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Home  Birds and Birding news..
Birds and Birding news..
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Written by Charleen O'Donoghue
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Tuesday, 30 June 2009 |
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Source RSPB “The first chicks have begun to hatch at Seaford’s Splash Point, East Sussex, indicating a successful year for this important seabird colony. Kittiwakes, medium-sized gulls with black wing tips, only come to shore once a year to breed. The East Sussex cliff-top colony, made up of around 700 pairs, has become increasing significant in recent years as Kittiwakes struggle to breed in strongholds along the coast of Northern England, Scotland and Wales. Declines at these larger colonies are thought to be connected with a lack of sand-eel fish in the seas around the sites, most likely linked to climate change. The sand-eel is the Kitiwake’s main food source. Population declines have led to the Kittiwake being amber listed as species of conservation concern." 
Photo by Sebamirum creative commons licence
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Written by Charleen O'Donoghue
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Sunday, 14 June 2009 |
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Source ABC Good news in from the American Bird Conservancy …. “The Lear’s Macaw, a striking blue parrot found in northeastern Brazil, has been downlisted from Critically Endangered (the highest threat category) to Endangered as a direct result of conservation action, revealed the 2009 update to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The current population of Lear’s Macaw is estimated to be 960 birds, up from fewer than 100 birds in 1989. American Bird Conservancy and its Brazilian partner Fundação Biodiversitas have worked to save the macaw’s primary nesting and roosting cliffs, and together have purchased and protected nearly 4,000 acres of habitat to help assure the species’ survival. “The fight to save Lear’s Macaw is far from over, but the news that it is being downgraded from Critically Endangered to Endangered is a clear indication that hard work is paying off,” said George Fenwick, President of American Bird Conservancy. “The overall picture for birds throughout the Americas and the rest of the world continues to be a great cause for concern, but the macaw serves as a shining example of what we can achieve when focused conservation action is backed up by broad cooperation and the required resources.” ” 
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Written by Charleen O'Donoghue
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Sunday, 14 June 2009 |
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Source – RSPB The RSPB & Worcester City Council (UK) have reported that the first of the 4 peregrine chicks, Charlie, has taken a leap of faith and set off from the nesting site at St. Andrew’s Spire. Charlie made her maiden journey of 100 meters to the roof ridge of the fire station, across the busy Dean’s Way. She and her 3 siblings hatched 6 weeks ago. The young peregrines have spent more and more time in the past week, perching on the riverside parapet on the Spire and flapping their wings, gathering the needed courage and strength to fledge. Charlie’s siblings are Bobbin, Potter and Tinker. Live images of the peregrine next can be seen on the council’s website.  Photo by: Lamerie
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Written by Charleen O'Donoghue
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Sunday, 14 June 2009 |
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Source - RSPB The Pulborough Brooks Nature Reserve is very proud to announce the hatching of 3 bouncing baby barn owls. According to Peter Hughes, RSPB Warden, Barn owls have been associated with the area for a long time, nesting close to the brooks, or even in the visitor’s center roof. However due to the wet weather last year, the breeding attempts by the barn owls were unsuccessful. “With reports of adult birds seen hunting across the brooks over the past few weeks, the reserve’s wardens have been checking potential nest sites and were thrilled this week to find the chicks in a purpose built nestbox, the oldest chick is believed to only be about 10 days old.”  Photo by: Donald Judge
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Written by Jackie During
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Saturday, 13 June 2009 |
Birldife reports the lauch of a new documentary called End of the Line. This film highlights the immenent collapse of many of the worlds fisheries due to over-fishing. But the good news is that 17 Pacific island nations recently set a global precedent by ensuring that over 50 million square kms of ocean will be closed to tuna purse-seine fishing.
“This resolution sets a global precedent, and will help to reduce the impacts of tuna fishing on bycatch species such as seabirds”, said Dr Ross Wanless, Africa Coordinator for the GSP and the head of BirdLife South Africa’s Seabird Division. “BirdLife International will be encouraging other RFMOs to follow suit”.
"Tuna fishing is a really important industry across the Pacific, and yet it has potential to be very damaging to populations of Globally Threatened seabirds as a result of bycatch”, added Dr Susan Waugh, BirdLife Global Seabird Programme scientist, based in Wellington, New Zealand. “Much of the fishing effort occurs in areas also favoured by seabirds, with species such as Critically Endangered Beck's Petrel Pseudobulweria becki, Fiji Petrel Pseudobulweria macgillivrayi, Waved Albatross Phoebastria irrorata and Chatham Albatross Thalassarche eremita occurring in the midst of major fishing areas”.
“The Pacific Island nations have a huge contribution to make to maintaining biodiversity, and it is incredibly heartening to see them coming together as guardians of their special species," concluded Dr Waugh.
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