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March 31, 2007
Golden Eagle Viewing Scheme: A first for Scotland
For the first time in Scotland one of the country's most enthralling wildlife spectacles is to be included as the centrepiece of an exciting new visitor attraction, which opens to the public tomorrow on Sunday April 1, 2007.
The unprecedented venture will allow nature enthusiasts to get up close and personal with golden eagles in their natural habitat among the inspiring craggy glens of Scotland's wild west coast.
Golden Eagle, Isle of Mull, copyright Mark Priest
RSPB Scotland in partnership with Ardnamurchan Natural History Centre will host the new attraction, featuring CCTV cameras trained on a deer carcass, allowing observation of wild golden eagles as they come in and feed. There will also be extensive new displays about golden eagles, in addition to the range of wildlife viewing opportunities that already exist at the Centre.
Golden eagles have long been recognised by Scots as symbolic of the inspiring beauty of the country, capturing, as they do, much of what we believe to be the very best aspects Scotland. It is for this reason that last year RSPB Scotland lobbied to have the golden eagle recognised as the National Bird for Scotland.
At the time, Culture Minister Patricia Ferguson said that she was concerned that visitors to Scotland might be under the impression they would be guaranteed to see a golden eagle. Unfortunately that can’t be guaranteed even with this new project, but this certainly is the best chance people have of seeing one up close, in its natural habitat, and hopefully will provide a major tourism boost to the area as its reputation spreads.
On Mull a similar project allowing people to view white-tailed eagles has become a firmly established tourist magnet, pulling in hordes of wildlife enthusiasts and boosting the island's economy by as much as £1.7 million annually, according to a recent economic assessment.
Thousands of people come to Scotland every year specifically to see majestic golden eagles soaring at the head of our glens and heather clad hills, and the sight never fails to amaze. The last census of golden eagles, conducted in 2003, revealed there are 400 pairs in Scotland The birds choose to live among the grandeur of rugged mountains, craggy glens and beautiful lochs. Using its natural resilience, intelligence and supremely adapted senses, the golden eagle has survived in this environment in spite of periods of persecution and hardship to win international regard.
Dave Sexton, RSPB's Mull and Ardnamurchan officer, said: "Golden eagles are without doubt one of the most awe-inspiring species in the UK, and if you are lucky enough to glimpse them in their natural habitat the sight will not fail to astound. The sea eagle reintroduction on Mull has been a huge success, and many people come to this part of the world now with wildlife watching in mind. The economic benefits for Mull have been fantastic and, hopefully, this will be repeated in Ardnamurchan.
“Most people in Scotland would think of the golden eagle as our most iconic bird, and it’s great that people will have a chance to see them in the wild here, as well as learning about their place in the wider environment and the threats they face."
Ritchie Dinnes, manager of the Ardnamurchan Natural History Centre, said: "The eagle viewing gives a new dimension to what we offer at the centre and we're hopeful it will be a big draw for visitors. Already lots of people ask about where they can see golden eagles, and now we'll be able to give them a chance to see them as well as talk about the species and nature conservation. At the centre everything we try and do ties in - we serve local food, we promote the area's natural assets and talk about sustainability. Hopefully, visitors will agree that you can't get much better than taking what's special that you have in an area and showcasing it as well as you can."
The project, which will be the newest 'Aren't Birds Brilliant' site, designed by the RSPB to offer the public a range of opportunities for the public to get close to birds around the UK, will open to the public on Sunday 1 April.
More information on Ardnamurchan natural history centre can be found at www.ardnamurchannaturalhistorycentre.co.uk
Posted by Surfbirds at 9:20 AM | Comments (0)
March 30, 2007
European Conservation Fund to boost UK Wildlife Conservation
On Wednesday 28 March, 2007 negotiators in Brussels announced a breakthrough agreement for a new €738.8 million scheme aimed at saving Europe’s most threatened wildlife and vulnerable habitats up to 2013.
Forecasters suggest the UK is likely to receive a minimum of €63.26 million providing appropriate project proposals are sent to the Commission.
The fund – known as LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity – aims to restore and protect charismatic and special species under threat in Europe, such as lynxes, bison, bears, turtles, vultures and eagles.
Fifty-one varieties of bird across the European Union have been identified as priorities for action under the fund, and seven of these occur regularly in the UK. The Scottish crossbill – which occurs nowhere else in the world - corncrake, bittern and roseate tern are all regular nesting species in the UK, and the Balearic shearwater, aquatic warbler and Greenland white-fronted goose all occur as regular non-breeding visitors.
Aquatic Warbler, priority for action species, Poland, May 2004, copyright Birdseekers
Sacha Cleminson, senior European advocacy officer with the RSPB, said: “The RSPB has worked hard with the Commission to ensure this fund is targeted towards those species and habitats in most need of help.
“We hope these EU-funded projects will continue to keep threatened birds such as the bittern and Scottish crossbill as key elements of our wildlife, enriching our countryside and our lives.”
Europe’s richest habitats, stretching from the Arctic to the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands are also in line for help. Chalk grasslands, machair, heathlands, reedbeds, blanket bogs, and Caledonian pine forest are all priority habitats within the European Union that occur in extensive tracts within the UK.
Sacha Cleminson added: “By restoring wildlife-rich landscapes this fund will benefit some of Europe’s most threatened species. Additionally, these habitats can, for example, also help safeguard and purify drinking water and keep us healthy by tempting us out to walk in an enriched countryside.”
A particular target for the money will be to fund the extension of protected areas into European seas. These would safeguard marine wildlife such as cold water coral reefs.
Posted by Surfbirds at 10:25 PM | Comments (0)
March 27, 2007
2007 winter sees fewer birds in our gardens
The RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch - 2007 results.
The RSPB believes milder winter temperatures across Europe and bumper fruit crops in hedgerows and woodlands contributed to more birds feeding in the countryside and fewer visiting UK gardens during the winter. The RSPB’s 2007 Big Garden Birdwatch results show smaller numbers of several songbirds in gardens, most notably those whose winter numbers are usually swelled by seasonal migrants from the continent.
Song Thrush, copyright Nigel Blake
Blackbirds, song thrushes and robins were at their lowest levels in gardens for five years. Above-average winter temperatures across Europe have resulted in reduced migration to the UK and consequently, numbers of song thrushes and blackbirds spotted in gardens have declined by nearly two thirds (65 per cent) and a quarter (25 per cent) respectively in a single year.
Ruth Davis, the RSPB’s Head of Climate Change Policy, said: “As our climate changes the distribution of birds will change and they will adapt their behaviour. A snap-shot in winter gives only part of the picture, but the varying birds visiting our gardens is one example of the impact climate change is having on the natural world.
“Although the mild winter seems to have provided more food for songbirds in the countryside this year, as changes to our climate become more extreme, many birds will struggle to cope with the altered weather patterns. We can all help to minimise the impact of climate change by the action we take in our everyday lives.”
Participants in Big Garden Birdwatch also noted a decrease in the number of resident birds. Greenfinches, in particular, have dropped four places down the Big Garden Birdwatch top ten, from sixth to tenth - a decline of more than a quarter since 2006.
