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October 31, 2009
Tiger experts call for urgent action to save species
More than 250 experts, scientists and government delegates from 13 tiger range countries this week called for immediate action to save tigers before the species disappears from the wild, citing the urgent need for increased protection against tiger poaching and trafficking in tiger parts.
WWF welcomes the recommendations from the Kathmandu Global Tiger Workshop 2009, where organizers on Thursday stated in closing remarks that “without immediate, urgent, and transformative actions, wild tigers will disappear forever.”
Tiger © Dave Pullan, from the surfbirds galleries.
The recommendations from the workshop include support for implementing a resolution related to tigers in the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), and to avoid financing development projects that adversely affect critical tiger habitats.
“These are a good start but the momentum from Kathmandu needs to be carried forward all the way to the Tiger Summit during the Year of the Tiger 2010 and beyond,” said Mike Baltzer, head of WWF’s Tiger Initiative. “The tiger range countries are clearly committed to saving their wild tigers and the world needs to extend unstinting support to this mission because once tigers are gone, they’re gone forever.”
There are only about 3,200 tigers left in the wild and WWF’s goal is to double that number by 2022, the next Year of the Tiger. Tiger populations are declining in face of massive poaching for illegal wildlife trade, habitat loss and fragmentation, and conflict with humans.
“I am convinced we are on the right road to saving tigers,” said Dr. Eric Dinerstein, WWF’s Chief Scientist, in his closing remarks to delegates from 20 countries at the conclusion of the meeting. “We will look back on this meeting as the dramatic turning point for conserving this magnificent species, its habitats, Asian biodiversity, and the billions of people who depend upon healthy natural landscapes for which tigers are the talisman.”
The Kathmandu Global Tiger Workshop is the first in a series of political negotiation meetings occurring throughout the year and leading up to a final Heads of State Tiger Summit in September 2010, which is the Year of the Tiger.
Posted by Surfbirds at 10:03 AM | Comments (0)
Shipwreck an ecological disaster for southern Madagascar
Toxic waste from a ship which went down off the coast in southern Madagascar in August has had severe impacts on the health of local people and on the rich coastal and marine environment, according to a study supported by WWF.
The Turkish vessel Gulser Ana grounded near Faux Cap in the very south of Madagascar. The ship carried 39000 tons of raw Phosphates, 568 tons of fuel, 66 tons of diesel and 8000 litres of lubricant, most of which was slowly released into the Indian Ocean. The accident occurred in a whale reproduction and migratory corridor zone during the migratory season.
Crab Plover, Madagascar © Pete Morris/Birdquest, from the surfbirds galleries.
The report, co-funded by WWF was prepared by an interdisciplinary team of eight scientists which went to Faux Cap shortly after the accident.
While one to three whales normally beach in the area each year, nine whales beached in September alone, and some beach stretches seem to be real death zones, the report found. Villagers suffer from diseases such as respiratory problems, skin diseases and diarrhoea.
“WWF is very concerned about the possible negative impacts on biodiversity especially marine and coastal species, the threats to the ecosystems and the loss of people’s livelihood options. That’s why we decided to fund this mission,” said Harifidy Olivier Ralison, WWF Western Indian Ocean Marine Programme Coordinator.
Oil clumps cover the beach 30 km to the east and even further to the west of the shipwreck. Almost half the 40,000 people in the area have been affected by consequences of the shipwreck, the study found with a key impact being the banning of fishing for three months. Some 25 to 40 percent of the inhabitants depend on fishery as their source of income.
The impacts on marine species are also tragic.
Like human beings, whales suffer from respiratory problems due to diesel odour. They come to the surface from time to time to breathe, so if they happen to surface through an oil film, this might result in the animal’s death,” Yvette Razafindrakoto, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) marine mammal specialist said.
Although raw phosphate is not poisonous, a huge amount of it being suddenly released into the ocean can be problematic. The expert team found signs of eutrophication in front of the shipwreck. "Phosphate acts like fertilizer, which leads to an extensive algal bloom. This depletes the oxygen in the surrounding marine environment and could cause the disappearance of species such as fish and molluscs" said Ralison.
Some common species of sand crabs were also only found sporadically and other species, such as various gastropods contained a very high amount of heavy metal, which is connected to higher mortality.
There are signs that the food chain in the area around Faux Cap is severely harmed. What this means for the coastal ecosystem and the villagers on the contaminated beaches can only be definitively estimated after the passage of some years, the report said.
Posted by Surfbirds at 9:52 AM | Comments (0)
China’s Pearl River being poisoned by factories due to inadequate pollution
According to new Greenpeace research published this week, industrial discharges are poisoning China’s Pearl River Delta. The problem is exacerbated by inadequate water pollution regulation, allowing factories to discharge wastewaters containing complex cocktails of chemicals capable of causing irreversible damage to the Delta and life around China’s third longest river.
Greenpeace collected and analysed 25 samples of wastewater discharges and sediments from five industrial sites located throughout the region. A diverse range of hazardous chemicals were found, including high levels of heavy metals such as beryllium, copper and manganese. The latter is associated with brain damage. The Greenpeace analysis also revealed the presence of organic chemicals such as brominated flame retardants and bisphenol-A. Hormone disrupting alkyl phenols - some of which are listed in the EU priority hazardous substances list, were also present. A number of these hazardous substances are not yet regulated in China.
Ibisbills, China © Mark Andrews, from the surfbirds galleries.
“’Made in China’ products used by consumers worldwide are being manufactured at a high cost to the Pearl River,” said Edward Chan, Campaign Manager, Greenpeace China. “If the results of our sampling are any indication of what factories in general are doing in China, then China’s waters are in deep trouble.”
Southern China’s Pearl River Delta, known as the ‘world’s factory floor’, accounted for nearly 30% of China’s exports in 2007. Samples from one of the sites, Kingboard Fogang, contained beryllium at 25 times the levels allowed by local regulation. Samples from Wing Fung Printed Circuit Board Ltd. contained copper at 12 times the allowable limit. Both companies export to the global markets.
“What is very disturbing is that once released, it is almost impossible to remove these hazardous substances from the environment,” stated Kevin Brigden, scientist at the Greenpeace Research Laboratories. “These substances, which are associated with a long list of health problems such as cancer, endocrine disruption, kidney failure and impact to the nervous system, pollute the environment and put people’s health at risk.”
Greenpeace is calling on industries to reduce and eliminate their use of hazardous chemicals by replacing them with safe alternatives. It calls upon government authorities to develop and implement stringent regulation to restrict and eliminate the release of hazardous chemicals, as top priority.
"China is paying a heavy price for its rapid industrialisation. It is time that China’s environmental regulations caught up with the pace of development,” concluded Chan. “As climate change leads to a rapid depletion of the world’s water resources it is even more important than ever that we stop poisoning our precious rivers.”
Posted by Surfbirds at 9:40 AM | Comments (0)
October 28, 2009
A decade of change in the UK's birds
Over the last decade, rare birds in the UK have been faring far better than their more common counterparts, according to the latest assessment produced by the UK’s leading conservation organisations.
The research shows that almost 60 per cent of the 63 rare birds that breed in the UK have increased over the last ten years compared with only just over one third of common species. Contrastingly, only 28 per cent of the UK’s rare birds have decreased over the same period, compared four out of every ten common birds.
Common Scoter © Josh Jones, from the surfbirds galleries.
The UK’s most endangered duck – still needs significant conservation action if we’re going to pull them back from the brink
Rare birds, with fewer than 1000 pairs, with increasing populations include the osprey, corncrake, avocet, cirl bunting and stone-curlew – all birds subject to conservation action. The declining common birds include the linnet, nightingale, swift, guillemot, starling, house sparrow and red grouse – all widespread species that are suffering declines for a variety of reasons.
The overview of 210 native breeding birds has been produced by a coalition of conservation organisations, to celebrate the publication of the State of the UK’s Birds report which this year enjoys its tenth anniversary.
The report is published by the RSPB for a coalition of conservation organisations, including: RSPB, British Trust for Ornithology; The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust; The Countryside Council for Wales; Natural England; Northern Ireland Environment Agency; Scottish Natural Heritage and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.
Dr Mark Avery, the RSPB’s Conservation Director, said: “Over the last decade we’ve enjoyed some cracking conservation successes, including removing some threatened species from the red list and increasing the populations of red kite, bittern, avocet, osprey, stone-curlew and cirl bunting. However, these triumphs are countered by continued declines of some widespread species, like the skylark, kestrel, willow warbler and grey partridge.”
Dr David Noble of the British Trust for Ornithology, added: “ That some of our rarer birds have responded to targeted conservation action is great news. It shows just what can be achieved. What we need to do now is to continue the good work and use some of the lessons we have learned to help our more common birds.”
Dr Baz Hughes of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, said: “It is really encouraging to look back at how concerted effort has improved the status of many wetland birds, not least avocet, bittern and black-tailed godwit. But sadly exceptions like the common scoter – the UK’s most endangered duck – still need significant conservation action if we’re going to pull them back from the brink.”
Tom Tew, Chief Scientist for Natural England, said: “It is clear that targeted conservation work has made a real difference in reversing the decline of many rare species and that positive land management, often delivered through green farming schemes such as Environmental Stewardship, has had an important part to play. By working closely with farmers and other land managers we need to ensure that these benefits are spread into the wider countryside where more common birds continue to suffer from declines.”
JNCC’s David Stroud said: “These results remind us that the causes of the declines for many migratory species can often be in other countries. For example, Greenland white-fronted geese are declining owing to factors that are restricting its breeding in the Arctic. This strongly emphasises the need for UK conservation organisations to collaborate internationally with those in other countries to tackle such issues.”
Some of the key bird conservation stories coming from 10 years of the report include:
· A continued decline of farmland birds
· The dramatic rise of bitterns from 19 to 82 males
· An increase in the numbers of Dartford warblers, nightjars and woodlarks in line with the
positive management of heathland
· An increase in the number of corncrake, stone-curlew and cirl bunting, thanks to positive
habitat management
· A dramatic recovery in the fortunes of the white-tailed eagle and red kite, thanks to reintroduction programmes
· An increase in the number of little egrets which only bred for the first time in the UK in 1996
· A decrease in the numbers of kittiwake and guillemot, two species of seabird having their most important EU populations in the UK
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:46 AM | Comments (0)
Bahamas Declares New Land and Sea Parks
On Saturday night, at the Bahamas National Trust 50th Gala Ball in Nassau, Prime Minister Hubert A. Ingraham reconfirmed his government’s commitment to the Caribbean Challenge and “the orderly expansion of our national parks system to include up to 10 percent of the terrestrial areas and 20 percent of the near-shore marine resources of the country.”
The new parks encompass some of The Bahamas most pristine lands and waters, and include:
- the establishment of the Fowl Cays Land and Sea Park in Abaco located between Scotland and Man O’ War Cay in the barrier islands of Great Abaco
- the expansion of the West Side National Park of Andros, including Williams Island and Billy Island
- the expansion of the Conception Island National Park
Cuban Pewee, Bahamas © Alan Lewis, from the surfbirds galleries.
In his announcement, Prime Minister Ingraham also noted, “We are mindful of the pressures of development in certain parts of The Bahamas, and equally mindful of our duty to protect the interest of our people and integrity of our resources.”
The Bahamas continues to increase conservation momentum within the Caribbean. In addition to these new parks, the government recently extended legal protection to all species of sea turtles found within its waters. They may not be hunted, trapped or otherwise harmed or harassed.
