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September 26, 2009
Butterflies behaviour linked to climate
Butterflies basking in the relatively warm South of Britain are likely to be more liberal in their choice of where to live than their cousins in the cooler and wetter North, according to new findings published this week.
The research, carried out by scientists from the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Butterfly Conservation and the University of York, has important implications for efforts to conserve butterfly species under changing climates, particularly where habitat restoration or conservation is planned.
Small Copper © Andrew Lawson, from the surfbirds galleries
Scientists already know that the location of food plants can limit where butterflies are found, but the new study is the first time that researchers have shown how the climate of an area can affect the number of habitat types or 'environmental space', such as grassland, woodland or heathland, that species are able to use for growth.
The study concluded that species' niches - the range of habitat types that butterflies choose to live in - are broader in warmer southern British locations, where butterflies are most abundant, than in the cooler north.
Lead author Dr. Tom Oliver from the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology said, "If these trends hold over time as well as space, then climate warming in Britain may benefit many butterfly species by allowing them to use a wider range of habitats. We must be wary though, as an increased frequency of climatic extremes, such as unseasonal cold snaps, could severely reduce butterfly populations and possibly restrict them to fewer habitat types".
The research team analysed data for 41 butterfly species. In areas with cold winters and high rainfall, the harsh climates can cause many habitat types to be unsuitable, restricting butterflies to only their favourite habitats. In contrast, in warmer locations life is easier for 'thermophilic', or warmth loving, insects such as butterflies and they are able to spread across the landscape.
The researchers also concluded that as the British climate changes over time butterflies are likely to modify their habitat requirements. They predict that species such as Small Coppers and Gatekeepers may become more frequent visitors to our parks and urban gardens.
Co-author Tom Brereton, Head of Monitoring at Butterfly Conservation said, "The results indicate that more wide-ranging efforts are needed in order to conserve butterflies in the face of new threats. It is vital we keep large areas of well-managed habitat in the landscape to allow species to adapt and survive."
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:54 AM | Comments (0)
Call for action after new report reveals worrying state of rivers
Just five of the 6,000 rivers in England and Wales remain in pristine condition, according to new figures published today.
The Environment Agency assessment reveals that just five rivers remain ‘High’ status waterways – all in remote areas of Northumberland and Wales. The report lists 26 per cent of rivers as ‘Good’ status, the required European standard.
This means 74% of rivers are failing – including 117 rivers (2%) which are classified as ‘Bad’ making them among the worst in Europe. Amongst these are the Stour estuary and a stretch of the river Trent.
Goosander © Kit Day, from the surfbirds galleries
The Our Rivers campaign – backed by a coalition of the RSPB, WWF UK, the Association of Rivers Trusts and the Angling Trust – has reacted to the report by calling for tougher action to protect waterways and ensure they remain clean and healthy for the benefit of wildlife.
'There is no doubt that the millions of pounds invested by the water industry over the past two decades has brought real improvements to our rivers and coasts,' said RSPB director of conservation Mark Avery.
'But these alarming figures really show just how far we have to go to tackle the problems faced by our rivers. There are just five rivers in pristine condition left and they are all in some of the least densely populated corners of the country.
'Elsewhere we are having a devastating impact on our waterways. Pollution from agriculture, over abstraction and poor town planning are all factors threatening what is an extremely important habitat for wildlife. Otters, water voles, kingfishers and more than 30 species of fish all rely on our rivers and we have a responsibility to keep them healthy and clean.
'This report should serve as a wake up call for the Government to do more to protect rivers. We will be examining the Environment Agency’s proposals for action being released today and challenging Government to ensure the final plans have a far reaching effect on the problems affecting our rivers, lakes and coasts.'
Tom Le Quesne, WWF freshwater policy advisor, said: 'Unless we take action now to stop the decline in the health of our rivers then we are storing up a raft of problems for the future. We are heavily reliant on this precious resource and our legislation and actions must deliver a positive improvement to its state.'
The release of these figures coincides with the Environment Agency setting out its plan for how it will care for rivers in England and Wales over the next decade – and achieve the new European Water Framework Directive which requires the UK to bring all of its rivers up to ‘Good’ status, or above, by 2015.
While the plans list hundreds of actions, many of which reflect long-standing commitments to improve the environment, disappointingly only 5% more rivers will be at ‘Good’ status by 2015. Environment minister Hilary Benn now has three months to decide whether this is really ambitious enough.
The report on the environmental status of rivers is the result of a huge amount of work by Environment Agency staff. It is the first time factors such as fish and plant life have been taken into account giving the fullest ever indication of the ecological state of our waterways.
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:47 AM | Comments (0)
Local group makes its mark at Egypt's Lake Qarun
Egypt’s first IBA-Local Conservation Group/Site Support Group (SSG) has persuaded one of the country’s largest construction groups to end the dumping of waste at Lake Qarun, which holds regionally important numbers of waterbirds in winter. The construction company has also pledged to restore an area of saltmarsh destroyed by tourism development along the lake shore, as a bird sanctuary.
The Lake Qarun Protected Area LCG/SSG was established by Nature Conservation Egypt (NCE; BirdLife Affiliate) in 2008, with a grant from the Aage V. Jensen Charity Foundation.
The lake occupies the deepest part of the Fayoum Depression, more than 40 metres below sea level. Once a large body of fresh water supporting Nilotic flora and fauna, the lake now receives almost all its water as drainage from irrigated land. As a result, and because the only ‘outflow’ is via evaporation, levels of salinity have been steadily increasing. The lake is now slightly more salty than seawater.
Slender-billed Gull © Matthieu Vaslin, from the surfbirds galleries
Because of these environmental changes, a local subspecies of Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala norrisae has become extinct, while Slender-billed Gull Larus genei, which began breeding in the 1990s, has now reached around 8,500 pairs. Numbers of breeding Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus also meet IBA criteria, as does the wintering population of Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis.
A salt extraction processing plant has been set up, which over time will improve water quality and permit habitats to be restored, as well as providing employment. But unregulated tourist development along the southern shores of the lake is destroying the best waterbird habitats, particularly mudflats and saltmarshes, and leading to increased disturbance to birds. Hunters, including organised parties from Europe, regularly ignore the lake’s protected status.
The SSG was set up to enhance biodiversity conservation and benefit-sharing with local communities, in recognition that local people could make a significant contribution towards conservation efforts by reducing exploitation and hunting in the protected area.
“The SSG we established has 20 members, 13 men and 7 ladies, including fishermen, school teachers, farmers, and some people who work at the salt factory”, said Dr Kohar Garo Varjabedian, Principal Coordinator of the SSG project.
SSG members have removed shooting blinds erected by duck hunters, and plan to erect signboards with information about the lake’s protected status, and its importance as an IBA. They are also involved in awareness raising and education activities with schoolchildren.
The local government has an ecotourism strategy for Lake Qarum, which is increasingly seen as a premium tourist destination. “We are focusing on ecotourism and its related economic benefits for local communities, by convincing the fishermen to rent their boats for nature trips along the lake during the closed season for fishing”, Dr Kohar Garo Varjabedian explained.
The SSG has proved to be an important point of contact between the lakeside community and the Protected Area authority, and also the Egyptian government. “For example, we have taken some of the problems that the fishermen were facing to governmental institutions such as the Fish Development Authority and Water and Environmental Police”, added Dr Varjabedian. Better communications between the fishermen and the authorities, together with stricter law enforcement, has reduced illegal fishing. "The fishermen report that fish yields are improving".
When one of the country’s most powerful construction companies began work on a tourist development on the south western shore, the SSG moved into action. “We had reports that the workers at the site of the project were dumping piles of cement, sand and rock, and destroying the saltmarsh habitats of the birds”, said Dr Varjabedian. “We showed the photos that we had taken to the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA), and the director stopped them, and the bulldozers were quickly pulled back to 30 metres from the shoreline.
“The construction company’s owner has pledged to set aside a proportion of his shoreline for saltmarshes to be re-established, providing a small bird sanctuary on the lake. This was to have been a hunting lodge in his original plan, and he has made a commitment not to allow or sanction hunting parties along the lake. These actions from his side were announced after our meeting with him.”
In the summer of 1998, some 3,000 fledgling Slender-billed Gulls were found dead on El Qarn island, their main breeding site, almost certainly the victims of poisoning. Now local attitudes have changed. “Recently some fishermen found a wounded flamingo and took it to the LQPA office to be treated”, said Dr Varjabedian. “This has never happened before at LQPA.”
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:37 AM | Comments (0)
Madagascar NGOs unite against plunder of natural resources
Asity Madagascar (BirdLife in Madagascar) has joined a group of Malagasy civil society organisations, Voahary Gasy, calling for an end to the plundering of natural resources in the national parks of north-east Madagascar.
Following the change of government in March this year, all but essential humanitarian aid has been withdrawn by the international community, leaving Madagascar's national park and forestry services with little or no funding.
Loggers have moved into the protected areas, stripping the forests of valuable hardwoods such as rosewood, ebony and mahogany. They work for influential business people who are in possession of illegal but "official" documentation permitting them to export these hardwoods.
Local communities who depend on forest resources and on tourism have been threatened and attacked when opposing these illegal and highly destructive activities. A new trade in bushmeat has developed. Lemurs in particular are being killed in large numbers, and some hunters are supplying restaurants 'to order'.
Helmet Vanga © Nick Garbutt, BirdLife International. This image may not be reproduced or exploited in any fashion without permission from BirdLife.
A number of endemic birds are largely or entirely confined to pristine primary forest in north-east Madagascar, among them the Endangered Madagascar Serpent Eagle Eutriorchis astur and Vulnerable Helmet Vanga Euryceros prevostii and Bernier's Vanga Oriolia bernieri. With the complete breakdown of the enforcement of protected area regulation, and armed gangs operating with impunity in the forests, it has not been possible to assess the impact on these and other threatened species.
The Malagasy NGOs which have come together to form Voahary Gasy are calling for an immediate halt to exports of hardwoods, particularly rosewood, the enforcement of protected area regulation, the creation of a task force to combat environmental crime, and a campaign to raise awareness within Madagascar of the nature and extent of the destruction of the island's remaining forests.
Voahary Gasy also emphasise that the range of new and extreme threats to Madagascar's environment and biodiversity is very broad and not restricted to the north-east of the country or to precious hardwoods (although most severe here). Other parts of the country, and valuable resources such as reptiles, shark fins and rare plants, are also affected or at least at risk. Asity Madagascar is working with other groups to control or prevent problems in the far south-east, where the largest expanse of lowland forest, Tsitongambarika, is under threat, and similar initiatives are taking place elsewhere.
Global Witness and the Environmental Investigation Agency are currently preparing a detailed report on the illegal timber trade in Madagascar, due to be released in the coming weeks.
Ms Voninavoko Raminoarisoa, Coordinator of Asity Madagascar warned that if this situation is allowed to continue, many of the conservation gains in Madagascar, including the efforts of local communities to protect their resources, will be lost. "Asity Madagascar, as BirdLife Affiliate, calls on the international community to join efforts to solve these urgent problems."
"These events are a disaster for Madagascar, profiting a tiny number of individuals at immense cost to the country’s economy and extraordinary heritage", said Dr Roger Safford, Senior Programme Manager at BirdLife International. "The global community must help to resolve the situation, but the emergence of Voahary Gasy is a very positive step, showing the commitment of Malagasy institutions and individuals to lead in publicising and tackling the problems."
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:30 AM | Comments (0)
Hunting: an extinction threat to Middle East's most threatened bird
Conservationists trying to prevent the extinction of Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita are distraught that one of the last remaining wild birds in the Middle East has been shot by a hunter in Saudi Arabia, bringing the known wild Middle Eastern population of this Critically Endangered species to just four individuals.
Formerly, the range of this species extended across parts of southern and central Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. It even features in the hieroglyphs of Ancient Egypt. Following a huge population and range decline, the bulk of the wild population of 210 birds now occurs in Morocco, but a tiny population was rediscovered in 2002, in Syria.
Northern Bald Ibis © Stephen Daly, from the surfbirds galleries
A satellite-tracking project led by BirdLife International and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), in collaboration with the Desert Commission of the Syrian Government, established that the Syrian adults migrate to the Ethiopian highlands each winter, but the wintering area of younger birds remains a mystery. This migration across the deserts of the Middle East to north-east Africa puts these birds under threat from the region’s many hunters.
Researchers from BirdLife, the RSPB (BirdLife in the UK) and IUCN, trying to find out more about the movements of the young birds, fitted two birds with satellite tags, and it is one of these birds – a female – which was shot.
"We were excited that tagging a sub-adult ibis may have helped us to solve the mystery of where young ibises spend the winter, but now we may never know", said Eng. Ali Hamoud, of the Syrian Desert Commission. "The shooting of a young bird from such a tiny population is devastating news and it shows that hunting is a major threat to this species."