Richard Bashford, the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch co-ordinator, added: “Some birds were seen more often in gardens. Starlings and house sparrows, showed small increases in the average number per garden. This is the third year in a row the starling has increased and we’re hopeful that this trend will continue.”
Over the weekend of 27-28 January, more than 400,000 people counted more than 6.5 million birds across 236,000 gardens as part of the RSPB’s annual Big Garden Birdwatch.
The house sparrow retained its top spot with an average of 4.42 per garden, however its numbers have decreased by more than half since 1979. The starling remained in second place and the blue tit completed the top three, with average numbers of 3.67 and 2.82 per garden respectively.
In conjunction with Big Garden Birdwatch, more than 1,200 schools involving 41,000 children and their teachers took part in Big Schools’ Birdwatch. Children, with the blessing of their teacher, spent an hour gazing out of their classroom window to count the birds in their school grounds.
The full UK-wide Big Garden Birdwatch results are available on the RSPB website. Visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch
Posted by Surfbirds at 9:27 AM | Comments (0)
March 26, 2007
6th European Ornithologist's Union Conference
The sixth European Ornithologist's Union Conference will take place from 24 - 29 August 2007 in Vienna, Austria.
The Conference will cover all aspects of Ornithology with participants from all over Europe. Registration and submission of abstracts for Oral Contributions and posters is open.
Snowfinch, alpine speciality, Austria, copyright Margaret Breaks
Plenary speakers include:
1. Prof. Tim Birkhead, University of Sheffield, UK Post-copulatory sexual selection in birds: sperm and eggs .
2. Prof. Hanna Kokko, University of Helsinki, Finland Make love and war: the evolutionary ecology of simultaneous competition for mates and breeding sites.
3. Prof. Alex Roulin, University of Lausanne, Switzerland Communication and the maintenance of genetic variation in colour polymorphic birds.
4. Dr. Irene Tieleman, University of Groningen, The Netherlands Physiological dynamics of birds in desert, tropical and temperate environments.
The following is a provisional list of symposia:
Nightlife of diurnal birds
Health of arctic and antarctic populations
Postcopulatory sexual selection in birds
Avian influenza risk assessment: the contribution of ornithology Heterogeneity in bird populations, causing biased samples, as a challenge for ecological field studies
Ornithology past, present and future
Dispersal behaviour: causes and consequences
Palearctic migrants threatened by environmental change in the Sahel
Should we feed birds?
Extra-pair paternity: male or female driven?
Edge effect on avian nest predation in Europe
Radar ornithology - past experiences and future challenges
Conservation
Details on the EOU website http://www.eou.at
Posted by Surfbirds at 9:23 AM | Comments (0)
Zululand Birding Route celebrates ten years
One of Africa’s most established and celebrated ecotourism initiatives, the Zululand Birding Route (ZBR), celebrated its 10th anniversary this weekend.
“It has been a real conservation success story. To see the Zululand Birding Route reach 10 years is testament to how simple and effective the avitourism [birding ecotourism] concept has been in this case,” said Duncan Pritchard, BirdLife South Africa Avitourism Division Manager. “There have been winners all round: local economies, jobs, education and, of course, the birds.”
Pel's Fishing Owl, South Africa, Lower Mkuzi July 2005 © Adrian Jordi
Celebrations for the anniversary took place over three days and included guided tours of the Birding Route, a film festival, Bird Fair and a Forest Birders Camp.
The ZBR initiative has received appraisal globally for combining economic benefits to local communities (through “birder-friendly” establishments and local bird guides) with environmental benefits relating to habitat protection and bird conservation. The ZBR, along with the established Greater Limpopo Birding Route, are worth an estimated ZAR 50 million (USD 6.8million) per year in direct economic value to the South African region.
Conservationists have pointed out that many of the 70 top ‘birding sites’ on the ZBR have been saved by this economic incentive toward conserving sites important for birds and biodiversity.
“Our conservation efforts have certainly been strengthened by this investment. Importantly we’ve also seen an overall increase in bird appreciation from tourists and local communities themselves – this is a crucial ingredient in saving species from extinction.” commented Pritchard.
The initiative has been pioneered by BirdLife South Africa, who have provided training to local bird guides across Birding Routes, and marketed to tourists via BirdLife Travel, a specialist travel agency set up by BirdLife South Africa to plan itineraries that take in Important Bird Areas.
“Our continued support for the Birding Route concept is founded on an appreciation that this approach demonstrates an effective integration of biodiversity conservation into sustainable development initiatives that are adaptable to a variety of locations and contexts,” said Jonathan Stacey, Rio Tinto-BirdLife International Programme Manager.
The project’s success is the result of a wide variety of stakeholder support, including corporates such as Rio Tinto and its local business, Richards Bay Minerals, as well as local government structures such as Uthungulu District Municipality.
“The ZBR is the product of partnership,” said Stacey. “Those many organisations who have supported its development can feel confident that, as it continues into the future, a working link has been created between such supporters and those communities that ultimately will uphold the conservation of birds and their habitats.”
For further details visit www.zbr.co.za or BirdLife South Africa, www.birdlife.org.za
For more information on the Zululand Birding Route, see this month’s World Birdwatch Feature, BirdLife South Africa is growing routes.
Posted by Surfbirds at 9:16 AM | Comments (0)
March 23, 2007
Long Sought After Bird Spotted in Peruvian Nature Reserve
Endangered species known only from captured individuals seen in wild for first time.
The extremely rare Long-whiskered Owlet (Xenoglaux loweryi), a species that wasn’t discovered until 1976, and until now was only known from a few specimens captured in nets after dark, has been seen in the wild for the first time by researchers monitoring the Area de Conservación Privada de Abra Patricia – Alto Nieva, a private conservation area in Northern Peru. The sighting is considered a holy grail of South American ornithology and has not been accomplished in thirty years, despite the efforts of hundreds of birders.
The species is among the world’s smallest owls. It is so distinct that it has been named in its own genus: Xenoglaux meaning “strange owl” on account of the long wispy feathers or whiskers that stream out from its wild-looking reddish-orange eyes. The owl inhabits the dense undergrowth of mountain forests in a remote part of northern Peru.
“Seeing the Long-whiskered Owlet is a huge thrill,” said David Geale of Asociación Ecosistemas Andinos (ECOAN) who was part of the research team. “Its population is estimated to be less than 1,000 birds, and possibly as few as 250. Due to the rapid destruction of its forest habitat and its tiny range, it is inferred that the species is in serious decline. Until recently, the owlet’s key habitat was completely unprotected.”
The Long-whiskered Owlet has previously been captured by researchers on at least three occasions, but until 2002 nothing was known of the bird’s natural history. At that point, calls were recorded from a captive bird, but its biology still remained virtually unknown. Last month, researchers Geale and Juvenal Ccahuana, rangers of Abra Patricia and monitors of the MNBCA program from Alto Mayo, encountered the owlet three times during daylight hours and recorded its calls frequently at night. Several photographs were also taken of a bird captured in a mist-net and later released onto a tree branch where it posed for photographs before disappearing into the night. These additional photos are available at http://www.abcbirds.org/whiskeredowlpic.htm and high resolution copies are available upon request.
