“The Indian government has taken the crucial first step in reversing the plunge to extinction of three vulture species, by ordering a halt to the production and sale of the veterinary drug diclofenac within three months.” Read the full story India bans production and sale of vulture death drug at BirdLife International.
A pair of white-tailed eagles has successfully hatched chicks in the Oostvaardersplassen. The white-tailed eagle is the largest bird of prey in Europe with a wingspan up to 2.5 meters. Until recently it was thought that the eagle would never breed in the Netherlands again. The closest known breeding pair, prior to the the Oostvaardersplassen birds, breed in Sleeswijk-Holstein, in the north of Germany.
Ten years ago the WWF tried to introduce the eagle back into the Netherlands. The plan faced much criticism and never materialized. The birds in the Oostvaardersplassen have come to the Netherlands of their own volition.
According to forest rangers, who are responsible for the area, the birds have a nest in a willow tree, approximately six meters from the ground. The pair began building the nest in January, and began sitting on eggs in March. The exact number of living chicks is not known. The nest is the first for the female, who was ringed in 2002. The male is an older bird and has already had successful nests.
Source: Zeearend broedt in Nederland
“Biologists alarmed by an explosion of cormorants plan to slaughter 7,200 of the birds in Ohio, including most of the booming colony on an island in the state’s largest reservoir.” Read the full story Wildlife officials fight aquatic birds.
Mute swans in New York are driving native ducks and geese from their traditional nesting spots. The swans, natives of Europe and Asia, are being culled by state biologists in an attempt to decrease the population, which has reached about 3,000 birds. Read the full story Attack on bird ruffles feathers.
Three homosexual stork couples in the Dutch zoo Parc Overloon are raising and caring for baby storks, the zoo announced Friday. There is one pair of lesbian storks while the other two couples are males.
While homosexuality is not uncommon in the animal world, the fact that these couples are raising young together is unusual. Most homosexual behavior in wild animals is limited to mating rituals. All of the storks in Overloon are caring for and feeding their young.
The zoo is not sure how the storks, especially the males, came to have eggs. It is possible the male couples stole eggs from another nest.
This part scarecrow, part robot contraption is armed with motion detectors, noisemakers and motion activated sprinklers. Birds won’t dare come near.
read more | digg story
Conservation groups have gone to court to try to stop the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from removing a tiny owl from the endangered species list. The cactus ferruginous pygmy owl — which is only about 6 inches long and weighs less than 3 ounces — has been at the center of a battle between environmentalists and developers for years.
About 100 oil-coated penguins have turned up dead in recent weeks off the coast of Argentina. Environmentalists are searching for the source, but so far no oil spills have been found. About a hundred live penguins have also been found covered in oil. Caregivers are trying to insure their survival.
read more | digg story
Newborn wood duck hatchlings jump 15 feet down from tree nest to join mother in the water – caught on film. Watch the young ducks take the plunge at the National Geographic website.
International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) is held every second Saturday in May, this year May 13. The purpose is to celebrate and support migratory bird conservation. The theme this year is Boreal Forest: Bird Nursery of the North.
The Boreal Forest is located across northern parts of Russia, Scandinavia, Canada and Alaska. It covers 6.5 million square miles.
There are 325 species of birds which regularly visit the North American part of the Boreal Forest. This includes residents, winter and summer visitors.
The first IMBD was in 1993. This year, more than 500 events will take place over the United States to commemorate this special day.
Related Link: International Migratory Bird Day
