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15 Mar 'State of the birds 2010' highlights threats to migrants [Jeremy Taylor ] 13 Mar Climate change 'makes birds shrink' in North America [Jeremy Taylor ] 12 Mar Caribbean's first Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve designated [Jeremy Taylor ] 11 Mar The World's Rarest Birds through the lens [Jeremy Taylor ] 10 Mar Brazil's mightiest biomes get mapped the IBA way [Jeremy Taylor ] 5 Mar Black-faced Spoonbill numbers up again as Action Plans are launched [Jeremy Taylor ] 3 Mar BirdLife seabird conservationist awarded 2010 Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation [Jeremy Taylor ] 2 Mar Saving rockhopper penguins [Jeremy Taylor ] 25 Feb BirdLife protects biodiversity in the French overseas departments [Jeremy Taylor ] 18 Feb Celebrating Natron's Flamingos with action [Jeremy Taylor ] 17 Feb WeLoveBirds.org [Jeremy Taylor ] 16 Feb Radar station in Madeira threatens Zino's Petrel [Jeremy Taylor ] 15 Feb Industrial windfarm development in Puerto Rican IBA rejected by government [Jeremy Taylor ] 6 Feb New website for Canadian Important Bird Areas programme [Jeremy Taylor ] 3 Feb African grey parrots, the illegal trade continues [Jeremy Taylor ] 2 Feb BirdLife cares for wetlands [Jeremy Taylor ] 28 Jan Biodiversity on the Brink [Jeremy Taylor ] 25 Jan Impact of nature's invading aliens measured for the first time [Jeremy Taylor ] 23 Jan It's time to protect Europe's seabirds [Jeremy Taylor ] 20 Jan Music & Migration - music for the birds [Jeremy Taylor ] 14 Jan Breeding ground of rare bird discovered [Jeremy Taylor ] 14 Jan Photos: new bird discovered in well-known rainforest in Borneo [Jeremy Taylor ] 10 Jan Nature authority succeeds in breeding rare bird of prey [Jeremy Taylor ] 8 Jan Birds Fight Alien Parasites [Jeremy Taylor ] 8 Jan Wading bird population soars in 2009 [Jeremy Taylor ] 8 Jan Record number of cahows seen in Christmas bird count [Jeremy Taylor ] 8 Jan Northwest Miami-Dade gunslingers shoot endangered wood storks for target practice [Jeremy Taylor ] 8 Jan A model for wildlife-friendly energy development [Jeremy Taylor ] 30 Dec New warbler found in South-East Asia [Jeremy Taylor ] 28 Dec Migratory behaviour of the Red Kites as revealed by Satellite Telemetry [] 22 Dec BirdLife and Audubon's conservation work gets Royal support [Jeremy Taylor ] 21 Dec Kenya's Tana River Delta under siege [Jeremy Taylor ] 16 Dec Partnerships strengthen migratory bird conservation in West Africa [Jeremy Taylor ] 16 Dec Forests of Hope [Jeremy Taylor ] 13 Dec latest from BirdLife International [Jeremy Taylor ] 4 Dec Birds and climate change: indicators of a changing world [Jeremy Taylor ] 28 Nov Romanian Parliament puts Danube Delta at risk [Jeremy Taylor ] 28 Nov ICCAT leaves albatross conservation dead in the water [Jeremy Taylor ] 28 Nov 'No-shooting' shorebird refuge established in Barbados [Jeremy Taylor ] 18 Nov New study sheds light on nightjar [Jeremy Taylor ] 17 Nov Newly evolved finch appears on the Galapagos Islands [Jeremy Taylor ] 10 Nov New reserve declared within Dominican Republic IBA [Jeremy Taylor ] 9 Nov Making Atlantic and Mediterranean fisheries seabird friendly [Jeremy Taylor ] 6 Nov North Pacific Albatrosses added to ACAP [Jeremy Taylor ] 5 Nov IBA Caretaker network established in Latvia [Jeremy Taylor ] 4 Nov Latest news from BirdLife International [Jeremy Taylor ] 25 Sep Madagascar NGOs unite against plunder of natural resources [Jeremy Taylor ] 25 Sep Hunting: an extinction threat to Middle East's most threatened bird [Jeremy Taylor ] 14 Sep BirdLife welcomes ECJ decision on spring hunting in Malta [Jeremy Taylor ] 10 Sep Fiji Petrel found at sea – pungent fish attracts “lost” species [Jeremy Taylor ] 10 Sep Spring collection debut for Araripe mannequin! [Jeremy Taylor ] 9 Sep SAVE Brasil launches conservation corridor project at Boa Nova [Jeremy Taylor ] 2 Sep Go birdwatching with BirdLife in Latvia! [Jeremy Taylor ] 1 Sep Middle East trainers take the flyways approach home with them [Jeremy Taylor ] 26 Aug International Vulture Awareness Day [Jeremy Taylor ] 26 Aug Lake Natron faces renewed threat from soda-ash mining [Jeremy Taylor ] 25 Aug Malta: the return of 'common' birds [Jeremy Taylor ] 24 Aug Quest launched to find 'lost' birds [Jeremy Taylor ] 23 Aug Tribal effort to fix broken world hinges on condor [Jeremy Taylor ] 23 Aug Exxon Mobil Pleads Guilty to Killing Migratory Birds [Jeremy Taylor ] 12 Aug Endangered Piping Plover Chicks Make History [Jeremy Taylor ] 12 Aug U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Announces Proposal to List Seven Foreign Bird Species as Endangered under Endangered Species Act [Jeremy Taylor ] 12 Aug Link shared by jeremyjtaylor@yahoo.com [] 9 Aug DOPPS – BirdLife Slovenia praised for Corncrake project [Jeremy Taylor ] 9 Aug New nestlings bring cautious hope for Asia's Threatened vultures [Jeremy Taylor ] 5 Aug Preachers and teachers help conserve Turkish wetland [Jeremy Taylor ] 30 Jul New 'bald' bird discovered [Jeremy Taylor ] 30 Jul New 'bald' bird discovered [Jeremy Taylor ] 29 Jul New guidelines bring hope for world's seabirds [Jeremy Taylor ] 22 Jul Earth Survey Project - Update [Jeremy Taylor ] 22 Jul Earth Survey Project - Update [Jeremy Taylor ] 22 Jul Earth Survey Project - Update [Jeremy Taylor ] 22 Jul Northern Bald Ibis gets Royal Support [Jeremy Taylor ] 20 Jul Lures ensure more murres... [Jeremy Taylor ] 17 Jul Have your say - BirdLife needs your views... [Jeremy Taylor ] 16 Jul Mainland China IBA directory is published – in Chinese [Jeremy Taylor ] Subject: 'State of the birds 2010' highlights threats to migrants From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:51:26 -0700 (PDT) 'State of the birds 2010' highlights threats to migrants 15-03-2010 Climate change threatens to further imperil hundreds of species of migratory birds, already under stress from habitat loss, invasive species and other environmental threats, concludes a new report released by United States' Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. The State of the Birds: 2010 Report on Climate Change, follows a comprehensive report released a year ago showing that that nearly a third of the nation's 800 bird species are endangered, threatened or in significant decline. "For well over a century, migratory birds have faced stresses such as commercial hunting, loss of forests, the use of DDT and other pesticides, a loss of wetlands and other key habitat, the introduction of invasive species, and other impacts of human development", Salazar said. "Now they are facing a new threat - climate change - that could dramatically alter their habitat and food supply and push many species towards extinction." Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2010/03/state_of_the_birds.html Subject: Climate change 'makes birds shrink' in North America From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 09:50:44 -0800 (PST) Climate change 'makes birds shrink' in North America By Matt Walker Editor, Earth News Songbirds in the US are getting smaller, and climate change is suspected as the cause. A study of almost half a million birds, belonging to over 100 species, shows that many are gradually becoming lighter and growing shorter wings. This shrinkage has occurred within just half a century, with the birds thought to be evolving into a smaller size in response to warmer temperatures. However, there is little evidence that the change is harmful to the birds. Details of the discovery are published in the journal Oikos. Full story at http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8560000/8560694.stm Subject: Caribbean's first Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve designated From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:21:16 -0800 (PST) Caribbean's first Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve designated 12-03-2010 The Cabo Rojo Salt Flats – within Puerto Rico's Suroeste Important Bird Area – have been designated as the Caribbean's first site of regional importance for shorebirds by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN, an international shorebird conservation strategy). The nomination was submitted by Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña (SOPI, BirdLife in Puerto Rico) and supported by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), North Carolina State University and the BirdLife Caribbean Program. "This designation represents a significant step for the conservation of shorebirds in the Caribbean as it helps demonstrate the importance of wetlands on islands throughout the region for the conservation of both migratory and resident shorebirds", said Xicoténcatl Vega, subdirector of the WHSRN and Shorebird Recovery Program, Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2010/03/puerto_rico_iba.html Subject: The World's Rarest Birds through the lens From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:04:54 -0800 (PST) The World's Rarest Birds through the lens 08-03-2010 A new international photo competition covering the world's 623 most threatened birds has just been launched. This is a follow-up to the photo competitions that led to the production of the highly acclaimed Rare Birds Yearbooks 2008 and 2009. The photos submitted for the new competition will feature in a landmark publication – The World's Rarest Birds – which will be produced by the not-for-profit publisher WILDGuides next year. The proceeds will be donated to BirdLife International's Preventing Extinctions Programme, as was the case with the Rare Birds Yearbooks. The World's Rarest Birds will be a lavishly illustrated hardback book, covering the 362 species categorised as Endangered and 65 that are Data Deficient, as well as the 192 Critically Endangered species and the four species that are Extinct in the Wild and only now exist in captivity. It will be a comprehensive directory of the world's most threatened bird species and include specially written feature articles on the key bird conservation issues in each of the world’s regions. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2010/03/worlds_rarest.html Subject: Brazil's mightiest biomes get mapped the IBA way From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:37:49 -0800 (PST) Brazil's mightiest biomes get mapped the IBA way 10-03-2010 Brazil is a country of superlatives: big and biodiverse. Three of the most extensive biomes in the entire world — the Amazon Rainforest, the Pantanal Wetlands and the Cerrado savannas occur in Brazil. The Important Bird Areas (IBAs) of these three unique areas are now covered in a new publication Important Bird Areas in Brazil: Part II – Amazon, Cerrado and Pantanal. In 2004, SAVE Brasil (BirdLife Partner) was established with the mission of conserving birds, their habitats and biodiversity, and working with people towards the sustainable use of natural resources. One of the first tasks was to identify IBAs for Brazil. Not an easy task by any means. Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world at over 8.5 million square kilometres and also has the fifth largest population, mainly concentrated around the coastal strip. The first part of the study was completed in 2006, with the publication of Important Bird Areas in Brazil: Part I – the Atlantic Forest Region. This book described 163 IBAs in the Atlantic Forest, the Caatinga, the Pampa, and portions of the Cerrado. The process has now been completed with the publication of the second volume that describes 74 IBAs. Important Bird Areas in Brazil: Part II represents the first mapping of priority areas for bird conservation in the Amazon, the Cerrado, and the Pantanal. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2010/03/brazil_ibas.html Subject: Black-faced Spoonbill numbers up again as Action Plans are launched From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 16:11:33 -0800 (PST) Black-faced Spoonbill numbers up again as Action Plans are launched 05-03-2010 BirdLife International has compiled International Action Plans for three globally Endangered and Critically Endangered migratory waterbirds in Asia, under the auspices of the Convention on Migratory Species. The action plans for Critically Endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus and Chinese Crested Tern Sterna bernsteini were launched recently at the fourth meeting of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP). On 5th March, the action plan for Endangered Black-faced Spoonbill Platalea minor was launched at the International Symposium on Ecology, Migratory and Conservation of the Black-faced Spoonbill. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2010/03/new_action_plans.html Subject: BirdLife seabird conservationist awarded 2010 Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 19:54:35 -0800 (PST) BirdLife seabird conservationist awarded 2010 Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation 03-03-2010 One man's quest to prevent one of the world's most threatened families of birds from slipping ever closer towards oblivion has been recognised with the award of a major international honour. Dr Ben Sullivan, the Tasmanian-based coordinator for BirdLife International's Global Seabird Program, has been awarded a 2010 Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation for his project to reduce seabird 'bycatch'. or the catching and killing of non-target species, in open-ocean longline and trawl fisheries. The Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation is a prestigious program that gives recipients US$150,000 for a three-year scientific research or conservation project designed to address critical challenges facing our oceans. Dr Sullivan's fellowship will utilize the existing Albatross Task Force to conduct research and develop best practices for reducing the killing of seabirds in many of the bycatch 'hot spots' around the world. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2010/03/Ben_Sullivan_Pew_fellowship.html Subject: Saving rockhopper penguins From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 20:57:09 -0800 (PST) Saving rockhopper penguins 02-03-2010 Rockhopper penguin populations are in serious decline worldwide, and the causes have been largely unknown. BirdLife is launching a new report which identifies the key threats, and outlines the steps which must be taken to help save rockhopper penguins. "At last, in this new report we have an international action plan to address the catastrophic declines of rockhopper penguins", said Professor John Croxall - Chairman of BirdLife's Global Seabird Programme. Rockhopper penguins live in the Indian, South Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. There are two distinct species: Northern Rockhopper Penguin Eudyptes moseleyi (Endangered) and Southern Rockhopper Penguin Eudyptes chrysocome (Vulnerable). Both these species have been disappearing from the southern oceans. In the past 37 years alone, Northern Rockhopper Penguin has decline by 57% and Southern Rockhopper Penguin by 34%. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2010/03/rockhopper_report.html Subject: BirdLife protects biodiversity in the French overseas departments From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:33:02 -0800 (PST) BirdLife protects biodiversity in the French overseas departments 24-01-2010 BirdLife International and LPO (BirdLife in France), in cooperation with local conservation organisations, have just published Un patrimoine, un atout – Oiseaux des departements d’outre-mer, presenting the status of birds and biodiversity in the French overseas departments, and focusing on their added values and the threats they are facing. "More than ever it is now urgent to mobilise all the available legal, technical and financial tools at our disposal to halt the biodiversity decline both in Europe and in France", commented Angelo Caserta, Regional Director of BirdLife International European Division. Birds represent a unique asset to develop eco-tourism activities and boost local economies. Within the publication, some concrete financial and economic measures are also proposed in order to better preserve the biodiversity in those territories. For instance, including their species and habitats in the EU Birds and Habitats Directive will be essential to be in line with the European goals of halting the biodiversity loss and fighting against climate change. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2010/02/lpo_patrimoine.html Subject: Celebrating Natron's Flamingos with action From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 18 Feb 2010 10:56:24 -0800 (PST) Celebrating Natron's Flamingos with action 18-02-2010 The 2010 World Wetlands Day celebrations in Tanzania focussed on a meeting to support the conservation of Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor (Near Threatened) through the completion of a National Single Species Action Plan. "This is an important step in ensuring the protection of this important species not only for Tanzania but also for the world", said Lota Melamari - CEO of Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania (WCST, BirdLife Partner). "This action plan provides Tanzania with an opportunity to ensure that threats facing Lesser Flamingo are thoroughly addressed", he added. Tanzania is home to the most important breeding site in the world for Lesser Flamingo – Lake Natron. Of the world's global population of Lesser Flamingo, 75% breed at Lake Natron. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2010/02/flamingo_species_action_plan.html Subject: WeLoveBirds.org From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:16:10 -0800 (PST) Thought some of you might be interested in a new social site sponsored by Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the NRDC, http://www.welovebirds.org/ Regards, Jeremy Subject: Radar station in Madeira threatens Zino's Petrel From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:55:07 -0800 (PST) Radar station in Madeira threatens Zino's Petrel 16-02-2010 After many years of uncertainty and inaction, the Portuguese Government has finally started building a military radar on top of Pico do Areeiro, one of Madeira’s most popular tourist destinations and the only home of Zino’s Petrel Pterodroma madeira, a rare endemic seabird. The Pico do Areeiro lies within a Natura 2000 site designated as a Special Protection Area, and therefore has the highest level of protection under European Union law. “It is the only known breeding site in the world of Zino's Petrel, a globally Endangered species whose total population of 65-80 pairs makes it the rarest seabird in Europe and one of the rarest birds in the world”, said Dr Ian Burfield – European Research and Database Manager at BirdLife International. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2010/02/madeira.html Subject: Industrial windfarm development in Puerto Rican IBA rejected by government From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:04:13 -0800 (PST) Industrial windfarm development in Puerto Rican IBA rejected by government 15-02-2010 The Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña, Inc. (SOPI, BirdLife in Puerto Rico) and other organisations have applauded the decision made by the Planning Board of Puerto Rico to reject and suspend the siting permit for an industrial windfarm development in Karso del Sur Important Bird Area (IBA). At the same time, the Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed development is being legally disputed. The windfarm was proposed for construction on forested land that is both ecologically fragile and exceptionally important for biodiversity. This karst limestone area has been designated by the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources as a 'High Conservation Priority' and borders the Guánica Biosphere Reserve. The forests and shrubland in this IBA are home to 19 (of the 23) restricted-range species found on Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, including the largest known population (c.20% of the total) of the Critically Endangered Puerto Rican Nightjar Caprimulgus noctitherus. The IBA also supports a regionally significant breeding population of Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii. Small numbers of Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis nest on Don Luis Cay—one of the few nesting locations for the species in Puerto Rico. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2010/02/pr_windfarm.html Subject: New website for Canadian Important Bird Areas programme From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 11:30:27 -0800 (PST) New website for Canadian Important Bird Areas programme 04-02-2010 BirdLife International's Canadian co-partners Bird Studies Canada and Nature Canada have launched a new website for the Canadian Important Bird Areas (IBA) Programme. The main goals of the IBA Canada website (www.ibacanada.ca) are to raise awareness of the IBA Programme, to share information about Canada’s IBAs, and to empower more Canadians to reconnect with nature as volunteers for the IBA Caretaker Network. The website offers refined mapping features and data management and analysis functions, including a search engine that enables users to identify bird populations, habitat types, and land use activities at Important Bird Areas across Canada. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2010/02/canada_ibas.html Subject: African grey parrots, the illegal trade continues From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 12:06:22 -0800 (PST) African grey parrots, the illegal trade continues Date: February 2nd 2010 By: limbewildlifecentre Yesterday more then 1000 African grey parrots were confiscated at Douala Airport and brought to the Limbe Wildlife Centre in Cameroon. Again! We have not even released all the birds from the last seized parrot shipment, but the illegal trade continues. This is the largest group of parrots ever confiscated in Cameroon. Unfortunately, also the amount of dead birds was incredibly high. Upon arrival we found 47 dead parrots on the bottoms of the crates. Another 30 parrots did not survive the first day, as a result of thirst and stress. It makes you sick to see how the parrots are packed in the boxes, the weaker ones trampeled by the strongest. Full story and photos at http://limbewildlifecentre.wildlifedirect.org/2010/02/02/african-grey-parrots-the-illegal-trade-continues/ Subject: BirdLife cares for wetlands From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 20:52:04 -0800 (PST) BirdLife cares for wetlands 02-02-2010 Today is World Wetlands Day and this year’s theme – Caring for wetlands: an answer to climate change – highlights the bonds between wetlands, biodiversity and climate change. “Caring for wetlands is part of the solution to climate change”, said Melanie Heath – Senior Advisor on Climate Change at BirdLife. “If we manage them well, wetland ecosystems and their biodiversity have a vital role to play in mitigating against, and adapting to, climate change”. Freshwater ecosystems are vital to life on earth, despite occupying less than 1% of the earth’s surface. They provide ecosystem services – such as water, fish, water purification and flood control. “The functions provided by wetlands are essential for human survival and aid our resilience to climate change”, added Melanie. “For example, due to their ability to store and slowly release water, wetlands can be a vital lifeline in periods of extreme drought”. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2010/02/world_wetlands_day.html Subject: Biodiversity on the Brink From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:38:56 -0800 (PST) Biodiversity on the Brink 26-01-2010 A photo exhibition to launch BirdLife’s Year of Biodiversity Officially launching the International Year of Biodiversity within the European Partnership, BirdLife International presents 'Biodiversity on the Brink', a photo exhibition of Europe’s natural wonders. At an event in the European Parliament, guests will enjoy 16 astonishing pictures of European landscapes, animals and human activities, learning more about the threats our nature is facing, but also about the opportunities to save it. “2010 is really our chance to concretely act to save our nature, after failing to meet the biodiversity target”, said Angelo Caserta, Regional Director at BirdLife International’s European Division. A new European Parliament has been elected and a new European Commission will soon be in place, so this is our opportunity for a fresh and ambitious new start to conserve Europe’s biodiversity. This year the future of the planet is in our hands”. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2010/01/biodiversity_brink.html ______________________________________________ "We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors; we borrow it from our Children." ~Native American proverb Answer my Earth Survey questionnaire at http://tinyurl.com/nx4ng7 Earth Survey Project http://earthsurvey.blogspot.com Project Facebook group http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=34705684632 Jeremy's website http://jeremyjtaylor.tripod.com Jeremy - Facebook http://www.facebook.com/jeremyjtaylor Jeremy's Photography http://jeremyjtaylor.shutterfly.com/ Subject: Impact of nature's invading aliens measured for the first time From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:11:50 -0800 (PST) Impact of nature's invading aliens measured for the first time 25-01-2010 Invasive Alien Species, ranging from disease and plants, to rats and goats, are one of the top three threats to life on this planet, according to a new publication coordinated by the Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP), of which BirdLife International is a partner. Most countries have made international commitments to tackle this threat, but only half have introduced relevant legislation and even fewer are taking adequate action on the ground. The paper entitled, Global indicators of biological invasion: species numbers, biodiversity impact and policy responses, published in the journal Diversity and distributions, looked at 57 countries and found that, on average, there are 50 non-indigenous species per country which have a negative impact on biodiversity. The number of invasive alien species ranged from nine in Equatorial Guinea to 222 in New Zealand. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2010/01/aliens.html Subject: It's time to protect Europe's seabirds From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 23 Jan 2010 17:56:57 -0800 (PST) It's time to protect Europe's seabirds 22-01-2010 In the last decade an estimated two million seabirds are thought to have died at the hands of the European fishing industry in the waters around Europe and the Atlantic. This slaughter has to stop, say BirdLife International and the RSPB (BirdLife in the UK), which are urging people to sign a petition to be sent to Maria Damanaki – designate European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries - to bring in long overdue measures to protect these birds. Several of the species, which die on the end of longline hooks, get caught up in trawls or drown in gill nets are ones which are declining rapidly, and some, such as Critically Endangered Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus, are considered to be facing extinction within a human generation. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2010/01/seabird_petition.html Subject: Music & Migration - music for the birds From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:39:23 -0800 (PST) Music & Migration - music for the birds 20-01-2010 New CD launched in support of Born to Travel, the BirdLife Flyways Campaign A new music compilation on CD, Music & Migration, is supporting BirdLife’s Born to Travel campaign. Each of its 21 songs are by different artists and are new and exclusive to the record. “BirdLife is proud to have the support of the many musicians who made Music & Migration. It shows that people really care about the miracles of nature, and that BirdLife is not alone in wanting to save migratory birds”, commented Ania Sharwood Smith, Campaign Coordinator of Born to Travel. Each of the songs on Music & Migration are inspired by both the miracle of the migratory impulse and the man-made threats that birds face today. The album showcases contemporary post-classical composition, idiosyncratic folksong and pastoral soundscaping. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2010/01/music_migration.html Subject: Breeding ground of rare bird discovered From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:21:11 -0800 (PST) Breeding ground of rare bird discovered Birdx-blog200 A long-sought breeding ground of one of the world's rarest birds has turned up in Afghanistan, conservation scientists report. In the journal BirdingASIA, a team led by Robert Timmins of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) report the tagging of twenty large-billed reed warblers, Acrocephalus orinus, at a site in the Pamir Mountains of north-eastern Afghanistan, "an oasis for more than 50 species of resident and migratory birds," according to the study. "Practically nothing is known about this species, so this discovery of the breeding area represents a flood of new information on the large-billed reed warbler," said WCS's Colin Poole, in a statement. "This new knowledge of the bird also indicates that the Wakhan Corridor still holds biological secrets and is critically important for future conservation efforts in Afghanistan." Full story at http://tinyurl.com/ykf5y2a Subject: Photos: new bird discovered in well-known rainforest in Borneo From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:20:20 -0800 (PST) Photos: new bird discovered in well-known rainforest in Borneo Jeremy Hance mongabay.com January 14, 2010 The Danum Valley Conservation Area in Sabah, Malaysia is a huge draw for tourists and scientists; a research station has been operating in Danum Valley since 1986. But the rainforest still has surprises left: in June two employees with a tour company named Field Guide came upon every ornithologist's dream, a bird species entirely unknown to science. While walking along a 250 meter-high canopy-walkway set-up for tourists, Richard Webster discovered a bird he didn't recognize feeding on mistletoe berries. He took photos of the individual and later shared them with Dr. David Edwards, an ornithologist from Leeds University who has been studying birds in the area for three years. After checking with several museums, they realized that no one had ever recorded such a bird. Full story (and photos) at http://news.mongabay.com/2010/0114-hance_birddanum.html Subject: Nature authority succeeds in breeding rare bird of prey From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 10 Jan 2010 19:46:22 -0800 (PST) Nature authority succeeds in breeding rare bird of prey By Zafrir Rinat The Israel Nature and Parks Authority has chalked up a success of international proportions in breeding one of the rarest birds of prey - the hawk-eagle. The hawk-eagles being bred in Israel are the only ones in the world that regularly reproduce on an annual basis. Meanwhile the fate of another rare bird, the lappet-faced vulture, which is no longer found in the wild in Israel, does not look bright. Ecologist Ohad Hatzofe of the Parks Authority published a summary of efforts over the past year to breed rare birds of prey under the supervision of the authority's Hai Bar nature reserve outside of Haifa and with the help of zoos around the country. Sixteen birds representing seven species, including vultures, have been bred for release during 2009 or for release in the near future. Full story at http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1141425.html Subject: Birds Fight Alien Parasites From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2010 18:03:34 -0800 (PST) Birds Fight Alien Parasites Released: 1/4/2010 11:00 PM EST Embargo expired: 1/5/2010 8:00 PM EST Source: University of Utah UNIVERSITY OF UTAH MEDIA RELEASE BIRDS FIGHT ALIEN PARASITES Darwin’s Finches Develop Antibodies to Flies, Pox Virus SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 5, 2010 – Unlike Hawaii and other island groups, no native bird has gone extinct in the Galapagos Islands, although some are in danger. But University of Utah biologists found that finches – the birds Darwin studied – develop antibodies against two parasites that moved to the Galapagos, suggesting the birds can fight the alien invaders. Full story at http://tinyurl.com/yfk7kng Subject: Wading bird population soars in 2009 From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2010 18:02:19 -0800 (PST) Wading bird population soars in 2009 By Erika Pesantes, Sun Sentinel January 6, 2010 Wading bird populations, specifically the endangered wood stork, soared in 2009, according to a South Florida Water Management District report. There were about 77,505 wading bird nests in South Florida in 2009. Of those, about 6,500 wood stork nests were recorded — a more than 1,000 percent increase over 2008 and a 200 percent rise over the past decade's average. The report also attributed wading birds' success in part to the recent droughts that reduced predatory fish and allowed smaller fish and crayfish populations, which serve as wading birds' food supply, to become more abundant. Everglades National Park was home to 15,400 nests, the largest number in the park since 1941. The park encompasses parts of Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Collier counties. Copyright © 2010, South Florida Sun-Sentinel http://tinyurl.com/yjwkqx4 Subject: Record number of cahows seen in Christmas bird count From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2010 18:01:09 -0800 (PST) Record number of cahows seen in Christmas bird count By Sam Strangeways An American bird rarely spotted in Bermuda made it here for the Audubon Society's annual count on New Year's Eve. Two western kingbirds — making their first appearance for a Christmas bird count — were among the 100 species and 8,682 individual birds recorded by volunteers on December 31. A globally endangered piping plover — a small shorebird which occasionally winters in Bermuda — was also seen, along with a northern gannet from the North Atlantic coast, a Eurasian wigeon from Europe and a tiny ruby-throated hummingbird from eastern North America. Count organiser Andrew Dobson said of the kingbird: "It's a rare bird here so it's good to get it on a count day itself." Full story at http://tinyurl.com/yzy9kct Subject: Northwest Miami-Dade gunslingers shoot endangered wood storks for target practice From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2010 17:59:38 -0800 (PST) Northwest Miami-Dade gunslingers shoot endangered wood storks for target practice By Gus Garcia-Roberts Published on January 05, 2010 at 12:30pm The weirdest nook of Miami-Dade County is its unincorporated northwest corner — a rural tract where guajiros pummel each other at cowboy bars, black-market horse meat is in high demand, and burned cars and other refuse litter the streets as if in some Mad Max hellscape. Here's yet another strange atrocity: Hunters there are using an endangered bird as target practice. Full story at http://tinyurl.com/yhnk6md Subject: A model for wildlife-friendly energy development From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2010 10:41:18 -0800 (PST) A model for wildlife-friendly energy development 06-01-2010 Newly announced changes to United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) leasing policies offer enhanced protection for Near Threatened Greater Sage-grouse Centrocercus urophasianus, and an innovative model for wildlife-friendly energy development. Other wildlife that shares the western sagebrush ecosystem will also benefit. The BLM's new policy follows protests by groups including Audubon (BirdLife in the USA) at the federal government's push to lease nearly 280,000 hectares of important habitat in Wyoming for oil and gas development. Previous energy development was a major factor in reducing Greater Sage-Grouse populations to 10-20% of historic levels. Sage Thrasher Oreoscoptes montanus, Sage Sparrow Amphispiza belli, Brewer's Sparrow Spizella breweri and other sagebrush-dependent species have also declined. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2010/01/sage_grouse.html Subject: New warbler found in South-East Asia From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:19:31 -0800 (PST) New warbler found in South-East Asia 29-12-2009 A new species of warbler has been described from the karst limestone country of Vietnam and Laos by scientists from BirdLife International, Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Swedish Museum of Natural History, and Wildlife Conservation Society. Named Limestone Leaf-warbler Phylloscopus calciatilis, the new species is very similar to Sulphur-breasted Warbler P. ricketti, in morphology, but it is smaller with a proportionately larger bill and rounder wing. Its song and calls are diagnostic. Based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA, the new species is most closely related to P. ricketti and Yellow-vented Warbler P. cantator. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/12/new_warbler.html Subject: Migratory behaviour of the Red Kites as revealed by Satellite Telemetry From: WWGBP AT aol.com Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:03:56 EST Dear All, This is to inform you that our paper Pfeiffer T & Meyburg BU 2009: Migratory and wintering behaviour of the Red Kite Milvus milvus in Thuringia (Germany) as revealed by Satellite Telemetry. Vogelwarte 47: 171-187 which has recently been posted to our website _www.Raptor-Research.de_ (http://www.raptor-research.de/) (the paper with maps etc.). _http://www.raptor-research.de/pdfs/a_sp100p/a_sp142_Pfeiffer_Meyburg_Red%20 Kite%20Milvus%20milvus.pdf_ (http://www.raptor-research.de/pdfs/a_sp100p/a_sp142_Pfeiffer_Meyburg_Red%20Kite%20Milvus%20milvus.pdf) (complete English translation) See summary below. Happy New Year Bernd Meyburg _BUMeyburg AT aol.com_ (http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/SatTelOrn/post?postID=9XQdwoafO6F9qUZWukB9etYgEgiXhmNVMXsfiOj0x4ssbQR93M8NkiNK9DiuHDSD8IDjnQgznH KOkPM) _www.Raptor-research.de_ (http://www.raptor-research.de/) Summary In 2002 to 2005, nine Red Kites (two juveniles and seven adults) were fitted with solar-powered satellite transmitters (PTTs) in Thuringia (Germany) which, up to the end of 2008, enabled 2686 fixes to be made by Argos using the Doppler Phenomenon. Most locations were not very precise, but are adequate for studies of migratory behaviour. In total seven autumn migrations to Spain and four return journeys to the breeding area were tracked. Apart from one juvenile, which departed as early as August and required 47 days to reach Spain, migration began in the first half of October. Arrival in spring took place between 5 and 12 March. During migration to winter quarters the birds covered distances of between 1,450 and 2,320 km, for which the adult birds required between 12 to 28 days. Spring migration, taking between 8 to 22 days, was somewhat quicker. An adult female, which was tracked over five migration periods, spent both of the first two winters in the same area in south-west Spain and, in the third migration period, only flew as far as northern Spain. At the end of December a change in winter quarters of over 130 km took place. In the fourth year of the study it spent the winter in its breeding area. In the following year (2008) the female migrated a week earlier than in the first three years to western Spain, where it was found dead in December. Three members of a family (the male and two juveniles) migrated separately and the juveniles sought out different wintering areas. In addition to the telemetry results the transmitters provided further information on the individual identification of the Red Kites. By this means the ousting of a pair from the breeding area by other Red Kites was recorded and a female, monitored over a five year period, had at least four different partners in this time. Of the nine birds fitted with transmitters, there were mortalities of seven kites, of two males and one female in the breeding area, a further male during migration and both juveniles and an adult female in winter quarters. One female is still carrying the transmitter (summer 2009) and, since the transmitter was deployed at the age of three years, has successfully raised young annually for the past seven years. The PTT of the ninth bird has been removed when it was retrapped. Subject: BirdLife and Audubon's conservation work gets Royal support From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:48:42 -0800 (PST) BirdLife and Audubon's conservation work gets Royal support 22-12-2009 “Protecting threatened species is vitally important to developing a different relationship with our planet”, said HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco at a recent event in Washington DC, United States. “Humanity needs to adopt a more humble attitude, aware that it needs other species to survive”. The event was organised by BirdLife, Audubon (BirdLife in the US) and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, and took place at the Washington DC Residence of H.E. Gilles Noghes - the Ambassador of the Principality of Monaco to the US. The evening was also attended by Bernard Fautrier and John B. Kelly – respectively CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and President of the Foundation’s US Chapter. A major focus of the event was on the ratification of the Agreement for the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) by the US Congress. Last year Ex-President George W. Bush passed the treaty to the US Senate for approval. The Washington event created an opportunity to advance the agenda for the US Senate ratification of the ACAP treaty by the attendance of Dr Jane Lubchenco - Under Secretary of commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator - and Evan Bloom of the US State Department. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/12/washington_event.html Subject: Kenya's Tana River Delta under siege From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:40:27 -0800 (PST) Kenya's Tana River Delta under siege 21-12-2009 The Tana River Delta in Kenya's north coast is under unprecedented threat as corporations and foreign agencies scramble to exploit its riches for export crops, biofuels and minerals. NatureKenya (BirdLife Partner) – with support of RSPB (BirdLife in UK), Schweizer Vogelschutz SVS/BirdLife Schweiz (BirdLife in Switzerland) and DOF (BirdLife in Denmark) – are working with local communities to try and stop the proposed poorly planned developments which would result in tens of thousands of people losing their livelihoods. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/12/tana_update.html Subject: Partnerships strengthen migratory bird conservation in West Africa From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:38:42 -0800 (PST) Partnerships strengthen migratory bird conservation in West Africa 16-12-2009 Six countries in West Africa have committed to conserving Important Bird Areas (IBAs) for migratory birds along their coastlines. This is the outcome of a recent joint workshop organised by BirdLife and Wetlands International. “The project offers an opportunity for coordinated monitoring and conservation of IBAs along the coast of West Africa, and for capacity building, which is crucial for migratory bird conservation, as well as enhancement of the livelihoods of local communities”, said Dr Hazell Shokellu Thompson - Africa regional director of BirdLife International. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/12/west_africa_migratory_birds.html Subject: Forests of Hope From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:40:07 -0800 (PST) Forests of Hope The international community has so far failed to save the world's tropical forests. As things now stand, few tropical forests will survive to the end of the 21st century. Tropical deforestation is one of the most acute ecological tragedies of our modern age, yet it continues at a frightening rate, driven by global demand for timber, paper and land for crops and biofuels. As forests are destroyed, their values as stores of biological diversity, providers of livelihoods and ecosystem services to local and global communities, and stabilisers of the global climate, are lost. Tropical deforestation has serious impacts on the world’s climate. Globally, deforestation and forest degradation account for 15–20% of all human induced carbon emissions, and a large proportion of this takes place in the tropics. This is therefore one of the major causes of global warming. These emissions are greater than those of all cars, trucks, planes, ships and trains worldwide. Learn more at http://www.birdlife.org/forests/ Subject: latest from BirdLife International From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 13 Dec 2009 19:22:00 -0800 (PST) Global warning - BirdLife's 5 asks for Copenhagen http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/12/cop_start_5_asks.html Second blow for Asian vultures http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/12/vultures.html BirdLife's case for the role of ecosystems in climate change adaptation http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/12/partners.html Subject: Birds and climate change: indicators of a changing world From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2009 18:40:28 -0800 (PST) Birds and climate change: indicators of a changing world 04-12-2009 Next week, the world's governments are meeting at the United Nation's Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark to attempt to agree action to tackle climate change. The outcomes of this will have resounding consequences for biodiversity. Climate change is already having multiple impacts on birds and their habitats, and is exacerbating many of the factors which have put one in eight of the world's birds at risk of extinction. Many species may have to shift their ranges to survive, and considerably more losers than winners are expected. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/12/climate_impacts.html Subject: Romanian Parliament puts Danube Delta at risk From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:09:15 -0800 (PST) Romanian Parliament puts Danube Delta at risk 26-11-2009 At the beginning of November 2009 the Romanian Parliament cancelled a draft law that would have protected the irreplaceable natural environment of the Danube Delta. The Danube Delta is one of the world’s largest wetlands, home to an extraordinary array of wildlife and to over 320 bird species, such as Vulnerable Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus and Endangered Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis. The international relevance of Danube Delta is recognised by its designation as Biosphere Reserve, World Heritage site, a wetland site of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, an Important Bird Area according to BirdLife, a Special Protection Area (SPA) under the EU Birds Directive and a proposed Site of Community Importance under the EU Habitats Directive. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/11/danube_delta.html Subject: ICCAT leaves albatross conservation dead in the water From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:08:26 -0800 (PST) ICCAT leaves albatross conservation dead in the water 27-11-2009 After a 3-year seabird risk assessment that found tuna and swordfish longline fishing has significant impacts on Atlantic seabird populations, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) failed to act at a recent meeting in Recife, Brazil. “Albatrosses and petrel populations in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea are undergoing some of the most severe decreases anywhere in the world”, said Dr Cleo Small - Senior Policy Officer for the BirdLife Global Seabird Programme, based at the RSPB (BirdLife in the UK). More than 40 fishing nations are members of ICCAT, and they gathered recently in Recife, Brazil for the annual meeting of the commission. Collectively they control longline fishing effort in the Atlantic Ocean that is conducted on a massive scale. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/11/iccat_albatross_failure.html Subject: 'No-shooting' shorebird refuge established in Barbados From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:07:41 -0800 (PST) 'No-shooting' shorebird refuge established in Barbados 23-11-2009 BirdLife International has created Barbados' first shorebird refuge at an abandoned shooting swamp at Woodbourne, close to the village of Packers. Woodbourne is a four hectare swamp on the flank of the St. Philip Shooting Swamps Important Bird Area (IBA), at which hunting and maintenance ceased in October 2004. Two former hunters were instrumental in securing the lease and financing the initial restoration of Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge. Restoration work started in May and the swamp was ready for the 2009 southbound, autumn migration. Barbados is an important stop-over site for tens of thousands of Nearctic-nesting shorebirds on their southbound migration to South America where they pass the non-breeding (southern summer) season. Adverse weather in the Atlantic during their flight can force large numbers to stop for shelter on the island, but 15,000-30,000 of these shorebirds – including a number of species of conservation concern – are shot in a handful of managed shooting swamps. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/11/barbados.html Subject: New study sheds light on nightjar From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:17:55 -0800 (PST) New study sheds light on nightjar 18-11-2009 A new study of the Critically Endangered Puerto Rican Nightjar Caprimulgus noctitherus suggests that the species's geographic range is greater than previously estimated. This is the major finding of Geographic distribution of the Puerto Rican Nightjar: A patch occupancy approach, a joint effort between the Sociedad Ornitol�gica Puertorrique�a, Inc. (SOPI, the BirdLife Partner and Species Guardian for Puerto Rican Nightjar), Mississippi State University, USGS Cooperative Research Units, BirdLife International, and The British Birdwatching Fair. With an estimated population of 1,400-2,000 individuals, Puerto Rican Nightjar is a single-island endemic species found in coastal dry and lower montane forests in the south-west of Puerto Rico. Fragmentation, loss and degradation of its habitat, especially from residential, industrial and recreational expansion are the main threats. SOPI, as part of the BirdLife Preventing Extinctions programme, liaised with researchers, Dr. Francisco Vilella and graduate student Rafael Gonz�lez to carry out the first systematic presence-absence survey to improve current knowledge on habitat and distribution of the nightjar. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/11/sopi_nightjar.html Subject: Newly evolved finch appears on the Galapagos Islands From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:45:37 -0800 (PST) Newly evolved finch appears on the Galapagos Islands Evolution caught in the act? An isolated population of finches have odd-shaped beaks, sing differently, and don't breed with others. By Bryan Nelson Mon, Nov 16 2009 at 9:40 PM EST Just a few years ago, the husband and wife team of Peter and B. Rosemary Grant made the breakthrough discovery that the beak sizes of some of the finches on the Galapagos Islands had already changed since Darwin's visit in 1835. Now they believe they may have witnessed the evolution of a brand new species. Even more remarkable, the scientists have tracked the evolution of the new lineage back to a single bird. As Nature reports, it began in 1981 when the Grants spotted an unusually heavy, medium ground finch (Geospiza fortis) on the Galapagos Island of Daphne Major. At 29.7 grams, the male was markedly heavier than any of the other finches they had found there. Genetic analysis revealed that the odd bird likely came from the neighboring island of Santa Cruz, where the species is larger. Full story at http://tinyurl.com/ybfsqz9 Subject: New reserve declared within Dominican Republic IBA From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:23:08 -0800 (PST) New reserve declared within Dominican Republic IBA 10-11-2009 Grupo Jaragua (BirdLife in the Dominican Republic) has celebrated the creation of a new reserve, 'Reserva Biol�gica Loma Charco Azul' (La Placa), within the Sierra de Bahoruco Important Bird Area (IBA) in the south-west of the Dominican Republic. This IBA holds essential habitat for high numbers (32 of the 34) of Hispaniola restricted-range birds, 14 threatened bird species and over 30 Neotropical migratory birds. Loma Charco Azul has been declared a reserve after several years of active lobbying by Grupo Jaragua and its partners. The President of the Dominican Republic, Leonel Fern�ndez, proudly announced the decision to extend the protection in Sierra de Bahoruco by 28,748 hectares. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/11/dom_rep_IBA.html Subject: Making Atlantic and Mediterranean fisheries seabird friendly From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 17:23:20 -0800 (PST) Making Atlantic and Mediterranean fisheries seabird friendly 09-11-2009 As scientists gather today in Recife, in Brazil, to agree on quotas for the Atlantic and Mediterranean stocks of tuna and swordfish in the latest round of fisheries talks, BirdLife International and the RSPB (BirdLife in the UK) are reminding delegates that at least 37 species of seabird are at risk from these fisheries. Indeed, 18 of these species are albatrosses facing extinction. Getting caught in fishing gear is the greatest single threat that some of these seabirds face. BirdLife International and the RSPB hope that talks - organised by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) - will agree measures to prevent the deaths of these seabirds in the Mediterranean and Atlantic. In tuna and swordfish fisheries, albatrosses and other seabirds die on the end of longline hooks in unsustainable numbers and, for many species, this is their greatest extinction threat. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/11/iccat_albatross.html Subject: North Pacific Albatrosses added to ACAP From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 16:25:42 -0800 (PST) North Pacific Albatrosses added to ACAP 06-11-2009 The Parties to the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) have added the three North Pacific species of albatross, Short-tailed Albatross Phoebastria albatrus, Laysan Albatross Phoebastria immutabilis and Black-footed Albatross Phoebastria nigripes to Annex 1 of the Agreement. ACAP is a legally binding international treaty which requires signatory governments to take action to reduce albatross and petrel bycatch in fisheries, and to protect breeding colonies. Annex 1, which lists the species covered by the agreement, previously included only albatross species occurring in the southern hemisphere, together with seven southern hemisphere petrel species. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/11/acap_species.html Subject: IBA Caretaker network established in Latvia From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 16:03:21 -0800 (PST) IBA Caretaker network established in Latvia 05-11-2009 LOB (BirdLife in Latvia) recently completed a two-year project to establish a network of volunteer Caretakers at Important Bird Areas (IBAs) across the country, and to create an online database for nature observations. Important Bird Areas (IBAs) form a worldwide network of sites for the conservation of birds. When complete, this global network is likely to comprise around 15,000 IBAs covering some 10 million km2 (c.7% of the world’s land surface) identified on the basis of about 40% of the world’s bird species. The effective conservation of these sites will contribute substantially to the protection of the world's biological diversity. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/11/latvia_iba.html Subject: Latest news from BirdLife International From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 16:37:16 -0800 (PST) Apologies for not sending anything out to the list lately. Been busy with work, family, and dealing with a broken computer. Back online, and slowly working on getting caught up on everything! In the meantime, here is a list of the most recent news releases from BirdLife International…. The future of Europe’s seabirds is in your hands, Commissioner http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/09/seabirds.html Deathly owl scares Zimbabwean family http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/09/zimbabwean_owl.html Triple helping of good news for Jerdon's Courser http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/09/jerdons_courser.html The first Portuguese Marine IBA inventory published http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/10/spea_marine.html Thousands say goodbye to migratory birds http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/10/eurobirdwatch.html Dr Nigel Collar nominated for the 2010 Indianapolis Prize http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/10/nigel_collar_award.html Solving the mysteries of migratory bird declines http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/10/migratory_bird_decline_project.html Lake Nakuru becomes Africa's first IBA-branded National Park http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/10/lake_nakuru_iba.html BirdLife embraces online advertising to fund conservation http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/10/advertising_goes_live.html Albatross-cam captures amazing images http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/10/albatross_cameras.html Global population of Gurney's Pitta far greater than previously estimated http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/10/gurneys_pitta.html Albatrosses, birds of legend http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/10/lpo_albatross.html Via Baltica - Another landmark victory for Poland's nature http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/10/via_baltica.html Australia's IBAs provide the first nationwide conservation blueprint http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/10/australia_ibas.html Translating biodiversity monitoring into action http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/10/uganda_workshop.html Natron community vows to protect the lake and its flamingos http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/10/natron_community.html Endemics thrive on Timor-Leste's "Lost World" mountain http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/10/timor_lost_world.html Princess Eleonora's falcons leave for Africa http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/10/eleonora_falcon.html Presidents further their commitment to peace, cooperation and fighting climate change. http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/10/peace_park_west_africa.html Extinction crisis continues apace http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/11/iucn_red_list.html Conserving Argentina http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/11/conservar_la_argentina.html Regards, Jeremy ______________________________________________ "We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors; we borrow it from our Children." ~Native American proverb Answer my Earth Survey questionnaire at http://tinyurl.com/nx4ng7 Earth Survey Project http://earthsurvey.blogspot.com Project Facebook group http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=34705684632 Jeremy's website http://jeremyjtaylor.tripod.com Jeremy - Facebook http://www.facebook.com/jeremyjtaylor Jeremy's Photography http://jeremyjtaylor.shutterfly.com/ Subject: Madagascar NGOs unite against plunder of natural resources From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:02:28 -0700 (PDT) Madagascar NGOs unite against plunder of natural resources 23-09-2009 Asity Madagascar (BirdLife in Madagascar) has joined a group of Malagasy civil society organisations, Voahary Gasy, calling for an end to the plundering of natural resources in the national parks of north-east Madagascar. Following the change of government in March this year, all but essential humanitarian aid has been withdrawn by the international community, leaving Madagascar's national park and forestry services with little or no funding. Loggers have moved into the protected areas, stripping the forests of valuable hardwoods such as rosewood, ebony and mahogany. They work for influential business people who are in possession of illegal but "official" documentation permitting them to export these hardwoods. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/09/madagascar.html Subject: Hunting: an extinction threat to Middle East's most threatened bird From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:01:53 -0700 (PDT) Hunting: an extinction threat to Middle East's most threatened bird 25-09-2009 Conservationists trying to prevent the extinction of Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita are distraught that one of the last remaining wild birds in the Middle East has been shot by a hunter in Saudi Arabia, bringing the known wild Middle Eastern population of this Critically Endangered species to just four individuals. Formerly, the range of this species extended across parts of southern and central Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. It even features in the hieroglyphs of Ancient Egypt. Following a huge population and range decline, the bulk of the wild population of 210 birds now occurs in Morocco, but a tiny population was rediscovered in 2002, in Syria. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/09/nbi_shooting.html Subject: BirdLife welcomes ECJ decision on spring hunting in Malta From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:05:30 -0700 (PDT) BirdLife welcomes ECJ decision on spring hunting in Malta 14-09-2009 In a verdict delivered on 10 September, the European Court of Justice (ECJ, case C-76/08) declared that Malta has breached European law by allowing spring hunting of Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur and Common Quail Coturnix coturnix in the years 2004-2007. BirdLife International and BirdLife Malta welcomed the ruling as it shows that this practice jeopardizes the conservation of these species, which have been classified by BirdLife as being in unfavourable conservation status in Europe. As a consequence, BirdLife concludes spring hunting has to end permanently. Hunting in autumn can continue for these and 30 other species in Malta, under certain conditions laid out in the EU Birds Directive. BirdLife International and BirdLife Malta had submitted a complaint to the European Commission on Malta’s insistence on spring hunting in 2005. “This ruling is good news for millions of European birds, including Turtle Dove and Quail that cross Malta every spring on their dangerous migration back from Africa. Once again we have an example how the EU Birds Directive can help our common natural heritage”, said Konstantin Kreiser, EU Policy Manager at BirdLife International in Brussels. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/09/malta_ruling.html Subject: Fiji Petrel found at sea – pungent fish attracts “lost” species From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:09:03 -0700 (PDT) Fiji Petrel found at sea – pungent fish attracts “lost” species 11-09-2009 An expedition to find the Critically Endangered Fiji Petrel Pseudobulweria macgillivrayi at sea has been successful, returning with stunning images and new information on one of the world’s least-known seabirds. The expedition was partially financed by a grant from the BirdLife Preventing Extinctions Programme and its official sponsor, the British Birdwatching Fair. The team included members of NatureFiji-MareqetiViti, the BirdLife Species Guardian for Fiji Petrel. Known from just one specimen collected in 1855 on Gau Island, Fiji, the Fiji Petrel was lost for the next 130 years. Since 1984 there have been a handful of reports of “grounded” birds that had crashed onto village roofs on Gau. Until now there had been no confirmed sightings of the seabird at sea. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/09/fiji_petrel_discovery.html Subject: Spring collection debut for Araripe mannequin! From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:56:52 -0700 (PDT) Spring collection debut for Araripe mannequin! 10-09-2009 At the launch of Maria Elvira Crosara’s Spring 2010 collection at Anunciação on Oscar Freire Street, São Paulo, the most celebrated street for luxury shopping in Brazil, the Araripe Manakin will take its place alongside the fashion mannequins. The Critically Endangered Araripe Manakin Antilophia bokermanni is one of two bird designs, supplied by Barcelona-based Colombian artist Catalina Estrada, which feature in the collection. A percentage of sales of selected T-shirts featuring the manakin, and the Blue-crowned Motmot Momotus momota, will go to support the work of BirdLife Partner SAVE Brasil. “This is our first cause-related marketing campaign and we are very excited about it”, said Priscila Napoli, SAVE Brasil’s Manager of Institutional Development. “As well as raising money, each garment will come with a tag describing the species, and another tag with information about SAVE Brasil, so this will raise awareness both about our work, and about the importance of Brazilian birds.” Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/09/araripe_mannequin.html Subject: SAVE Brasil launches conservation corridor project at Boa Nova From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 17:38:22 -0700 (PDT) SAVE Brasil launches conservation corridor project at Boa Nova 08-09-2009 SAVE Brasil has launched the project Boa nova para a natureza for the implementation of the Serra da Ouricana ecological corridor, in Bahia, Brazil. The work is supported by the Brazilian Ministry of the Environment, through its Ecological Corridors Project, and the German Bank KFW. Boa nova para a natureza means “good news for nature”, and Boa Nova is also the name of the main city in the project area. The region of Boa Nova, located in the Serra da Ouricana, south west Bahia, has a unique flora and fauna because of the overlap of two biomes: lush montane Atlantic Forest, and semi-arid caatinga. The dry deciduous forest of the transitional area, known as mata-de-cipó, is the habitat of two restricted range species, the Endangered Slender Antbird Rhopornis ardesiacus and Near Threatened Narrow-billed Antwren Formicivora iheringi. More than 350 bird species have been recorded at Boa Nova, ten of them globally threatened. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/09/boa_nova.html Subject: Go birdwatching with BirdLife in Latvia! From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 12:00:18 -0700 (PDT) Go birdwatching with BirdLife in Latvia! 02-09-2009 LOB (BirdLife in Latvia) has established 'Motacilla', a new company aimed at promoting and developing birdwatching tourism in Latvia. The name comes from Motacilla alba, the scientific name for Pied Wagtail, the national Latvian bird and symbol of LOB. The company will also sell bird-related products and in the future will organise educational trips and conferences. As part of LOB, the income from 'Motacilla's’ activities will fund research and bird protection activities in Latvia. Ilze Vilskerste, Director of 'Motacilla', explains that she thought about establishing such a company during the BirdLife World Conference she attended in Buenos Aires last year, where she was impressed by the projects of the Argentine ‘Seriema Nature Tours’. “It is amazing to see how new and great ideas start when there is the opportunity to exchange experiences with similar organisations engaged in the same field of work”, she commented. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/09/latvia_motacilla.html Subject: Middle East trainers take the flyways approach home with them From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 07:02:53 -0700 (PDT) Middle East trainers take the flyways approach home with them 01-09-2009 The first training course aimed at spreading the flyways approach to the conservation of waterbirds and wetlands across an entire region has taken place in Amman, Jordan. The regional “training of trainers” (ToT) workshop was conducted by the BirdLife International Middle East Secretariat, in its capacity as the Regional Centre for the Wings Over Wetlands (WOW) Project, in partnership with the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (BirdLife in Jordan). A group of trainers from ten countries across the region learned how to train others effectively, and to bring flyway conservation into the mainstream of their countries’ conservation planning. Fifteen people from Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Oman, Yemen, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the Palestinian territories and Qatar took part, representing governmental organisations and civil society organisations, and led by the BirdLife Partners and network organisations in these countries. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/09/wow_tot.html Subject: International Vulture Awareness Day From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:00:23 -0700 (PDT) International Vulture Awareness Day Vultures are an ecologically vital group of birds that face a range of threats in many areas that they occur. Populations of many species are under pressure and some species are facing extinction. The International Vulture Awareness Day has grown from Vulture Awareness Days run by the Birds of Prey Working Group in South Africa and the Hawk Conservancy Trust in England, who decided to work together and expand the initiative into an international event. It is now recognised that a co—ordinated international day will publicise the conservation of vultures to a wider audience and highlight the important work being carried out by the world’s vulture conservationists. On September 5th 2009, the aim is for each participating organisation to carry out their own activities that highlight vulture conservation and awareness. This website, established in July 2009, provides a central place for all participants to outline these activities and see the extent of vulture conservation across the world More information available at http://www.ivad09.org/ Subject: Lake Natron faces renewed threat from soda-ash mining From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:49:33 -0700 (PDT) Lake Natron faces renewed threat from soda-ash mining 26-08-2009 BirdLife has learnt that a Tanzanian Government Agency is seeking to buy mining equipment for large-scale soda ash extraction from Lake Natron – the most important breeding site for Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor [Near Threatened] in the world. “This is worrying indeed”, said Lota Melamari - the CEO of Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania (WCST-BirdLife in Tanzania). “An advert for the supply of mining equipment, and a recent announcement of the expansion of the railway and building of new port at Tanga to handle soda ash all point to deliberate efforts to keep alive the intention of mining Lake Natron's soda ash", added Lota Melamari. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/08/think_pink.html Subject: Malta: the return of 'common' birds From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:32:06 -0700 (PDT) Malta: the return of 'common' birds 25-08-2009 A new report released by BirdLife Malta (BirdLife in Malta) highlighted how 2009 has been a remarkable year for breeding birds in Malta. The results of the ‘2009 Rare Breeding Bird Report’ showed that nine rare breeding species, most of which are relatively common in other countries, increased their overall distribution in the Maltese islands compared to 2008, with a further four species recorded breeding in 2009 but not recorded last year. The highlights of the study were the first confirmed breeding records of two pairs of Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus in 15 years and the colonisation of Malta by a species new to the island – Pallid Swift Apus pallidus. The first confirmed breeding record of a pair of Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea in almost 100 years and only the fourth confirmed breeding record of a pair of Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus were other important breeding records. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/08/malta_rare_bird.html Subject: Quest launched to find 'lost' birds From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:11:48 -0700 (PDT) Quest launched to find 'lost' birds 21-08-2009 BirdLife International is launching a global bid to try to confirm the continued existence of 47 species of bird that have not been seen for up to 184 years. The list of potentially lost birds is a tantalising mix of species ranging from some inhabiting the least visited places on earth - such as remote islands and the western Himalayas – to those occurring in parts of Europe and the United States. "The mention of species such as Ivory-billed Woodpecker, Jamaican Petrel, Hooded Seedeater, Himalayan Quail, and Pink-headed Duck will set scientists' pulses racing. Some of these species haven’t been seen by any living person, but birdwatchers around the world still dream of rediscovering these long lost ghosts", said Marco Lambertini, BirdLife International's chief executive. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/08/lost_and_found.html Subject: Tribal effort to fix broken world hinges on condor From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 18:43:43 -0700 (PDT) Tribal effort to fix broken world hinges on condor By JEFF BARNARD (AP) – Aug 15, 2009 ORICK, Calif. — The tribes of the lower Klamath River have since ancient times decorated themselves with condor feathers when they performed the dances designed to heal a world gone wrong. "It can soar the highest, so we figured that was the one to get our prayers to heaven when we were asking for the world to be in balance," said Richard Myers, a member of the Yurok Tribal Council and a leader in the revival of the tribe's world renewal ceremonies. Now the Yurok Tribe is using modern science in hopes of restoring condors, which have not soared above the northern coast of California since 1914. If they establish that condors can survive here, and get federal permission to introduce birds from a captive breeding program, it would be the first restoration of condors in the northern half of its historic range, and a stepping stone to condors soaring over Oregon and Washington. Lewis and Clark collected some as they trekked down the Columbia River. Full story at http://tinyurl.com/mq3mo2 Subject: Exxon Mobil Pleads Guilty to Killing Migratory Birds From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 18:42:57 -0700 (PDT) Exxon Mobil Pleads Guilty to Killing Migratory Birds By JENNIFER KOONS of Greenwire Published: August 13, 2009 This story was updated at 12:27 p.m. EDT. Exxon Mobil Corp. pleaded guilty in federal court in Denver to killing at least 85 protected waterfowl, hawks and owls in five states over the past five years, the Department of Justice announced today. The birds died from exposure to natural gas well reserve pits and waste water storage facilities at Exxon Mobil drilling and production facilities in Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming between 2004 and 2009. Under the plea agreement reached yesterday with DOJ, the company will pay $600,000, as well as make changes to prevent related deaths in the future. Exxon told the court it has already spent $2.5 million on the effort. Full story at http://tinyurl.com/m8kl9d Subject: Endangered Piping Plover Chicks Make History From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:51:41 -0700 (PDT) Endangered Piping Plover Chicks Make History Three tiny chicks, rescued before hatching from the first piping plover nest found in Illinois in 30 years, were released August 7, 2009, at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan, representing new hope for the recovery of this endangered shorebird.. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources confirmed that a pair of piping plovers constructed a nest and tended four eggs this summer on a remote stretch of Lake Michigan shoreline in northern Illinois. This is the first piping plover nest found in Illinois since 1979. Full story at http://tinyurl.com/mdv34k Subject: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Announces Proposal to List Seven Foreign Bird Species as Endangered under Endangered Species Act From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:50:50 -0700 (PDT) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Announces Proposal to List Seven Foreign Bird Species as Endangered under Endangered Species Act The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a proposal to protect seven Brazilian bird species as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). If made final, the measure would extend ESA protection to these species. The decision by the Service was published in today’s Federal Register. Addition of a foreign species to the federal list of threatened and endangered species places restrictions on the importation of either the animal or its parts. Listing also serves to heighten awareness of the importance of conserving these species among foreign governments, conservation organizations and the public. The seven species are all native to the Atlantic Forest and neighboring regions of southeastern Brazil and include the black-hooded antwren, Brazilian merganser, cherry-throated tanager, fringe-backed fire-eye, Kaempfer’s tody-tyrant, Margaretta’s hermit, and southeastern rufous-vented ground-cuckoo. Full story at http://tinyurl.com/ldroau Subject: Link shared by jeremyjtaylor@yahoo.com From: jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:45:42 -0400 http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/JustOneThing/story?id=8293261&page=1 [Message sent by jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com via AddThis.com.] Subject: DOPPS – BirdLife Slovenia praised for Corncrake project From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2009 20:35:37 -0700 (PDT) DOPPS – BirdLife Slovenia praised for Corncrake project 07-08-2009 The LIFE Nature project for the long–term conservation of Corncrake Crex crex in Slovenia has been evaluated by the European Commission as one of the 26 Best LIFE Nature projects in 2007-2008. This project is of particular importance as DOPPS' data showed that the species has been declining since 2002. The project activities were conducted in three main Corncrake Natura 2000 areas in Slovenia including Ljubljansko barje, the main breeding area for Corncrakes, Cerknica lake and Nanoščica river basin, as in these areas its declining was particularly evident. "Our LIFE project has finally opened some concrete discussions on the future of the agriculture policy in Natura 2000 sites in Slovenia", said Andrej Medved, Project manager and Director of DOPPS- BirdLife Slovenia. Natura 2000 is an ecological network of protected areas in the territory of the European Union. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/08/slovenia_award.html Subject: New nestlings bring cautious hope for Asia's Threatened vultures From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2009 20:34:45 -0700 (PDT) New nestlings bring cautious hope for Asia's Threatened vultures 06-08-2009 The Critically Endangered Slender-billed Vulture Gyps tenuirostris has been successfully bred in captivity for the first time, raising hopes that captive breeding has the potential to save this and other Critically Endangered Asian vultures. Two Slender-billed Vultures - which are rarer and more threatened in India than the tiger - have been reared at dedicated breeding centres in India, along with three White-rumped Vultures Gyps bengalensis (another Critically Endangered species). It is estimated that only 1,000 Slender-billed Vultures remain in the wild and their population is decreasing dramatically every year. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/08/vulture_success.html Subject: Preachers and teachers help conserve Turkish wetland From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 5 Aug 2009 17:02:06 -0700 (PDT) Preachers and teachers help conserve Turkish wetland 03-08-2009 Lake Burdur is internationally important for wintering and passage waterbirds, and has been threatened in recent years by pollution, urban development and unsustainable agricultural practices. In response, Doğa Derneği - the BirdLife Partner Designate for Turkey - recently drafted a sermon to educate the local community of Burdur on the importance of conserving their lake. “…Water is one of the countless blessings and a source of life for us, as well as for all of Earth’s creatures”, said Burdur’s Provincial Mufti. “A world without it would be very terrifying and we should be grateful for being blessed with water. We should especially learn appropriate irrigation techniques and farming practices in line with our soil characteristics and implement them wisely”. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/08/wow_lake_burder.html Subject: New 'bald' bird discovered From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:21:15 -0700 (PDT) New 'bald' bird discovered 30-07-2009 An odd songbird with a bald head living in a rugged region in Laos has been discovered by scientists from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the University of Melbourne, as part of a project funded and managed by the mining company MMG (Minerals and Metals Group). The species has been named Bare-faced Bulbul Pycnonotus hualon because of the lack of feathers on its face and part of its head, it is the only example of a bald songbird in mainland Asia. It is the first new species of bulbul – a family of about 130 species – described in Asia in over 100 years. A description of the new species has been published in the July issue of Forktail, the journal of the Oriental Bird Club. "This is exciting news and a great discovery", said Dr Lincoln Fishpool, BirdLife's Global Important Bird Areas Coordinator. "It highlights the importance of this region for birds and biodiversity." Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/07/new_bulbul.html Subject: New 'bald' bird discovered From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:21:15 -0700 (PDT) New 'bald' bird discovered 30-07-2009 An odd songbird with a bald head living in a rugged region in Laos has been discovered by scientists from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the University of Melbourne, as part of a project funded and managed by the mining company MMG (Minerals and Metals Group). The species has been named Bare-faced Bulbul Pycnonotus hualon because of the lack of feathers on its face and part of its head, it is the only example of a bald songbird in mainland Asia. It is the first new species of bulbul – a family of about 130 species – described in Asia in over 100 years. A description of the new species has been published in the July issue of Forktail, the journal of the Oriental Bird Club. "This is exciting news and a great discovery", said Dr Lincoln Fishpool, BirdLife's Global Important Bird Areas Coordinator. "It highlights the importance of this region for birds and biodiversity." Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/07/new_bulbul.html Subject: New guidelines bring hope for world's seabirds From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:24:37 -0700 (PDT) New guidelines bring hope for world's seabirds 27-07-2009 BirdLife has taken a major step towards the identification of Marine Important Bird Areas (mIBAs) for seabirds around the globe. “We now have agreed guidelines which can be used to track seabirds and analyse the data to identify Marine IBAs for any seabird species”, said Ben Lascelles – BirdLife’s Global Marine IBA officer. The world’s oceans are seriously under-protected. Just 0.65% of the global ocean is within protected area systems, and most of that is within the first miles of the shore. As a result, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the World Summit on Sustainable Development set a target to establish a globally representative network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) by 2012. However, the IUCN estimates that unless progress is accelerated, this goal will not be met until 2060 - half a century late. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/07/marine_iba_guidelines.html Subject: Earth Survey Project - Update From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:49:37 -0700 (PDT) Hello, For those of you who are interested, I wanted to give you a brief update about my Earth Survey project. To date I have gotten back more than 500 responses to my questionnaire, which I am continuing to post on my blog for now, although at some point I would like to do something more with the results, such as a book or documentary. I continue to accept results, as this is basically an on-going project, and to help make it easier for people to participate, I have created an online version of the survey. For anyone who has not taken part and would like to, you can submit your answers to my questionnaire at http://tinyurl.com/nx4ng7 I am hoping that by making the survey available online, I will greatly increase participation in the project, which I have been working on for more than 3 years now. Feel free to forward this to others who you think might be interested. I am really interested in getting responses from a wide cross-section of society, and am interested in the interactions between society/culture, religion, and nature/the environment. Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions or comments you would like to share, and I would welcome your responses to my questionnaire if you have not already taken part. Thanks, Jeremy ______________________________________________ "We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors; we borrow it from our Children." ~Native American proverb Answer my Earth Survey questionnaire at http://tinyurl.com/nx4ng7 Earth Survey Project http://earthsurvey.blogspot.com Project Facebook group http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=34705684632 Jeremy's website http://jeremyjtaylor.tripod.com Jeremy - Facebook http://www.facebook.com/jeremyjtaylor Jeremy's Photography http://jeremyjtaylor.shutterfly.com/ Subject: Earth Survey Project - Update From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:49:37 -0700 (PDT) Hello, For those of you who are interested, I wanted to give you a brief update about my Earth Survey project. To date I have gotten back more than 500 responses to my questionnaire, which I am continuing to post on my blog for now, although at some point I would like to do something more with the results, such as a book or documentary. I continue to accept results, as this is basically an on-going project, and to help make it easier for people to participate, I have created an online version of the survey. For anyone who has not taken part and would like to, you can submit your answers to my questionnaire at http://tinyurl.com/nx4ng7 I am hoping that by making the survey available online, I will greatly increase participation in the project, which I have been working on for more than 3 years now. Feel free to forward this to others who you think might be interested. I am really interested in getting responses from a wide cross-section of society, and am interested in the interactions between society/culture, religion, and nature/the environment. Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions or comments you would like to share, and I would welcome your responses to my questionnaire if you have not already taken part. Thanks, Jeremy ______________________________________________ "We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors; we borrow it from our Children." ~Native American proverb Answer my Earth Survey questionnaire at http://tinyurl.com/nx4ng7 Earth Survey Project http://earthsurvey.blogspot.com Project Facebook group http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=34705684632 Jeremy's website http://jeremyjtaylor.tripod.com Jeremy - Facebook http://www.facebook.com/jeremyjtaylor Jeremy's Photography http://jeremyjtaylor.shutterfly.com/ Subject: Earth Survey Project - Update From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:49:37 -0700 (PDT) Hello, For those of you who are interested, I wanted to give you a brief update about my Earth Survey project. To date I have gotten back more than 500 responses to my questionnaire, which I am continuing to post on my blog for now, although at some point I would like to do something more with the results, such as a book or documentary. I continue to accept results, as this is basically an on-going project, and to help make it easier for people to participate, I have created an online version of the survey. For anyone who has not taken part and would like to, you can submit your answers to my questionnaire at http://tinyurl.com/nx4ng7 I am hoping that by making the survey available online, I will greatly increase participation in the project, which I have been working on for more than 3 years now. Feel free to forward this to others who you think might be interested. I am really interested in getting responses from a wide cross-section of society, and am interested in the interactions between society/culture, religion, and nature/the environment. Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions or comments you would like to share, and I would welcome your responses to my questionnaire if you have not already taken part. Thanks, Jeremy ______________________________________________ "We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors; we borrow it from our Children." ~Native American proverb Answer my Earth Survey questionnaire at http://tinyurl.com/nx4ng7 Earth Survey Project http://earthsurvey.blogspot.com Project Facebook group http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=34705684632 Jeremy's website http://jeremyjtaylor.tripod.com Jeremy - Facebook http://www.facebook.com/jeremyjtaylor Jeremy's Photography http://jeremyjtaylor.shutterfly.com/ Subject: Northern Bald Ibis gets Royal Support From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 07:58:23 -0700 (PDT) Northern Bald Ibis gets Royal Support 22-07-2009 One of the rarest birds in North Africa and the Middle East has received a conservation boost from the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. Once revered by the Egyptian Pharaohs, Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita has become extinct in the majority of its former range in North Africa, the European Alps and the Middle East, and is now listed as Critically Endangered the highest threat level of extinction. However, ongoing conservation efforts will now benefit from a three year grant from the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. During a visit to Monaco, BirdLife Honorary President HIH Princess Takamado of Japan offered HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco the title of BirdLife Species Champion for the Northern Bald Ibis. This is a special recognition that BirdLife grants to individuals, companies or foundations that significantly support targeted conservation efforts for threatened species under the BirdLife Preventing Extinction Programme. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/07/nbi_champion.html Subject: Lures ensure more murres... From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:19:34 -0700 (PDT) Lures ensure more murres... 20-07-2009 For the first time in more than a century, a Common Guillemot Uria aalge - also known as Common Murre - egg has been discovered south of the Canadian border on the east coast of the United States. The egg boosts hopes for the success of valiant efforts to restore the species. "We are absolutely elated”, said Dr Stephen Kress - Director of Audubon’s (BirdLife in the U.S.) Seabird Restoration Program. “The return of the Common Murre to its long-lost nesting grounds shows that conservation works – even against great odds". The egg was discovered by a volunteer working for Audubon’s Seabird Restoration program on Matinicus Rock, one of 50 islands in Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge. It marks marks the first time since 1883 that the species, which spends most of its life at sea, has nested south of the Canadian border on east coast of the United States. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/07/guillemot_egg.html ______________________________________________ "We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors; we borrow it from our Children." ~Native American proverb Answer my Earth Survey questionnaire at http://tinyurl.com/nx4ng7 Earth Survey Project http://earthsurvey.blogspot.com Project Facebook group http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=34705684632 Jeremy's website http://jeremyjtaylor.tripod.com Jeremy - Facebook http://www.facebook.com/jeremyjtaylor Jeremy's Photography http://jeremyjtaylor.shutterfly.com/ Subject: Have your say - BirdLife needs your views... From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:11:52 -0700 (PDT) Have your say - BirdLife needs your views... 17-07-2009 BirdLife’s website is visited by over a million people every year, and is a fantastic resource for anybody interested in global conservation issues. “We’re now looking to improve our website and are asking people to use three minutes of their day to influence a global conservation partnership, and tell us what they think of our site”, announced Ade Long – BirdLife’s Head of Communications. We’re looking to hear from anybody who’s been to BirdLife.org – whether it’s your first time to our site or if you’re a regular visitor. “We’re giving people the opportunity to have their say, and let us know what they like and dislike about our site”, added Ade. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/07/survey.html ______________________________________________ "We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors; we borrow it from our Children." ~Native American proverb Earth Survey Project http://earthsurvey.blogspot.com Project Facebook group http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=34705684632 Jeremy's website http://jeremyjtaylor.tripod.com Jeremy - Facebook http://www.facebook.com/jeremyjtaylor Jeremy's Photography http://jeremyjtaylor.shutterfly.com/ Amazon store http://jeremyjtaylor.tripod.com/amazon.html Cafe Press store http://www.cafepress.com/jeremy775 Subject: Mainland China IBA directory is published – in Chinese From: Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:32:45 -0700 (PDT) Mainland China IBA directory is published – in Chinese 16-07-2009 A revised and enlarged directory of Important Bird Areas in China has been launched at the Society of Conservation Biology meeting in Beijing. Published in Chinese, with English summaries, the directory describes 512 sites covering a total of 1,185,543 km2 (12.4% of the land area) of China’s mainland, and a further 56 sites in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. With an area comparable to the whole of Europe, China has an amazing variety of habitats and biodiversity. More than 1,300 bird species have been recorded, in nine distinct bioregions. Of the 49 Endemic Bird Areas which BirdLife has identified in Asia, 14 are in China. Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/07/china_ibas.html