A homing pigeon named Judy got lost during a race from Bourges in France back to her home in Northumberland, Great Britain. The race course was about 1000KM long, but Judy was found on St. Eustatius in the Dutch West Indies. Read the full story The homing pigeon that lost it – badly.
“The first global audit of threatened species has revealed that 16 species of bird that were on the brink of extinction in the mid-1990s have been saved by determined conservation efforts. In a stunning illustration of what can be achieved when concerted action is taken by governments and environmental groups, some of the most beautiful and rare types of birdlife have even seen their numbers increase tenfold in a decade.” Read the full story Saved from extinction: conservationists hail recovery of 16 threatened bird species in the Independent.
This summer the twelfth annual edition of the European Nightjar survey took place in the Sallandse Heuvelrug, in the province of Overijssel in the Netherlands. Volunteers found the birds in a record 62 different locations this year, which is an increase of six locations from last year.
In total 42 volunteers counted the birds from 16 different areas over the course of three nights.
The nightjar lives in heath land. They are difficult to spot but more easily heard; their rattling call is unmistakable. Nightjars live in the Sallandse Heuvelrug during their nesting season, from May until August.
Source: AANTAL NACHTZWALUWEN NEEMT WEER TOE OP SALLANDSE HEUVELRUG
“Grey jay birds that store frozen food to help survive icy winters are dying out in parts of North America because global warming is rotting their hoards, a scientist said. The jay’s dependence on natural refrigeration — of food ranging from berries to insects — make it an odd exception to a general rule that animals and plants survive better during less harsh winters.” Read the full story INTERVIEW-Grey jays hit by warming as birds’ freezer fails on Alertnet.
The government of Leiden will not seek an exemption to the flora-and-fauna act in order to alleviate the gull ‘problem’ the city faces. Political party CDA had pushed for such action earlier this month.
The municipality is in agreement with CDA that the situation with gulls in Leiden is a problem that needs a solution. The city will seek advice from other communities which have solved gull problems. Leiden has also been in contact with a Scottish research team looking into gull-problems. City garbage clean up has also been more stringent in an attempt to rid the city of the annoying birds.
Besides depriving Leiden residents of peace and quiet, the CDA also theorized that the gulls endanger road traffic by attacking drivers. However, behavioral research of gulls has so far not found them to be intentionally aggressive towards humans without being provoked first.
Related:
Breeding Season For Seagulls In Leiden
Gulls: Leiden Political Party Vs. Animal Protection Group
Dutch Street ‘Infested’ With Seagulls
Local Government Debates Over Seagull Nuisance
The White-tailed Eagle hatched in the Oostvaardersplassen earlier this year is a girl. The radio program Vroege Vogels (Early Birds) made the announcement last Sunday. The young bird is already so large that she can no longer be ringed.
Experts claim the bird is a female because she is already larger than her father. In most birds of prey, females are larger than males.
Since female eagles are less likely to roam than males, the future is looking bright for the population to grow in Holland. The female bird will likely remain close to the Oosvaardersplassen.
Last week MFB reported that H5N1 was found in two dead owls at the Rotterdam zoo. On Monday this week an agriculture ministry spokesperson indicated that initial tests show the birds did not in fact die from H5N1. Definitive results will be made public on Friday. Read the full story Two dead owls at Dutch zoo probably not infected with bird flu.
“Britain’s one million birdwatchers contributed £20m in man-hours last year to bird research – making the country a world-leader. The nation is obsessed with birdwatching, according to the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), with Norfolk the hot spot for twitching.” Read the full story Britain tops the twitching charts at EDP24.
BirdLife Holland, or Vogelbescherming, is fighting to prevent oil concern NAM (Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij) from taking oil from the Waddenzee (Wadden Sea). The bird agency contests the license NAM has been given to take the gas. The first gas is allowed to be taken on 1 January 2007.
The Wadden Sea is the most important bird area in the Netherlands, and an extremely important link in the East Atlantic migration route. The Dutch government has promised to intervene in case there are problems during gas extraction, but Vogelbescherming does not find this suitable.
Vogelbescherming is backed by BirdLife International in their protest. Natuurmonumenten and the Wadden Society are not protesting the action. The Wadden Society gave up the protest in 2005.
Source: Vogelbeschermers in geweer tegen gaswinning Waddenzee
Racing pigeons, blown off course by storms, have been rescued from remote Scottish islands by National Trust staff. The birds faced starvation due to lack of suitable vegetation, or becoming prey to other birds, if they remained on the island. Some of the lost birds are believed to have started their journey from as far away as France. Read the full story Lost pigeons saved from islands on the BBC.