“The creation of the Area de Conservación Privada de Abra Patricia – Alto Nieva, located in the Northern end of the Peruvian Yungas ecosystem, provides protection for the key site for the Long-whiskered Owlet,” said Hugo Arnal, American Bird Conservancy’s (ABC) Tropical Andes Program Director. “By establishing a reserve and protecting the owlet’s forest habitat, ABC and its partner ECOAN are giving many other species a chance to survive as well.”
The northeastern section of the Peruvian Yungas, comprises habitat for 317 resident bird species, of which 23 are considered globally threatened. The conservation area also protects much of the known habitat for the endangered Ochre-fronted Antpitta, and has been declared a priority by the Alliance for Zero Extinction. Other endemics in the area include the endangered Royal Sunangel (a hummingbird), the rare and recently-described Johnson’s Tody-Tyrant, and the endangered Ash-throated Antwren.
Several songbirds that breed in North America such as the beautiful Blackburnian Warbler also use these forests during the winter. Other migratory species include the Broad-winged Hawk, Swainson’s Hawk, Swainson's Thrush, and Alder Flycatcher. In total, 29 neotropical migrant species use this area, of which 13 are of conservation concern. Nearly 98% of the reserve consists of well-preserved stands of typical Yungas forests, and it is also considered a rich area for orchids.
ABC’s work in the region is supported by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Conoco Phillips, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and Robert Wilson. Birdwatchers wishing to search for the owl should contact Hugo Arnal at American Bird Conservancy (see: www.abcbirds.org). Access is strictly limited to small groups and the chances of success though better than in the past are still considered very low for anything but the luckiest groups.
American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is the only 501(c)(3) organization that works solely to conserve native wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. ABC is a membership organization that is consistently awarded a top, four-star rating by the independent group, Charity Navigator.
Posted by Surfbirds at 5:51 AM | Comments (0)
March 22, 2007
Poland's reckless approach to natural treasure lands it in European Court of Justice
Polish and European environmental NGOs welcomed today’s decision by the European Commission to refer Poland to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for breaching EU environmental law by planning construction of the Via Baltica expressway through the protected Rospuda Valley, in north-east Poland.
Black Grouse, threatened by road developments in Poland,
copyright Graham Catley
The Commission has also made use of special procedures (“interim measures”) to ask the Court to make an urgent order requiring Poland to suspend works immediately, until the full judgement is given. As construction firms are already on site, environmental NGOs hope that the Court will make a decision within days in order to protect the valley from irreversible damage.
For years environmental groups have complained that the currently proposed routing of the road does not respect EU law and that a viable and significantly less damaging alternative exists.
Magda Stoczkiewicz, Bankwatch’s Policy Coordinator, said: “It is very unfortunate that Poland is to be taken to the European Court of Justice over the Rospuda Valley case, but it is no surprise given the government’s rash approach to European law in this instance. The Commission's firm stand on this issue is encouraging and it can only be hoped now that the verdict of the Court will be positive for the valley, one of Poland’s and Europe’s unique natural treasures.”
“The whole European Partnership of BirdLife International supports the important move taken by the European Commission today..." —Konstantin Kreiser, EU Policy Manager, BirdLife International
These road developments on Via Baltica, as they are currently proposed, run straight through the Augustow and Knyszyn Primeval Forests. These are Special Protection Areas under the Birds Directive and should be proposed as Sites of Community Importance under the Habitats Directive – Europe’s major laws for the protection of natural environment.
"The whole European Partnership of BirdLife International supports the important move taken by the European Commission today and also the sense of urgency that has driven the European Commission in the past months. We also fully support the request that an order be made for Poland to stop construction work pending the consideration of the Court. This is a crucial case and Poland, just as other EU Member States, must fulfil its obligations to respect EU nature legislation," added Konstantin Kreiser, EU Policy Manager of Birdlife International.
Marta Majka Wiśniewska of WWF Poland said: “The request from the Commission for so-called interim measures is further evidence of how bad the situation is. A key natural habitat with protected species could be lost because of a lack of will to assess alternative solutions. Instead of being proud about bringing such a natural treasure to Europe, Poland is putting it at risk. This situation must be stopped immediately.”
Posted by Surfbirds at 12:44 PM | Comments (0)
March 21, 2007
Help WWT save British breeding waders
This week, the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) is launching a campaign to raise awareness of the plight of British wading birds due to a startling decline in their breeding habitat.
Black-tailed Godwit, copyright Stephen Round
British wading birds need wet grassland to live and breed, yet it is one of the fastest disappearing habitats in the UK. We have lost almost half our wet grasslands over the last century as a result of land drainage and agricultural intensification and, as a result, populations of breeding waders have fallen dramatically. Numbers of Snipe have dropped by a massive 61% across in the last 20 years, Curlew by 40% and Lapwing numbers have plummeted by 35%.
Population studies have also shown that land changes are forcing remaining waders onto nature reserves where effective management of their habitat is becoming increasingly important if we are to stop individual species from disappearing altogether. With such a high proportion of breeding waders concentrated in just a few sites, it is vital that these areas are protected and maintained.
WWT has begun a project to create new areas of wet grassland on its reserves and ensure that existing areas are expertly managed to encourage greater populations of these breeding waders. So far WWT has had some significant success. Leigh Marshall, Reserve Manager at WWT Welney Wetland Centre in Cambridgeshire, said: “Back in the 1970s, some 50 pairs of Black-tailed Godwit bred on the Ouse Washes, south of WWT Welney. Since then the population has steadily declined to almost nothing. Careful attention to water levels, grass management and cattle grazing has created ideal habitat at Welney itself. In 2006 there were four breeding pairs on site, and two successfully raised two young each.”
Work is continuing on WWT’s reserves at Arundel, London, Martin Mere, Slimbridge, Washington and Welney to ensure the right type of vegetation by allowing the right cattle to graze during non-breeding seasons; to carefully control water levels by installing specialist sluices; and to install effective measures to protect waders and their young from predators.
If wet grasslands continue to be lost, so will these unique wader species. Help WWT stop British wading birds disappearing forever.
Posted by Surfbirds at 3:23 PM | Comments (0)
Second riddle posed by rare bird’s return
The rarest birds in the Middle East are returning to breeding grounds after being fitted with satellite tags to unveil the mystery of their migration journey.
Northern Bald Ibis, copyright Stephen Daly
The re-appearance of one northern bald ibis in Palmyra, Syria, with two others close behind, has been heralded as a success for the nine-month tracking project that began when scientists tagged three adult birds last summer. The trio, Sultan, Salam and Zenobia, the latter named after Palmyra’s third-century warrior queen, have flown more than 3,800 miles across seven countries on their migration route spending the winter in the Ethiopian highlands 50 miles from the
country’s capital Addis Ababa.