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:39 AM | Comments (0)
Endemics thrive on Timor-Leste's "Lost World" mountain
Surveys have confirmed that the finest montane forests in Timor-Leste, and possibly the whole island of Timor, are to be found on the inaccessible Mount Mundo Perdido – literally, "Lost World". With 22 of the restricted-range species of the Timor and Wetar Endemic Bird Area found so far, Mount Mundo Perdido has been recognised as Timor-Leste's seventeenth Important Bird Area (IBA).
The surveys were carried out by staff of Timor-Leste's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and Colin Trainor of Australia's Charles Darwin University, supported by BirdLife and the UK Government’s Darwin Initiative.
Yellow-crested Cockatoo © James Eaton/ Birdtour Asia, from the surfbirds galleries.
The upper slopes of Mount Mundo Perdido, rising to 1,760 m, have been protected from agriculture by their steep, rocky terrain. The 16,100 ha site also includes the 1,390 m Mount Laritame, 5 km to the north.
The IBA almost certainly hosts the largest populations of a suite of hill and montane bird species on Timor Island. Of the 22 endemics, one is globally threatened - the Endangered Timor Imperial-pigeon Ducula cineracea - and eight are Near Threatened, including Slaty Cuckoo-dove Turacoena modesta and Chestnut-backed Thrush Zoothera dohertyi. Small numbers of Critically Endangered Yellow-crested Cockatoo Cacatua sulphurea are also present.
A total of 63 bird species have been recorded, including 61 presumed breeding residents, and two northern migrants. Eleven of the residents are montane forest specialists, and all appear to be abundant in the IBA.
Possibly the most exciting discovery was a population of Pygmy Blue-flycatcher Muscicapella hodgsoni on the upper slopes, 1,700 km or more from the nearest known populations in Kalimantan and Sumatra. The taxonomic status of this isolated population is being investigated.
Mount Mundo Perdido is also considered one of the three most important sites for conservation of orchids in Timor-Leste, and several new orchid species have been collected.
Although it has legal protected stratus dating back to the United Nations administration which preceded independence, the IBA is not managed as a Protected Area. But local people have responded positively to the idea of Protected Area management, which would, in line with the policy established in Timor Leste, be carried out in close consultation with the community.
Measures would include improved management of livestock, fairer and more sustainable access to forest products such as bamboo and rattan, reforestation of eroded areas, and a village forestry programme to supply timber from plantations, as an alternative to the current uncontrolled extraction of forest trees.
"The Government of Timor-Leste has shown it is committed to preserving our natural and cultural heritage through Protected Areas, by declaring our first National Park (Nino Konis Santana National Park) in 2008. We continue to work towards managing this area sustainably, while we also develop plans to manage 12 other Protected Areas including Mount Mundo Perdido, and to establish 18 new Protected Areas in the long term. All these are to be part of the new Protected Areas Network in Timor-Leste. Thanks to this work, we now know that Mount Mundo Perdido is the richest tropical montane forest site remaining in Timor-Leste", said Manuel Mendes, Director for Protected Areas and National Park, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:27 AM | Comments (0)
Australia's IBAs provide the first nationwide conservation blueprint
Birds Australia (BirdLife in Australia) has published Australia’s Important Bird Areas, a major contribution to conservation planning in a country where the sheer scale of the landscape has held back the identification of sites of high importance for biodiversity conservation.
Birds Australia (BirdLife in Australia) has published Australia’s Important Bird Areas, a major contribution to conservation planning in a country where the sheer scale of the landscape has held back the identification of sites of high importance for biodiversity conservation.
Mangrove Honeyeater © Jon Coleman, from the surfbirds galleries.
Between 2005 and 2009, with contributions from over 1,000 volunteers and funding from Rio Tinto, the IBA project designated 314 Australian sites of global significance for bird conservation. These sites encompass almost 44 million hectares of land, which include IBAs in all Australian States and most Territories. But almost half of the area covered by Australia’s IBAs has no existing formal protection.
The Australian Government aims to reserve at least 10% of all bioregions, and to protect key habitats for nationally listed threatened species and migratory species. Although more than 9,000 formally protected areas cover 11% of the Australian landmass, many bioregions are under-represented, and many threatened and migratory species are poorly protected. Moreover, even in Protected Areas some species are declining. This highlights the need for conservation in the almost 90% of Australia’s landmass that is outside the formal conservation estate.
“In countries such as the United Kingdom, all sites of conservation significance have been identified”, Graeme Hamilton explained. “Until now, the scale of the task and the inadequacy of baseline distributional data have discouraged such projects in Australia, and the lack of mapped priority areas, especially those off-reserve, has been a hindrance to effective and cost-efficient conservation. The IBA project is the first national site-scale conservation analysis for the country.”
Many of Australia’s small islands support large concentrations of nesting seabirds, especially on the Great Barrier Reef and around Tasmania. Some of these seabird colonies and IBAs are very small: 20 IBAs are less than one hectare in size.
At the other extreme, some IBAs have been designated for species that occur at low population densities over very large areas. These include the South-west Slopes IBA for breeding Superb Parrots Polytelis swainsonii, and Arnhem Plateau IBA for White-throated Grasswrens Amytornis woodwardi, both Vulnerable.
A number of Australian birds, such as Endangered Mallee Emuwren Stipiturus mallee are endemic to low, fire-sensitive vegetation such as mallee (important in 22 IBAs) or heathland (11 IBAs). Appropriate fire management is critical if these IBAs are to keep their value. At the wetter end of the scale, the designation of IBAs is triggered by rainforest species (28 IBAs) or specialist mangrove species such as Chestnut Rail Eulabeornis castaneoventris or Mangrove Honeyeater Lichenostomus fasciogularis (17 IBAs). For the birds that inhabit these IBAs, climate change is now the biggest threat.
To read the State of Australia’s Birds report, please click here.
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:19 AM | Comments (0)
October 23, 2009
Poland's Government spares threatened wildlife from road development
A decision by the Polish government to proceed with an alternative route for the Via Baltica expressway– an international road corridor in north-east Poland – has given a reprieve to some of Europe’s best wildlife sites, says a coalition of conservation groups.
The road - part of a route linking Helsinki to Warsaw – is part of the EU’s Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).
Campaigners from CEE Bankwatch Network, BirdLife International, the RSPB and OTOP (the RSPB’s partner in Poland) have said the decision by the Polish Council of Ministers is a major victory that represents a significant step towards the proper implementation of Polish and European environmental laws.
However, the groups say that the new decree does not mark the end of their campaign to save Polish sites of European importance from suffering damage from other road construction plans in the region.
Greater Spotted Eagle, Poland © Tomasz Kulakowski, from the surfbirds galleries.
The sites spared by the decision include locations important for a range of threatened species, including lynx, wolf, beaver and threatened bird species including aquatic warbler and greater spotted eagle which have their most important concentrations in the EU in north-east Poland. The sites known as Natura 2000 sites, are all protected under European environmental laws including the EC’s Birds and Habitats directives.
According to the decree, the Polish part of the Via Baltica expressway will be constructed in line with the recommendations of experts and the findings of a Strategic Environmental Assessment, demanded by the European Parliament, the Bern Convention and environmental groups. This has taken several years to complete.
This environmentally-sound routing of the road via Lomza, confirmed now by the government, is also valid on economic, traffic and social grounds. The decision means that the expected stream of intra-Continental lorries will go via Lomza, thus avoiding negative impacts on three Natura 2000 sites: the Biebrza Marshes, and the Knyszyn and Augustow Primeval Forests. However, it does not bring an automatic halt to current road construction work inside the Knyszyn Forest or other environmentally harmful road-development plans in north-east Poland.
Dr Helen Byron, a senior RSPB international site casework officer, said: “This is great news! After seven years of campaigning, the Polish ministers approved a new route for the Via Baltica corridor that will avoid the threatened sites of international importance.
“Sadly, this doesn't mean our work is over entirely - we still need to protect sites along the 'old' Via Baltica route and ensure that construction on the new route goes ahead so that this isn't just a paper victory. But this is an absolutely fantastic step forward ensuring a brighter future for the wildlife of this naturally diverse region.”
Marta Majka Wisniewska, Polish national coordinator for Bankwatch, said: “The decision from the Council of Ministers does not close the case of egregious road development in north-east Poland. There is a further need to change other strategic documents, in particular the current list of investments under the Operational Programme 'Infrastructure & Environment' and the Polish proposal on TEN-T revision. And, of course, the devil will be in the final implementation of today's positive outcome.”
Malgorzata Gorska, IBA Casework Officer of OTOP (the RSPB’s Polish partner), said: ”As these road developments have been proceeding at high speed, Natura 2000 sites like the Knyszyn Forest and the Biebrza Marshes are still under threat. Our task is to ensure that all environmentally-harmful road projects along the old routing of the Via Baltica, as queried by the European Commission, are halted or modified. With the new route for the Via Baltica corridor settled there is no need to continue with these large scale projects on the old route which will needlessly damage Natura 2000 sites ”
Posted by Surfbirds at 9:47 AM | Comments (0)
Argentina, Paraguay make historic forest pledge
Argentina and Paraguay have made a historic pledge to save one of the world’s most threatened forests.
During a special ceremony at the XIIIth World Forestry Congress, the two governments agreed to work towards zero net deforestation in the Atlantic Forest, and to implement a package of measures that include national legislation to enforce those commitments.
Brazilian Ruby, Atlantic Forest © Chris Townend/ Birdseekers,
from the surfbirds galleries.
The Atlantic Forest initially spanned 500,000 square kms, shared between Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. However, only 7.4 percent of the forest is left today – or about 35,000 square kilometers, making it one of the most threatened and fragment subtropical forests in the world.
To preserve the Atlantic Forest, Argentina will implement new land-use plans that will ensure the conservation of approximately 1.1 million hectares of the forest. Meanwhile, Paraguay has extended the country’s zero deforestation law to 2013, and is working to introduce economic alternatives to people who depend on the Atlantic Forest for their livelihood.
In Brazil, the government already has established a zero deforestation target by 2010 for the Atlantic Forest. Brazil also has pledged to establish protected areas covering at least 10 percent of the forest.
“This important commitment shows how coordinated policies between countries can address biodiversity loss and stop runaway climate change,” said Diego Moreno, Director General of Fundación Vida Silvestre, a WWF partner organization in Argentina.
“We can, as developing countries, make efforts to address this problem, but we need a strong climate deal in Copenhagen in December that can help with the implementation of these policies and contribute to the sustainable development of our region,” Moreno said.
Agricultural expansion, construction, growth of cities, and non-sustainable exploitation led the forest´s destruction. The Atlantic Forest is home to more than 20,000 plants species – of which 8,000 can be found nowhere else – and 1,000 bird species, 372 amphibians, 350 types of fish, 197 types of reptiles, and 270 mammals.
The Atlantic Forest borders major cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and Asuncion, and also provides freshwater to millions of people. In addition, the forest houses the world-famous Iguazu Falls, on the border of Brazil and Argentina.
Despite conservation efforts, global deforestation continues at an alarming rate – 13 million hectares per year, or 36 football fields a minute. It generates almost 20 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and halting forest loss has been identified as one of the most cost-effective ways to keep the world out of the danger zone of runaway climate change
The announcement came as WWF challenged global leaders at the Congress to support a target of zero net deforestation by 2020.