Dr Jeremy Lindsell, the RSPB scientist in charge of the ibis satellite-tracking project, said: "Recovery of the population from this frighteningly low level is going to be exceedingly difficult, but everyone involved in the project believes we must do everything we can to provide hope for this culturally-important icon of the Middle East. The tiny Syrian population has been breeding very well since its discovery, although it has suffered two poor years. The low rate of return of young birds to the colony shows that they are being lost somewhere on migration. We are starting to discover what the problem might be."
Three birds from a semi-captive population in Turkey were released last year to see if they would migrate. They flew south as far as Jordan, but subsequently were found dead. Initially, it was feared they had been poisoned, but later it was realised that the birds had been electrocuted, emphasising that other threats can have a devastating impact on the future of the Northern Bald Ibis in the Middle East.
More satellite-tagged birds released from Turkey this year, flew south as far as Saudi Arabia but they too disappeared not much more than 100 km from where the Syrian bird was shot. Although their fate has not been established, researchers believe these birds too may have succumbed to hunters.
The hunting of Northern Bald Ibis is not allowed in Saudi Arabia. HH Prince Bandar Bin Saud the Secretary General of NCWCD (National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development) said: “Upon hearing the news of Northern Bald Ibises in Saudi Arabia, NCWCD immediately reacted and dispatched a team to search for the birds. Local people reported to the commission that an ibis had been shot illegally by hunters.
On migration, the remaining ibises nesting in Syria pass through Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Djibouti, Eritrea, finally wintering in Ethiopia.
Sharif Jbour, of Birdlife in the Middle East, said "Now that the threats to this species are becoming clear we will be doing all we can to address them. It is essential for the future of this population that they have safe passage through the region during their migration. With so many countries involved this is a great challenge but we already have high level support in many of these countries, so we are hopeful of change."
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:24 AM | Comments (0)
BirdLife films shooting of two birds of prey in Malta
Birdlife Malta's Raptor Camp filmed a Marsh Harrier and a Honey Buzzard being shot down in different locations this morning. The organisation also received two shot protected birds following yesterday afternoon's widespread shooting on protected birds particularly in the south of Malta.
The shot Marsh harrier was filmed by BirdLife Malta Executive Director Tolga Temuge who was accompanied by a local journalist at Has-Saptan. There were at least 6 six shots fired on the bird which was hit several times and fell into a private hunting site 50 meters away. Shortly after the police was called, two cars left the hunting lodge and drew away. The police had still not arrived on the scene 45 minutes after the call was made.
Night Heron © BirdLife Malta. These images may not be reproduced or exploited in any fashion without permission from BirdLife Malta.
The killing of the Honey Buzzard was filmed by a team in Handaq early this morning. The bird was instantly killed after taking a shot. The team called the ALE and the police emergency but there was no reply.
Raptor Camp teams that covered only a small part of Malta confirmed this morning's shooting of and shooting at of at least 16 additional protected birds, six of which were seen falling from the sky.
BirdLife Malta's office yesterday afternoon was inundated with calls from members of the public who reported numerous illegal hunting reports. A woman, who was having a walk at Birzebbuga valley, told BirdLife that she saw many Honey Buzzards shot down. Another woman who was crying on the phone reported shooting of "big birds" in residential area in Attard. BirdLife
even received calls of poachers shooting from the roofs of residences.
BirdLife Malta also received a shot Honey Buzzard and a Night Heron yesterday. The birds were sent to an independent vet who confirmed the nature of the injuries. BirdLife learned that there were more protected birds handed over to the police, but their numbers and whereabouts are not known to BirdLife.
Honey Buzzard © BirdLife Malta. These images may not be reproduced or exploited in any fashion without permission from BirdLife Malta.
"Despite overwhelming evidence of the scale of illegal hunting and the recent discovery of 201 dead protected birds at Mizieb, the Office of the Prime Minister remains silent. The shots are clearly not being heard from Castille but the usual impotent threats about hunters' votes are." said Geoffrey Saliba, BirdLife Malta Campaigns Coordinator.
Footage of the shootings from this morning can be seen on the BirdLife Malta website www.birdlifemalta.org
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:11 AM | Comments (0)
Volunteers reveal scale of Maltese bird massacre
A grisly discovery of the carcasses of 137 protected birds, such as marsh harriers and herons, has been made during a joint operation involving 40 birdwatchers from BirdLife Malta – the RSPB's partner in the islands – and the German-based Campaign Against Bird Slaughter.
Over the weekend, the remains of the birds were found concealed among stones and rubbish in Mizieb, an area frequented by scores of hunters, in the north of the main island.
The haul, so far, includes: 34 marsh harriers; 17 honey buzzards; 19 falcons, including kestrel and hobby; 29 herons; and 33 skeletons of birds of prey, the identity of which are still being determined.
Honey Buzzard © BirdLife Malta. These images may not be reproduced or exploited in any fashion without permission from BirdLife Malta.
Some of the birds discovered were newly killed, while others were the remains of birds killed weeks or months earlier.
We are joining the call for a Maltese government enquiry and condemnation into this 'shocking discovery' - one of the largest single hauls of dead protected birds yet recovered in Malta.
BirdLife Malta is highly concerned at the relative lack of government and police action on this outrageous discovery.
Joseph Mangion is the President of BirdLife Malta. Speaking about the incident he said:'We demand from the government that they stop claiming that illegal hunting is under control and instead start treating this international conservation problem as a political priority.'
Tim Stowe, RSPB International Director, said: 'The discovery of these corpses is further proof of the scale of illegal hunting in Malta, which is an international scandal.
'The Maltese government must recognise that these acts bring shame on Malta as well as posing a direct threat to many of Europe’s protected bird species. The illegal hunting of protected birds can have no place in a modern Europe.'
The recovery of these dead birds was a joint operation between BirdLife Malta and the Campaign Against Bird Slaughter: both organisations have been organising separate bird protection and migration observation camps in Malta, over this autumn.
Autumn is a key bird-migration period in Malta as many birds fly over the islands from Europe en route to their African wintering grounds. Volunteers from both organisations have reported protected birds being targeted in several areas in the island, including the Mizieb woodland.
'What we have been witnessing over the last two days, together with the shocking finding in Mizieb, is a sad reflection of the true scale of illegal hunting in Malta. What we have uncovered is only the tip of the iceberg, as the scope and range of our teams is limited and we can therefore only cover a small geographical area of the Maltese islands,' said Axel Hirschfeld, Campaign Against Bird Slaughter press officer.
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:02 AM | Comments (0)
Suffolk coast could be home to eagles
Natural England, and the RSPB, assisted by the Forestry Commission, have been looking at the feasibility of re-introducing the white-tailed eagle - also known as the sea eagle - to East Anglia, and the Suffolk coast is being considered as a possible future home for white-tailed eagles
A three-year study of eastern England between the Humber and the Thames has identified the Suffolk coast as offering the best opportunities for enabling the white tailed eagle to re-establish itself in England.
White-tailed Eagle © Steve Round, from the surfbirds galleries
The Suffolk coast is favoured because of its location at the centre of a string of wetland habitats stretching from The Wash to the Thames Estuary, which could provide a suitable home for white-tailed eagles. Elsewhere in Europe, white-tailed eagles thrive in similar lowland wetland habitats.
Mark Avery, the RSPB’s Director of Conservation, said: “These birds belong to lowland England as surely as they belong to the sea cliffs of Scotland. Man is the reason they are missing and it is for us to put that right.
“It is also why we must do this properly and with regard to people and wildlife nearby. The RSPB want eagles back, but without a return to the conflicts and misunderstandings that led to their extinction.”
Natural England’s Chief Scientist, Tom Tew, said: “Our analysis of the Suffolk coast has produced encouraging results in terms of identifying potential sites that could form the base for a future re-introduction. The task now is to ensure an open and informed debate about whether, and how, to move forward.”
The white-tailed eagle’s huge wingspan, shock of white tail feathers and bright-eyed glare were once much more common sights. Once widespread in lowland England, the species was persecuted to extinction by the early 19th century. By the early 20th century, they were also extinct in Scotland.
The bird has now been successfully re-established on the west coast of Scotland after two earlier releases, and a third series of releases is underway in eastern Scotland.
Birds could take decades if not centuries to spread from Scotland without assistance and a Suffolk release program presents the best prospects of enabling the bird to re-colonise parts of England. Re-introduction could also be expected to deliver significant economic benefits for tourism and related businesses as has been the case in Scotland.
Tom Tew added: “Previous surveys have shown that the vast majority of the public strongly support the idea of the re-introduction of white tailed sea eagles to East Anglia, but we recognise that there are some people who are opposed and others who wish to understand more about how a re-introduction program would affect them. It is important we continue to gauge views and address concerns – a project of this type has to be right for the area as well as for the ecological needs of the birds themselves.”
In addition to conducting feasibility studies about suitable sites, the re-introduction project is looking to canvas the views of local landowners, livestock farmers, conservation organisations, experts and the general public. Over the next few weeks, a series of local opinion surveys will be conducted in Suffolk to gauge initial local reactions in advance of more extended dialogues with landowners and other stakeholders that will continue throughout the rest of 2009.
Posted by Surfbirds at 6:56 AM | Comments (0)
September 24, 2009
Flying Turkmen leopards to bring species back to Caucasus
Two leopards from Ashkhabad, Turkmenistan are recovering after a long flight to their new homes in a Russian national park, as part of efforts to reintroduce the species into the Caucasus region.
The leopards were moved into spacious pens in Sochi National Park in south western Russia as part of a species reintroduction programme implemented by WWF and the Russian government.
They travelled more than 1,000 kilometers by plane and then by car, and are in good health despite the long trip and being put under anesthesia.
Upon arrival, the leopards were met by WWF, park staff and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Sochi on Saturday and then released into large pens inside a special center created for them in the park.
The big cats (Panthera pardus saxicolor) will take part in the Programme for Persian Leopard Reintroduction, developed by experts from WWF and the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, and approved by the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology.
“There are very few leopards in the whole of Caucasus, only a few dozen,” said Igor Chestin, WWF-Russia CEO.“They exist with the help of some inflow from Iran, which has several hundred remaining. We want to create a new, northern-based nucleus of the population, so that together with the Southern nucleus in Iran it can guarantee sustainability for the leopard population both in the Russian Caucasus and neighboring countries.”
The Leopards are already actively moving around. They drink a lot of water, which is normal after anesthesia, and one of them on Sunday ate a slab of meat given to him by veterinarians. Both leopards are males.
“They will have time to adapt to the new conditions and start to feel ownership of the territory by the time females arrive ”, said Umar Semyonov, deputy director of the Sochi national park. “And it will be easier for females to adapt with support from males.”
The leopards from Turkmenistan will live in the Centre for breeding and rehabilitation in the Sochi national park. Only their descendants will be released into the wild in the Caucasus strict nature reserve.
“Areas for future release were carefully chosen to resemble as much as possible leopards’ habitat in Turkmenistan, both in terms of relief and prey,” said Professor Anatoly Kudaktin, programme scientific supervisor. “Conditions in the Caucasus will be even more comfortable in some ways than in Turkmenistan, and ungulate density is higher here.”
These types of leopards are endangered because most of their habitats were lost in the last century due to transformation and migration routes between remaining isolated populations are cut off due to infrastructure development, which has led to small fragmented populations that cannot easily breed.
Posted by Surfbirds at 10:08 PM | Comments (0)
September 22, 2009
Flamingo paradise becomes largest protected international wetland in Andes
Celebrations in La Paz, Bolivia this week marked the recognition of an area of southern Bolivia as a wetland of international importance (or Ramsar Site), the largest declared in South America’s 7000 Km long Andes Mountains chain.
The Los Lipez wetlands complex encompasses 23 high altitude lakes and lagoons as well as geothermal springs and flooded grasslands unique to the southern Andes, known as “bofedales” in the southern tip of Bolivia, and neighboring Chile and Argentina.
Andean Flamingo © Ben Lascelles, from the surfbirds galleries
At 1.4 million hectares or about one third of the size of Switzerland, the new Los Lipez protected wetland is also more than 25 times the size of the Laguna Colorada, Bolivia’s first Ramsar Site designated in 1991. Laguna Colorada, bordering on Chile and among the most visited protected areas in the country, is now included within the new reserve.
Bolivia’s new Ramsar Site is important for the conservation of South American Flamingo species ranging over Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru. In good years, Los Lipez provides nesting over summer for over 60% of the total population of the rare James Flamingo, and also hosts nearly 30% of the total population of Andean Flamingos.
Archeological investigations show hunter gather presence in the area from 6500 BC and also vestiges of the Inca conquest in the 1400s, most notably the Quechua language. It has historically been a centre of salt extraction as well as of quinoa and potato cultivation, with the bofedales providing prime sites for breeding of lama, alpaca and vicuna.
According to Denis Landenbergue, from WWF International Freshwater Programme, “the protection of Los Lipez is also important due to its location in an arid mountain region which is very exposed to the effects of climate change”.