The National Geographic Society, RSPB and others are funding the project. Bedouin nomads and rangers from the Syrian Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform are protecting the breeding site and the new tracking data will help conservationists safeguard the birds on migration and over winter as well. Dr Ken Smith, a senior scientist at the RSPB, said: ‘The birds’ return is fantastic news and a huge relief. Hunting, poisoning by the pesticide DDT or disturbance is stopping the colony increasing despite the birds breeding well in Syria. Knowing the migration route is a major breakthrough and means we can now tackle the huge challenge of protecting the birds throughout the year. The next riddle we must solve is where the young birds go and how we can safeguard them as well.’
The Palmyran colony was only discovered in 2002 and its numbers have never risen above 13. Little was known of the birds’ migration before the project began but researchers have plotted each stop-over and the length and time of each leg. They have followed the birds’ flight on a special tracking map on the RSPB’s website and the tracking devices led to the discovery of the birds’ wintering site in Ethiopia.
The birds’ return route was one of the factors that surprised scientists most. They flew west rather than east of the Red Sea, crossing from Sudan to Saudi Arabia at the Sea’s widest point of about 180 miles. ‘Our hearts were in our mouths because they set out to sea quite late in the morning and were still far offshore when night fell,’ Jeremy Lindsell, an RSPB research biologist said. ‘These birds have been surprising us from the outset but we are determined to save them. The technology has worked superbly and the tags have lasted far longer than we expected.’
Tagging a young bird in Palmyra is the task for this summer and Lubomir Peske, an expert from Prague, is likely to be involved. ‘It is a delicate job and a huge responsibility, especially for such a rare species,” he said. ‘You must watch the birds for many days to understand their habits and hope they quickly resume normal behaviour once the tag is fitted. Attaching the tracking device is like fitting an invisible umbilical cord; that's how close you feel to the birds. The success of the project so far is hugely gratifying and makes me very optimistic about tagging a young ibis this summer.’ Paul Buckley, International Officer at the RSPB, said: ‘None of the nine younger birds in Syria last summer have been seen and that suggests that they use a different overwintering site. A year ago we were sure the birds would stay together but these ibis are behaving very differently. Tracking a young bird should solve this new mystery and perhaps broaden the level of the protection the colony needs.’ Ibrahim Khader, Head of BirdLife Middle East, said: ‘The birds’ migration remains perilous and it is our job to make that journey safer. If we can do that, this population will have a much better chance of survival. Without this project, the northern bald ibis would have been consigned to history and hieroglyphics.’
Posted by Surfbirds at 3:04 PM | Comments (0)
Borneo's clouded leopard identified as new cat species
Scientists have discovered that the clouded leopard found on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra is an entirely new species of cat. The secretive rainforest animal was originally thought to be the same species as the one found in mainland South-east Asia.
Click here for image and further links http://www.panda.org/news_facts/newsroom/press_releases/index.cfm?uNewsID=95660
The news comes just a few weeks after a WWF report showed that scientists had identified at least 52 new species of animals and plants over the past year on Borneo.
“Who said a leopard can never change its spots?" said Stuart Chapman, WWF International Coordinator of the Heart of Borneo programme.
"For over a hundred years we have been looking at this animal and never realized it was unique. The fact that Borneo’s top predator is now considered a separate species further emphasizes the importance of conserving one of the most biologically diverse habitats on Earth.”
Researchers at the US National Cancer Institute say the differences between the Borneo and mainland clouded leopard were found to be comparable to the differences between other large cat species such as lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar and snow leopard. They believe the Borneo population likely diverged from the mainland population some 1.4 million years ago.
“Genetic research results clearly indicate that the clouded leopards of Borneo should be considered a separate species,” said Dr Stephen O'Brien, Head of the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, US National Cancer Institute. “DNA tests highlighted around 40 differences between the two species.”
The results of the genetic study are supported by separate research on geographical variation in the clouded leopard, based mainly on fur patterns and colouration of skins held in museums and collections.
“The moment we started comparing the skins of the mainland clouded leopard with the leopard found on Borneo, it was clear we were comparing two different species,” said Dr Andrew Kitchener, Department of Natural Sciences, National Museums Scotland. “It’s incredible that no one has ever noticed these differences.”
The Borneo clouded leopard has small cloud markings, many distinct spots within the cloud markings, grey fur and a double dorsal stripe. It is darker than the mainland species.
Clouded leopards from the mainland have large clouds on their skin with fewer, often faint, spots within the cloud markings. They are lighter in colour, with a tendency toward tawny-coloured fur and a partial double dorsal stripe.
By taking into consideration the forest conditions in Borneo, a total number of 5,000 to 11,000 Bornean clouded leopards are estimated to live there. The total number in Sumatra could be in the range of 3,000 to 7,000 individuals. However, further studies are needed to obtain better population data.
The last great forest home of the Bornean clouded leopard is the Heart of Borneo, a 220,000km2 wild, mountainous region — about five times the size of Switzerland — covered with equatorial rainforest in the centre of the island. Destruction of their habitat is the main threat they face.
Last month in Bali (Indonesia), the ministers of the three Bornean governments — Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia — signed an historic declaration to conserve and sustainably manage the Heart of Borneo. This has put the area on the global stage of conservation priorities.
END NOTES:
• Based on their general physical appearance, all clouded leopards were considered to belong to a single species. However, recent genetic analysis has shown that the ones found on Borneo are so different that they are best regarded as a separate species. DNA tests highlighted around 40 nucleotide differences between the two species. This is comparable to differences between the large Panthera species. Lions and leopards, for instance, have 56 nucleotide differences. The combined results of DNA analysis point to a 1–3 million years difference in separation, while the accepted distance of species is 1–2 million years.
• The clouded leopard was first scientifically described in 1821 by the British naturalist Edward Griffith. The scientific name of the clouded leopard from the mainland is Neofelis nebulosa, while the Bornean clouded leopard is now called Neofelis diardi.
• Clouded leopards occur in most forested habitats of Borneo, from coastal areas to the interior mountain ranges. Their preferred habitats, where most animals are found, are the dense lowland and hill rainforests of Borneo. They usually avoid open areas with few trees and are very sensitive to human disturbances.
• Bornean clouded leopards feed on monkeys, mouse deer, barking deer, young bearded pigs and sambar deer, which are stalked on the ground or jumped upon from tree branches. Occasionally birds and reptiles (such as monitor lizards) are eaten as well.
For further information:
Olivier van Bogaert, Senior Press Officer
WWF International
Tel: +41 22 364 9554
E-mail: ovanbogaert@wwfint.org
Stuart Chapman, Heart of Borneo Programme Coordinator
WWF International
E-mail: schapman@wwf.org.id
Posted by Surfbirds at 2:52 PM | Comments (0)
March 19, 2007
EU LIFE Yelkouan Shearwater Project
The EU LIFE Yelkouan Shearwater Project is launching in Malta on the 26th March, 2007. It is the largest conservation initiative of its kind in Malta.
This high profile project is a partnership of government authorities and conservation organisations, part funded by the European Union. This combination of government bodies with BirdLife Malta, RSPB and SPEA (BirdLife Portugal) is an innovative and positive way of working on wildlife conservation in the Maltese islands
Yelkouan Shearwater, copyright Frank Dhermain
Yelkouan Shearwater, copyright John Borg
The Maltese islands are very important for Yelkouan Shearwaters (Puffinus yelkouan). An estimated 1,500 pairs are known to breed here, which equals approximately 10% of the world's population. A third of these breed at the project site, Rdum tal-Madonna, in the north of Malta.