“This is a global benchmark to avoid the looming climate change catastrophe and curb
the current alarming loss of species,” said WWF International’s Forests Director Rodney Taylor.
Posted by Surfbirds at 9:38 AM | Comments (0)
October 21, 2009
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Florida named Vital Wetland by Ramsar Convention
Audubon of Florida's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, home of the largest stand of Bald Cypress trees in the world, has been listed as a Wetland of International Importance by the Ramsar Convention.
The official designation as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance underscores the need to protect this vital resource from a host of threats, including invasive species and development in sensitive watersheds for which Corkscrew serves as an essential link. Nearly 200 species of birds thrive in the sanctuary, renowned as home to America's largest nesting colonies of Wood Stork, a federally endangered species. The storks nest in majestic 600-year-old bald cypress, reaching heights of 40 meters.
Wood Stork © Richard Fray, from the surfbirds galleries.
Also included in the designation are lands totaling more than 2,700 acres that were contributed to the Sanctuary, together with management funding in perpetuity, by the Panther Island Mitigation Bank. The mitigation bank project successfully restored degraded wetlands and provided additional Wood Stork habitat that complements the Corkscrew sanctuary. This is the first time Ramsar has recognized mitigation bank property.
Adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands promotes conservation of wetland habitats around the world, from the Florida Everglades to Africa's Okavango Delta. The listing of Corkscrew marks the second Audubon sanctuary in the USA to receive the prestigious listing by Ramsar. Audubon's Beidler Forest, in South Carolina, was designated in 2008.
"This designation underscores the importance of protecting and preserving our wetlands around the world," said John Flicker, President of the National Audubon Society; "These wetlands are essential not only to birds and other wildlife, but provide natural flood protection for humans and their homes."
"We are extremely pleased to see over the past year the renewed enthusiasm in the United States for including internationally important wetlands in the Ramsar List," said Mr. Anada Tiéga, Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. "We are particularly grateful for the initiative of the Audubon Society in pushing forward two recent Ramsar designations, first in South Carolina and now this fascinating and valuable wetland in southern Florida."
Corkscrew Sanctuary first gained global significance when named an Audubon Important Bird Area, part of an international initiative with BirdLife International, which identifies and protects vital bird habitats around the world. "Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is the second of Audubon's Important Bird Areas to be recognized as a Ramsar site;" said John Cecil, Director of the Important Bird Areas Program for Audubon and the Society's Representative on the U.S. Ramsar Committee. "This dual acknowledgement celebrates not only the beauty and rich biodiversity found at Corkscrew, but the collaboration of Audubon, its partners, and the South Florida communities that surround it. Each has played an essential role in conserving this jewel."
Created in 1954 to protect great old cypress forest from loggers, Corkscrew is a 13,000-acre sanctuary located inland of Naples and Ft. Myers on the west coast of Florida. In 1950, the Audubon Society purchased the area, protecting the ecosystem not only for birds, but the Florida panther, American alligator, black bear, Florida Royal palm, and rare Ghost Orchid. The Sanctuary also supports a diversity of Neotropical migrants, large numbers of wintering land birds, and the third-largest Swallow-tailed Kite roost in the United States.
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:26 PM | Comments (0)
Global population of Gurney's Pitta far greater than previously estimated
A recent paper published online in BirdLife's journal Bird Conservation International, provides strong evidence that the global population of Gurney's Pitta Pitta gurneyi, once believed to be one of the rarest birds in the world, is much greater than was previously estimated.
The only bird species endemic to peninsular Thailand and Myanmar, Gurney's Pitta was considered extinct by some before the rediscovery of a single small population in Thailand in 1986. Classified as Critically Endangered by BirdLife on behalf of IUCN, the discovery of populations in Myanmar led to its downlisting to Endangered in 2008.
Gurney's Pitta © Adrian Webb, from the surfbirds galleries.
The recent research, led by Dr Paul Donald of the RSPB (BirdLife in the UK), confirmed that almost all of the world's population of Gurney's Pitta is located in Myanmar. The research has shown that the previous population estimate for Myanmar was too low and that it in fact is likely to be between 9,300 and an astonishing 35,000 territories, although it probably lies around a mid-point of 20,000 territories. The research also showed that the species occurs further north than previously thought, and at higher altitudes.
The research, funded by the UK Government's Darwin Initiative, also involved the Forest Department, Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association, a local Myanmar non-government organisation and the Indochina programme of BirdLife International.
Dr. Donald said, "This project represents an example of where well targeted conservation research can bring about an improvement in the conservation status of a threatened species through better knowledge. Our increased knowledge of the status, distribution and ecology of this species will guide future conservation investment. Of course we must remember that although the Myanmar population is larger than previously thought, it is declining due to forest loss and is not yet secure."
Recent conservation effort by the same project, involving the Bird Conservation Society of Thailand, The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and Chiang Mai University has stabilised the remnant population in southern Thailand, estimated at between 15 and 20 territories. However, it was discovered that nesting success in Thailand remains very low, due to heavy nest predation by snakes. The Thai population, although small, is located in a protected area, Khao Pra Bang Kram Wildlife Sanctuary. However, the Myanmar population remains unprotected although it is hoped that with the eventual establishment of Lenya National Park, this situation will change.
"Lowland forest continues to be lost throughout South-East Asia, principally for the establishment of commercial oil palm estates. This is the principle threat to the Gurney’s Pitta in Myanmar, although for the moment there is evidence of a decline in the rate of clearance, which may be linked to the global economic downturn", said Jonathan Eames, Programme Manager for BirdLife in Indochina.
Interestingly, habitats supporting the species in Myanmar are rather different to those at occupied sites in Thailand. This means the species might inhabit a wider range of altitudes, slopes and forest types than previously thought, and so might persist in previously unsurveyed areas. The results suggest that the species also is tolerant of or even benefits from, a degree of forest disturbance, though it certainly cannot survive in oil palm plantations. This affords hope that the species will be found at new locations in both Myanmar and Thailand. This will be the goal of further research to be conducted next year.
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:09 PM | Comments (0)
Salt Marsh Birds Threatened by Sea-Level Rise
Species of marsh birds such as the Clapper Rail, Virginia Rail, Willet, Seaside Sparrow and Marsh Wren could experience 80% population declines in the Chesapeake Bay region if sea-levels rise by three to six feet by the year 2100. The analysis by the Center for Conservation Biology of the College of William and Mary found that sea-level rise will be particularly harmful to Black Rail and Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow that rely solely on irregularly flooded high marsh. The scientists’ simulation found that many of the known breeding sites of these species would be completely inundated by rising waters.
Sea-level rise is a particularly acute problem for the Chesapeake Bay, which is already losing marshland twice as fast as the global average due to natural subsidence caused by movement in the North American plate. The region supports about 30% of the salt marsh along the Atlantic Coast, and 60% of the salt marsh north of the Carolinas.
Clapper Rail © Roger Ahlman, from the surfbirds galleries.
The researchers simulated the loss of marshes from rising ocean waters, which are currently predicted to globally rise between a two and six feet by the end of this century. One question that remains is whether any sort of effective mitigation can be achieved that allows the salt marshes to move further inland. Many of these same areas are now developed and may demand hard barriers to keep the ocean at bay. This could squeeze salt marsh habitat out of existence, and with it, the many bird species that have evolved there. For more information see www.ccb-wm.org.
Another study has found that as much as half of California could be occupied by new bird communities by 2070, according to PRBO Conservation Science and other researchers. While the movement of individual species as result of climate change is already being documented, this study broke new ground by determining that entire new assemblages of birds are likely to result, with uncertain consequences. The study found that: “Predator-prey or competitive interactions may become affected as species assemblages are reshuffled in new ways…this may result in the decline or extirpation of species as they adjust or adapt to changing climates.” For more information see www.prbo.org.
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:06 PM | Comments (0)
New Refuge to Protect Migratory and Resident Birds in the Dominican Republic
Leonel Fernández, President of the Dominican Republic, has announced the creation of a new refuge “Reserva Biologica Loma Charco Azul” on the northwestern border of Sierra de Bahoruco National Park, a global biodiversity hotspot. The decision extends protection in the region by 111 square miles, providing essential habitat protection for the globally threatened Bay-breasted Cuckoo and threatened resident and migratory birds that depend on the Island of Hispaniola. American Bird Conservancy and its partner Grupo Jaragua prepared the proposal for the Secretaría de Estado de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales to designate the new protected area and conducted the biodiversity inventory work needed to justify the new area.
“With 30 endemic bird species, Hispaniola ranks high in global importance for bird conservation,” said Dr. George Wallace, American Bird Conservancy’s Vice President of Oceans and Islands. “With forests in Haiti virtually gone and an accelerated rate of forest loss in the Dominican Republic, many of these species face a bleak future—of the 30 species, 14 are ranked by IUCN as globally threatened. That’s why expanding land protected in the vicinity of Sierra de Bahoruco is so important and such a significant accomplishment.”
Hispaniolan Trogon © Mark Van Beirs/Birdquest, from the surfbirds galleries.
In addition, over 30 species of Neotropical migratory birds have been recorded there; they form an important component of the biodiversity during the northern winter, making up more than 50% of the bird life in some habitats, particularly pine forests.
“Loma Charco Azul contains populations of several threatened endemic birds and migratory species and, until now, was an unprotected portion of the Sierra de Bahoruco Important Bird Area,” said Yvonne Arias, President of Grupo Jaragua, which has partnered with American Bird Conservancy on the conservation of threatened and migratory birds in the region.. “Key among the endemics there are the Bay-breasted Cuckoo, and a good population of the vulnerable Hispaniolan Parrot. We applaud the action of President Fernández to designate this important new protected area.
”Sierra de Bahoruco National Park, an Alliance for Global Extinction (AZE) site, is the global stronghold for three endangered species—Bay-breasted Cuckoo, La Selle Thrush, and Hispaniolan Crossbill—and five more that are globally vulnerable—Hispaniolan Parrot, Hispaniolan Parakeet, Golden Swallow, Chat Tanager, and White-winged Warbler. Other endangered species such a Bicknell’s Thrush and the Black-capped Petrel are also present. Unfortunately, the park and its environs are under severe threat because some of the dry forest, especially important for the Bay-breasted Cuckoo, adjacent to the park boundaries, has been cleared for an avocado/papaya plantation.
The Bay-breasted Cuckoo is declining around Loma Charco Azul, due to the creeping expansion of this plantation which has destroyed habitat for 5-6 pairs since 2002 according to research by Lance Woolaver, a Canadian graduate student doing his thesis on the species. The new protected area will help to safeguard one of the three most important known populations.
The work to create the new protected area was part of a part of a broader effort to improve the management of Sierra de Bahoruco National Park supported by the US Fish and Wildlife Service through the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act grant program. Other aspects of the project included hiring guards to protect the Park and to establish a monitoring program for migratory, endemic and resident birds. Other important supporters of Grupo Jaragua’s efforts to expand protection in the vicinity of Sierra de Baharuco National park include BirdLife International and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
Posted by Surfbirds at 6:59 PM | Comments (0)
October 17, 2009
Rapid ice loss found in survey supports trend to summer ice free
New data, released by the Catlin Arctic Survey and WWF, provides further evidence of thinning Arctic Ocean sea ice, supporting the emerging thinking that the Ocean will be largely ice-free in summer within a decade.