Posted by Surfbirds at 5:15 PM | Comments (0)
September 21, 2009
Nature Conservancy Purchases Major Sandhills Tract
The Nature Conservancy has announced the purchase of a key tract in northern Cumberland County. The 1,263-acre parcel includes a critical block of longleaf pine ecosystem at the eastern edge of the Sandhills.
“We talk a lot about keystone tracts, pieces of property that are vital to an ecosystem,” says Conservancy Conservation Director Rick Studenmund. “This truly is a keystone tract in every sense of that word. Several clusters of endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers nest on the property. It contains the headwaters of Carvers Creek and includes extensive forested wetlands.”
Red-cockaded Woodpecker © David Laliberte, from the surfbirds galleries
The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, which inventories rare plant and animal species, ranks the tract as nationally significant. It is one of the finest examples of longleaf pine forest left in the Sandhills, and boasts a rich variety of plants and animals in addition to red-cockaded woodpeckers.
The tract is also important for its location; it shares two and one half miles of border with Fort Bragg. Because it provides an important buffer to the installation and helps the Army in its efforts to restore red-cockaded woodpecker habitat, the Army helped The Nature Conservancy to purchase the property. It also shares a two-mile border with Carvers Creek Sandhills State Park; one day it will become a part of that park.
In 2001, the Conservancy purchased 1,173 acres in the area, which formed the core of Carvers Creek Sandhills State Park. In 2004, James Stillman Rockefeller bequeathed the 1,435-acre Long Valley Farm to the Conservancy; that property will also be transferred to the state park system.
Posted by Surfbirds at 6:33 AM | Comments (0)
Big Scat Hunt To Sniff Out The Martens!
The long search for clinching proof that the pine marten still exists in Yorkshire took a smelly turn in August.
Nearly 30 volunteers and conservationists joined forces to stage possibly the biggest scat (droppings) hunt in the history of the North York Moors. The search was organised by the Forestry Commission, Vincent Wildlife Trust and North York Moors National Park Authority.
Only ten years ago the tree-climbing pine marten - the second rarest carnivore in Britain after the wild cat - was written off as extinct in England by some experts.
Pine Marten © Mark Hows, from the surfbirds galleries
But convincing sightings on the Forestry Commission estate in the west of the national park prompted forest chiefs to erect baited hair tubes and dens aimed at recovering either follicles or droppings from which DNA could be extracted. The aim was to obtain conclusive proof that creature is alive and kicking locally.
Now the net has been widened and 3,000 hectares (7,500 acre) of woodland was searched for marten droppings. Likely candidate samples will be flown to a laboratory in Ireland for analysis.
Brian Walker, Forestry Commission Wildlife Officer, said:
“The fact that we have drawn a blank in our search so far is no surprise. The marten is nocturnal, often resides high in the trees and is probably very thin on the ground. What we need is conclusive biological evidence and finding scat is a good way to go about it. It is a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack, but having so many helpers on the hunt greatly increases our chances of striking lucky.”
Before hitting the trail, volunteers were given a crash course on identifying marten droppings, which can look similar to those from a stoat, but are larger, sweet smelling and and often in an 'S' shape.
The Vincent Wildlife Trust collates and scores all possible sightings of pine martens nationally. North Yorkshire comes out top of the league table in terms of the sheer number of convincing reports anywhere in England.
Rona Charles, North York Moors National Park Authority’s Senior Ecologist added:
“Over many years people have been telling us they are sure they’ve seen a pine marten in the North York Moors, usually in the larger forests, but we have never been able to obtain ‘proof positive’. This search offers us the best chance so far of confirming that they were not mistaken! We’re delighted that National Park volunteers will be able to help try and solve this mystery.”
Last year the Forestry Commission stepped up its marten search by fitting cameras to the trees at a woodland near Thirsk. Triggered by an infra-red beam, forest chiefs hope to obtain photographic evidence of the creature's continued existence.
Posted by Surfbirds at 6:25 AM | Comments (0)
September 18, 2009
Croatia and Hungary to establish Europe's largest river protected area
Croatia and Hungary have signed a declaration to establish a Trans-Boundary UNESCO Biosphere Reserve that will protect their shared biodiversity hotspot along the Mura, Drava and Danube Rivers. This paves the way to create Europe’s largest river protection area.
"This cross border agreement to protect an area of great natural importance will foster regional cooperation, international understanding and peace keeping – 20 years after the fall of the ‘Iron Curtain’”, said James P. Leape, Director General of WWF International.“It is not only a significant advance for the region but can serve as an example of how nature conservation visions can bring countries together”.
White-tailed Eagle © Mike Watson/Birdquest, from the surfbirds galleries
With rare large floodplain forests, river islands, gravel banks and oxbows, the new protected area covers a 500 kilometres section of the three rivers and about 630,000 hectares of unique natural and cultural landscapes. The protected area, which has been declared with help of WWF and partner organisations (e.g. Drava League, Green Action and Euronatur) is awaiting UNESCO approval to become a Biosphere Reserve in 2010.
This agreement has the potential to become the cornerstone for a five-country Biosphere Reserve shared with Austria, Slovenia and Serbia. This would create the world’s first Biosphere reserve, commonly shared by five countries.
“WWF greatly welcomes this step of the governments of Croatia and Hungary as a very important milestone for the conservation of Europe’s natural treasures,” said Gábor Magyar, CEO of WWF Hungary.
The area is home to the highest density of breeding pairs of the White-tailed Eagle in Europe and endangered species such as Little tern, Black stork, otters and sturgeons. It is also an important stepping stone for more than 250,000 migratory waterfowl every year. “The diversity of species in this region is one of Europe’s richest. Such areas can only be topped by the tropical rainforests,” says project leader Arno Mohl from WWF Austria.
Moreover, the river ecosystem is vital for the socio-economic well being of the trans-boundary region. It is a major source for good drinking water, for natural flood protection, sustainable forestry, agriculture and fisheries as well as having an important role in promoting eco-tourism, awareness raising and environmental education in the region.
“We encourage Austria, Slovenia and Serbia to join the proposed Biosphere Reserve with Croatia and Hungary to complete this green belt protecting the heart of Europe”, WWF stresses.
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:31 AM | Comments (0)
September 17, 2009
Seabird saving invention snags top Smart Gear prize
A team of Australian inventors today will be awarded the $30,000 grand prize in the International WWF Smart Gear Competition for a fishing gear innovation that could save thousands of seabirds from dying accidentally on longlines each year.
Their invention – the underwater baited hook – allows longline vessels to set baited hooks underwater out of reach of seabirds. Designed for use on coastal tuna and swordfish vessels worldwide, the invention minimizes or eliminates accidental mortality of seabirds including albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters, which are sometimes killed in the fishing gear when they attempt to seize bait attached to longline hooks.
Black-browed Albatross © James Lowen, from the surfbirds galleries
The grand prize winning team consists of Phil Ashworth, general manager of Australia-based Amerro Engineering and Dr. Graham Robertson, a principal research scientist with the Australian Antarctic Division. WWF and its partners made the awards announcement today at the World Fishing Exhibition in Vigo, Spain. Ashworth and Robertson beat out more than 71 other contenders from 27 countries to win the competition’s top prize.
Every year, unselective fishing catches non-target animals as ‘bycatch’ – an issue that causes the death of hundreds of thousands of marine animals, including seabirds. A recently published study defines bycatch as unmanaged or unused catch and on this basis it is estimated that bycatch accounts for at least 40% of what is taken from our oceans each year.
”With bycatch accounting for at least 40% of what is taken from our oceans each year, competitions like Smart Gear are critical opportunities to stimulate and showcase new technologies to reduce this threat,” said Dr. Robin Davies, Interim Leader of WWF’s Bycatch Initiative. “It is inspiring to see how many innovative ideas were submitted to the Smart Gear Competition because it reflects a dedicated and extremely diverse group of people who are committed to finding solutions to bycatch.”
Two other inventions to help reduce bycatch won runner-up prizes of $10,000 for their inventors. A team from Belgian’s Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO) won for their invention named Hovercran, which substantially reduces bycatch in shrimp trawls. The other runner-up is David Sterling, of Australia’s Sterling Trawl Gear Services, who developed a device called the Batwing Board, an alternative to the standard trawl door used by most trawl operators, which both reduces impact to the sea bottom by approximately 90 percent and reduces fuel consumption.
This year’s competition also features a special East African Marine prize of $7,500 which has been awarded to Samwel B. Bikkens of Kenya’s Moi University for his device known as “The Selector.”
The invention makes use of fish responses to light and water movement to address a bycatch problem in Lake Victoria, the largest lake in East Africa and an important fishery in the region. This is the second year that WWF has offered a special regional prize to encourage inventions that address issues in areas of critical concern.
“The creative inventions designed by the winners of the Smart Gear Competition promise practical, effective, everyday solutions to the problem of bycatch - a serious issue which threatens the health of our oceans,” say Michael Osmond, WWF’s senior program officer for fisheries, who directs the competition.
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:16 AM | Comments (0)
September 16, 2009
Bleak future for Mediterranean mammals
The latest assessment of Mediterranean mammals shows that one in six is threatened with extinction at a regional level, according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™.
The study, which assesses the status of 320 mammals in the region, except whales and dolphins, finds three percent are Critically Endangered, five percent are Endangered and eight percent are Vulnerable.
A further eight percent are Near Threatened, and three percent are Extinct or Regionally Extinct. This is the first time all Mediterranean mammals have been assessed for the IUCN Red List.
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) © Programa de Conservación Ex situ del Lince Ibérico
“The number one threat is habitat destruction, which affects 90 percent of the threatened species,” says IUCN’s Annabelle Cuttelod, co-author of the report. “We need international action to protect key areas and preserve natural habitats to ensure we don’t lose the rich biodiversity in this area.”
Rodents, bats, shrews, hedgehogs and moles, which make up the majority of Mediterranean mammals, are finding it increasingly hard to survive due to loss and degradation of their habitat from agriculture, pollution, climate change and urbanization, the study shows.
Large herbivores, such as deer, carnivores, and rabbits and hares are particularly threatened. Eight species from these groups have already gone extinct in the Mediterranean region, including the Mesopotamian Fallow Deer (Dama mesopotamica) and the Common Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius).
The Mediterranean Monk Seal (Monachus monachus) and the Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) are both Critically Endangered. The IUCN World Conservation Congress, held in Barcelona last October, called for international action to preserve their natural habitats.
Agriculture affects 65 percent of threatened mammals, hunting and trapping 60 percent, and invasive species 50 percent. Overall, more than one-quarter (27 percent) of Mediterranean mammals have declining populations, 31 percent are stable, while for a further 40 percent the population trend is unknown. Only three percent of species populations are increasing, often due to conservation action, according to the study.
Mammal biodiversity is greatest in mountainous parts of the region, with particularly high concentrations of threatened species found in the mountains of Turkey, the Levant, and north-west Africa. Although the Sahara has relatively low species richness, a high proportion of Saharan species are threatened.
Of the 49 threatened mammal species, 20 are unique to the region and occur nowhere else in the world, highlighting the responsibility that Mediterranean countries have to protect the entire global populations of these species.
“To ensure the survival of large herbivore and carnivore mammals in the Mediterranean, we have to restore habitats and food chains,” says Helen Temple, co-author of the study. “We need to encourage people to accept large predators, improve protected areas management and better enforce laws regarding hunting practices.”
Read the full report at: http://www.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/2009-027.pdf
Posted by Surfbirds at 6:59 AM | Comments (0)
Historic Fledging of Manx Shearwater on Matinicus Rock, Maine
On Tuesday September 8th, biologists visiting Matinicus Rock, an island off mid-coast Maine, discovered a fledgling age Manx Shearwater. While shearwaters were first observed on the island twelve years ago, this is the first time that a chick is known from the island and the first time that a Manx Shearwater chick is known to have reached fledging age (age at which a bird leaves its nest) in the United States. The young bird was found by a team of Audubon and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Researchers, as they checked suspected Manx burrows on the 22-acre island, which already holds the distinction of being Maine's most diverse seabird nesting island.
Located 26 miles south of Rockland, Matinicus Rock is part of the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge and cooperatively managed by the National Audubon Society's Seabird Restoration Program and the Refuge. The island was also the site, earlier this year, of the first eastern U.S. nesting of Common Murres in more than 100 years.
Manx Shearwater © Steve Round, from the surfbirds galleries
Audubon's Scott Hall, along with Brian Benedict, Bob Houston, Matt Klostermann, and Lauren Scopel of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, discovered the chick in a relatively shallow burrow – one of six burrows on the island. Upon first examination the shearwater appeared to be an adult - but a closer look revealed remnant patches of fluffy light gray down around the legs - proof that this was a nearly fledged chick.
