Update: Polish Pigeon Fair Roof Collapse

by Amy Posted on 30 January 2006

The death toll in Saturday’s exhibition-hall collapse disaster in Katowice, Poland has risen to at least 67 62. On Monday, a 34-year-old man died in hospital from injuries sustained during the collapse.

The pigeon fair brought visitors from many European nations and among the dead were seven foreigners, including one person from the Netherlands. At least 140 people were injured. 91 of the injured remained in hospital as of Sunday. About 500 people were believed to be inside the building when the roof collapsed at about 5:00 p.m. local time on Saturday. It is estimated that fair attendance was as high as 4,000 people earlier in the day.

The last survivor was pulled from the wrecked building on Saturday night. By Sunday, rescuers stopped searching for survivors. The cause of the collapse is still under dispute. Local police have said that heavy snow on the roof caused it to collapse, but building officials stated that snow was removed regularly and the cause of the collapse was still unknown. Vibrations from loud music and the great difference in exterior and interior temperatures have also been named as possible causes. The exhibition hall was constructed in 2000.

Polish president Lech Kaczynski has visited the site, and declared a national period of mourning to last for three days.

Sources:
Polish roof collapse kills at least 66 at racing pigeon exhibition
Dodental ramp Polen opgelopen
Tientallen doden door instorten hal Katowice
Roof collapse: ‘No more survivors’

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Roof Collapses At Polish Pigeon Fair

by Amy Posted on 28 January 2006

At least seven sixty people were killed Saturday in Katowice, Poland when the roof of an exhibition hall collapsed. Hundreds of people were inside the building at the time of the collapse, attending the Pigeon 2006 fair organized by the Polish Association of Racing Pigeons Breeders. Read more about the roof collapse at ABC News. An updated story can be found here on CNN.

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Pigeon Problems For Belgian Town

by Amy Posted on 28 January 2006

An abandoned building formerly used as a rest house by the nuns of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows convent in Beernem, Belgium, has become infested with a large population of pigeons.

At least one hundred pigeons now live in the building. The birds used to take sanctuary on the nearby city hall and in the church tower, but the city hall is under construction and the church tower has been fitted with anti-bird paraphernalia. Because their previous homes were being disturbed, the birds took up residence in quiet sanctuary of the rest house.

According to city council members, the situation is unsafe, because a pigeon can produce up to 14 kg of waste per year. Council member Lauwers also mentioned that the pigeon situation provided an increased risk factor in bird flu.

Other buildings in the West Flanders town of Beernem also have a problem with excessive bird droppings. A public square in front of the new “OCMW” building suffers from the waste of a colony of 20 doves living in a cedar tree. The mayor, Walter van Parijs, recognizes there is a problem, but acknowledges there are no easy solutions. “Shooting (the birds) is not possible in a neighborhood (where people live).” Council member Ingrid Vanhaecke offered this tongue-in-cheek solution: “Maybe the sisters can give the pigeons birth-control pills, but is that in accordance with God’s (law)?”

Source: Duiven bezorgen zusters kopzorgen

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“The Greatest Pigeon Race In The World”

by Amy Posted on 27 January 2006

The Sun City Million Dollar is an international pigeon race which concludes 4 February in Sun City, South Africa. This year more than 4,000 pigeons will participate in the final leg. The pigeons have competed in training and practice races since October. The final race will be 632 kilometers. Participants come from all over the world; this year there are 74 birds from the Netherlands enrolled. Birds from Namibia, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia and Sweden participate, along with birds from 22 other countries.

Sources:
Thousands of pigeons to fly over Sun City
Official site of The Sun City Million Dollar

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Final Section Great Florida Birding Trail Opened

by Amy Posted on 27 January 2006

The final section of the Great Florida Birding Trail (GFBT) was officially opened on 14 January 2006. The dedication ceremony was held at the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, part of the South Florida Birding Trail.

The GFBT consists of 4 sections: the East Florida section ; the West Florida section; the Panhandle section; and the recently-opened South Florida section. The statewide 2000-mile trail was completed with the opening of the South Florida section. According to the GFBT’s official website, the trail is “designed to conserve and enhance Florida’s bird habitat by promoting birdwatching activities, environmental education and economic opportunity”.

The Trail consists of 446 sites in total.

The East section, which opened in November 2000, has 136 sites over 21 counties, including Seminole State Forest, the Disney Wilderness Preserve, and Ravine Gardens State Park.

The West section, opened in November 2002, has 117 sites over 18 counties, including Twin Rivers State Forest, Honeymoon Island State Park, and Sand Key Park.

The Panhandle section, opened in May 2004, has 78 sites over 14 counties, including Blackwater River State Park, Turkey Creek Park, and Point Washington State Forest.

The recently-opened South Florida section has 116 sites over 12 counties, and includes the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.

Now is a great time to go birdwatching in Florida, because the resident bird populations are joined by migrating birds who winter in Florida. Receding water levels help to concentrate bird populations around food sources. For birders, the cooler weather also makes for more pleasant days out.

So far at least 350,000 free trail guides have been distributed to requestors from all 50 states and nine different countries.

Sources:
New Fla. trail is a bird-watcher’s bliss
Great Florida Birding Trail

Related links:
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Florida Department of Transportation
Wildlife Foundation of Florida
Florida Park Service
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Audubon of Florida
Visit Florida

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Rare Bird Sighting Brings Birders – And Mice!?

by Amy Posted on 26 January 2006

Birdwatchers have been visiting Yates, New York, to glimpse the rare Northern Hawk Owl which has been spotted there. Some birders have brought a tasty snack to try and entice the bird to come out its perch – mice. Local homeowners have complained that the mice fortunate enough to escape the owl’s talons have taken up in their homes. Read the story Bird lovers ruffling feathers of homeowners by setting mice free on Syracuse.com.

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Sacred Ibis Threatens French Coastal Birds

by Amy Posted on 26 January 2006

Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) birds were introduced to the French Atlantic coast in the mid-1970’s, when a pair was released in a nature park in southern Brittany. Today, experts believe there are over 3,000 birds living on the French coast in Brittany. The birds are dangerous for native species as they can be aggressive. Two year ago a group of ibis was seen destroying the nests and eggs of about 40 couples of sandwich terns. Read the story FRENCH BIRD-LOVERS CALL FOR ERADICATION OF SACRED INVADER at The Tocqueville Connection.

Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus)
Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) by Lip Kee, Creative Commons on Flickr

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