The aim of the project is to secure the future for Yelkouan Shearwaters in Malta and the Mediterranean. The initiative also aims to improve the Rdum tal-Madonna site (a Special Protection Area and a Special Area of Conservation) for visitors from abroad and locals.
The project will undertake satellite tracking and data logging research to find out where these birds actually go after the breeding season in the Maltese islands. This will provide new scientific data (currently very limited) on these birds' movements and behaviour including how deep they can dive, whether they stay near Malta and how far they travel. The Project will use this data to create the first Marine Special Protection Area in Malta, setting an example for other countries in the Mediterranean region.
We are also creating the first protected area management plan for Malta which will act as a blueprint for all other internationally important sites.
For further information, please contact me at the below addresses:
Helen Raine
Project Manager
EU LIFE Yelkouan Shearwater Project
c/o BirdLife Malta, 57/28 Triq Abate Rigord, Ta'Xbiex XBX1120
Tel: +356 21347646
helen.raine@birdlifemalta.org
http://www.lifeshearwaterproject.org.mt/
Posted by Surfbirds at 10:36 AM | Comments (0)
March 13, 2007
Orange-breasted Falcon Sightings Requested
The Orange-breasted Falcon is a rare raptor of tropical forests historically ranging from southern Mexico south to Argentina.
Orange-breasted Falcon, Belize, copyright Ryan Phillips
This species has been disappearing over much of its known range, and conservationists are looking for answers. Orange-breasted Falcon is now being raised in captivity and released back into the wild at historically occupied areas in an attempt to augment the wild populations. Help us pinpoint some of these areas by contributing your observations of this species. Researchers at eBird are interested in organizing all known sightings of this species in order to help visualize both its historic and current distributions. Your sightings can help researchers monitor these amazing and rare birds and help provide a better understanding of their biological requirements and current distribution. These data will be made available to researchers through eBird and the Avian Knowledge Network.
To participate in this effort please send your sightings to ebird@cornell.edu. Please include as much information as possible, including date, location (lat/long preferred), number, age/sex and behavior. If you have questions you can email us directly at bls42@cornell.edu (Brian Sullivan) and clw37@cornell.edu (Chris Wood).
Your observations are valuable, and at eBird we're helping put your data to work for bird conservation!
Posted by Surfbirds at 2:41 PM | Comments (0)
State officials complete enquiries into seabird deaths
Hundreds of terns, most unable to fly, died in Long Beach Harbor last summer when their nesting area aboard two barges was disturbed.
State wildlife officials said they have forwarded the results of a seven-month investigation into the deaths of hundreds of young seabirds last summer to the Long Beach city attorney's office for prosecution.
Elegant Tern, copyright Julien Gernigon
More than 500 terns - slim seabirds related to gulls but in this case mostly too young to fly - plummeted off two privately owned barges in the Long Beach Harbor in late June.
Twenty-five birds survived what a barge owner called an unfortunate mistake and what environmentalists across the country called "Terngate."
Many environmentalists had said state and federal wildlife officials should have realized that the barges had, over time, become a tern nesting site worthy of protection. They had also grown frustrated with the length of the inquiry.
"The case required a lengthy investigation," said Lt. Kent Smirl of the California Department of Fish and Game. "But it's not going away. We've done an excellent investigation, one of the best the department has ever done in Long Beach."
Smirl, whose agency led the probe that also involved the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said he expects charges to be filed by Long Beach prosecutors.
Long Beach city prosecutor John Fentis declined to comment. Smirl's office declined to identify who might be charged or the owner of the barges.
However, in an interview Wednesday, Ralph Botticelli, owner of San Diego-based Point Loma Maritime Services, said the incident was "all an honest and unfortunate mistake." His company was hired to move two barges with a tugboat to Santa Barbara for a fireworks display.
Initial reports suggested that the tugboat crew had used high-pressure hoses to destroy the nesting Caspian and Elegant Terns, which had become a tourist attraction for cruise ship operators.
The delicate, skittish birds are protected under federal law, authorities said, and it is a misdemeanor to disturb them. Animal cruelty is a felony in California. The deaths brought an end to a significant colony of terns established on barges that for months had been moored hundreds of yards offshore.
But Botticelli, 39, said neither the barges nor his tugboat were equipped with "steam cleaners or high-pressure hoses" for the moving operation. As he described it, the incident began when his crew - a captain and a deckhand - unintentionally "spooked the birds" with their approach.
"The birds just kamikazied off the side," he said. "That's what goes on in the harbor. It's everyday business: people working hard to feed their families. They had no idea there were birds on there. He said the barges "had no walls or railings to keep anything contained."
He added, "My crew actually saved two that didn't make it over and took them to a rescue center."
Bird rescuers, however, said that although some of the terns were old enough to walk, many others were newly hatched and unable to stand and must have been forced into the water.
The first barge never made it to Santa Barbara. Coast Guard officials ordered that it turn back to Long Beach after they discovered that it lacked proper certification. "The Coast Guard ordered us to return the barge to exactly where we got it," recalled Botticelli, who was in Montana at the time. "By telephone, I said, 'Are you sure you want us to take it back? There's another barge there, and it might have more birds on it."
Botticelli added: "They said, 'Take it back.' So we did that. It was about 3 in the morning. I don't know what happened after that."
But Erin Kellogg, assistant manager of the International Bird Rescue Research Center in San Pedro, said she will never forget "the day we got a call from lifeguards about dead birds washing up on shore. A little while later, I stepped out on the sand to find the shoreline littered with baby tern bodies."
"We were crying as we collected their bodies, many of which were mutilated after being smacked and rolled around in the waves," she said. "Twenty-seven were found alive - battered and bruised and in shock with low blood pressure and hypothermia. Of those, two were euthanized because they had severe wing fractures."
Two days later, more washed up along the surf line in the same area. "We surveyed the second barge with scopes," said Cristina Verduzco, a staff worker at the center, "and saw that it was empty except for a few parent terns searching for their babies."
The barges were an ideal habitat free of predators for terns, which can be distinguished from gulls by their pointed wings and bills and their feeding technique of plunging into the water for prey.
"We want whoever did this brought to justice," Kellogg said. "If this goes unpunished, I'm afraid to think of what else will be found
acceptable."
Jay Holcomb, director of the bird rescue center, agreed. "I'm excited the case is not being dropped, as some had feared," he said. "We would like to get reimbursed for the cost of caring for those birds and for the emotional hell my staff went through collecting all those dead baby birds."
The International Fund for Animal Welfare was offering a $10,000 reward for information on who was responsible for destroying the nesting colonies.
By Louis Sahagun
Times Staff Writer
Posted by Surfbirds at 2:24 PM | Comments (0)
March 7, 2007
Land Purchase Helps to Save Endangered Parrot
(Washington DC, March 5, 2007) American Bird Conservancy has teamed up with the Brazilian conservation group Fundação Biodiversitas and the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund to purchase more than 3,000 acres of vital habitat to protect the Lear’s Macaw, one of the worlds’ most endangered birds. The project will protect key nesting sites; ensure their protection through hiring of forest guards, and support education efforts in local communities.