"The young shearwater had a healthy appearance and perfect plumage as it nibbled on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife patch on my sleeve," according to Brian Benedict.
The team had waited patiently until the end of the 2009 nesting season to check the burrows, in order to avoid disturbing the shearwaters during the 120 days a pair needs to hatch and raise a chick to fledging. Because of this, they could have easily missed this historic event if they had checked the burrows even a few days later.
"This is what we all work and hope for;" said Stephen Kress, director of Audubon's Seabird Restoration Program, "This successful nesting provides further evidence of the health of the Gulf of Maine and demonstrates how Audubon's and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's long term collaborative efforts are helping seabirds to thrive."
Manx Shearwaters (Puffinus puffinus) nest throughout the eastern North Atlantic, especially in Great Britain. These crow-sized albatross relatives have a wingspan of nearly three feet, and are named for their habit of flying low over the water. Studies in Britain indicate that they may live 56 years and travel over five million miles during their long lives. Regular visitors to the western North Atlantic since the 1950's, their breeding was first confirmed in 1973 when a pair produced a chick on Penikese Island in Buzzard's Bay, Massachusetts, but the outcome of this nesting was not confirmed. In 1977, a second North American and first Canadian breeding record was confirmed on Middle Lawn Island in Newfoundland. The species is not known to have nested in the United States since 1973, but a small population has continued to nest on Middle Lawn Island.
A Manx Shearwater was first observed on Matinicus Rock in May 1997 and a nesting burrow was discovered the following year. Two Manx were seen briefly together in 1999 and appeared regularly in 2000. From 2001-2004, shearwaters used the burrow on multiple occasions and an egg was found in the burrow in 2005, but it failed to hatch. In 2006 and 2007, up to 19 Manx Shearwaters were seen around the island. In 2008, a new burrow was found, and visiting adults were documented with an infrared camera, but breeding was not confirmed. Several adjacent burrows were discovered later in 2008. It was in one of these burrows that the fledgling was discovered.
Seabirds nesting on Matinicus Rock and other Maine seabird colonies are dependent on ample supplies of fish such as Atlantic herring and white hake, which they feed to their young. Despite the unusually wet summer, 2009 appears to have been a banner year for both Atlantic herring and Maine seabirds.
Posted by Surfbirds at 6:54 AM | Comments (0)
The future of Europe’s seabirds is in your hands, Commissioner
On 15 September BirdLife International urged Mr. Joe Borg, the European Commissioner for Maritime affairs and Fisheries, to take action to prevent the deaths of an estimated 200,000 seabirds which are killed in fisheries in European waters every year.
Dr Euan Dunn, the head of the RSPB marine policy team (BirdLife in the UK), said: “We are extremely concerned about the Commission’s apparent lack of commitment to reduce the bycatch of seabirds dying in longline and gillnet fisheries in European waters”.
Balearic Shearwater © Ben Lascelles, from the surfbirds galleries
Of most concern are those species that are either facing global extinction or those with the majority of their breeding populations in Europe. In particular, Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus, which is confined as a nesting bird to Spain’s Balearic Islands, is predicted to become extinct within 40 years. It is believed that bycatch in longline fisheries is a significant factor in the decline of this ‘Critically Endangered bird’ to a precarious population of only 2000 pairs. Up to 50 individual birds have been caught on hooks on a single longline.
Dr Euan Dunn added: “Globally, seabirds are the most visible indicators of the health of the oceans and yet, globally, they are declining faster than any other group of birds”.
“We have known for many years about the deaths of albatrosses and other seabirds in longline fisheries in the Southern Ocean, but I suspect that many people would be surprised to learn that a species rarer than the tiger is being threatened with extinction by fisheries operating in European waters”.
“We have been waiting for a decade for the European Commission to take action to reduce the toll of seabirds in Europe’s fisheries. Further delays will result in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of birds. The technical adjustments to fishing practices needed to prevent this bycatch are often very simple but the political will to apply them has been lacking for far too long”.
Other species affected in European waters include Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis, Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea and Steller’s Eider Polysticta stelleri.
Tatiana Nemcova, BirdLife’s Senior EU Advocacy Officer said: “Joe Borg only has a few months remaining as European Commissioner for Maritime affairs and fisheries: the proper protection of our great continent’s seabirds would be a great legacy”.
Posted by Surfbirds at 6:47 AM | Comments (0)
BirdLife welcomes ECJ decision on spring hunting in Malta
In a verdict delivered on 10 September, the European Court of Justice (ECJ, case C-76/08) declared that Malta has breached European law by allowing spring hunting of Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur and Common Quail Coturnix coturnix in the years 2004-2007.
BirdLife International and BirdLife Malta welcomed the ruling as it shows that this practice jeopardizes the conservation of these species, which have been classified by BirdLife as being in unfavourable conservation status in Europe. As a consequence, BirdLife concludes spring hunting has to end permanently. Hunting in autumn can continue for these and 30 other species in Malta, under certain conditions laid out in the EU Birds Directive.
Quail © James Kennerley, from the surfbirds galleries
BirdLife International and BirdLife Malta had submitted a complaint to the European Commission on Malta’s insistence on spring hunting in 2005. “This ruling is good news for millions of European birds, including Turtle Dove and Quail that cross Malta every spring on their dangerous migration back from Africa. Once again we have an example how the EU Birds Directive can help our common natural heritage”, said Konstantin Kreiser, EU Policy Manager at BirdLife International in Brussels.
“Malta needs to come in line with the Birds Directive and ban spring hunting. At the same time, as we have said many times before, Maltese hunters have every right to continue their practice during the autumn hunting season within the parameters of the law, and respecting the list of huntable species” said Joseph Mangion, BirdLife Malta’s President.
The Maltese islands are located on an important bird migration route in the Mediterranean. A recent study analysing ring recoveries in Malta, showed that birds originating from a minimum of thirty-six European countries have been recorded migrating over Malta.
At the same time, conservationists across Europe remain concerned about illegal hunting of protected species in Malta (like raptors and herons), and a lack of adequate police enforcement.
“The ALE, the Maltese police unit dealing with illegal hunting, is heavily under-resourced and struggles to keep up with the scale of illegalities. We expect the Prime Minister to use this Court Ruling as an opportunity to now focus on clamping down on illegal hunting - which has tarnished Malta’s reputation over the years”, concluded Mr Mangion.
This year BirdLife Malta will run its annual international raptor monitoring camp between 12 September and 4 October. Maltese and international ornithologists join this camp with the express aim collect data on bird migration, and to curtail illegal hunting activities by informing the Maltese police force where needed, while respecting any hunting activities that stay within the legal framework.
Posted by Surfbirds at 6:42 AM | Comments (0)
September 12, 2009
Landowners Enlist in Saving Declining Bird Species
Private landowners are stepping up to help a number of cavity-nesting bird species of conservation concern.
In many areas of the West, there is a shortage of large snags (dead trees) needed by many species of cavity-nesters, including the Flammulated Owl, and Lewis’s and White-headed Woodpeckers as a result of forest management practices of post-fire logging and removing dead and dying trees. To help spread the news and get more landowners involved, American Bird Conservancy has produced a new booklet highlighting with the efforts of private landowners in implementing bird conservation measures in ponderosa pine forests to help cavity-nesting birds.
“I used to take 10-12 truckloads of dead and dying trees off my property each year, but now I will leave a lot of those dead trees for wildlife, especially cavity-nesting birds,” says Jim Dovenberg, a participant in the program from Oregon who is featured in the booklet which was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
Flammulated Owl © Tim Avery, from the surfbirds galleries
Produced in cooperation with the American Forest Foundation and Forest Restoration Partnership, the booklet, entitled “Landowners Stories in Bird Conservation: Managing for Cavity-Nesting Birds in Ponderosa Pine Forests”, features the stories of six landowners who participated in the program.”
Landowners hold the future of these birds in their management decisions,” said American Bird Conservancy’s Dan Casey, the Northern Rockies Bird Conservation Region Coordinator. “We hope that the stories of these folks will inspire other people to manage their land for cavity-nesting bird species, and we are providing a variety of resources to help them make the transition.”
Posted by Surfbirds at 6:57 AM | Comments (0)
September 11, 2009
Critically Endangered Fiji Petrel found and photographed at sea – pungent fish attracts “lost” species
An expedition to find the Critically Endangered Fiji Petrel Pseudobulweria macgillivrayi at sea has been successful, returning with stunning images and new information on one of the world’s least-known seabirds.
Known from just one specimen collected in 1855 on Gau Island, Fiji, the Fiji Petrel was lost for the next 130 years. Since 1984 there have been a handful of reports of “grounded” birds that had crashed onto village roofs on Gau. Until now there had been no confirmed sightings of the seabird at sea.
Fiji Petrel © H.Shirihai. All photos are copyrighted by BirdLife and/or its contributing photographers and may not be reproduced or exploited in any fashion without permission from BirdLife.
The search for the elusive petrel is described in a paper in the latest Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club. Up to eight individuals were seen over eleven days in an area around 25 nautical miles south of Gau. The species’ flight, behaviour and detailed comparison to other species are also described for the first time.
The paper’s lead author, Hadoram Shirihai, said: “Finding this bird and capturing such images was a fantastic and exhilarating experience”. Fellow expedition member Tony Pym commented, “To see such a little-known bird at such close range was magical.”
Finding Fiji Petrel at sea was no accident, combining meticulous planning and luring the seabirds with a specially made food, called “chum”. The main ingredients of chum? Fish offal cut into small pieces and mixed with very dense fish oil, to which water was added and then frozen in 10-kg blocks.
Fiji Petrel © H.Shirihai. All photos are copyrighted by BirdLife and/or its contributing photographers and may not be reproduced or exploited in any fashion without permission from BirdLife.
Frozen chum blocks persist for up to one-and-a-half hours, creating a pungent and constant oil slick, which attracts petrels from some miles away. On the second day, the first Fiji Petrel appeared, approaching the chum slick from downwind, slowly zigzagging over the slick, and suddenly changing direction to drop onto a small floating morsel.
Fiji Petrel is classified as Critically Endangered, with its perilous status confirmed by this expedition: “We observed only a few Fiji Petrels”, said Shirihai. “This was despite choosing what we considered to be the optimum month, and a method that would attract all petrels in the vicinity’’ and Pym added, “The present evidence is that very few Fiji Petrels survive, that immediate efforts to find the nest sites are needed, and prompt, effective protection is urgently required before it is too late.”
“More surveys to locate the breeding area of Fiji Petrel are planned for 2010”, said Dick Watling of NatureFiji-MareqetiViti,. “Once we know the location, we can assess what needs to be done to turn around the fortunes of this species.”
“Fiji Petrel is one of 192 bird species which are Critically Endangered,” said Jez Bird, Global Species Officer at BirdLife International. “Because Fiji Petrel is exceptionally rare and extremely poorly known any new data concerning range and abundance are vital to its conservation.”
The expedition also gathered valuable distributional information on many other seabird species, including the Endangered Phoenix Petrel Pterodroma alba and the Vulnerable Gould’s Pterodroma leucoptera and Parkinson’s Petrels Procellaria parkinsoni.
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:14 AM | Comments (0)
September 10, 2009
Farmers urged to help reverse skylark declines this Autumn
Farmers preparing to sow their overwinter crops this month are being urged to implement measures which would reverse the UK-wide decline in skylark numbers.
Skylarks are one of our countryside’s most iconic species and every farmer will recognise their unique bubbling trill as they hover high above fields. However populations have halved in the past 40 years and continue to fall.
Skylark © Sean Gray, from the surfbirds galleries
Skylark plots have been developed by conservationists at the RSPB’s Hope Farm in Cambridgeshire and have been proven to increase breeding productivity by nearly 50 per cent. Skylarks breeding at Hope Farm have more than trebled over the last 10 years.
The rectangular uncropped patches in cereal fields allow skylarks to forage when crops become too dense for them. And as well as helping wildlife the measure also makes economic sense as part of agri-environment schemes.
Chris Bailey, RSPB’s farm manager, said: “Skylark plots are very simple to create during Autumn sowing. You can either switch the drill off as you move or you can go back after you’ve sown a whole field and spray these very small patches out.
“Some farmers maybe be concerned about leaving land uncropped, however a field only needs two plots per hectare which means the total area of land taken out of production is minute - less than one third of one per cent.
“Under Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) farmers can receive five points per plot making this the best paying option in agri-environment schemes. It’s easy to fit into the farming system and it makes sound economic sense.
“This is a simple solution that farmers can put in place with the flick of a switch.”
The RSPB has produced a video, filmed at Hope Farm, which explains how farmers can create skylark plots. It went online this week and can be found at www.rspb.org.uk/skylarkplots
While farmers will often see skylarks on their farm in Spring, between late May and harvest-time the autumn sown cereal crops are too dense for the birds to nest. RSPB research shows that if 10 to 20 per cent of winter wheat crops feature skylark plots then the population decline will be reversed and the number of skylarks in our countryside will start to increase.