The Catlin Arctic Survey, completed earlier this year, provides the latest ice thickness record, drawn from the only survey capturing surface measurements in the last winter and spring. The data collected by manual drilling and observations on a 450 kilometre route across the northern part of the Beaufort Sea suggests the survey area is comprised almost exclusively of first year ice. This is a significant finding because the region has traditionally contained older, thicker multi-year ice. The average thickness of the ice-floes measured 1.8 metres, a depth considered too thin to survive the next summer’s ice melt.
Tufted Puffin © Steve Bird, from the surfbirds galleries.
Incredible as it seems, we might see more records of this species in Europe.
The findings were analysed by the Polar Ocean Physics Group at the University of Cambridge, led by Professor Peter Wadhams, one of the world’s leading experts on sea ice cover in the North Pole region.
“With a larger part of the region now first year ice, it is clearly more vulnerable,” said Professor Wadhams. “The area is now more likely to become open water each summer, bringing forward the potential date when the summer sea ice will be completely gone.
“The Catlin Arctic Survey data supports the new consensus view, based on seasonal variation of ice extent and thickness, changes in temperatures, winds and especially ice composition, that the Arctic will be ice-free in summer within about 20 years, and that much of the decrease will be happening within 10 years.
“That means you’ll be able to treat the Arctic as if it were essentially an open sea in the summer and have transport across the Arctic Ocean.”
According to the scientists who have studied the data, the technique used by the explorers to take measurements on the surface of the ice has the potential to help ice modellers to refine predictions about the future survival or decline of the ice.
“This is the kind of scientific work we always wanted to support by getting to places in the Arctic which are otherwise nearly impossible to reach for research purposes,” said Expedition leader Pen Hadow. “It’s what modern exploration should be doing. Our on-the-ice techniques are helping scientists to understand better what is going on in this fragile ecosystem.”
The results of the analysis of more than 6000 measurements and observations collected by the survey in 73 days on the ice were unveiled today in London with warnings that rapid climate change in the Arctic risked the release of vast quantities of carbon stored in hydrates on the Arctic seabed or in frozen tundra soils.
“The arctic sea ice holds a central position in our Earth’s climate system. Take it out of the equation and we are left with a dramatically warmer world,” said Dr. Martin Sommerkorn from the WWF International Arctic Programme, which was a partner in the survey. “Such a loss of Arctic sea ice cover has recently been assessed to set in motion powerful climate feedbacks which will have an impact far beyond the Arctic itself – self perpetuating cycles, amplifying and
accelerating the consequences of global warming. This 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."
“Today’s findings provide yet another urgent call for action to world leaders ahead of the UN climate summit in Copenhagen this December to rapidly and effectively curb global greenhouse gas emissions, with rich countries committing to reduce emissions by 40% by 2020.”
Posted by Surfbirds at 6:56 AM | Comments (0)
October 15, 2009
Kinder Scout declared a National Nature Reserve
The famous plateau of Kinder Scout has been officially declared a National Nature Reserve (NNR) by Natural England. Located in the heart of the Peak District and one of the most familiar landscapes in Britain, Kinder has a proud place in the campaigns to improve public access to England’s countryside. Now with NNR status it joins a range of other upland NNRs helping to conserve our most vulnerable habitats.
Owned and managed by the National Trust, Kinder comprises around 700 hectares of various upland habitats, including blanket bog and sub-alpine dwarf shrub heath, and also supports several upland breeding birds, notably species of birds of prey and waders, curlew and ring ouzel. Going forward, assessments will be made of the potential to restore damaged habitat areas, including the regeneration of bog mosses, which are fundamental to the long-term process of peat creation and carbon storage.
Ring Ouzel © David Hutton, from the surfbirds galleries
Kinder is among the most popular upland areas in England for walkers and holds a special affection as the site of the famous 1932 Mass Trespass - the catalyst for the creation of our National Parks. It now becomes the 223rd NNR in England and the 16th owned by the National Trust.
Poul Christensen, Acting Chair of Natural England, said: “National Nature Reserves are selected to build up a balanced network of the best examples of England’s natural heritage, of which Kinder Scout is definitely one. As one of the most famous upland sites in England it offers an excellent platform to promote engagement amongst the general public about the need to conserve and improve our upland habitats”.
The NNR declaration came on the same day that the life of Sir Martin Doughty - the father of modern nature conservation and founding Chair of Natural England - was celebrated with a series of events on and around Kinder Scout. Martin died of cancer earlier this year and would have celebrated his 60th birthday on 11 October. An informal family day out was arranged by Natural England, the National Trust, Derbyshire County Council and the Peak District National Park Authority.
Speaking at the celebration, Poul Christensen said “Martin would have been delighted his beloved Kinder Scout has achieved NNR status. He worked tirelessly to improve access to our natural environment so everyone could enjoy it like he did”.
Mike Innerdale, the National Trust’s Peak District General Manager said: "Kinder Scout is an iconic part of the Peak District that is enjoyed by millions of visitors each year and The National Trust strongly supports the declaration of the site as a National Nature Reserve. Kinder is an area that provides a great opportunity for people to enjoy the countryside and experience nature, NNR status will help us to provide even more opportunities for visitors to discover this dramatic landscape."
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:05 AM | Comments (0)
New Study Provides Insight on Energy Development and Sage-Grouse Habitat in the Intermountain West
A study released in the current issue of the peer-reviewed journal PLoS ONE (Public Library of Science) will shed new light on oil and gas development potential in the Intermountain West. Maps accompanying the study show the impacts to greater sage-grouse populations in relation to potential energy development. If business as usual continues and more forward-thinking development strategies are not considered, sage-grouse populations will decline an additional 7 to 19 percent.
Prepared by scientists from The Nature Conservancy, the National Audubon Society, and the University of Montana, the study created a tool to understand the cumulative impacts of energy development on species in the West. Agencies can use the study’s findings to determine how best to pursue energy independence while maintaining quality habitat that is critical to imperiled sage-grouse populations as well as a host of other species, including iconic big game of the West.
Sage Grouse © RJ Hall, from the surfbirds blogs
“This study illustrates how impacts to sensitive species, in this example sage-grouse, can be used to forecast biological trade-offs of newly proposed or ongoing development plans” said study co-author Dr. Kevin Doherty, Senior Ecologist at the National Audubon Society. “A 7-19% impact to sage-grouse in their eastern range from just one of the host of issues causing their declines, highlights the need for scientifically credible conservation planning tools to balance natural resource development with wildlife conservation”
Sage-grouse populations are considered indicators of ecosystem health and have been closely monitored by state game and fish agencies over the past decade. The greater sage-grouse is currently a candidate for Endangered Species listing - a result that would have far reaching implications for a wide range of industries in the region.
“Sage-grouse are useful in prioritizing conservation because their abundance is indicative of large and intact shrub-dominated grasslands, the most endangered ecosystem in North America,” said study co-author, Dr. David Naugle, Associate Professor, University of Montana. “Challenges with sage-grouse are a harsh reminder that the value of small-scale conservation actions may be negated if large-scale cumulative impacts are ignored”
The new study and its detailed maps of the Intermountain West indicates that future oil and gas drilling could impact up to 9.1 million acres of sagebrush shrub lands and 2.7 million acres of grasslands - key sage-grouse habitat.
Global demand for energy has increased by more than 50 percent in the last half century, and a similar increase is projected between 2007 and 2030. Much of our domestic demand will be served by new exploration in the western US - making the health of wildlife in the West, such as sage-grouse, an issue of national importance.
“The Conservancy and the Audubon Society have been jointly working with state and federal agencies to proactively identify areas of high biological value that may impact oil and gas operations,” said study lead author Holly Copeland, spatial ecologist, with the Nature Conservancy in Wyoming. “Linking wildlife impacts with predictive oil and gas models will provide tools to decision makers charged with meeting the challenge of maintain healthy wildlife populations while responsibly developing domestic energy resources.”
Posted by Surfbirds at 6:54 AM | Comments (0)
Will our wildlife be celebrating Natural England’s third birthday?
Three years ago last weekend, Natural England was born. Formed from the merger of three organisations, it emerged into the expectant glare of England’s wildlife charities, including WWT, the UK’s leading wetland conservation charity.
We have been watching Natural England intently since its birth, helping and co-operating where we can. Its responsibilities have been clear – to protect and improve England’s natural environment, its wildlife, and the habitats upon which wildlife depends.
Black-tailed Godwit © Neil Triggs, from the surfbirds galleries
But three years on, how well it is doing?
There is no doubt that Natural England has made some impressive progress. And it deserves considerable praise for that. But with the political and economic landscape moving under its feet, what does the future look like? And where do we think Natural England should turn its attentions next?
We joined Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, the Bat Conservation Trust, Buglife, Butterfly Conservation, The Grasslands Trust, Plantlife and the RSPB in a snapshot assessment of Natural England’s initial tenure. This is what we agreed…
An ‘A’ for effort
We’re pleased with Natural England’s progress towards the vital goal of improving the condition of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in England. It’s not all rosy - only 15% of SSSIs include invertebrates as protected features, and considerably more could be done for plants. But great progress has been made with 89% of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in a recovering or favourable condition – on track to meet the Government 2010 target.
We’re also impressed by the organisation’s evidence-based input to policy development, such as recent moves related to set aside, and the formation of a government policy that supports environmentally responsible renewables. Wildlife-friendly farming has undoubtedly benefited under Natural England, with innovative and well targeted agri-environment schemes aimed at halting wildlife declines. The take-up of these schemes by the farming community has been good and wildlife should benefit as a result.
And as the Government’s main conduit into saving species from extinction, we know that Natural England faces a tall order. However, we’ve been collectively impressed by its scientifically based approach to saving endangered species, involving a wide range of NGO partners.
Must try harder
This wouldn’t be a realistic report, though, if it didn’t point out some of the areas into which we think Natural England could put more effort. And as campaigners advocating a bigger voice for nature, we’re sure you’d expect nothing less. In the next few years, we want to see Natural England became a more vocal champion for nature. We hope our own voices are strong, but a little extra volume would go a long way! We need Natural England to provide impartial scrutiny of Government performance on wildlife conservation, and offer more consistent and well-versed advice to landowners, planners and other bodies so that they can contribute fully to conserving wildlife.
And while the intention has been good, Natural England has been painfully slow in organising systems for administering key agri-environment schemes. This overly bureaucratic approach is really hindering delivery of these schemes, and we want to see all blockages removed.
Finally, Natural England has made only tentative steps on habitat restoration and creation – notably through funding Wetland Vision projects. This really worries us, as larger areas of good habitat and ecological corridors to join them up are essential to help nature survive under a changing climate. We think the slow pace of progress is largely down to a lack of funding, but this area deserves more of Natural England’s resources. So how should we assess Natural England’s overall progress? There’s no doubt that its vision is good, and its progress is sound in some areas. But could it do more? Of course it could – and because our nation’s wildlife depends on it, it absolutely should.
That’s why we’re pleased to wish Natural England a Happy Third Birthday. We hope that, in another three years time, we can give it an even bigger party – and raise a toast to an even more secure future for England’s wildlife.
Posted by Surfbirds at 6:50 AM | Comments (0)
Lake Nakuru becomes Africa's first IBA-branded National Park
Lake Nakuru National Park, famous for its population of up to 1.5 million non-breeding Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor, has become the first National Park in Africa to be branded as an Important Bird Area (IBA).
The branding is a triumph for BirdLife Partner NatureKenya, which began identifying IBAs within the country in 1995.