“The Critically Endangered Lear's Macaw is one of the rarest and most spectacular of the world’s parrots,” said George Fenwick, President of American Bird Conservancy. “We are grateful for the support of the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund and the outstanding work of Biodiversitas to conserve a species that is on the brink of extinction.”
The Lear’s Macaw and the protection of its habitat are priorities for the Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE), a global initiative that aims to protect critically endangered and endangered species that depend on single sites for their survival. Recent surveys suggest that only 451 individual macaws survive in the state of Bahia in northeast Brazil.
“The protection of such a vital site for the Lear’s Macaw, through the expansion of the Canudos Biological Station, is a huge step towards the preservation of the species,” said Eduardo Figueiredo. “Important partners such as American Bird Conservancy and Disney are fundamental to keep us working for the conservation of such a wonderful and threatened bird.”
“This large blue macaw faces several severe threats to its continued existence in the wild,” said Michael J. Parr, Vice President of American Bird Conservancy and co-author of A Guide to the Parrots of the World. “It requires constant protection from the illegal wild bird trade while the licuri palm, on which the bird depends, is becoming increasingly scarce. They key area for the species includes sandstone cliffs where it roosts and nests and where it is vulnerable to illegal trappers.”
Posted by Surfbirds at 8:09 AM | Comments (0)
March 5, 2007
Cerulean Warbler Campaign
Whilst the technicians have been working on moving Surfbirds to a faster, stronger server, we have been helping American Bird Conservancy with their Cerulean Warbler Campaign. Please download an email signature icon or avatar to enliven your signature in email messages and online discussion forums and help save the Cerulean Warbler.
Please right-click the images of your choosing and choose "Copy", "Save Image", or "Save Picture As"
Some instructions on how to add email signatures at About.com
If you have web-based email such as Yahoo!, Hotmail or Surfbirder email (or want to just put one of these on your blogs), then copy and paste the html code below the icon you want.
Email signature icon
Avatars
Robert Royse kindly allowed use of his superb Cerulean Warbler images for the ABC campaign.
Posted by Surfbirds at 2:19 AM | Comments (0)
March 3, 2007
RSPB fears increase in wild bird crimes if government scraps bird registration scheme
The withdrawal of a scheme requiring bird keepers to register individuals of the most threatened bird species held in captivity could lead to an increase in the number of birds, especially peregrine falcons and goshawks, plundered from the wild, believes the RSPB.
The government's bird-registration scheme has been pivotal in preventing 'laundered' wild-caught birds being passed off as those bred in captivity. Despite the scheme's success in protecting wild birds, the RSPB fears the government may axe the scheme to reduce bureaucracy and save costs. A government consultation on the future of the scheme ends on Friday 16 February, 2007.
Goshawk, copyright Bill Baston
The RSPB is campaigning to save the scheme, which is currently under review by Defra.
Duncan McNiven, an RSPB investigations officer, said: “We believe that if the scheme is axed it could risk an increase in nest robberies, especially of highly sought-after birds of prey. Peregrines and goshawks command a high price and the lure of turning a quick profit might encourage unscrupulous nest robbers to take chicks from the wild and try to launder them as birds bred in captivity.”
The RSPB believes Defra is prudent to examine the level of bureaucracy associated with the scheme but believes that its importance to bird conservation should not be compromised by a paper-cutting exercise, especially as reported peregrine nest robberies are at an all-time low.
Evidence from the bird registration scheme in combination with DNA testing has led to the successful conviction of 15 people found guilty of offences involving wild birds.
Duncan McNiven added: “The registration scheme is an essential enforcement tool which enables the police to trace individual birds and use DNA-profiling to establish whether captive breeding claims are true or not. It has proved a powerful deterrent against nest robberies. The number of wild peregrine thefts and the number of convictions are both down as a result. Without this scheme the police will struggle to enforce the law”
The consultation period on the 'Review of Registration under Section 7 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981' ends today on [16 February] after which Defra will decide on the fate of the scheme. A previous consultation on this issue took place as recently as 2002, which resulted in an overwhelming endorsement for the continuation of the scheme.
The two species arguably most threatened by the axing of the scheme include the goshawk and the peregrine. Both species have had a chequered history in the UK. Following centuries of persecution, the peregrine falcon population crashed in the 1960s, disappearing from many areas in the UK. The population has recently recovered to about 1400 nesting pairs, although it has declined again in some parts of the country. The goshawk was persecuted to extinction in Britain. However, in the 1960s it became re-established as a nesting bird, largely as a result of individual goshawks escaping from collections or deliberate releases.
Posted by Surfbirds at 9:05 AM | Comments (0)
UK sea mapping project is first step towards greater protection for marine wildlife
UKSeaMap, the first full survey of the UK’s marine features published today by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, is a significant step forward to the greater protection of marine wildlife, says the RSPB.
The two-year UKSeaMap project, which was part funded by the RSPB, identifies features on the seabed and within the water column, providing a broad pattern of the UK’s marine habitats. The UKSeaMap project, which is led by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, is a partnership of ten organisations including government departments, agencies, advisers and conservation charities.
Great Skua, Highland, UK, copyright Steve Round
Dr Euan Dunn, head of the RSPB’s marine team, said: “Marine wildlife and habitats need much better protection, but, until now, this has been hampered by the extremely patchy extent of our knowledge about what lies beneath the waves. We hope the government will make full use of UKSeaMap as it draws up proposals to improve wildlife protection through the forthcoming Marine Bill.”
The UK has 25 species of nesting seabird, including the Manx shearwater, gannet and great skua, which have most of their world nesting population around the UK. Several more species, including the critically-endangered Balearic shearwater, are regular non-breeding visitors to UK waters.
David Connor, a marine specialist who led the work at the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, said: “Through our understanding of the physical and hydrographic factors that determine what wildlife occurs where, such as seabed sediments and water depth, we have developed an approach to predict variation in seabed ecology using data that covers large areas. We brought together this well known data with new information such as that on light penetration, and how much the seabed is disturbed by waves. By combining these, the UKSeaMap project has for the first time provided an insight into the broad pattern of marine habitats around the UK - a brand new map of our seas and the first of its kind in Europe.”
Dr Paul Gilliland, a marine specialist with Natural England and Chair of the project's Steering Group, said: "We need to develop more sustainable management of the marine environment as a whole, not least in response to the growing use of the sea and the need to protect it.”
Posted by Surfbirds at 8:56 AM | Comments (0)
March 2, 2007
Iraq opens the book on wildlife conservation
Wildlife conservation in Iraq has been given a significant boost with the release of a guide to Iraq's birds; the first field-guide of its kind for the nation.
BirdLife International and Nature Iraq, a newly-formed conservation non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Iraq, have published "Field Guide to the Birds of Iraq" in Arabic. [1] [2]
Covering the 387 bird species that have been recorded in Iraq, this is the first comprehensive, fully-illustrated field-guide to an Arabic-speaking country. The field-guide was made possible through funding from the Canadian Government via the Canada-Iraq Marshlands Initiative, the World Bank, the Ornithological Society of the Middle East (OSME) and AviFauna.