Farmers who want information on skylark plots can find contact details for their local agricultural advisor at www.rspb.org.uk/farming
Posted by Surfbirds at 9:04 PM | Comments (0)
Organic farming: good for birds?
The latest research from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) sheds new light on the benefits of organic farming for birds. Published today in the Royal Society journal, Biology Letters, the results from the latest research suggest that organic farming might not hold all the answers when it comes to reversing the declines shown by some farmland birds.
Tree Sparrows © Leszle Nehezy, from the surfbirds galleries
There is a lot of evidence that shows that natural biodiversity tends to be higher on organic farms than that found on those that use conventional farming methods. During the winters of 2000/01 and 2002/03, 48 paired organic and conventional farms were surveyed once a month for farmland bird species, to help determine how these birds use the different farms. The results show that, whilst the total abundance of most farmland birds was higher on the organic farms during these winters, for birds that feed largely on cereal grain and are partly reliant on winter stubbles, this was not the case. It is these species, birds like the Yellowhammer, Corn Bunting and Skylark that are experiencing the biggest declines.
Dr Dan Chamberlain, of the BTO and lead author of the scientific paper, commented, “Organic farming has clear benefits for a range of species but some aspects of organic farming may not currently provide significant benefits to bird species that are limited by winter seed availability. Once harvesting is completed, it is general practice for farmers on organic farms to plough in the stubbles to prevent an over-winter weed burden, making this resource unavailable to birds.” He added, “However, the recent reduction in stubbles on conventional farms, and the phasing-out of set-aside, could result in organic farms becoming more heavily used by some granivorous species - only future monitoring will tell.”
A pdf of the full paper is available from http://www.bto2.org/downloads/images/news/organic_farming.pdf
Posted by Surfbirds at 8:54 PM | Comments (0)
One of Britain's most threatened butterflies has seen an unexpected surge in numbers this summer
The Marsh Fritillary, one of Britain's most threatened butterflies has seen an unexpected surge in numbers this summer. Recent surveys suggest that numbers in Dartmoor and Exmoor may be on the up.
Following the declines noted during the last two very wet summers, the increase in numbers is offering fresh hope. Butterflies can't fly in the rain, which limits their ability to find nectar and breed, so there was a real concern that the dire conditions in 2007 and 2008 would have had a serious impact on numbers this year. However, the warm and sunny conditions throughout the spring and early summer encouraged good numbers of fritillary butterflies on many sites across the moors.
Marsh Fritillary © Nick Franklin, from the surfbirds galleries
Marsh Fritillaries, which fly from late May to the end of June, had an especially good year, with counts at some Dartmoor sites two or three times higher than those recorded during the previous two years. The only remaining Marsh Fritillary site on Exmoor also enjoyed record numbers.
This reverse in fortune is not only down to the weather. The Two Moors Threatened Butterfly Project, lead by Butterfly Conservation in a partnership with Dartmoor and Exmoor National Park Authorities, Natural England and the Environment Agency, has been working with landowners and land managers over the past four years to carry out management works, improving the butterflies' habitat. Ideal habitat management for the butterfly is achieved through traditional farming practices, such as light grazing. Specialist management advice has been given to landowners, and support provided to access funding towards the costs of management works such as scrub clearance and fencing.
Jenny Plackett, Butterfly Conservation's Project Officer, said: "The Marsh Fritillary is one of Britain's rarest butterflies, so it's fantastic that this species seems to be making a real recovery on Dartmoor and Exmoor. The landowners are working really hard to improve conditions on their land for the butterfly, and it's very encouraging that their efforts are now showing such positive results."
Posted by Surfbirds at 6:54 AM | Comments (0)
Last chance to save Saola from extinction
One of the world’s most enigmatic mammals, the Saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis), could be on the brink of extinction, according to a group of experts who held an emergency meeting in Lao PDR to try to save the animal.
The Saola, which was only discovered to world science in 1992, resembles the desert antelopes of Arabia, but is more closely related to wild cattle. It lives in the remote valleys of the Annamite Mountains, along the border of Lao PDR and Vietnam.
“We are at a point in history when we still have a small but rapidly closing window of opportunity to conserve this extraordinary animal,” says William Robichaud, Coordinator of the Saola Working Group, set up by IUCN’s Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group. “That window has probably already closed for another species of wild cattle, the Kouprey, and experts at this meeting are determined that the Saola not be next."
Saola © WWF Greater Mekong
Conservation biologists based in four countries, met in Vientiane, Lao PDR, last month, and agreed that Saola numbers appear to have declined sharply since its discovery in 1992, when it was already rare and restricted to a small range.
Today, the Saola's increasing proximity to extinction is likely paralleled by only two or three other large mammal species in Southeast Asia, such as the Javan Rhinoceros, according to the experts. The situation is compounded by the fact that there are no populations of Saola held in zoos.
“The animal's prominent white facial markings and long tapering horns lend it a singular beauty, and its reclusive habits in the wet forests of the Annamites an air of mystery,” says Barney Long, of the IUCN Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group. “Saola have rarely been seen or photographed, and have proved difficult to keep alive in captivity. None is held in any zoo, anywhere in the world. Its wild population may number only in the dozens, certainly not more than a few hundred.”
The Saola is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™, which means it faces "an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild”. With none in zoos and almost nothing known about how to maintain them in captivity, for Saola, extinction in the wild would mean its extinction everywhere, with no possibility of recovery and reintroduction.
The Saola is threatened primarily by hunting. The Vientiane meeting identified snaring and hunting with dogs, to which the Saola is especially vulnerable, as the main direct threats to the species.
Experts at the meeting emphasized that the Saola cannot be saved without intensified removal of poachers' snares and reduction of hunting with dogs in key areas of the Annamite forests. Improved methods to detect Saola in the wild and radio tracking to understand the animal’s conservation needs are needed, according to the biologists.
In addition, there needs to be more awareness in Lao PDR, Vietnam and the world conservation community of the perilous status of this species and markedly increased donor support for Saola conservation, according to the group.
Posted by Surfbirds at 6:42 AM | Comments (0)
September 7, 2009
Warming Arctic’s global impacts outstrip predictions
Warming in the Arctic could lead to flooding affecting one quarter of the world’s population, substantial increases in greenhouse gas emissions from massive carbon pools, and extreme global weather changes, according to a new WWF report.
The Arctic Climate Feedbacks: Global Implications report, released today, outlines dire global consequences of a warming Arctic that are far worse than previous projections. The unprecedented peer-reviewed report brings together top climate scientists who have assessed the current science on arctic warming.
Little Auk © Gary Crowder, from the surfbirds galleries
“What they found was a truly sobering picture,” said Dr. Martin Sommerkorn, senior climate change advisor for WWF’s Arctic programme. “What this report says is that a warming Arctic is much more than a local problem, it’s a global problem.”
“Simply put, if we do not keep the Arctic cold enough, people across the world will suffer the effects.” The report shows that numerous Arctic climate feedbacks – negative effects prompted by the impacts of warming - will make global climate change more severe than indicated by other recent projections, including those of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s 2007 assessment.
The dramatic loss of sea ice resulting from the Arctic warming at about twice the rate of the rest of the world will influence atmospheric circulation and weather in the Arctic and beyond. This is projected to change temperature and precipitation patterns in Europe and North America, affecting agriculture, forestry and water supplies. In addition, the Arctic’s frozen soils and wetlands store twice as much carbon as is held in the atmosphere. As warming in the Arctic continues, soils will increasingly thaw and release carbon into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide and methane, at significantly increased rates. Levels of atmospheric methane, a particularly potent greenhouse gas, have been increasing for the past two years, and it is suggested that the increase comes from warming arctic tundra. In a first-of-its kind assessment incorporating the fate of the ice sheets of Greenland and West Antarctica into global sea level projections, the WWF report concludes that sea-levels will very likely rise by more than one meter by 2100 - more than twice the amount given in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s 2007 assessment that had excluded the contribution of ice sheets from their projection. The associated flooding of coastal regions will affect more than a quarter of the world’s population.
“This report shows that it is urgently necessary to rein in greenhouse gas emissions while we still can,” Sommerkorn said. “If we allow the Arcticto get too warm, it is doubtful whether we will be able to keep these feedbacks under control.
WWF has joined with other NGOs to produce a model climate treaty for Copenhagen that gives the world a blueprint for achieving the kind of emissions cuts needed to likely avoid arctic feedbacks.
“We need to listen now to these signals from the Arctic, and take the necessary action in Copenhagenthis December to get a deal that quickly and effectively limits greenhouse gas emissions,” said James Leape, director general of WWF International.
In December 2009, the governments of 191 countries will meet in Copenhagen, Denmark, for the final round of negotiations for a new global agreement on climate change. The first period of the current agreement, called the 'Kyoto Protocol', will end in three years, in December 2012. The negotiations in Copenhagenare supposed to approve a new legal framework for global climate action from 2013 onwards.
According to WWF, this framework must guarantee much deeper and more rapid emission cuts from industrialized countries, and financing to developing countries to enable them also to take climate action.
Posted by Surfbirds at 8:33 PM | Comments (0)
September 5, 2009
The Pillage of Madagascar - the International Community must act
New evidence indicates a massive upsurge in the illegal hunting of lemurs in Madagascar that threatens the survival of many species, and the international community must act immediately to stop the pillage of the island – Conservation International (CI) said recently.
Ring-tailed Lemur © Ian Merrill, from the surfbirds galleries
Madagascar’s unique biodiversity is being wiped-out on a shocking scale by criminal gangs who are taking advantage of a break-down in law and order after the recent coup. After numerous reports of illegal logging and export of hardwoods, the latest scandal is the sale of lemurs (see attached pictures) as bushmeat to restaurant owners who have been ordering the killing of the animals – 15 people have been arrested on the island for this offense.
After the island’s coup earlier this year many international bodies including the World Bank and the US government suspended conservation and development work in Madagascar, providing only “life-saving” aid. This withdrawal of international support has weakened environmental governance in the country and has created the perfect conditions for criminals to profit from the situation. Since March 2009, there have been a set of environmental catastrophes in one of the world’s most important countries for biodiversity conservation ranging from the illegal felling of trees in national parks for export to Asia, collection of animals for the pet trade, and now the hunting of lemurs for bushmeat, the first evidence we have had of this since the coup.
CI president Dr Russ Mittermeier, one of the world’s leading authorities on lemurs, said: “What is happening to the biodiversity of Madagascar is truly appalling, and the slaughter for these delightful, gentle, and unique animals is simply unacceptable. And it is not for subsistence, but rather to serve what is certainly a “luxury” market in restaurants of larger towns in the region. More than anything else, these poachers are killing the goose that laid the golden egg, wiping out the very animals that people most want to see, and undercutting the country and especially local communities by robbing them of future ecotourism revenue.
He added: “In the last week Madagascar has taken important steps towards resolving its political crisis and move towards the restoration of democracy. It is counterproductive of the international donor community to continue denying conservation and development funding because this only encourages poor governance of the country’s natural resources. The world community must act now to support the dedicated local wildlife authorities who are battling to prevent this globally important resource from being destroyed.”
The protection of Madagascar’s ecosystems and endangered wildlife is important for more than just its scientific value. The island’s 20 million inhabitants are hugely reliant on ecotourism – an industry that has collapsed since the coup, but can be quickly reinvigorated when the situation is resolved. The forests of Madagascar are also important in the battle against climate change and several demonstration projects run by CI on the island have shown how protection of standing forest and reforestation of degraded areas can bring significant benefits to local communities as well as reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
Dr Mittermeier concluded: “This is what happens when the global community attempts to punish a nation’s leaders by cutting virtually all aid. We need to rethink the global response to political upheavals in the future, and not to place the greatest burden on those most in need.”
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:32 AM | Comments (0)
The Bahamas' Sweeping New Legal Protections for Sea Turtles
Sea turtles have gained another important haven in the Caribbean. Effective September 1, new laws in The Bahamas completely prohibit the harvesting, possession, purchase and sale of sea turtles and their eggs found either within Bahamian waters or on any of its hundreds of beaches.
After 12 months of public debate on how to protect the country’s marine resources, thousands of citizens spoke of their support for laws and regulations that, when enforced, will protect and conserve the country's marine natural resources for the benefit and enjoyment of all people. Five of the world’s seven sea turtle species inhabit the Bahamas, and previously it was legal to kill any sea turtle species found there except one, the hawksbill. The hawksbill turtle has been protected in Bahamian waters since 1986.
Green Turtle © Rich Lindie, from the surfbirds galleries
The new laws and amendments that are in force now represent the next phase of expanded marine conservation here. As The Bahamas formally extends strong legal protections to four of six known species of sea turtles in the Caribbean — hawksbill, green, leatherback, and loggerhead — these species can now swim and nest within this country in relative peace.