Greater Flamingo © Nick Clayton, from the surfbirds galleries
Some 450 bird species have been recorded in and around Lake Nakuru, including Endangered Madagascar Pond-heron Ardeola idea, Near Threatened Grey-crested Helmet-shrike Prionops poliolophus and Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus. The site is also key for regionally important numbers of congregatory waterbirds such as Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus, African Spoonbill Platalea alba, Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus and Grey-headed Gull Larus cirrocephalus.
“The IBA branding makes Lake Nakuru National Park part of the global network of places recognised for their outstanding value to bird conservation”, said Kenya Wildlife Service Director Dr Julius Kipng’etich. He added that Nakuru’s new status was a huge boost to the KWS’s efforts to market the lake as: “The world’s greatest ornithological spectacle”.
Kenya’s Minister for Forestry and Wildlife, Dr Noah Wekesa, said that IBA status would raise awareness and thus reduce stress on the lake’s birds. According to the Environment News Service, he added that other IBAs, such as those around Lake Victoria and in the Cherang'ani Hills, will be used to extend and market Kenya’s ecotourism circuits. At the same ceremony, the Minister launched the Fourth Edition of the ‘Checklist of the Birds of Kenya’, which now lists 1,100 species, and is available from NatureKenya.
Income from the 300,000 visitors to Lake Nakuru each year supports conservation work at other, less glamorous but no less important, Protected Areas. However, the flamingos and other spectacular birds and large mammals at Lake Nakuru are suffering the short-term effects of the severe drought affecting the country.
"Lake Nakuru IBA is crucial for Kenya’s tourism industry which is worthy US$ 1 billion per year”, said, Dr Julius Arinaitwe - BirdLife Africa’s IBA Programme Manager. “Every effort should be made to protect it from the human-induced threats that it is currently facing”.
Longer term problems include the extensive clearance of the Mau Forest by settlers, loggers and charcoal makers, which has reduced the forest’s capacity to hold and release water during the rainy season. Much of Lake Nakuru’s water is provided by four rivers which originate in the Mau Forest.
“There is need to look at the entire water-catchment to conserve wetland IBAs such as Lake Nakuru”, said Paul Matiku - NatureKenya Executive Director. “Even well-protected sites such as Lake Nakuru are threatened by unsustainable land use upstream”.
Posted by Surfbirds at 6:42 AM | Comments (0)
Government Announces Two Toxic Pesticides Removed from U.S. Market
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that two toxic pesticides have been voluntarily removed from the market by the manufacturer. This order, published in the Federal Register on Sept 23rd, 2009, cancels the last uses of disulfoton and methamidophos in the United States.
Both of these chemicals are in a class of insecticide called organophosphates; nerve agents known to be highly toxic to birds and humans. They can poison birds when they unwittingly eat granules of the pesticide, when they eat seeds, berries, or insects that have been contaminated, when they prey on rodents, birds, or other animals that have themselves been poisoned, or even simply by absorbing the chemical through their skin. Exposure to organophosphates can lead to direct mortality, altered breeding behavior, and neurological effects that may increase their likelihood of being killed by a predator, getting hit by a car, or dying prematurely from many other causes.
Swainson's Hawk © Chris Charlesworth, from the surfbirds galleries
As a result of their danger, many organophosphates have been removed from the market, but these two pesticides are still used on a variety of food and non-food crops, posing a high risk to birds.
"We are glad to hear that the manufacturer, Bayer CropScience, has done the right thing and finally removed these bad actors from the environmental stage,” said Dr. Michael Fry, American Bird Conservancy’s Director of Conservation Advocacy. “It is time for all the toxic pre-war dinosaurs to be phased out in favor of newer, less hazardous alternatives that pose less of a threat to birds and our environment.”
Data from American Bird Conservancy’s Avian Incident Monitoring System database document hundreds of bird deaths due to these two pesticides since 1980. However, the vast majority of birds killed likely go undiscovered or unreported, meaning the death toll has certainly been significantly higher. Many of the birds exposed to these pesticides are migratory birds, including hummingbirds, Canada Geese, American Robins, and Swainson’s Hawks, all of which are protected by law under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
The cancellations of most uses of these chemicals are effective December 31, 2009, with two uses of disulfoton allowed until the end of 2010. Disulfoton was banned by the European Union in 2003, and methamidophos has been banned by 53 countries in accordance with the Rotterdam Convention of the UN.
Posted by Surfbirds at 6:38 AM | Comments (0)
October 10, 2009
Zero net deforestation by 2020
WWF will highlight the urgency of global leaders committing to a zero net deforestation by 2020 target at the XIIIth World Forestry Congress, being held October 18th - 23rd 2009.
This includes a complementary climate change target of reducing gross forest-based greenhouse gas emissions by at least 75 per cent by 2020. Together these targets set a global benchmark for success in tackling the problem of deforestation at the scale and pace needed to prevent runaway climate change and avoid a catastrophic decline in biodiversity.
Three-toed Sloth, Atlantic Forest, Brazil © Chris Townend/ Birdseekers,
from the surfbirds galleries
“Zero Net deforestation” can be distinguished from "zero deforestation", which means no deforestation anywhere. The “zero net” target acknowledges that some forest loss could be offset by forest restoration. In other words, Zero net deforestation is not synonymous with a total prohibition on forest clearing. Rather, it leaves room for change in the configuration of the land-use mosaic, provided the net quantity, quality and carbon density of forests is maintained.
It recognizes that, in some circumstances, conversion of forests in one site may contribute to the sustainable development and conservation of the wider landscape (e.g. reducing livestock grazing in a protected area may require conversion of forest areas in the buffer zone to provide farmland to local communities).
However, to maximize the conservation of biodiversity and the reduction of GHG emissions we need to conserve as much of the world’s remaining natural forests as possible.
Zero Net Deforestation by 2020 needs also to be translated into a GHG emission reduction target. As forest destruction is responsible for close to 20 % of global emissions, it is imperative that action to reduce emissions from deforestation be taken as part of the Copenhagen Agreement. This must be done in a manner that promotes the protection of biodiversity and fully respects the rights of local and indigenous peoples. Countries should commit to reducing gross forest-based greenhouse gas emissions by at least 75% by 2020.
WWF is calling for a zero net deforestation by 2020 policy because:
• Deforestation has dire consequences on biodiversity, the climate and people
• This target will enhance international efforts and processes linked to biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, and protection and sustainable management of forests
• To prevent runaway climate change, greenhouse gas emission rates must peak before 2020 and decline to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.
• With an annual reduction of 10% of the current global deforestation rate, the world can achieve zero deforestation by 2020
• It is expected that a REDD mechanism will become operational with the start of the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol in 2013. This will give a period of eight years during which the mechanism can contribute to the 2020 target.
For more information, visit http://assets.panda.org/downloads/wwf_2020_zero_net_deforest_brief.pdf
Atlantic Forests – An emblem of change
Achieving zero net deforestation in the Atlantic Forest will remove a critical threat to this highly fragmented forest.
The forest is a unique area home to an extraordinary variety of plants and animal life. It hosts more than 20,000 plants species – of which 8,000 can be found nowhere else – and 1,000 bird species, 372 amphibians, 350 types of fish, 197 types of reptiles, and 270 mammals.
Though it initially spanned 500,000 square kilometres, shared between Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay, only 7.4 percent of the forest is left today – or about 35,000 square kilometres. This makes it one of the most threatened subtropical forests in the world.
Agricultural expansion, construction, growth of cities, and non-sustainable exploitation of the forest have led to the vast deforestation of the Atlantic Forest.
For more information, visit http://www.panda.org/about_our_earth/ecoregions/atlantic_forests.cfm or http://www.panda.org/what_we_do/how_we_work/conservation/forests/
Posted by Surfbirds at 8:29 PM | Comments (0)
Solving the mysteries of migratory bird declines
The RSPB (BirdLife in the UK) and the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), have joined forces and are working with BirdLife Partners in Ghana (Ghana Wildlife Society), Burkina Faso (Naturama), the Netherlands (Vogelbescherming Nederland) and Denmark (Dansk Ornitologisk Forening) to mount the largest research project of its type to understand more about migratory birds that spend the non-breeding season south of the Sahara desert.
Some of the greatest declines of birds in the UK are among migratory songbirds such as Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus, European Turtle-dove Streptopelia turtur, Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos and Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata. These species breeding in Europe and migrate to sub-Saharan Africa.
Nightingale © Matthew Berriman, from the surfbirds galleries
Recent figures suggest that more than 40 per cent of all migratory species passing between Europe and Africa have declined in the last three decades. Alarmingly, one in 10 of these are classified by BirdLife as Globally Threatened or Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
The project will involve researchers monitoring birds along a corridor stretching from Ghana’s Atlantic coast to northern Burkina Faso, spanning a range of habitats from coastal rainforest to the edge of the Sahara desert.
“These birds face many threats during their incredible annual journeys”, said Dr Erasmus Owusu - Executive Director of Ghana Wildlife Society. “BirdLife and its Partners are working to provide a safer journey for migratory birds”.
“The drastic declines of some of our best-loved summer-visiting birds, such as the cuckoo, turtle dove and nightingale, is one of the greatest concerns currently raging in conservation”, said Dr Danaë Sheehan – RSPB Research Ecologist. “Although we have a reasonable understanding of these birds in the UK, we have little or no idea what's happening to these birds in their wintering grounds, but it’s clear that without help these declines are likely to continue, reducing the populations of these summer visitors to dangerously low levels”.
A number of potential causes for the declines of migrants have been suggested, including: climate change, changes in rainfall patterns, and land degradation. Predicted increases in human population and climatic variability in West Africa are likely to exacerbate these threats.
“If we are to reverse these alarming declines we need to act now”, commented Dr Chris Hewson - Research Ecologist at the BTO. “To do this we need to better understand where these birds spend the winter months and what pressures they face there. If we can find this out we will be in a strong position to help secure their future”.
The team of researchers will be counting and ringing birds at locations in Ghana and Burkina Faso, across a breadth of habitats, from dense tropical rainforest to semi-desert. By recording birds at these points several times during the year, researchers hope to build up a detailed picture of the movements and habitat preferences of European migratory birds wintering in Africa.
In response to worrying declines of many migratory species, BirdLife has launched the Born to Travel Campaign to protect migratory birds along the African-Eurasian flyway. “Naturama are one of over 70 BirdLife Partners across the migration routes between Europe, the Middle East and Africa who are working together to tackle threats to migratory songbirds like agricultural intensification, desertification, deforestation and climate change”, concluded Georges Oueda - Director of Conservation at Naturama.
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:57 PM | Comments (0)
October 9, 2009
Get Out and Take Photos - October 24th 2009
On 24th October 2009 volunteer bird photographers all over South Africa are going to photograph 350 species of birds within 24 hours and post the images on a website to promote birding, bird conservation and climate change awareness around the world.
The Challenge is a partnership between BirdLife South Africa, Birding Africa and PlusPlusMinus webdesign and will an innovative contribution by the South African birding community to the world’s biggest simultaneous environmental awareness action, 350.org’s International Day of Climate Action.
On 24 October thousands of people in more than 140 countries will be doing a range of creative actions to raise awareness of one of the most critical issues of our time, climate change. The President of the Maldives will be holding a cabinet meeting underwater to highlight the danger of rising sea levels, climbers at the Mount Everest Base Camp will be raising banners about glacial melting, and crowds of creative people will be doing all sorts of things on Table Mountain. The Day of Action has the support of prominent scientists like NASA’s James Hansen, the world’s most famous climate researcher, and our own Nobel Prize-winning Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Since we’re about birds and conservation, and 350.org’s Day of Action is a magnificent opportunity to ride a wave of global environmental concern, we’ve decided to use the opportunity to raise the profile of South Africa’s amazing avifauna.
