Category Archives: Aside

Mild Winters Increase Kingfisher Numbers

by Amy Posted on 23 January 2007

Kingfishers in the Netherlands are doing exceptionally well due to the recent mild winters. In the Dutch language they are called ijsvogels, which means ice birds. Despite that name, the birds do not fare well in cold winters.

Ten years ago the population of Kingfishers in the Netherlands consisted of only 150 breeding pairs. Today there are several hundred.

Source: IJsvogel rukt op dankzij zachte winters

Kingfisher, Mere Sands Wood, July 2009
Kingfisher, Mere Sands Wood, July 2009 by Gidzy, Creative Commons on Flickr

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Posted in Aside, Netherlands | 1 Comment

Gull Causes Amsterdam Traffic Chaos

by Amy Posted on 22 January 2007

A low-flying gull caused chaos on the A28 highway in the Netherlands last weekend. A 34-year-old motorist from Amsterdam swerved to avoid the animal, causing a traffic accident.

The swerving driver drove into the ditch resulting in the car becoming a total loss. The driver suffered head wounds.

The gull did not survive the incident.

Source: Overvliegende meeuw veroorzaakt ravage

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Tropical Birds Moving North

by Amy Posted on 5 January 2007

In the 1950’s, the farthest north a Ringed Kingfisher was ever seen was Mexico. In the early 1970’s, a Ringed Kingfisher nest was discovered in south Texas.

The Green Jay is another species that used to come no farther north than Mexico’s tropical forests. Today, they are known to breed in central Texas.

Read more in the article Expert: Birds flee to beat the heat.

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Posted in Aside, Rare / Vagrant | Leave a comment

Grenada Sells Off Dove Sanctuary To Resort Development

by Amy Posted on 31 December 2006

The Grenada Dove, an endangered bird with a global population of 180 birds, is seriously threatened as the government of Grenada is planning to sell off the Mount Hartman National Park to developers.

The national park, also known as ‘The Dove Sanctuary’, is home to about 20 pairs of the Grenada Dove, which is about 22% of the entire population.

The resort development is proposed by the Four Seasons group.

Read more about Grenada’s poor decision-making.

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Whooping Crane Population Thrives

by Amy Posted on 30 December 2006

There were less than 20 Whooping Cranes in 1941. Today, the U.S. population exceeds 500 birds.

The comeback of the Whooping Crane is due to a coordinated conservation effort. A recent survey counted 237 individuals over-wintering in the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas.

The large birds reach a height of 5 feed and their wingspan can be up to 7 feet.

Read more about the comeback of the Whooping Crane.

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Posted in Aside, Endangered, North America | Leave a comment

Western Tanager Spotted Outside Normal Range – In Ohio

by Amy Posted on 22 December 2006

A female Western Tanager was spotted in Grandview Heights, Ohio last week. The bird’s normal range is in the western United States, particularly in the Rocky Mountains.

Prior to this year, confirmed sightings of the Western Tanager in Ohio were recorded once in the 1980’s and once in the 1990’s. This year there have been three verified sightings.

Read more about the Tanager’s visit to Ohio.

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Posted in Aside, North America, Rare / Vagrant | 1 Comment

BirdLife Opposes Proposed Bridge Between Germany & Denmark

by Amy Posted on 21 December 2006

A huge cable bridge has been proposed to link Fehmarn in Germany with Lolland in Denmark. The proposal, by the European Union along with Denmark and Germany, could threaten more than 90 million birds.

The German partner of BirdLife International opposes the proposed bridge as construction could have serious consequences for millions of migratory birds as well as sea life including seals and porpoises. The group has an online petition against the bridge which can be signed here.

Read more about the proposed bridge between Germany and Denmark.

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Posted in Aside, Europe | Leave a comment

House Sparrow Tops Dutch Garden Bird Count

by Amy Posted on 20 December 2006

Volunteers counted back yard birds throughout the Netherlands last weekend and the winner again this year is the House Sparrow.

The top three birds remained the same as last year: 1) House Sparrow; 2) Great Tit; and 3) Blackbird.

The one newcomer to this year’s list is the Wood Pigeon, replacing the Eurasian Tree Sparrow.

Source: Huismus weer meest gezien

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus indicus)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus indicus) by Lip Kee, Creative Commons on Flickr

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French Migrants Not Leaving

by Amy Posted on 18 December 2006

Like the Netherlands, France has recorded record high temperatures this fall, and the migratory birds that normally only spend the summer months in the country are still there in mid-December.

This autumn was the warmest in France since 1950, with temperatures almost 3 degrees Celsius higher than normal. For example, warblers have been seen all over the country, although they normally head for Africa in August or September.

Read the full article Birds bask in warmest French autumn since 1950.

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Stone Curlew Numbers Up In Britain

by Amy Posted on 17 December 2006

The number of Stone Curlews breeding in Britain has risen in the last few years, with a record number of at least 300 pairs recorded last year.

The success is due partly to the RSPB joining up with farmers in Southern England to create appealing habitats for the picky birds to nest. Government grants and EU subsidies reward farmers for creating and protecting the habitats.

Read more about the Stone Curlew in Britain.

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