Joe Tobias www.rarebirdsyearbook.com Photo of the month - Blue-throated Macaw - found in the Norte de Trinidad IBA (Bolivia) Zoom In | Hi-Res

BirdLife News Round-up: June 2008

02-07-2008

Keeping our ‘sites’ on the goal…

What’s the best way to save a species? Should we target conservation at individual sites, or perhaps use a much broader approach - taking action at the landscape or seascape scale? Last month we reported that for 99% of Globally Threatened Birds, safeguarding Important Bird Areas (IBAs) is a key part of the solution (Saving the world's most threatened birds...)

BirdLife International’s IBA programme is a worldwide initiative aimed at identifying and protecting a network of critical sites for the conservation of the world's birds. At present there are just fewer than 10,000 IBAs. When complete, the IBA network is likely to cover around 7% of the world’s land surface.

It was great to hear, therefore, that Maine Audubon has identified 22 new IBAs (An eye for the Maine chance). “By identifying the most crucial areas, the IBA programme helps us focus our conservation efforts where we can have the greatest impact”, said Susan Gallo from Maine Audubon.

Illustrating their role in Africa - two Ethiopian IBAs account for over 65% of the known global population of Endangered White-winged Flufftails. We heard how successful flufftail conservation action involving local communities and Site Support Groups is to be extended (Action Plan for White-winged Flufftail must address migration question). Working with local communities is often central to our conservation success, and SAVE Brasil (BirdLife in Brazil) recently held a ceremony to acknowledge the huge contribution made by landowners to the conservation of the Boa Nova IBA (SAVE Brasil thanks the landowners who are helping save Boa Nova).

In order to identify IBAs, data contributions are made by ornithologists, birdwatchers and conservation experts from around the world. A recent workshop in Burkina Faso outlined how data play a highly influential role in underpinning the conservation and management of IBAs (Data management for successful biodiversity monitoring in Africa).

Data also help scientists understand where species go. It was a great shock to a Maori hunter in New Zealand who found a small electronic tag which had been fitted to a salmon by US scientists. A Sooty Shearwater must have eaten the fish and flown over 10,000 km with the tag in its stomach (Fish tag flies from Oregon to New Zealand)!

“The epic journeys undertaken by Sooty Shearwaters illustrates how conserving seabirds is an international challenge”, commented Ben Lascelles - BirdLife’s Marine IBA Research Officer. He added that “marine IBAs will make a vital contribution to current global initiatives to gain greater protection and sustainable management of the oceans”.

One of the greatest threats to seabirds – especially Vulnerable albatross and petrel species – is longline fishing. At the beginning of June the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission took a major step forward for seabird conservation by adopting measures to reduce bycatch (Indian ocean seabirds get thrown a lifeline).

Invasive species pose another threat to seabirds – especially at breeding sites. Thankfully BirdLife has a former All Black captain to help out. Rugby star Anton Oliver is currently working with BirdLife in Fiji's outlying Ringgold Islands, helping local people to conserve important seabird nesting sites against Pacific Rats (All Blacks -1 : BirdLife +1).

Sadly, the Kenyan government approved a proposal to turn 20,000 hectares of the pristine Tana River Delta IBA into irrigated sugarcane plantations. Conservationists and villagers living in the Delta, which provides refuge for 350 species of bird, lions, elephants, rare sharks and reptiles, believe the decision is illegal and are determined to block the development. If you wish to help please visit the bottom of our news story (Kenyan Government grants the destruction of Tana’s birds, biodiversity and livelihoods).