The Challenge will be as inclusive as possible – we aim to include photos by all contributors in the online mosaic of bird pictures that will result from the Challenge. Photographers will be given full credit for their images, and will be encouraged to promote the conservation of threatened species and highlight great birding destinations in the picture captions. We’re encouraging members of other conservation organisations to join in, and are inviting other countries to set up their own 350-24-24 Bird Photo Challenges.
October 24 is just around the corner, so don’t delay in visiting the 350-24-24 Challenge website at http://350.birdingafrica.com to find out more and register your participation!
Posted by Surfbirds at 6:58 AM | Comments (0)
October 6, 2009
Effort to Boost Wisconsin’s Prairie Chicken Population Now Complete
Minnesota and Wisconsin may be rivals on the football field but the two states have been working together for years to save an iconic species of America’s grasslands. An effort to relocate prairie chickens from Minnesota to Wisconsin – where the birds are at risk – is now complete, The Nature Conservancy announced.
More than 100 greater prairie chickens have been captured in western Minnesota and relocated to Buena Vista Marsh in central Wisconsin, including 5 birds that were released late last week.
Greater Prairie-chicken © Mike Watson/Birdquest, from the surfbirds galleries
Wisconsin’s prairie chicken population is in danger of collapsing due to declining genetic variability caused by loss of grassland habitat.
Most of the birds relocated to Buena Vista Marsh have come from The Nature Conservancy’s 24,000-acre Glacial Ridge Project in northwestern Minnesota.
Glacial Ridge is the nation’s largest prairie-wetland restoration project and as a result of efforts by the Conservancy and its partners the area’s prairie chicken population is thriving.
“We’re thrilled the Conservancy has been able to help Wisconsin’s prairie chicken population,” said Mary Jean Huston, director of The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin. “Wisconsin is one of only two states located east of the Mississippi River that still has prairie chickens in the wild.
“These birds from Minnesota were critically needed, but we must also restore and conserve Wisconsin’s best grasslands if we don’t want to lose this incredible bird and true symbol of the prairie.”
Peggy Ladner, director of The Nature Conservancy in Minnesota, said she’s pleased that Glacial Ridge’s success is benefitting Wisconsin.
“Grasslands are the most endangered and least protected habitat in the United States,” said Ladner.
“Our success in restoring Glacial Ridge has allowed for some prairie chickens to be shared with Wisconsin,” Ladner added. “While this is great news, it remains the case that prairie chickens are classified as a species of special concern in Minnesota. That’s largely because we have less than one percent of our original native prairie left in Minnesota and we’re still losing ground every day.
Posted by Surfbirds at 6:52 PM | Comments (0)
Madagascar rainforest survey doubles known localities of world's rarest lemur
A scientific expedition into Madagascar’s rainforests has doubled the number of locations where the world's rarest lemur, the Greater Bamboo Lemur (Prolemur simus), is known to occur.
Dr Russ Mittermeier, president of Conservation International and renowned lemur expert, hailed the discovery as "another milestone in saving one of the world's most threatened primates".
Greater Bamboo Lemur © Ian Merrill, from the surfbirds galleries
The Greater Bamboo Lemur – which, like China's giant panda lives on a diet consisting almost exclusively of bamboo – was thought to be extinct until rediscovered in the early 1980s. It is the only species within the Prolemur genus, and current scientific knowledge indicates that it is the most endangered of all lemurs – with less than 100 thought to survive in the wild.
Occurring only in Madagascar, there is evidence to show it was once widely distributed across the island, but it is now restricted to a small part of the remaining eastern rainforest belt and a handful of outlying degraded forest fragments. The animals' population has been declining for years due to rainforest destruction, over-exploitation of the Giant Bamboo it feeds on, hunting, and, potentially, climate change.
"When we first realised the extent of their decline it was clear that we had to respond, and fast", revealed Tony King of The Aspinall Foundation's bamboo lemur project. "These remarkable discoveries give us renewed hope for the challenge ahead of us".
The survey was undertaken by The Aspinall Foundation, Conservation International, Association Mitsinjo and GERP. The team of researchers and local guides headed for remote areas of Madagascar’s Ankeniheny-Zahamena rainforest, soon to be officially declared the island nation's latest protected area. They trekked several hundred miles in total, often off-road, on foot or in dug-out canoes, focussing their efforts on remaining stands of giant bamboo, searching for characteristic feeding remains, fresh droppings, or even a rare glimpse of the lemur itself, with its black face and orange eyes contrasting with its distinctive white ear tufts.
"We found evidence of Prolemur simus at eleven different sites throughout this 370,000 hectare forest", Conservation International primatologist Tovonanahary Rasolofoharivelo explained. "The new localities lie in the southeastern and central parts of Ankeniheny-Zahamena".
The team enjoyed tremendous support by local communities who will play a key role in the management and conservation of the new protected area. "If you want to succeed in finding an animal as rare and secretive as the Greater Bamboo Lemur, you have to work with the local communities who have an intimate knowledge of the forest they live in" states Rainer Dolch of Association Mitsinjo.
"This is an extraordinary success for our efforts to save the species," said Dr Jonah Ratsimbazafy of the Malagasy Primate Group GERP. "It should put nature conservation back on the agenda in Madagascar, after recent lawlessness and a surge in illegal logging within national parks, which risked annihilating previous conservation successes".
"Searching for the world’s rarest and most elusive lemur in this remote forest was a big gamble" added Damian Aspinall of The Aspinall Foundation, "but sometimes that's what it takes to help save a species from the brink of extinction".
Posted by Surfbirds at 6:47 PM | Comments (0)
October 5, 2009
Leica announces LEICA TRICA 1 and TRIMA 1: lightweight tripods for spotting scopes
Carbon and magnesium tripods designed for spotting scopes, and perfect for digiscoping.
Leica has recently announced the LEICA TRICA 1 and LEICA TRIMA 1 - two lightweight, easy-to-use tripods designed for use with all brands of spotting scope, and ideal for bird watching and nature observation activities. This makes Leica the only company worldwide to offer a complete digiscoping solution, from tripods and tripod heads, to spotting scopes, scope adaptors and digital cameras.
The LEICA TRICA 1 is a high quality carbon tripod with a height of 175cm and remarkably low weight of 2.1kg (2.68kg with head). The compact LEICA TRIMA 1 is made of magnesium and offers maximum stability, measuring 160cm and weighing just 1.92kg (2.49kg with head). Both tripods are equipped with the LEICA DH 1 'fluid' head that has been specially optimised for digiscoping and enables easy and precise operation of the spotting scope or digiscoping unit, reducing camera shake to a minimum. The quick release assembly ensures robust connection between the spotting scope and the tripod head in a matter of seconds.
Also available as an accessory to this head is a 'balance plate', which distributes the weight of the spotting scope evenly when a camera is attached to the scope. The extra long guiding arm also ensures that moving the kit is extremely easy. The head can tilt +/- 90 degrees and has a load capacity of approximately 4kg.
The new tripods are ideal for use with the LEICA APO-TELEVID 82 and APO-TELEVID 65 spotting scopes, which where recently shown at Birdfair 2009, but can be also used with all brands of spotting scope. Both scopes, when combined with the LEICA 25-50 WW ASPH. wide-angle eyepiece and Leica's compact, high performance D-LUX 4 digital camera with special adaptor ring, are perfect for digiscoping due to their high contrast image and neutral colour rendition. Specially designed for the LEICA D-LUX 4, the adaptor turns the scope into a powerful super-telephoto lens with a focal length of more than 3,000mm. The LEICA D-LUX 4 sports an all-metal body and offers a resolution of 10.3 pixels.
Pricing and availability
The LEICA TRICA 1 (carbon) has a suggested retail price of £499, while the LEICA TRIMA 1 (magnesium) has an SRP of £369. Both prices include the LEICA DH 1 digiscoping head.
The new Leica tripods and complete digiscoping solutions are available in the UK now
from authorised Leica dealers and the Leica Store Mayfair ( www.leica-storemayfair.co.uk). For full stockist information, please visit the Leica Dealer Locator at www.leica-camera.co.uk.
Posted by Surfbirds at 6:39 AM | Comments (0)
October 4, 2009
Where are all the Monarchs?
Where are all the Monarchs? That question has kept Kent McFarland's phone ringing, email flashing and social networks abuzz. No one in the Northeast United States is seeing many Monarchs migrating this year.
Monarchs undergo a truly spectacular migration beginning in mid-August, peaking in mid-September and finishing by mid-October in the Northeast - a 2,500 mile journey from northern breeding grounds to remote overwintering sites in the mountains of Mexico. Enroute to Mexico they roost at night, sometimes in the thousands. In Mexico they form huge aggregations in the winter numbering in the millions clinging to the trees and each other. In March and April they leave their winter roosts and begin the spring flight north to begin the next generations. The returning individuals are few; perhaps less than one percent survive to breed.
Monarch © Dave Pullan, from the surfbirds galleries
But this year, friends to the west of the Green Mountains have seen dismal numbers. Another in Pennsylvania last year recorded over 20 a day in September and has only seen a half dozen total this year. Most folks in Maine report extremely low numbers. I have seen a total of 6 Monarchs migrating through the upper Connecticut River valley so far and for the first time in years, I have failed to put a single Monarch Watch tag on a butterfly. Despite searching all of my favorite fields for caterpillars in August and early September, I have not found a single one. The only place I have found any Monarch larvae has been on Nantucket Island off the coast of Cape Cod in a small patch of milkweed.
Chip Taylor, director of Monarch Watch ( www.monarchwatch.org), predicted in early September that this would be the smallest migration since 2004, which resulted in only five and a half acres of butterflies wintering in Mexico. The best year was in 1996 when there were over 50 acres of overwintering Monarchs. This year he predicts less than 10 acres of overwintering butterflies.
Why are there such large population swings? We really don’t know yet, but long term monitoring from citizen science projects like the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project ( www.mlmp.org) are starting to shed some light on this. Karen Oberhauser, director of MLMP, reported on their blog that, “unusual weather has caused some unusual patterns. In the Upper Midwest, we had extremely cool weather in June just after the monarchs returned, causing a big drop in numbers just when we normally see monarch numbers increasing toward their first peak. Since then, numbers have bounced back somewhat, but in Minnesota we’re seeing our lowest numbers since 1998 (when we had another bad drought) and 2002 (after the big die-off in Mexico).”
These same cool, wet weather patterns plagued the Northeast in June and early July. Earwigs, ants, tachinid flies and other predators and parasites that attack Monarchs seem to be favored with above normal rainfall. They can be a major influence on butterfly populations. Not to mention that butterflies need sun with warm temperatures to fly, mate and lay eggs.
It looks like this year my Monarch Watch tags are going to just sit on my desk. I hope there are no catastrophic weather events on the Mexican wintering grounds and the weather next year is just like 1996!
Kent McFarland (with thanks to Paul S. Belaski for sharing this story)
Posted by Surfbirds at 8:23 AM | Comments (0)
Statement on monk & ring-necked parakeets
Earlier this week, Natural England announced changes to the licensing situation, which will be implemented from 1 January 2010, regarding the control of monk and ring-necked parakeets. Some media reports have indicated that Natural England is calling for the eradication of these species. Natural England are not.