"The Nature Conservancy applauds the people of The Bahamas for their decision to expand the protection of sea turtles within our waters and on our beaches, and to back that decision with the weight of law," said Eleanor Phillips, Director of the Conservancy's Northern Caribbean Program.
"I grew up here among these islands and have known the play of light on these waters all of my life and I have always been proud to be a Bahamian. But today, I am especially proud of my country and I am extremely pleased, both personally and professionally, to support new laws that give one of the most endangered animals on Earth a little more hope for survival.
“I remember when sea turtles were a common sight in our waters and I am very hopeful that— as neighboring countries continue to join with the Bahamas in protecting their marine resources through the goals of the Caribbean Challenge — sea turtles will once again be common, not only in The Bahamas, but across all the nations of the Caribbean."
Since its announcement in 2008, The Bahamas has provided key leadership and support for the Caribbean Challenge. The goal of the Challenge — currently endorsed by five sovereign Caribbean nations — is to not only permanently establish a network of 20 million acres of marine protected areas across the territorial waters of at least 10 countries, but also to ensure that once established, the protected areas also receive sufficient, permanent funding through sustainable financing tools.
In addition to park user fees and concessions that are constant, renewable sources of operating funds, sustainable finance tools also include dedicated conservation trusts and endowments that enable private funds to leverage matching public funds to provide an unprecedented level of financial security for the permanent protection and management of parks and protected areas, thus ensuring their survival as healthy, functioning, natural areas forever.
To take just one example, the Conservancy led a team of scientists, researchers and students on a scientific expedition to explore the west side of Andros Island. They discovered a haven for baby sharks and sea turtles and a wealth of other natural life. With scientific support and expertise from the Conservancy, the Andros Conservancy and Trust (ANCAT) and the Bahamas National Trust are developing management plans and activities for an expanded national park on the west side of Andros. The Conservancy also works with island residents to support their wishes for an island-wide network of parks and to help foster the Bahamas’ longstanding conservation ethic.
The amendment outlawing the killing of sea turtles came after a year of extensive public debate about the issue, and support from Oceana, the largest international organization focused solely on ocean conservation. Oceana sent several formal support letters and garnered 14,000 emails from conservationists to the Bahamas’ Marine Resources Department director in support of the ban.
Outlawing the killing of sea turtles in its waters could also substantially benefit the tourism industry in the Bahamas, as the country derives more than 50 percent of its gross domestic product from tourists. A recent survey from Oceana found that scuba divers were willing to pay almost $30 more per dive for an increased chance to see a sea turtle in the wild.
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:22 AM | Comments (0)
New Analysis Shows America’s Heartland Hardest Hit by Climate Change with States Heating up 10+ Degrees
America’s heartland will suffer the greatest jump in temperatures from climate change over the next century – with some states potentially heating up more than 10 degrees Fahrenheit – threatening the nation’s agriculture industry and food security, according to a new analysis by The Nature Conservancy.
The scientific analysis, which looked at likely temperature changes across the United States over the next 100 years, found that Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa would heat up the most if emissions continue to rise unchecked.
Baltimore Oriole © Mark S. Szantyr, from the surfbirds galleries
Next were South Dakota, Oklahoma, Missouri and Illinois, all of which would experience more than a 9.5 degree F increase in their average annual temperatures.
“To many, climate change doesn’t seem real until it affects them, or their backyards. From the food we put on the table to the animals that make our country unique, this study shows that none of us is immune if temperatures continue to rise as projected,” said Jonathan Hoekstra, Director of Climate Change for The Nature Conservancy. “In many states across the country, the weather and landscapes could be nearly unrecognizable in 100 years.”
Among the impacts Americans could see over the next 100 years:
America’s $200 billion agriculture industry could face serious threats as higher temperatures dry out soil and shift production patterns. Weeds that wreak havoc on crops also become more difficult to combat as carbon dioxide levels rise in the atmosphere.
The dairy industry could suffer serious declines, since dairy cow productivity starts decreasing above 77°F.
Many states could lose their official birds as they move out of state in search of cooler climates — including the Baltimore oriole of Maryland, black-capped chickadee of Massachusetts, and the American goldfinch of Iowa.
Even under the lowest emission scenario – which assumes strong actions successfully lower global emission rates over the next century – nearly every state in the US is projected to experience temperature increases well above the 3.6 degrees F (2 degrees C) threshold many scientists say will cause irreversible impacts to the Earth’s lands, waters, wildlife and human communities.
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:16 AM | Comments (0)
Good Summer for Northern Gannets in Wales
An aerial survey of northern gannets (Morus bassanus) on Grassholm Island this summer has revealed a welcome increase in the number of birds breeding on the gannetry in Wales.
Up to 32,094 northern gannets on Apparently Occupied Sites (AOS) were counted during the last survey in 2004, and this has now increased to 39,292 AOS. The survey is aimed to be carried out every six years.
This is the fastest rate of growth ever recorded on this gannetry, and is partially due to improved photographic quality allowing for better counting. A digital (DSLR) camera was used for this survey and gave greater flexibility and ease of handling than film cameras, there was also no requirement to load film and continuous shooting could be done.
Northern Gannet © Jon Lowes, from the surfbirds galleries
The Grassholm gannetry has grown steadily at an annual rate of 2.18% up to 2009, and the 2009 survey indicates that Grassholm remains the third largest gannetry in the UK and Ireland with only St Kilda and the Bass Rock being larger in size. It is the only gannetry in Wales.
Greg Morgan, RSPB Warden on Grassholm Island said: “The survey assessed the current numbers of gannets in the colony and confirmed that this was achieving the Special Protection Area conservation status for the island.”
Stuart Murray an Environmental Consultant said: “Given the importance of the Grassholm gannetry in a Welsh, UK and international context we hope to be able to continue this type of survey every six years to deliver high quality monitoring of the colony.”
Gannets can be seen offshore almost anywhere across Wales, they arrive at their colonies from late January onwards and begin to migrate south during September. Gannets might be seen at any time during these months around the coast.
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:10 AM | Comments (0)
Ray of hope for Scotland's internationally important seabirds.
Seabirds breeding in Scotland have had their most productive year for almost a decade, according to counts carried out at RSPB coastal reserves.
Sandeels and other small fish appear to have been in plentiful supply in our coastal waters, resulting in success for many species and colonies that have struggled to raise chicks in recent years, reports RSPB Scotland.
Arctic terns on RSPB Scotland’s North Hill reserve in Orkney managed to successfully fledge more than 220 chicks. Last year not one chick fledged from this important colony. In the late 80s Arctic terns at this site regularly fledged around 1,000 chicks, and no one knows whether such abundant breeding seasons will ever return.
Arctic Tern © Glyn Sellors, from the surfbirds galleries
Whilst the news is a welcome ray of hope for our internationally important populations of seabirds, it comes amidst a decade of repeated breeding failures for some species. Worryingly, this has substantially reduced populations of some seabirds, with massive population declines at cliffs that used to support huge colonies.
Kittiwakes, guillemots and razorbills have also managed to rear young in greater numbers than recently on the Northern Islands. Last year, reserve wardens reported nests abandoned and empty cliffs that should have been teeming with thousands of nesting birds.
Further south on the Aberdeenshire coast, counts at RSPB’s Fowlsheugh reserve showed that fulmars, herring gulls and kittiwakes had done well this year. However, this is set in the context of massive historical declines. In 1992 there were more than 34,000 kittiwake nests at Fowlsheugh, and this has gone down to just 9,400 this season – a 73 per cent decline.
On the west coast, it has been a similar picture. On RSPB Scotland’s Ailsa Craig reserve 30,000 pairs of gannets had a successful nesting season, helped by the rat eradication programme which was recently completely. This has also enabled puffins to return to the island, with more than 50 pairs nesting in burrows. At RSPB’s Mull of Galloway reserve more than 1000 kittiwakes fledged, with two nests astonishing reserve staff by producing three chicks each.
Doug Gilbert, ecologist with RSPB Scotland, said: “Whilst it is fantastic news that our internationally famous seabird colonies appear to have had a much improved breeding season this year, the long term picture is one of serious concern.”
“The reasons for the change in fortunes this year are not fully understood but it could be that colder weather led to reduced sea temperatures in late winter and through the spring that were good for sandeels, which were then available to seabirds through the breeding season.”
He added: “Unfortunately, the likelihood is that this year’s success is just a blip, and the trend of decline will continue in coming years with further reductions to our magnificent seabird population.”
Lloyd Austin, head of conservation policy at RSPB Scotland, said: “Scotland must take precautions to ensure that human impacts from pollution, development and industry give seabirds the best chance of recovery. The wisest precaution of all is a strong Scottish Marine Bill to ensure our marine resources are managed sustainably and to give all our marine wildlife the protection it desperately needs.”
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:05 AM | Comments (0)
Booming marvellous: welcome increase for bittern
Research by Natural England and the RSPB reveals that the bittern – one of the UK’s most threatened birds – has enjoyed its best ever year for at least 120 years, continuing this formerly extinct British bird’s dramatic recovery.
The 2009 survey found that the number of calling male bitterns had increased from 75 last year - also a record year - to a record minimum of 82 this year. The number of wetland sites with booming males across the UK has also increased from 41 to 43 this year.
Bittern © Steve Round, from the surfbirds galleries
The bittern is confined in Britain to tracts of extensive reedbed, especially sections of East Anglia, pockets of northern England and, more recently, the Somerset Levels and Moors.
Dr Tom Tew, Chief Scientist for Natural England, said: “Extinct by 1886, the bittern only returned in the early twentieth century – coming near to extinction again in the mid 1990s. Since then, concerted efforts by the conservation community to restore dry reedbeds and create new areas of wet reedbed have paid dividends, with the population now as large as it has ever been during the twentieth century.
Dr Mark Avery, the RSPB’s Conservation Director, said: “When we feared the bittern would hit the buffers again, the conservation community rallied to its cause by managing or recreating extensive tracts of habitat. We didn’t believe at the time, that we’d see the bittern population bounce back to record levels in just 12 years.”
Since 1990, bittern researchers have estimated the UK bittern population by listening for the male bittern’s booming song, which the birds use to establish territories and attract females. The boom can be heard up to three kilometers or more away.
Researchers recorded a minimum of 82 booming males in the UK. The following regions held the greatest numbers of booming males: Suffolk coast (28); Norfolk Broads (19); and The Fens (12).
Because male bitterns can mate with more than one female, researchers also count the number of bittern nests. This year 39 nests were found with 14 on the Suffolk coast and seven each in South West England and the Norfolk Broads. Male bitterns do not establish a pair bond with the females and they have no role in the rearing of the young.
Tom Tew, of Natural England, added: “This year’s nesting figures have revealed a continuing and very encouraging increase in the number of nests in areas away from East Anglia. Somerset held seven nests, an increase of five on the previous year. This is exciting news as it shows a spread of the bittern away from coastal East Anglian strongholds - where the bird is vulnerable to sea-level rise - to new areas which are now more secure.”
The bittern – a protected species in Europe – has been subject to two EU Life projects, funded by the European Commission, since 1997. The funding allowed bittern habitat to be created at a number of sites across England and Wales. Bitterns are now nesting at several of these sites, including the RSPB’s Ham Wall reserve in Somerset, and the Society’s Lakenheath Fen nature reserve in the East Anglian Fens. And at two coastal National Nature Reserves managed by Natural England, bitterns have recently nested again for the first time since coastal floods two years ago affected their nesting areas.
Posted by Surfbirds at 6:59 AM | Comments (0)
September 2, 2009
Natural England announces new funding for a ‘Wetland Vision’
Swathes of England’s lost or degraded wetlands will be restored to their boggy beginnings, thanks to £4million worth of funding from Natural England for almost 2000 hectares of wetland recovery projects over the next two years. As the Wetland Vision project celebrates its first anniversary, this new funding will benefit grazing marshes, raised bogs, reedbeds and fragile fenland across England.
Money is being given to conservation organisations including The Wildlife Trusts and RSPB, who will work with the Environment Agency and English Heritage to manage the careful process of re-wetting the land. The restoration of watery habitats will help a multitude of wildlife including declining bird species such as snipe and redshank. Wetlands can also benefit the public by providing a natural water store to help prevent flooding.
Snipe © Matthew Berriman, from the surfbirds galleries
Dr Helen Phillips, Chief Executive for Natural England: said: “It may be hard to imagine, but England was once a much wetter place than it is today. Around 90 percent of the soft and squelchy bogs and marshes have been lost over the last 1000 years. Healthy wetlands are a unique and vital habitat for wildlife and provide fantastic places for people to visit.
“Wetlands make important contributions to the quality of our lives. They can be important natural flood defences, helping to filter and clean our water supplies; and peat bogs lock up dangerous green house gas emissions which contribute to climate change. Since 2008 Natural England has allocated £6 million to conservation partners who are restoring these important landscapes. From Morecambe Bay to the East Anglian Fens, projects are underway across the country to put the squelch back into the countryside.”
