for Iain Green who is best known for his dramatic photographs of tigers. For eight years Iain documented the lives of a family of wild tigers living in central India. These tigers formed the subject of Iain’s first book ‘Wild Tigers of Bandhavgarh’ which was published in 2002 to critical acclaim.
‘Wild London’ runs until Monday 31st October 2005. Iain Green will in the gallery on Tuesday 4th October to answer questions about his work. He will also be running a photography course at the London Wetland Centre in the New Year, as well as giving a lecture about his recent work.
Gallery information Access to the Art Gallery is included within the admission price for the Centre (free to members) and has the same opening hours (9.30am to 5.00pm, last admissions 4.00pm)
The exhibition ‘Wild London’ runs at the London Wetland Centre from Sunday 25th September – Monday 31st October. Iain Green will also be hosting two events at the London Wetland Centre in the new year:
Sat 21 January
Wild London
Iain Green, Author and photographer of ‘Wild London’ will give an illustrated talk about his journey of discovery through the city’s wild places. 2.30-3.30pm, included with admission
Sat 25 March
Introduction to Wildlife Photography
Led by Iain Green, author and photographer of ‘Wild London’, this course includes an introductory talk on the basics of composition, approach and equipment, followed by practical session on the reserve looking at early flora and fauna. Adults only. Maximum 12 in a group. 10am - 4.00pm. £35pp (£28pp for WWT members). Booking essential.
To book either of these events please phone 020 8409 4400.
Posted by Surfbirds at 07:42 AM | Comments (0)
Fea's Petrel Added to Category A of British List
The British Ornithologists‚ Union Records Committee has admitted Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae. to Category A of the British List following the acceptance of an individual seen c. 60 miles south-west of the Isles of Scilly on 12 August 2001 (sight record, photographed). It was observed by over 300 birders taking part on the MV Scillonian III pelagic for an hour and twenty minutes.
Other sightings of Fea's Petrel remain under consideration including this one off Scilly in 2004 © Glen Tepke
Identification of the soft-plumaged petrel‚ group is problematic, and separation of Fea's Petrel from the extremely similar Zino's Petrel Pterodroma madeira represents one of the most difficult identification challenges for British birders. Minute but diagnostic differences in bill structure, not normally discernible in field conditions, can however be determined from high quality photographs. Bill measurements of the two species do not overlap, but there is as little as 1 mm difference between the bills of largest Zino's and the smallest Fea's.
This record was supported by excellent still photographs (by Gary Bellingham and others) which enabled both BBRC and BOURC to examine in detail the diagnostic bill structure and positive identification as Fea's Petrel and unanimous acceptance as the first British record of this species.
Eric Meek, Chairman of BOURC commented "The supporting photographic evidence was crucial in the assessment of this record, and these left members of BOURC certain of the identification. Pterodroma petrels have been occurring with increasing frequency in British waters and a definite identification was probably only a matter of time. However, inevitably, the great majority of records will have to remain as either/or."
NOTE - a record of one observed on 8 July 2001 seven miles south of the Isles of Scilly is still under consideration.
The British List now stands at 570 species
(Category A = 549; Category B = 12; Category C = 9).
Posted by Surfbirds at 07:36 AM | Comments (0)
September 14, 2005
World Bank Contributing to Extinctions and Overfishing
New Report Documents Damage to the Pacific Ocean from Investments in Destructive Longline Fishing
Forest Knolls, California—Only weeks after the World Bank announced a new project to promote sustainable fishing, a new report documents how controversial bank investments in longline fishing in the Pacific are contributing to overfishing for tuna and an extinction crisis for sea turtles and seabirds.
Laysan Albatross, Hawaii, Kauai 12-04-04 © Ashley Banwell
As the World Bank prepares for its annual meeting on September 24-25th, new questions arise as to the destructive impact of investments by the World Bank and other multilateral development banks on the ocean and fisheries resources.