Other reports have suggested that because of the licensing changes, both species are now classed as pests and can be freely removed by members of the public.
This assertion is completely inaccurate and it is important to emphasise that the licensing changes do not affect the legal protection for either of these species. It remains illegal for anyone to kill or interfere with monk and ring-necked parakeets except in exceptional circumstances.
Monk Parakeet © Lee Gregory, from the surfbirds galleries
These circumstances are defined in special licences that enable people, on land they own or occupy, to deal with problems where parakeets are:
Causing significant damage to crops
having a significant, negative impact on native wildlife
or raising issues affecting public health and safety
Attempts to control parakeet numbers for other reasons are, almost without exception, unlawful. The changes Natural England announced this week do not involve a relaxation of these basic conditions, but involve a change in the way people apply for licences. Up to now, people have had to apply on an individual basis to obtain licences to control parakeet numbers; now, through a general licence, the permission is automatically available to land owners and occupiers who are directly experiencing problems of the type defined above. The bureaucracy of application is reduced, but the legal protection afforded the birds is unchanged.
Like most birds, monk and ring-necked parakeets sometimes cause problems and the licensing system is a way of tackling those problems in a targeted way. Both species are still afforded a high level of protection under existing wildlife legislation and recent changes to the licensing system do not allow anyone to take indiscriminate action that may harm or disturb them. Organisations and members of the public should be minded that, with very limited exceptions, any attempts to do so are unlawful.
Anyone seeking to control parakeets should ensure that they have read and understand the terms and conditions of the relevant licences that determine the types of action that are allowable. Copies of the current licences and the new general licences that are planned to come into force in January 2010 can be found at http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/regulation/wildlife/default.aspx
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:27 AM | Comments (0)
Canada and U.S. Join Forces to Protect Natural Gem
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) have announced the protection of the Wilson Island group near Rossport, Ontario. This initiative is the largest conservation project ever completed in Ontario. The landmark acquisition in northwestern Ontario will preserve habitat and species at risk for the long term.
The Nature Conservancy and NCC have identified the Northwestern Lake Superior Coast as a high priority for conservation action based on the bi-national Great Lakes Conservation Blueprint for Aquatic Biodiversity. The NCC/TNC collaboration allowed the two organizations to negotiate the deal for Wilson Island with an American vendor and raise private donations from U.S. donors and foundations to secure a large area of undeveloped Great Lakes Shoreline — an increasingly rare opportunity.
Bald Eagle, second year bird feeding on cow carcass © Chris Charlesworth, from the surfbirds galleries
The eight islands in the Wilson Island cluster total more than 4,700 acres (1,900 hectares). They are situated in the heart of the recently established Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area — the largest protected freshwater area on the planet. Wilson Island’s high cliffs provide nesting habitat for Peregrine Falcons and Bald Eagles, while the smaller offshore islands provide important nesting habitat for colonial waterbirds. The rare coastal wetlands and forests, rugged cliffs, bedrock shoreline and globally rare sand beaches of the islands support rare species such as Mountain Fir-moss and Northern Woodsia fern.
Wilson is by far the largest of the eight, and has north-facing cliffs on water and canyons, raised basalt beaches and an unexplored interior. It supports all the arctic-alpine species and vegetation communities for which Lake Superior’s north shore is famous. Lake trout and whitefish spawn in the nearshores. In a Parks Canada study of the entire northwest coast of Lake Superior, the Wilson Islands ranked second overall for their representation of significant features of the region.
“The Wilson Island group presented an unmatched opportunity to protect large-scale, ecologically significant and relatively untouched habitat,” remarked NCC’s Chris Maher, regional vice-president, Ontario. "This project has been on the conservation community’s wish list for many years, and the joint effort to protect this island group has been crucial its success.”
"This project represents a major step forward in our binational effort to conserve the Great Lakes 'vanishing coastal areas',” said Dennis McGrath, Michigan's assistant state director for The Nature Conservancy. "This project is important not just to Canada, but to the entire Great Lakes region."
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:21 AM | Comments (0)
Dragonflies go thirsty in the Mediterranean
One fifth of Mediterranean dragonflies and damselflies are threatened with extinction at the regional level as a result of increasing freshwater scarcity, according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™.
Climate change and habitat degradation, due to the way land is managed, are also affecting the insects, says the report.
The assessment of 163 Mediterranean dragonflies and damselflies shows five are Critically Endangered, 13 are Endangered, another 13 are Vulnerable, 27 are Near Threatened, 96 are Least Concern and six are Data Deficient, meaning there is not enough information to classify them, but they might also be threatened.
“It is likely things will only get worse for these unique species as climate change and increased water demand take their toll,” says Jean Pierre Boudot, member of the IUCN Dragonfly Specialist Group and co-author of the report. “Lower levels of precipitation and drought will lead to degradation of the habitats where the majority of dragonflies and damselflies live.”
Damselfly species © Jeremy McClements, from the surfbirds galleries
Four species are already listed as Extinct in the Mediterranean, including the Little Whisp (Agriocnemis exilis), the Common Pond Damsel (Ceriagrion glabrum), the Phantom Flutterer (Rhyothemis semihyalina) and the Darting Cruiser (Phyllomacromia africana).
Dragonflies are generally known for being good indicators of water quality. Major threats for 67 percent of these Mediterranean species are habitat degradation and pollution. The Spotted Darter (Sympetrum depressiusculum), which used to be common in the Mediterranean, is now listed as Vulnerable and is declining due to the intensification of agricultural practices in rice fields.
Fourteen percent of these insect species can be found only in Mediterranean freshwater ecosystems, some of the richest and most threatened habitats, among which nine have been assessed as Endangered or Vulnerable. According to the report, the highest numbers of endemic dragonflies are present in the South and West of the Mediterranean, with the Maghreb and the Levant areas being regional hotspots of endemism.
The majority of the threatened species are concentrated in the Levant, southern Turkey and Balkans, northeast Algeria and northern Tunisia. The Glittering Demoiselle (Calopteryx exul), for example, is listed as Endangered and is in decline. It inhabits the aquatic habitats of the Maghreb, whose ecosystems are under pressure due to water-harnessing for human use, water pollution, irrigation and drought.
Long-term coordinated actions are needed at regional, national and international level, and the results of this report highlight the responsibility that Mediterranean countries have to protect the global populations. Though some species are already receiving some conservation attention thanks to international laws, such as the Ornate Bluet (Coenagrion ornatum) which is included in the European Habitat Directive, others are not protected at all, despite their high risk of extinction.
“The selection and protection of key sites are essential to ensure the survival of these species,” says IUCN’s Annabelle Cuttelod, co-author of the report. “Their ecological requirements need to be taken into account in the planning and management of water use, especially for agriculture purposes or infrastructure development. IUCN Red List data can inform both processes.”
Full report: http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/mediterranean_dragonflies_en_web.pdf
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:11 AM | Comments (0)
October 3, 2009
The Crimson Wing debuts with footage from Slimbridge
The million+ lesser flamingos at Lake Natron in Tanzania are the subject of a visually stunning new documentary film from Disneynature.
The Crimson Wing charts the life of a lesser flamingo from birth and follows its battle to thrive in the unforgiving environment of Lake Natron.
This exciting and thought-provoking film features amazing footage of a flamingo hatching - filmed at WWT Slimbridge back in spring 2007.
See The Crimson Wing exclusively at Cineworld cinemas across the country on Tuesday 29 September (Friday 25 September in London) Check www.cineworld.co.uk for details.
To celebrate the film and WWT's work with flamingos, WWT has teamed up with Disneynature and Cineworld Cinemas for an exciting offer for cinema goers and visitors to WWT centres at Slimbridge, Martin Mere and Washington.
See the film on Tuesday 29 September at Cineworld Boldon, Bolton, Bristol or Cheltenham, keep your cinema ticket stub and visit WWT Washington, Martin Mere or Slimbridge before the end of November to receive a FREE flamingo adoption* (rrp £24.99).
Click here to learn more about The Crimson Wing.
Posted by Surfbirds at 8:01 AM | Comments (0)
UK Butterfly invasion continues into autumn
Britain is experiencing an autumn invasion of butterflies, long after butterfly migration from Europe has usually ceased. It comes at the end of a summer which has seen the biggest migration of butterflies into the UK for more than decade.
The warm, sunny September weather is probably a factor.
Over recent days there have been numerous reports of newly-arrived Red Admiral, Large White and Clouded Yellow butterflies along the South Coast.
Clouded Yellow © Mike Watson/Birdquest, from the surfbirds galleries
Of particular interest, Clouded Yellows have been observed in substantial numbers, with counts of up to 600 at coastal localities in Sussex. They have also been seen in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Kent and on the Isle of Wight.
The Clouded Yellow originates each year from North Africa and southern Europe, migrating north and first arriving in the UK in May or June. Experts believe that the recent sightings are a mixture of migrants and home grown butterflies that are the progeny of arrivals earlier in the year. There have been some intriguing observations from mid September of Red Admirals and Large Whites flying in from the sea as well as observations of incoming butterflies along the coast.
Dr Tom Brereton, Head of Monitoring, said: "The fact that these butterflies are clustered so close to the coast points to the fact they are new arrivals. There have also been sightings at sea, where unusually the butterflies have been travelling north towards England rather than south towards wintering areas."
There is also evidence that Painted Lady butterflies are continuing to arrive from mainland Europe, again well after migration into the UK has normally ceased.
In May this year, there was a massive migration of Painted Ladies, following ideal breeding conditions last winter in the Atlas Mountains in North Africa. At one stage it was estimated there could have been up to a billion Painted Ladies in Britain.
It was the first year that a large-scale migration had been monitored all the way from Morocco and there is now considerable interest in the reverse journey
Painted Lady and Clouded Yellow butterflies cannot normally survive the UK winter. In the case of Painted Ladies there has long been speculation that they migrate back to North Africa but there is no solid evidence.
The Indian Summer has undoubtedly helped these migrants, but resident butterflies are also continuing to fly well into the autumn, with 20 species (a third of all UK species) still on the wing. This includes very rare second broods of White Admiral and third broods of Brown Argus.
If you see Painted Ladies apparently heading out across the Channel or heading south across France please help us and Log your sighting .
Dr Martin Warren, Chief Executive of Butterfly Conservation, said: "It was fantastic to see so many Painted Ladies and now to have all these Clouded Yellows. However, we have to remember that these are not native butterflies. Their appearance is the result of a rare combination of circumstances, mainly in North Africa. Most British butterflies continue to decline. Until we halt that decline the vast majority of summers will see very few butterflies in many parts of the country."
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:55 AM | Comments (0)
Hooded Merganser and Asian Brown Flycatcher added to Category A
As a result of BOURC’s ongoing review of Category D species, two species have already been added to Category A – Hooded Merganser (BOURC 37th report, Ibis 151: 224-230) and Asian Brown Flycatcher (BOURC 38th Report, Ibis in prep.) and five species have been moved to Category E – Cinereous Vulture, Northern Flicker, White-winged Snowfinch, Chestnut Bunting and Blue Grosbeak (BOURC 37th report, Ibis 151: 224-230; BOURC 38th Report, Ibis in prep.). In addition, Baikal Teal will be added to Category A in the BOURC 38th Report (Ibis, in prep.).
