Unprotected Dutch Natural Monument Is Deadly For Red Knots

by Amy Posted on 19 November 2006

The migratory path of the European Red Knot brings it to the Wadden Sea flats in the northern part of the Netherlands each year. There, the birds feed on cockles before continuing their migration, which can be up to 16,000 kilometers in distance. The flats are protected by two different acts, yet suction dredging was sanctioned by the Dutch authorities until 2004. As a result, the cockles’ meat has diminished significantly, causing a quarter of the Red Knot population to have died out. Read more about the Red Knots at New Scientist.

Share the birds, share the love!
Posted in Aside, Endangered, Migration, Netherlands | Leave a comment

Birder Disturbs Osprey Nest, Fined £300

by Amy Posted on 18 November 2006

A birdwatcher in Scotland has been fined £300 for pitching a tent 60 feet from the base of tree housing a nest used by a pair of ospreys. When he was discovered by RSPB officials, the adult ospreys were seen circling around the nest, one with a fish in its mouth, apparently afraid to return to the nest because of the tent. Read more about the incident in The Scotsman.

Fledgling Ospreys in Nest
Fledgling Ospreys in Nest by Mr. T in DC, on Flickr

Share the birds, share the love!
Posted in Aside, Europe, Law | Leave a comment

Twin Tower Replacement To Keep The Birds In Mind

by Amy Posted on 17 November 2006

Up to one billion birds are killed annually in the U.S. when they crash into glass buildings. The spring and fall migrations are especially treacherous times. Developers of New York’s planned 1,776 foot Freedom Tower, to be built on the former site of the World Trade Center, have enlisted an industrial ornithologist to advise them on making the new building bird-friendly. Recommendations include using less reflective glass and dimming the lights at dusk to avoid nighttime collisions by migrating birds. Read more about the Freedom Tower plans in the article Freedom Tower May Be Lifesaver for Birds.

Share the birds, share the love!
Posted in Aside, North America | Leave a comment

Subspecies Of Winter Wren Reunited In Canada

by Amy Posted on 16 November 2006

“Two sub-species of a singing bird have met in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. the first sighting since the eastern and western winter wren split apart during the last Ice Age. Up until last year, scientists weren’t even sure if the two populations co-existed since nobody had ever been able to find their elusive contact zone.” Read about the discovery by zoology professor Darren Irwin at Canada.com.

Share the birds, share the love!
Posted in Aside, North America, Offbeat, Ornithology, Science & Tech | Leave a comment

Prince Charles Pledges Albatross Support

by Amy Posted on 15 November 2006

“Estimates suggest that 100,000 albatrosses are inadvertently killed each year by long-line fishing boats, particularly from boats in the Southern Ocean catching highly-prized species like tuna, toothfish and swordfish.” Speaking at a premiere for the film ‘Race to Save the Albatross’, the Prince of Wales spoke of his support for BirdLife International’s campaign to save albatrosses from extinction. Read the full story.

Share the birds, share the love!
Posted in Aside, Charity, Endangered, Europe | Leave a comment

Long-Billed Murrelet Lost In The UK

by Amy Posted on 14 November 2006

“A rare sighting of a North Pacific bird has attracted more than 1,500 birdwatchers to a Devon seaside town. Enthusiasts from as far as Durham and Manchester have come to Dawlish for a glimpse of the Long-billed Murrelet. Devon Birdwatch Preservation Society spokesman Mike Langman said it was the first ever sighting in the UK, and the second in Europe.” Read more about the murrelet at the BBC.

Share the birds, share the love!
Posted in Aside, Europe, Rare / Vagrant | Leave a comment

Sheepdogs To Monitor Penguin Colony

by Amy Posted on 9 November 2006

An unconventional trial is taking place in south-west Victoria, Australia in a bid to save a dwindling penguin colony on Middle Island. A maremma sheepdog will be brought to the island in order to protect the birds from foxes. During the trial period, which will take place from 13 November until 8 December, a sheepdog will try to keep the colony of about 100 birds from becoming prey of local foxes and dogs. The colony numbered 5,000 birds just five years ago. Sheepdogs have been used with some success to protect chickens from foxes in the past. Read more in the article Sheepdogs to protect Aussie penguins.

Share the birds, share the love!
Posted in Aside, Offbeat | Leave a comment

Decline In Vultures Causes Religious Controversy In Mumbai

by Amy Posted on 8 November 2006

Parsis, a religious minority group living in Mumbai, India, are facing a crisis. The group is suffering declining numbers worldwide: there are an estimated 130,000 left in the world, 43,000 of whom live in Mumbai. And now an important part of their religious faith is being questioned – the way they dispose of their dead. Their age-old tradition calls for corpses to be left as carrion for vultures. In Mumbai, corpses are brought to the Towers of Silence, but today they are left to rot as the vulture population on the subcontinent has been in decline for years. In Mumbai, vultures are virtually extinct, which means that the Parsi corpses are taking months to decompose as they are left out to the elements. Read more about the controversy at the BBC.

Share the birds, share the love!
Posted in Aside, Endangered, India, Offbeat | Leave a comment

Golden Eagle Contender For Scottish National Bird

by Amy Posted on 7 November 2006

Worldwide, 90 countries have adopted a national bird, from the Bald Eagle in the United States, to the Frigatebird of Antigua and the Kiwi of New Zealand. Scotland may soon join those ranks as it is considering naming the Golden Eagle the Scottish national bird. Read more about the process in the Scotsman news article.

Golden Eagle 3a
Golden Eagle 3a by ahisgett, Creative Commons on Flickr

Share the birds, share the love!
Posted in Aside, Europe | Leave a comment

British Gardening Habits Bad For Birds

by Amy Posted on 3 November 2006

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds says that modern British gardening habits, including paving of front gardens and deck construction, are contributing to a decline in the bird population. By reducing lawns and plants, the availability of insects that birds need when raising their chicks has been limited. The RSPB says this links directly to the dramatic decline of the house sparrow. Read more, including what you can do to stop the trend, in the Telegraph article RSPB links decking to decline in birds.

Share the birds, share the love!
Posted in Aside, Europe, Yard Birds | Leave a comment