The report, Bankrupting the Pacific: How Multilateral Development Banks are Contributing to Overfishing and Helping Push Sea Turtles and Seabirds to the Brink of Extinction in the Pacific, released by the Sea Turtle Restoration Project today, shows how the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, and Asian Development Bank poured millions of dollars into destructive longline fishing in the Pacific. These investments were made in critical nesting and migratory habitats of critically endangered sea turtles and seabirds without any assessment of the impact on biodiversity of the regions where the projects took place and in direct violation of their own environmental and fisheries policies.
"Asian Development Bank and World Bank Group investments in longline fishing have helped drive the 100 million year old leatherback sea turtle to the brink of extinction in the Pacific," warns Robert Ovetz, PhD, Save the Leatherback Campaign Coordinator with the US-based NGO the Sea Turtle Restoration Project and lead author of the report.
The female nesting population of the 100 million year old Pacific leatherback sea turtle has collapsed by 95 percent since 1980. The leatherback is listed as critically endangered by the World Conservation Union and scientists warn that it could extinct in the next 5-30 years unless immediate action to remove threats to its survival such as longline fishing. The Pacific loggerhead sea turtle and the black-footed albatross are also caught primarily by longlines and considered on the precipice of extinction. Longline fishing is the main threat to albatross seabirds, 19 of the 21 of the species of which are considered threatened or endangered.
"The banks do not even follow their own weak environmental policies. Despite the fact that longlines catch or kill about 4.4 million non-target sharks, seabirds, sea turtles, billfish and marine mammals each year in the Pacific alone, in each case, the banks found that no environmental impact report was even required." noted Ovetz.
These investments have also triggered overfishing of the very resource that was supposed to contribute to long-term development. Recent reports in the scientific journals Nature and Ecology have warned that tuna, billfish and shark populations have declined by 87-99 percent in the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific since the 1950s.
According to Ovetz, "the multi-lateral banks are directly to blame for contributing to the crash in bigeye and albacore tuna in the Pacific, a crucial source of revenue for impoverished coastal and island nations."
The report calls for the banks to cancel ongoing longline fishing projects, implement a moratorium on all future longline projects, and implement a set of reforms of their own practices to prevent further damage to the ocean ecosystem.
Resources:
• For a copy of the report Bankrupting the Pacific go to: http://www.seaturtles.org/pdf/ACF1120.pdf
• For a review copy of the Sea Turtle Restoration Project's new documentary film Last Journey for the Leatherback? contact Robert Ovetz, PhD.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––
The Sea Turtle Restoration Project is a California-based international marine conservation organization that works to protect sea turtles and other marine species in the United States and in countries around the world. For more information about sea turtles and the Sea Turtle Restoration Project, please visit: www.seaturtles.org and www.savetheleatherback.com
September 13, 2005
Contact:
Robert Ovetz, PhD, Save the Leatherback Campaign Coordinator, Sea Turtle Restoration Project, +1 415-488-0370 x106, robert@seaturtles.org
Posted by Surfbirds at 03:44 AM | Comments (0)
September 11, 2005
Richard Fitter, author and naturalist, dies aged 92
Richard Fitter, one of Britain's best-known wildlife experts, died on Saturday aged 92. For more than 50 years, his field guides made an important contribution to the education of amateur natural historians.
Richard Fitter was a prolific writer of wildlife field guides and one of the best-known British naturalists of the 20th century. His ground-breaking book published by Collins in 1952, Pocket Guide to British Birds, illustrated by R.A. Richardson was arguably the first modern British field guide. It dispensed with the traditional order and grouping together birds by size and by their habitat. Although Fitter and Richardson were criticised by traditionalists, post-war birders liked the book, and over 100,000 copies were sold.
In 1955, Fitter teamed up with David McClintock to write The Pocket Guide to Wild Flowers. Again dispensing with tradition, Fitter began with buttercups and ended with grasses in the approved order. He grouped the illustrations by colour, so that all similar-looking yellow flowers, whether they were buttercups, celandines, cinquefoils or rock-roses, appeared side-by-side. Together with its well chosen field notes and asterisks to denote rarity, the guide became a firm favourite for a generation of wild flower lovers.
At the time of his death, the ever active Fitter was working on a flora of France.
Posted by Surfbirds at 08:42 AM | Comments (0)