Brown Flycatcher © Josh Jones, from the surfbirds galleries
The following species, along with Bald Eagle as previously announced (Ibis 151: 224-230), are to be retained in Category D:
Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus
Four records: Norfolk, 1964; Essex, Kent, Humberside,1975; Kent, Essex, Yorkshire, Angus, Moray, 2006 and a second individual in Norfolk, Lancashire, Northumberland, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Denbighshire, Anglesey.
A review was prompted by records of two birds in 2006 and a recent paper on out-of-range pelicans in Europe (Ibis 150: 606-618).
The only record now retained in Category D is the bird observed at Hanningfield, Essex, and later at Fordwich, Kent, and the River Humber in July 1975.
Mugimaki Flycatcher Ficedula mugimaki
One record: Stone Creek, Humberside, on 16-17 November 1991.
Retain in Category D.
Unlike Brown Flycatcher, this species is known to have been in trade at the time of the occurrence. The Committee was unable to find compelling evidence of long-distance westwards vagrancy by this species.
There is some doubt about the provenance of the record from Treviso, Italy, on 29 October 1957, and the first non-controversial West Palearctic record involved an adult male seen near Neftekamsk, Russia, on 2 August 2007 (per M. Wilson).
Daurian Starling Agropsar sturninus
Two records: Fair Isle, Shetland, 7-28 May 1985; Durness, Highland, 24-27 September 1998.
Both records retained in Category D.
The two accepted Western Palearctic records (from Norway and the Netherlands) have both involved first-winter birds in autumn. This species is regularly found in trade, and there were concerns about the relatively early spring date of the Fair Isle record and the age (probably adult) of the Durness bird.
Red-headed Bunting Emberiza bruniceps
Formerly on the British List, this species was removed in 1968 on the basis that all records could have involved birds originating from trade.
There has still not been an acceptable record of an autumn first-winter bird, and this species was still in trade immediately prior to the record from Monreith, Dumfries & Galloway, 8-9 June 2004. Red-headed Bunting is reportedly still in trade in the USA, but any British occurrence which presents little overt reason to suspect captive origin following the complete ban on the importation of wild-caught birds into the EU (effective from 1 July 2007) will be looked at very seriously.
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:48 AM | Comments (0)
Triple helping of good news for Jerdon's Courser
Two Jerdon's Coursers Rhinoptilus bitorquatus have been seen in the Cudaapah District of Andhra Pradesh, the first confirmed sighting for several years.
The birds were seen in the heart of the Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary; and in a second piece of good news, the sanctuary has just been extended by a further 1,200 hectares, in compensation for the construction of a canal, which at one point threatened to destroy the Critically Endangered bird’s last stronghold.
Jerdon's Courser © Birdlife International. This image may not be reproduced or exploited in any fashion without permission from Birdlife International.
There was further good news for Jerdon's Courser when the Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, established by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, announced that it had approved funding of US$25,042 for the Bombay Natural History Society’s (BNHS) work to study and conserve the species.
BNHS (BirdLife in India) has been conducting field research on Jerdon’s Courser for the past nine years, in collaboration with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB, BirdLife in the UK), Andhra Pradesh Forest Department, and the Universities of Cambridge and Reading, funded by the UK Government's Darwin Initiative.
The two coursers were seen by BNHS senior research fellow Rahul Chavan, who was appointed to the Jerdon's Courser project earlier this year. Over the last six months, Rahul Chavan has also heard the bird’s calls on a number of occasions.
The Chief Wildlife Warden of Andhra Pradesh, Mr Hitesh Malhotra, said: "This excellent news is very reassuring. We need to increase efforts for the protection of Jerdon’s Courser with renewed vigour."
BNHS Director Dr Asad Rahmani welcomed this further evidence that the courser, long thought to be extinct, is still clinging on in the sanctuary, which will be managed to suit its very particular habitat requirements. He also welcomed the news that the additional land was at last to be added to the sanctuary, following the completion of its transfer from Andhra Pradesh's Irrigation Department to the Forest Department. "It is a big boost to our conservation efforts”, he said. “This land, which is between the canal and the sanctuary, is good Jerdon’s Courser habitat, according to our assessment."
Ian Barber, RSPB's International Officer for Asia, said, "Jerdon's courser is clearly a bird on the edge of existence. Although there is a great deal of international co-operation to prevent this bird's global extinction there are many pressures, especially habitat loss that could force the courser into oblivion, but these new developments can only help."
The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund grant will enable BNHS and the RSPB to continue their research into the courser’s ecology, breeding habits, distribution and habitat use. Because the bird is nocturnal and elusive, survey work depends on the use of automatic camera "traps", and tracking strips which retain the footprints of the bird. "This is a tremendous boost for the Jerdon’s Courser programme and should allow us to carry out the camera trapping we have planned to do", said Dr Rahmani.
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:39 AM | Comments (0)
Glossy Ibis influx into the UK
This September has seen the country’s largest-ever influx of Glossy Ibis, with at least 37 individuals recorded across Britain and Ireland. Interestingly some of these birds were ringed, Doñana in southern Spain being their likely origin. If you are lucky enough to see one of the ringed birds, please report the details to the BTO Ringing Scheme.
At least five of the Glossy Ibises in the recent influx into the country are colour-ringed and have been reported at several different sites. But tracking their movements has been rather difficult, as reports are rather fragmented.
Glossy Ibis, Avon © Gary Thoburn, from the surfbirds galleries
The BTO are keen to be able to put together a complete history of these colour-ringed birds, but need your help. So far we have a few records of PJP, MVP, HH4, MR3 and NJF but there must be more out there.
So if you've managed to read a colour ring on a Glossy Ibis recently then please get in touch with Mark Grantham at the BTO (mark.grantham@bto.org) with details of the code, place and dates seen. Once we have more complete details we will release the full story.
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:32 AM | Comments (0)
New species discovered in the Greater Mekong at risk of extinction
A bird eating fanged frog, a gecko that looks like it’s from another planet and a bird which would rather walk than fly, are among the 163 new species discovered in the Greater Mekong region last year that are now at risk of extinction due to climate change, says a new report launched by WWF ahead of UN climate talks in Bangkok.
During 2008 alone, scientists identified these rare and unique species within the jungles and rivers of the Greater Mekong, including a bird eating fanged frog that lies in streams waiting for prey, one of only four new species of musk shrew to be described in recent times, and a leopard gecko whose “other world” appearance – orange eyes, spindly limbs and technicolour skin – inspired the report’s title Close Encounters.
Leopard Gecko © World Wide Fund for Nature.
This image may not be reproduced or exploited in
any fashion without permission from WWF.
Such is the immense biodiversity of this region that some discoveries such as the tiger-striped pitviper were made by accident.
“We were engrossed in trying to catch a new species of gecko when my son pointed out that my hand was on a rock mere inches away from the head of a pitviper! We caught the snake and the gecko and they both proved to be new species,” said Dr Lee Grismer of La Sierra University in California.
Close Encounters spotlights species newly identified by science including 100 plants, 28 fish, 18 reptiles, 14 amphibians, 2 mammals and a bird, all discovered in 2008 within the Greater Mekong region of Southeast Asia that spans Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and the south-western Chinese province of Yunnan.
The reluctant flyer, Nonggang babbler, was observed walking longer distances than flying. It would only use its wings when frightened.
“After millennia in hiding these species are now finally in the spotlight, and there are clearly more waiting to be discovered,”said Stuart Chapman, Director of the WWF Greater Mekong Programme.
But no sooner are these new species discovered than their survival is threatened by the devastating impacts of climate change, the report warns.
Recent studies show the climate of the Greater Mekong region is already changing. Models suggest continued warming, increased variability and more frequent and damaging extreme climate events.
Rising seas and saltwater intrusion will cause major coastal impacts especially in the Mekong River delta, which is one of the three most vulnerable deltas on Earth, according to the most recent International Panel on Climate Change report.
“Some species will be able to adapt to climate change, many will not, potentially resulting in massive extinctions,” said Chapman.
“Rare, endangered and endemic species like those newly discovered are especially vulnerable because climate change will further shrink their already restricted habitats,” he said.
Often these newly discovered species are highly dependent on a limited number of species for their survival. If they respond to climate change in a way that disrupts this closely evolved relationship it puts them at greater risk of extinction.
Posted by Surfbirds at 7:08 AM | Comments (0)
Rare Eagle Shot Down at Hagar Qim
BirdLife Malta’s Raptor Camp teams have witnessed the shooting of yet another protected species, this time a Lesser Spotted Eagle.
The conservation organisation today released footage of a suspect with a shotgun in the middle of the road scanning for the eagle, who ran away after noticing the BirdLife team.
The Eagle, a rare visitor to Malta, was first seen landing at Girgenti by three different raptor camp teams at around 16:45. The Eagle left Girgenti shortly after and headed south-east. Several raptor camp teams and the ALE was alerted as the rare Eagle was being followed by numerous suspicious individuals, some watching the bird and communicating with radios and mobiles while others chased the bird in their vehicles.
Lesser Spotted Eagle © Daniele Occhiato, from the surfbirds galleries
The bird was seen shot at from three different locations by Raptor Camp teams. The Eagle was last seen flying low near Blue Grotto where it was shot at and hit. Birdwatchers saw the Eagle through their binoculars struggling to gain height, and it flew on towards the garrigue near the Hagar Qim temples where it was shot three more times and dropped behind the ridge. Two ALE teams arrived at the scene shortly after.
Before the Eagle was killed in Hagar Qim a Raptor Camp team that was following the bird saw an individual standing in the road with a shotgun scanning the sky in the limits of Zurrieq. The poacher saw the Raptor Camp team and ran back to his car, reversing right past the team, narrowly missing their car and sped off. His accomplice was left behind and jumped into the bushes.
The whole event was filmed by the team and footage was passed onto the ALE as evidence today. BirdLife was informed by the police yesterday evening that the individual filmed at Zurrieq had been arrested and a shotgun and cartridges were found in his possession.
“Every year protected birds are being gunned down by poachers during their migration. When there is a very rare visitor like this eagle, we end up with a shooting frenzy as we witnessed yesterday. Malta is probably the only country in the world where birdwatchers do not want to see rare protected birds but instead hope that they pass the island by” said Dr. Andre Raine, BirdLife Malta Conservation Manager.
Last year on September 27th another Lesser Spotted Eagle was shot and killed in Buskett bird sanctuary. A Raptor Camp team had filmed the poacher stashing the dead Eagle under a rusty barrel by the side of the road (1). The poacher and his accomplice were arrested by the ALE shortly after BirdLife reported the crime to the police. On 3rd June 2009 they were found guilty and fined a total of 4,300euro for the crime (2).
In September 2007 another Lesser Spotted Eagle was found injured suffering gunshot wounds. The Eagle was identified as Sigmar, one of 16 Lesser Spotted Eagle chicks which had been hand reared as part of conservation project in Germany. At the time of the shooting Sigmar was three months old. Sigmar was transported to Germany as the facilities for the bird’s rehabilitation were not sufficient in Malta. On the 7th December 2007 the bird had to be put down as a result of an infection in its shattered shin bone.
Hunting after 3pm between 15 and 30 September is banned as a measure to protect migratory birds of prey. BirdLife Malta alone has received 14 shot protected birds since the 17th September when migration picked up. Raptor Camp teams have also witnessed over 400 illegal hunting and trapping activities since the beginning of the camp. BirdLife will be releasing a report about the findings of Raptor Camp in the coming weeks.
To see the footage please visit www.birdlifemalta.org
Posted by Surfbirds at 6:59 AM | Comments (0)