Basra Reed Warbler, copyright Amit Geffen
"For Iraq, a nation that has lost so much of its wildlife in the last twenty years, this book opens the door for the growing conservation movement in this country" said Dr Ali Douabul of Nature Iraq. "Local language field guides are crucial tools for conservation. They encourage people to realise, appreciate and get involved in bird conservation, which, because birds are good indicators of the environment, has potential benefits for all of our wildlife."
The book is due to be presented to the Iraqi President, Jalal Talabani, in the next few weeks.
The release of the "Birds of Iraq" field-guide adds weight to the conservation movement that has started to emerge in the country. Since the fall of Saddam Hussein's government in 2003, the Mesopotamian Marshes, thought to be the site of the biblical Garden of Eden and home to 28 of Iraq's Important Bird Areas - have been the focus of a major international programme to help restore their ecological and social-cultural heritage. [3]
Under the regime of the previous government, almost 90% of the Marshes were destroyed through drainage. With reduced numbers of fish and the failing of crops, many people were forced to flee to neighbouring Iran and Jordan. Since this time however some 40% of the land has been re-flooded and wildlife - with it food for Iraq's people - is returning. [4]
"These are some of the most wildlife-rich sites in the Middle East, but often all we hear about is the conflict" said Richard Porter, BirdLife International's Middle-East Advisor and co-author of the guide. Mr Porter has in recent years led a team from BirdLife International that has trained biologists from Nature Iraq in skills to survey and monitor Iraq's marshes for the wildlife that live there. [5] [6]
"It's recognised across the world that biodiversity can enhance quality of life in a region. By publishing this field-guide with Nature Iraq, we are improving the ease with which people can become involved in conservation in the region; a positive step which has potential economic benefits for the nation as a whole" Mr Porter commented.
Further information:
[1] BirdLife International is a global alliance of conservation organisations working in more than 100 countries who, together, are the leading authority on the status of birds, their habitats and the issues and problems affecting them.
[2] Notes on Field Guide to the Birds of Iraq:
The illustrations and text for the field guide have been taken from "Birds of the Middle East" (in the Helm Field Guide series),
which has recently been translated into Arabic. Nature Iraq was responsible for adapting the text for Iraq, especially that on status, distribution and habitats. The publication was designed by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) in Jordan and funded by a number of organisations including the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the World Bank and the Ornithological Society of the Middle East (OSME).
Copies of Field Guide to the Birds of Iraq (price £15.00 including postage) can be obtained in the UK from OSME Sales: e-mail:
sales@osme.org
Citation: Birds of Iraq IN ARABIC (2006) by M. Salim, R.F.Porter, S. Christensen, P Schiermaker-Hansen & S Jbour. Published by Nature Iraq & BirdLife International. Amman, Jordan.
[3] The Mesopotamian Marshes are one of the most biodiverse regions in Iraq. These areas form one of the largest wetlands in the Middle East, providing a vital stop-over for thousands of waterbirds on migration and during the winter months. They are also recognised by BirdLife International as an Endemic Bird Area (EBA) based on the fact that the area contains three species that occur nowhere else in the world; Iraq Babbler Turdoides altirostris, Basra Reed Warbler Acrocephalus griseldis and Grey Hypocolius >I>Hypocolius ampelinus.
[4] The area of the Mesopotamian Marshes declined by 85.5% from 8,926 km2 to 1,294 km2 between 1976 and 2000 (UNEP 2001). In April 2003, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) announced that, of the marshland area that remained in 2000, a further third had been drained up to 2003, thus only c.7% of the original extent remains as of 2003, i.e. 759 km2.
[5] Over the past two years, BirdLife International, funded by the Canadian Government, has been training biologists at Nature Iraq to carry out bird and other wildlife surveys of the internationally important Mesopotamian Marshes. This training has covered recording techniques, plant identification, habitat monitoring techniques and practical skills like measuring water quality.
Biologists at Nature Iraq have just started their fifth survey of the Mesopotamian Marshes region. Initial indications report healthy populations of Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus, African Darter Anhinga rufa, Basra Reed Warbler Acrocephalus griseldis and Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris. No species of bird has become
extinct in the Marshes since the last surveys in the 1970s.
[6] Â Richard Porter is co-author of the guide, the senior author being Mudafer Salim on behalf of Nature Iraq.
Posted by Surfbirds at 12:38 PM | Comments (0)
Via Baltica - Commission gives final warning to Poland
The European Commission today officially sent its second, and final, warning letter to the Polish government about the routing of the Via Baltica that would severely damage important, and protected, natural sites in eastern Poland.
The European Commission today officially sent its second, and final, warning letter to the Polish government about the routing of the Via Baltica that would severely damage important, and protected, natural sites in eastern Poland.
Greater Spotted Eagle, copyright Frederic Veyrunes
The RSPB has lent its support to a pan-European coalition of green organisations backing the European Commission’s call to halt this damaging development. The sites affected are home to some of Europe’s most special wildlife, including wolf, lynx and both lesser spotted and white-tailed eagles. The Biebrza Marshes are also the most important breeding site in Europe for the globally-threatened aquatic warbler and the greater spotted eagle.
The second European Commission letter – a so-called “Reasoned Opinion” – is the last chance Poland has to stop works on the controversial Augustow Bypass through the pristine Rospuda wetlands before the European Commission takes Poland to the European Court of Justice, which could see the Court insist that they stop construction and ultimately impose a severe fine.
Due to the current state of urgency – contractors are already on the site of the proposed Augustow Bypass – the European Commission has taken the unusual step of giving Poland just seven days to respond.
EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said: “I urge the Polish Government to once more consider ways of building these bypasses without causing such serious environmental damage. I believe that Poland has everything to gain by building new infrastructure without sacrificing its most precious natural heritage.” [note 1]
This move has been welcomed by environmental NGOs, including the RSPB, BirdLife International, CEE Bankwatch Network, and the Polish organisations OTOP (the Polish Society for the Protection of Birds), WWF Poland, Polish Green Network– all of whom have vigorously challenged the large- scale development and stressed the existence of alternatives.
Graham Wynne, the RSPB’s chief executive, said: “The European Commission must continue to put pressure on the Polish government to halt this senselessly damaging development. It is outrageous that such wildlife-rich sites are being jeopardized when alternative routes exist. Poland must accept its international commitments to protect wildlife.
“The RSPB is working extensively with our partner in Poland to protect the country’s natural assets and we are lending our full support to the campaign to halt the proposed Via Baltica development.”
The road developments on Via Baltica as they are currently proposed run straight through the Augustow and Knyszyn Primeval Forests and the Biebrza Marshes National Park. All of the areas in question are protected as Special Protection Areas (SPA) under the Birds Directive and are or should be proposed as Sites of Community Importance (SCI) under the Habitats Directive – Europe’s strongest laws for the protection of natural environments.