In addition to the £4million from Natural England, partners will allocate additional funds for their individual projects. Over time these wetlands are expected to provide homes for spectacular and iconic species such as bittern and crane; white faced darter and large heath butterfly; water voles and eels; and rare plant communities of fens and raised bogs.
Sue Armstrong-Brown, RSPB head of countryside conservation, said: “Wetland habitats are very special places because not only are there many species which rely on them, but they will also play an important role in helping us adapt to climate change. The funding that has been announced today will be a real boost for our efforts to restore lost wetlands and protect existing habitats through a range of exciting projects across the UK.
“The Wetland Vision is more relevant now than ever because there are some really big changes taking place in the way we manage water, including the EU’s Water Framework Directive and the Government’s Floods and Water Bill which will come up in parliament later this year. We now have a shared vision of where we want our wetlands to be by 2050, and if we can achieve that we will have done something amazing for our natural world.”
The Environment Agency is delighted with the news of this extra funding for wetlands. Alastair Driver, Conservation Policy Manager said "The Environment Agency is a key deliverer of the Wetland Vision for England, and we are well underway with an ambitious programme of large-scale wetland habitat creation, with 200 hectares of freshwater wetland habitat created in 2008/09 and a further 700 hectares to be created over the next two years.
He added: "This extra £4M from Natural England, enables the Wetland Vision partnership to deliver even more new habitat at some of our project sites, as well as at other sites which are not on the Agency's programme, thus improving the overall quality and quantity of England's wetland resource."
Wetland projects to receive funding over the next two years include the East Anglian fens, Humberhead Levels, Midlands Meres and Mosses, Morecambe Bay Wetlands, the Somerset Levels and the River Till in Northumberland*
*Wetland Vision Projects 2009-11
The East Anglian fens
The East Anglian fens £528k to help Norfolk Wildlife Trust create a new 97ha mosaic of reedbed, fen and floodplain grazing marsh on former arable land within their Wissey Living Landscape area near Downham Market. This new area will expand on wetland creation already underway nearby to provide a significant 175ha ‘stepping stone’ for wildlife, helping it adapt and move in the face of future climate change and linking with other major Fens-region wetlands to the south and west.
Natural England will also provide funds (£130k) for a second year for the wetland habitat creation project in the south Lincolnshire fenlands. Here the project objective is the re-establishment of a large area of fenland for people and wildlife in southern Lincolnshire - centred on the nationally important Baston and Thurlby Fens Nature Reserves & Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust has secured an area of land at Willow Tree Farm enabling this long term objective to be realised and the Natural England funding will help in the purchase and management of this land for wildlife.The membership of the South Lincolnshire Fenlands Partnership will include the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, Natural England, Environment Agency, Lincolnshire County Council, Lincolnshire FWAG, South Kesteven District Council, South Holland District Council, Welland & Deepings IDB, Waterside Garden Centre, and community representatives.
The Humberhead levels
The Humberhead levels is an area spreading over 2000 square kilometres, a flat landscape of big skies, wetlands and mainly arable farmland criss-crossed with rivers and dykes. Since the 17th century, large areas of its important wetlands have been lost due to drainage schemes and extraction of peat and coal. Natural England’s funding (£594k) will contribute to a series of linked projects which have been identified by the Humberhead Levels Partnership, which will create and restore 167ha of wetland habitat, towards their overall target of 2320ha for the Humberhead levels. The scheme involves Natural England, the Environment Agency, RSPB, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trusts, the Burnet Trust and Isle of Axholme IDB all working closely together to achieve the vision for the Humberhead levels wetlands.
The Midlands Meres and Mosses Revival Project
The West Midlands Meres and Mosses comprise one of the most significant wetland landscapes in lowland Britain, extending over a large part of southern Cheshire and northern parts of Shropshire and Staffordshire. The condition of the constituent sites (of which there are hundreds) is generally poor, with many once-linked wetlands now isolated from one another other by intensive farmland and drained peat. This project aims to restore and reconnect the Meres and Mosses landscape. Natural England is funding £486k towards restoration work with English Heritage, the Wildlife Trusts, the RSPB and Local Authorities on a number of the mosses, meres and grazing marsh to achieve immediate biodiversity gain for lowland raised bog, fen and wet grassland habitats.
The Morecambe Bay wetlands
Natural England is contributing £1.05m and working with the Environment Agency, RSPB, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, the Forestry Commission, The National Trust, Cumbria Tourism and Lancashire and Blackpool Tourism to enhance the network of wetland sites around Morecambe Bay by securing and restoring existing wetland sites in the Lyth Valley, reedbed restoration at Leighton Moss RSPB reserve and restoration of 60ha lowland raised bog at Witherslack Mosses. The focus is on restoration of grazing marsh and lowland raised bog where, in the face of a potential change in drainage, we are working to explore a future for the valley which would deliver long term benefits for both wildlife and the local economy.
River Till floodplain, Northumberland
The River Till is important in both a national and a European context with the river being designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation. Natural England’s funding (£133k) will assist the Tweed Forum, the Environment Agency and the Tweed Foundation to improve existing wetland habitats and create new ones within the catchment of the River Till under the River Till Floodplain Restoration Project, which was set up in 2006. New biodiversity rich wetland habitats such as ponds and wet grassland will be created and some degraded mires and ox-bow lakes will be restored. The work will also enable the development of a new phase of work which provides an opportunity to work from hill to valley bottom for the wholesale management of areas within the wider catchment.
Somerset Levels and Moors
Natural England will be contributing £409k to two schemes: the Somerset Wildlife Trust Brue Valley Living Landscapes Project which is 50% funded through the Water Adaption is Valuable for Everyone (WAVE) EU INTERREG Project, and the RSPB Middle Parrett floodplain restoration project. Through land purchase and habitat management we will be restoring disused peat working sites to reedbed and enhancing other wetland habitats such as wet grassland for the benefit of a range of wetland species. This work will complement other habitat management across the Somerset levels in partnership with the Somerset Wildlife Trust, RSPB and Environment Agency which aims to bring back some of the lost wetland glory to this pre-eminent wetland landscape.
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:48 PM | Comments (0)
Deadly frog fungus targeted by amphibian experts
The world’s leading amphibian experts have come together and for the first time identified two major conservation initiatives to stop amphibians going extinct.
A new coalition of organizations, the Amphibian Survival Alliance, will be set up to focus on containing the spread of the amphibian chytrid fungus and protecting habitats which are home to amphibians that occur nowhere else in the world.
Amphibians are the most threatened group of animals in the world, with one in three of the 6,000 recognized amphibian species at risk of extinction.
Tree Frog species © Andrew Moon, from the surfbirds galleries
“The world’s amphibians are facing an uphill battle for survival,” says James Collins, Co-Chair of the IUCN Amphibian Specialist Group. “Infectious diseases, habitat loss, climate change, introduced species, commercial use and pollution all affect amphibian survival. By far the worst threats are infectious disease and habitat destruction so the Alliance will focus on these issues first.”
“If we want to stop the amphibian extinction crisis, we have to protect the areas where amphibians are threatened by habitat destruction,” says Claude Gascon, Co-Chair of the IUCN Amphibian Specialist Group. “One of the reasons amphibians are in such dire straits is because many species are only found in single sites and are therefore much more susceptible to habitat loss.”
Curbing the spread of amphibian chytrid fungus is also a top priority for the amphibian experts. This effort will focus on identifying the presence of naturally-occurring bacteria, which seem to render some amphibians resistant to the killer frog disease, and investigating their use in managing the disease in other species. So far these bacteria have only been found on a few species and this approach needs more research.
Anti-fungal drugs to combat the deadly disease, exploring resistance in captive-bred populations and translocations all need to be investigated. The alliance will look into policies to prevent the spread of the fungus to new places, such as Madagascar, which so far shows no evidence of the presence of the amphibian chytrid fungus.
The new Alliance will work with partners to implement the Amphibian Conservation Action Plan and to raise the profile of amphibians in 2010, the International Year of Biodiversity.
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:42 PM | Comments (0)
Annual Festival will celebrate Hummingbird Migration - September 11-13 2009
Thousands of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have begun their fall migration from as far north as Canada toward their winter home in Mexico and Central America. Moving south of Memphis, they stop to refuel at the Strawberry Plains Audubon Center, near Holly Springs, Mississippi. Last year 8,000 human visitors to the Center got to see these tiny titans before they continued their daunting journey, which includes a 500-mile flight over the Gulf of Mexico.
Renowned expert Bob Sargent and his team, the Hummer/Bird Study Group, will again be hosting bird-banding demonstrations. Bird banding helps unravel the mysteries of migration. If you think hummingbirds are small, you should see the delicate band that goes around their leg. The tiny numbered leg bands enable scientists to determine how far south the birds go for winter, where they stop during their travels, how long they live, and whether they come back to the same sites year after year. (Many do.) At the 2008 festival, over 280 hummingbirds were banded and a bird was recaptured that had been tagged in 2006.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird © Kanae Hirabayashi, from the surfbirds galleries
"Hummingbirds are amazing ambassadors for nature and conservation," said Walter Hubbard, director of Strawberry Plains Audubon Center. "Seeing these tiny birds up close inspires us to appreciate the amazing diversity of life on planet earth. Their flight over the Gulf of Mexico would compare somewhat to each of us running a marathon with no stops. How many of us would make it?"
Hummers are not only beautiful and inspiring for their migratory achievement, they play a vital ecological role as pollinators. Visitors to the festival will learn how to attract them to their own backyards and gardens through special plantings and other techniques.
While the hummingbirds visit the Audubon Strawberry Plains Center throughout September, the weekend Migration Celebration, from September 11-13, is a prime opportunity to experience its 2,600 acres of magnificent forests, grasslands and native plant gardens. The Center, at 285 Plains Road, in Holly Springs, MS, was described as an "outdoor lover's paradise" by The Tupelo Daily Journal. From the enclosed porch of historic Davis House, visitors watch the hummingbirds swarm like bees in the garden outside. A full schedule of nature walks and workshops and other special events, along with opportunities to shop for gifts, arts and crafts, hummingbird feeders, and bird-friendly plants makes the festival a rewarding destination for everyone in the family.
This year's Hummingbird festival features a number of new speakers, including Douglas W. Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants and Miyoko Chu, whose new book, Songbird Journeys: Four Seasons in the Lives of Migratory Birds, explores the amazing migratory habits of songbirds. Popular returning programs will include the live bat encounter with Rob Mies, guided nature walks, wagon rides, and tours of historic Davis House.
Kristin Lamberson, the Interpretive Gardens Specialist at Strawberry Plains Audubon Center, will be answering questions about what kind of plants appeal to birds, how to place your feeders for maximum benefits, and why indigenous plants are easier to maintain.
Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for children under 12; admission for 12-passenger vans and buses is $7 per person. All parking is free.
For more information on the Tenth Annual Hummingbird Migration Celebration events, please visit http://strawberryplains.audubon.org or call 662-252-1155.
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:17 PM | Comments (0)
Santiago Declared Goat Free
The island of Santiago, the fourth largest island in the Galapagos Archipelago, has been declared officially goat-free. Feral goats were released on the 226-square-mile island in the 1920s. The goat population exploded, and by the 1990s the goats had destroyed much of the shrub and tree vegetation in the sensitive highlands of the island.
Woodpecker Finch © Adam Scott Kennedy (Birdseekers), from the surfbirds galleries
The destruction of wooded and forested areas was dramatic, leaving only short grasses over much of the island, which is home to nine species of Darwin's finches, including the unique tool-using Woodpecker Finch, and to threatened species such as the Galapagos Rail and Galapagos Petrel. Damage to their habitat had put significant pressure on the populations of these species.
Following an eradication project by the Galapagos National Park Service and Charles Darwin Foundation from 2001 to 2005, and three subsequent years of monitoring to assure that all goats were gone, the island was declared goat free in February, making this the largest eradication of invasive mammals from an island ever achieved. Even before the eradication had been completed, vegetation began growing back, renewing the habitat for the endemic birds and tortoises. With no goats or other large grazing mammals on the island, it is expected that vegetation recovery will be rapid, resulting in substantially increased bird populations.
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:04 PM | Comments (0)
UK's birds continue to suffer at hands of criminals
Crimes against wild birds remained at near record highs last year.
The RSPB received 1,206 reports of shooting, poisoning, trapping and disturbance of birds and of the theft of birds and their eggs.
While the figure is slightly down from the all-time high of 1,228 reports in 2007, it remains the second highest we've ever recorded. Many more are believed to have gone undetected and unreported.
As a result, the RSPB is using its annual Birdcrime report to repeat its call for a fundamental shake-up of the way such crimes are policed.
Hen Harrier © Pete Hadfield, from the surfbirds galleries
The figures include 210 reports of shooting and destruction of birds of prey.
