Surfbirds News

Early hedge cutting could starve birds of berries

Surfbirds — 2009-11-14T06:44:44+00:00

Cutting back hedges and bushes too early this year could starve birds of late autumn berries.

RSPB calls for protection of marine sites

Surfbirds — 2009-11-14T06:39:39+00:00

The passing of a Marine and Coastal Access Act this week should safeguard wildlife above and below the waves in England and Wales.

Brown Pelican's 40-year recovery

Surfbirds — 2009-11-14T06:33:50+00:00

National conservation groups focusing on the restoration of coastal Louisiana are hailing the announcement by federal officials that the state bird of Louisiana, the Brown Pelican, is being removed from the Endangered Species List. Audubon, the Environmental Defense Fund and the National Wildlife Federation view the recovering pelican as powerful proof that a healthy coast and strong environmental protections can benefit people and nature alike.

Painted Ladies head South for winter sun

Surfbirds — 2009-11-14T06:30:06+00:00

Butterfly Conservation believe they have solved one of nature’s long-standing mysteries – thanks to the help of the public.

Big Wins for Birds on National Forests

Surfbirds — 2009-11-14T06:23:11+00:00

A federal judge has struck down the 2008 forest planning regulations that eliminated a key wildlife protection provision known as “viability”. The Wildlife Viability Requirement of the National Forest Management Act of 1976 provides important protection for the hundreds of bird species that inhabit the 193 million-acre U.S. National Forest System. This rule requires that as the Forest Service develops plans for each National Forest, it must maintain “viable populations” of native vertebrates across their range. Viability has been instrumental in protecting habitat for Northern Spotted Owls, and Black-backed and Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. Because viability has proven to be one of the strongest wildlife protection rules for National Forests, it is a frequent target of interests seeking to eliminate environmental safeguards.

Falling Amazon deforestation rates create opportunity for other damaged forests

Surfbirds — 2009-11-14T06:12:07+00:00

Fewer trees were cut down in the Amazon this year, creating an opportunity to apply sound government policies to halt deforestation in other damaged forests, WWF says.

Fighting to get Atlantic albatrosses off the hook

Surfbirds — 2009-11-10T19:42:20+00:00

As scientists gather in Recife, Brazil, to agree on quotas for the Atlantic and Mediterranean stocks of tuna and swordfish in the latest round of fisheries talks, the RSPB and BirdLife International are reminding delegates that at least 37 species of seabird are at risk from these fisheries.

Guyana's Forests and the World's Climate Get a Boost From Norway

Surfbirds — 2009-11-10T19:30:45+00:00

A monumental agreement signed today between Norway and Guyana will mean that up to $250million will be invested in protecting Guyana’s forests to tackle climate change. It is the first time that a nation with a history of conservation will be financially rewarded its continuing efforts to mitigate climate change through protecting its forests.

First Super Whooper completes migration in 'Supersonic' time

Surfbirds — 2009-11-10T19:22:51+00:00

A satellite-tracked Super Whooper swan has lived up to his name and completed the migration between Iceland and Scotland, flying 800km non-stop over the ocean in just 14 hours. The aptly named Supersonic Bill was just three hours short of the shortest ever recorded journey time by a whooper swan.

Tawny Owls - Autumn Survey 2009

Surfbirds — 2009-11-10T19:14:25+00:00

The BTO has teamed up with the BBC’s Autumnwatch team in a bid to map Britain’s Tawny Owls as part of the 2007-11 bird Atlas project. We are asking people to go out on calm evenings over the next few weeks and listen for Tawny Owls and then more importantly report them to us.

New reserve declared within Dominican Republic IBA

Surfbirds — 2009-11-10T19:07:41+00:00

Grupo Jaragua (BirdLife in the Dominican Republic) has celebrated the creation of a new reserve, 'Reserva Biológica Loma Charco Azul' (La Placa), within the Sierra de Bahoruco Important Bird Area (IBA) in the south-west of the Dominican Republic. This IBA holds essential habitat for high numbers (32 of the 34) of Hispaniola restricted-range birds, 14 threatened bird species and over 30 Neotropical migratory birds.

Congress Dedicates Critical Funding to Help Hawaiian Species at Epicenter of Global Extinction Crisis

Surfbirds — 2009-11-10T19:01:27+00:00

Late last week the President signed into law a key appropriations bill that included critically needed funding to address the looming bird extinction crisis in Hawaii. The 2010 Interior, Environmental, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill (P.L. 111-88) had been passed by Congress and sent to the President with $3 million dedicated for Hawaiian birds.

First step to save the world's rarest bird taken successfully!

Surfbirds — 2009-11-06T06:35:09+00:00

A complicated and challenging mission to a remote lake in Madagascar has resulted in
a huge step being taken in efforts to save the world's rarest duck from extinction.

Disney Company Makes Significant Commitment to Protect Threatened Forests in the Amazon, Congo and United States

Surfbirds — 2009-11-05T20:21:16+00:00

The Walt Disney Company announced today a $7 million investment in forest projects that will build on its long history of conservation and environmental stewardship. The projects will protect forests in the Amazon, the Congo and the United States safeguarding ecosystems that benefit climate and quality of life on the planet.

Perilously close to being lost

Surfbirds — 2009-11-05T20:11:18+00:00

A harsh winter and a possible shortage of prey in spring meant some pairs failed to breed, while those that did had fewer chicks.