Clairie Papazoglou, Head of the European Divisionat BirdLife in Brussels said: “NGOs are extremely pleased that the European Commission is expediting its legal action. Urgent action is required given the fact that works already started last week in the Rosupda Valley thus totally disregarding the EU’s nature legislation.”
At the same time NGOs learned yesterday that apparently on February 20 the Polish Ministry of Environment issued a decision allowing the continuation of work in Augustow Primeval Forest SPA during the nesting period of protected birds, from March 1 until July 31 for the three years up to 2009. This includes construction of a flyover bridge in the peatlands in the Rospuda Valley.
Magda Stoczkiewicz, Policy coordinator of CEE Bankwatch Network in Brussels added: “It is very important that the Commission maintains a strong stance on the issue as we see the Polish government continuing to breach European law. There are real alternatives that would allow the building of the Augustow bypass and also the protection of nature. The Polish government should concentrate on this instead of arguing everything is in order.”
Marta Wisniewska EU Policy Officer at.WWF Poland said: “We recognise the need for improved infrastructure in Poland, but any development must follow the EU legal framework.”
Posted by Surfbirds at 9:18 AM | Comments (0)
Polish Government declares it's the end of the road for wildlife haven
Despite condemnation from the highest levels of the European Commission and conservationists across Europe, the Polish government has given the green light for the diggers to begin the destruction of the pristine Rospuda wetlands today to create a corridor for the highly-controversial Polish section of the Warsaw to Helsinki transnational highway, known as Via Baltica.
Last night the building decision was announced by both Poland’s minister of environment, Jan Szyszko, and Tadeusz Topczewski, the director of the General Direcorate for Roads and Highways, which is the project investor. The construction will damage internationally-important wildlife habitats protected under Polish and European law.
The international transport corridor will put at risk strongholds of lynx, wolf and the most important European Union populations of two globally-threatened birds: the greater spotted eagle and aquatic warbler.
Aquatic Warbler, Poland, May 2004, copyright Birdseekers
The European Commission is proceeding with a formal infringement procedure and has reprimanded the Polish government. In excess of 150,000 Polish people have signed the petition urging the Polish government to halt work immediately on these damaging projects and await the results of a Strategic Environmental Assessment.
Quoted in the Polish media, Stavros Dimas, the EU’s Commissioner for Environment, said: “To prevent irreversible damage we will ask the European Court of Justice to stop the construction.”
The Augustow bypass construction – through the Rospuda wetlands - faces strong opposition both in Poland and internationally. The Polish President Lech Kaczynski, the Polish Ombudsman, the European Parliament and the European Commission have expressed their disapproval for this investment in its current state. The European Commission has announced that it is accelerating its infringement procedure and sent an immediate warning letter to the Polish authorities yesterday.
Dr Helen Byron, the RSPB’s expert on Via Baltica, said: “By allowing the construction of this highway, gouging a wound through some of Europe’s most important wildlife sites, Poland is displaying a deeply troubling lack of concern for its natural treasures. It seems that even international outrage and the concerns from thousands of Polish citizens are not enough to prevent this outrageous destruction.”
Konstantin Kreiser, EU Policy Manager of Birdlife International, said: “Like other member states, Poland needs to respect EU nature legislation.
“There are feasible alternative routes for Via Baltica, which would result in far less damage to some of Europe's most valuable natural sites. We acknowledge the need to upgrade and develop infrastructure in Poland, but any development must follow the EU legal framework. Anything less would be unfair to other member states and would risk irreversible damage to unique natural heritage. We will continue to follow these developments and raise our concerns with decision-makers in the EU institutions and in Poland.”
Magda Stoczkiewicz, Polish-born policy coordinator of CEE Bankwatch Network in Brussels, said: “The arrogance of our government in this case is truly remarkable and damaging not only to a unique European nature site but also to our image as a country.”
Posted by Surfbirds at 9:09 AM | Comments (0)
March 1, 2007
American Bird Conservancy Report Documents Top 20 Most Threatened Bird Habitats
Multi-Billion Dollar Benefits of Bird Watching At Risk
(Washington, D.C.) Significant portions of the American landscape are no longer providing adequate habitat for many native bird species, according to the Top 20 Most Threatened Bird Habitats in the United States, a new report by American Bird Conservancy (ABC). ABC’s report is available online at www.abcbirds.org/habitatreport.pdf
“Millions of Americans love to watch birds, whether on organized outings or in their own backyards,” said George Fenwick, President of American Bird Conservancy. “Without action to conserve these dwindling habitats, there will be fewer and fewer bird species for everyone to enjoy.”
Hawaiian forests topped the list as the most threatened bird habitat, where 30 Hawaiian birds are listed under the Endangered Species Act as Endangered or Threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Rainforests in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, Florida wetlands, longleaf pine forests in the Southeast, tallgrass prairies in the Midwest, sagebrush in the Intermountain West, coastal beaches, and seabird nesting islands were all among the most threatened habitats.
Hawaiian Forests are the most threatened habitats from Surfbirds Galleries by A. Birch
The primary causes for the loss of the 20 most threatened bird habitats include invasive species, sprawling development, fire suppression, agriculture, deforestation, poor habitat management, overgrazing, pesticides, and water diversion. The report identifies threats in each habitat, lists birds of high conservation concern, and offers solutions and opportunities to restore lost habitat.
Bird watching and other wildlife viewing by 66 million Americans contribute $43 billion annually to the nation’s economy, according to a 2006 report by the Outdoor Industry Foundation. Retail sales of birding gear, birding trips, and state and federal tax receipts comprise a substantial portion of this.
“As well as a biological imperative, it makes good economic sense to conserve bird habitats,” said Fenwick. “In addition to the direct economic benefits of bird watching, birds play an important role in maintaining the ecosystems on which humans ultimately depend.”
The most threatened habitats include:
1. Hawaiian Forests
2. Open Ocean/Sea Bird Nesting Islands
3. Sagebrush (WA, OR, ID, MT, WY, and NV)
4. Edwards Plateau Savannah (Central Texas)
5. Southwest Riparian (AZ, NM, CA, NV, and TX)
6. Tallgrass Prairies (IL, IN, OH, MO, KS, and IA)
7. Coastal Beaches and Marshes (U.S. coastline)
8. Gulf Coast Prairie (LA and TX)
9. Lake Wales Oak Ridge Scrub (Central Florida)
10. Mixed Longleaf Pine/Bottomland Hardwood Forest (NC, SC, GA, FL, MS, and AL)
11. Great Plains Wetlands (MN, ND, SD, NE)
12. California’s Central Valley (CA)
13. Florida Wetlands (FL)
14. Chaparral (CA)
15. Shortgrass Prairie (KS, NE, CO, OK, TX, and NM)
16. Bottomland Hardwood Forest (LA, AR, MS, and TN)
17. Ponderosa Pine (MT, ID, OR, and WA)
18. Oak Savannah (OR, WA, and CA)
19. Early Successional/Eastern Deciduous Forests (eastern states)
20. Northwest Rainforest (AK, BC, OR, WA, and CA)
The Top 20 Most Threatened Bird Habitats in the U.S. is available at www.abcbirds.org/habitatreport.pdf
Posted by Surfbirds at 9:02 AM | Comments (0)