Data from the report showed the two worst counties in England for all reported incidents against birds of prey were North Yorkshire with 24 and Derbyshire with 14 reported incidents.
In Scotland, problems were worst in Perth and Kinross where there were 18 reported incidents and in the Borders where there were 15. Aberdeenshire, Angus and the Highlands each had 14 reports.
In Wales, Bridgend and Denbighshire saw the most reports of crimes against raptors, with five each. Northern Ireland’s hotspot was County Down, which accounted for five of the province’s 11 reported incidents against birds of prey.
The persecution of birds of prey is something the RSPB is campaigning to stop and which Government has declared one of its ‘wildlife crime priorities’.
However, the RSPB maintains that without a thorough review of the way these hard to detect crimes are investigated there is little chance of reducing the number of offences.
The RSPB would like:
A ‘Thematic Review’ of Wildlife Crime policing in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to ensure minimum standards of investigation across the UK. This would compliment a similar review carried out in Scotland in 2008.
Secure long term funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit, which offers specialist support to police forces.
The NWCU to be given the resources for someone to tackle bird of prey persecution full time.
More full-time, specialist Wildlife Crime Officers.
The Government to look at up-dating the way game shoots are regulated, with those found guilty of persecuting birds of prey banned from shooting for a fixed period.
Crimes against birds of prey to be classed as ‘recorded crime’ by the Home Office and included in national crime statistics.
Ian West, Head of Investigations at the RSPB, said: “How many more of our wild birds have to be lost before the authorities start taking these crimes seriously?
“It is absurd that the Government lists the killing of birds of prey as a wildlife crime priority and yet these crime are not recorded by the Home Office. This provides little incentive for police to tackle crimes seen as less important. If I stole a packet of sweets, it would be recorded in the Home Office figures. If I shot a golden eagle, it would not. That cannot be right.
“The law is being flouted and our natural heritage ransacked for want of modest resources and a shared determination to tackle the problem.”
He added: “The RSPB will do all it can, despite the difficulties, and will continue to support the many dedicated wildlife crime officers up and down the country.
“The recent outrage over two golden eagles found poisoned in Scotland shows the strength of public concern. The public’s help will be vital in helping us put a stop to these crimes and hold those responsible to account.”
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:46 AM | Comments (0)
Quest launched to find 'lost' birds
BirdLife International is launching a global bid to try to confirm the continued existence of 47 species of bird that have not been seen for up to 184 years.
The list of potentially lost birds is a tantalising mix of species ranging from some inhabiting the least visited places on earth - such as remote islands and the western Himalayas – to those occurring in parts of Europe and the United States.
"The mention of species such as Ivory-billed Woodpecker, Jamaican Petrel, Hooded Seedeater, Himalayan Quail, and Pink-headed Duck will set scientists' pulses racing. Some of these species haven’t been seen by any living person, but birdwatchers around the world still dream of rediscovering these long lost ghosts", said Marco Lambertini, BirdLife International's chief executive.
"History has shown us that we shouldn’t give up on species that are feared to have gone to their graves because some, such as Cebu Flowerpecker, have been rediscovered long after they were feared extinct, providing hope for the continued survival of other 'long-lost' species. Cebu Flowerpecker, of the Philippines, was only rediscovered at the eleventh hour just before the last remnants of its forest home were destroyed."
"The extinction crisis is gathering momentum, but that’s no excuse for humanity to allow even more strands from the web of life to disappear, especially without giving them a final chance of life."
The announcement of the quest to find lost species was made at the launch of the 21st British Birdwatching Fair at Rutland Water. The RSPB's Martin Davies, co-organiser of the British Birdwatching Fair, said: "During the BirdFair's twenty-one-year history we have funded many conservation projects that have benefited species of bird threatened with extinction. It would be a great legacy if funds from British birdwatchers prove the survival of formerly lost species."
"We have chosen Cebu Flowerpecker as the emblem of this year's British Birdwatching Fair because it provides hope and inspiration not to give up on lost species. We are delighted that the Philippines Ministry of Tourism has today agreed to become the BirdLife Species Champion for this forest jewel."
The ministry of tourism's funding will provide initial financial support efforts by the Cebu Biodiversity Foundation to conserve the Critically Endangered Cebu Flowerpecker, which was feared extinct in the early 20th Century but was rediscovered in 1992.
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:39 AM | Comments (0)
Malta: the return of 'common' birds
A new report released by BirdLife Malta (BirdLife in Malta) highlighted how 2009 has been a remarkable year for breeding birds in Malta.
The results of the ‘2009 Rare Breeding Bird Report’ showed that nine rare breeding species, most of which are relatively common in other countries, increased their overall distribution in the Maltese islands compared to 2008, with a further four species recorded breeding in 2009 but not recorded last year.
Kestrel © David Moreton, from the surfbirds galleries
The highlights of the study were the first confirmed breeding records of two pairs of Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus in 15 years and the colonisation of Malta by a species new to the island – Pallid Swift Apus pallidus. The first confirmed breeding record of a pair of Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea in almost 100 years and only the fourth confirmed breeding record of a pair of Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus were other important breeding records.
The report includes all rare breeding bird records that adhered to the strict criteria laid out by the European Bird Census Council and by BirdLife Malta for very rare breeding bird records.
BirdLife considers the ban of spring hunting during the past two years playing an important role in the establishment of these species due to less disturbance during the initial periods of breeding.
“The results highlight how important the ban on spring hunting over the last two years has been for the rare breeding species in Malta. Although illegal hunting was widespread, especially in the south during spring migration, the hunting intensity was much lower over this period due to the ban. Yet, with spring hunting now banned, the biggest problem for rare breeding birds is illegal shooting during the rabbit hunting season opened on 1st June”, said Dr Andre Raine, BirdLife Malta’s Conservation Manager.
Konstantin Kreiser, EU Policy Manager at the BirdLife European Division, commented: ”We are pleased to see these birds are returning to Malta, as in most other countries these species belong to the common birds! This is a great success, for BirdLife and the EU Birds Directive - which Malta finally seems willing to comply to”.
Unfortunately, in June and July, BirdLife Malta still received ten shot protected birds, including some of the birds that bred in Malta this summer.
“Despite those killings, this year has seen very positive changes, with Maltese villages hosting new colonies of breeding Common Swift, while the countryside is providing the food needed to raise young Common Kestrel. However, it is vital that a Wildlife Crime Unit is set up in Malta to provide rare birds with protection throughout the year, particularly during the breeding months in summer when these birds are particularly vulnerable to illegal hunting” concluded Dr Raine.
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:31 AM | Comments (0)
Lake Natron faces renewed threat from soda-ash mining
BirdLife has learnt that a Tanzanian Government Agency is seeking to buy mining equipment for large-scale soda ash extraction from Lake Natron – the most important breeding site for Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor [Near Threatened] in the world. “This is worrying indeed”, said Lota Melamari - the CEO of Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania (WCST-BirdLife in Tanzania).
“An advert for the supply of mining equipment, and a recent announcement of the expansion of the railway and building of new port at Tanga to handle soda ash all point to deliberate efforts to keep alive the intention of mining Lake Natron's soda ash", added Lota Melamari.
Lesser Flamingo © John Dempsey, from the surfbirds galleries
The Tanzania Investment Centre, a Tanzanian Government Agency, is inviting interested parties to quote for the “Supply of machinery and equipment, as well as trucks in a greenfield soda ash/caustic soda processing plant”. The advert was placed on behalf of KDCL Minerals (T) Ltd - a private company which states that the $US 125 million project at Lake Natron in Northern Tanzania will produce approximately 200,000 tonnes of soda ash annually.
Three-quarters of the world’s population of Lesser Flamingo live in East Africa – and all depend on Tanzania’s Lake Natron as a breeding site. The development and associated infrastructure could permanently prevent the birds from nesting at Lake Natron, spelling doom for the region’s spectacular flamingo flocks.
In opposition to development proposals of 2007, BirdLife launched its ‘Think Pink’ campaign. At the same time the Lake Natron Consultative Group - a coalition of 49 mainly African institutions - was formed to urge the Tanzanian Government to abandon the project. “Through campaigns like Think Pink, the world, local communities, Tanzanian NGOs and ordinary citizens have said a big ‘No’ to the project - this will not change”, warned Ken Mwathe of BirdLife Africa Partnership Secretariat and Coordinator of Lake Natron Consultative Group.
Earlier plans for mining Lake Natron involved Tata Chemicals Ltd. and the governmental National Development Corporation. BirdLife welcomed the withdrawal last year of an initial, inadequate and inappropriate Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), and is awaiting a new ESIA to be produced and reviewed by a competent team of experts. “The Tanzanian Government has promised, and consistently maintained, that no new ESIA would be conducted before having in place an Integrated Management Plan for the Lake Natron Ramsar Site, and this process is still ongoing”, concluded Lota.
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:27 AM | Comments (0)
Himalayan forest saved
An initiative by Pakistan’s Supreme Court and a media and legal campaign has ended a proposed large tourism development in one of the best remaining representative areas of Himalayan forest in the Punjab.
Pakistan’s Supreme Court this month not only formalised the new government’s recent dissolution of the New Murree Development Project (NMDP), but ruled out any similar projects for the area in future.
“We are very happy with this outcome and want to thank the other groups that fought it with us and the judges who took the initiative to have it examined,” said Hammad Naqi Khan, WWF-Pakistan director for freshwater, climate and toxics.
Paradise Flycatcher © Kip Loades, from the surfbirds galleries
“This project has been a threat to this relatively pristine area which has been a reserve for more than a century and to the water reservoirs supplying Islamabad and Rawalpindi since 2004.”
The new Punjab government dissolved the New Murree Development Authority in June, following Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry used his authority in September 2005 to halt the project pending a judicial review of the proposal to turn the 1,663 hectare Patriata Reserved Forest near Murree in Rawalpindi District into a ‘tourist city of international standards’.
WWF became a party to the case and, with other local individuals launched a well-supported media and public campaign against the government-backed proposal and the authority formed to carry out the development.
The envisioned the construction of hotels, restaurants, golf courses, shopping centres etc. right in the middle of a healthy reserve forest which is important habitat for the (now very uncommon in the area) Common Leopard as well as 14 other mammal species, 200 plant species, 146 bird species including rare pheasants and the Paradise Flycatcher, 22 reptiles and six amphibians.
“Most significantly however, this area was a key part of one of the best remaining Himalayan temperate forest areas in Punjab” said Khan. “The forest guaranteed better quality water with lower levels of sediments and pollutants for Simlay and Mangla reservoirs.
“The environmental and economic significance of the forests for a country like Pakistan with a looming water crisis and an agriculture intensive developing economy far outweighed the benefits of what started out as mostly real estate speculation.
“We are also encouraged that the court and ultimately government looked sensitively and sensibly at the issues.”
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:15 AM | Comments (0)
Oil Spill a potential disaster for Australian marine life
WWF has warned that an oil spill off Australia’s North West coast may take a heavy toll on the region’s globally significant wildlife.
“This is a potential disaster for turtles, whales, dolphins, sea birds and sea snakes,” said Dr Gilly Llewellyn, WWF-Australia’s Conservation Manager.
“The oil and gas spill is still not under control and is expected to continue leaking for two months. Depending on winds, the slick could be pushed to atolls like Scott and Ashmore Reef – areas that are globally significant for their unique wildlife.”
Green Turtle © Rich Lindie, from the surfbirds galleries
Marine species such as green and loggerhead turtles are at serious risk from the pollution.
“Turtle hatchlings spend a huge amount of time on the surface of the water. Unfortunately, this means that recent hatchlings from the beaches and islands of North West Australia could be swimming into the slick,” said Dr Llewellyn.
The spill occurred at the edge of Australia’s continental shelf, an ocean highway used by loggerhead turtles, dolphins and endangered species such as the pygmy blue whale.
WWF warned that increasing the number of offshore oil and gas ventures in the region is significantly increasing the risk to marine life. “The more industrial activity, the higher the risk – it is a simple equation,” said Dr Llewellyn. “We urgently need to consider both short and long term ways of preventing and containing spills like this one, as well as reducing the footprint of industrial development on creatures like marine turtles.”
As the Federal Government prepares to release its environmental assessment of the proposed Gorgon liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant on Barrow Island, a Class A nature reserve and important rookery for flatback turtles, WWF is calling on all parties to consider safer alternative locations for the massive project. “We strongly urge the Government and oil companies involved to move the proposed LNG plant to the mainland to reduce the risk of harm to our marine wildlife,” said Dr Llewellyn.
WWF has suggested Ashburton North, on the Western Australian coast may be more suitable for gas processing.
The location of oil and gas infrastructure would not be enough to ensure the safety of some of the world’s most diverse marine ecosystems. “To seriously address the long term health and survival of marine species we need to build a network of large marine sanctuaries for Australia’s north west which can act as a safety net, giving animals safe passage through the oceans.”
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:07 AM | Comments (0)