Reasons to be cheerful

Last month we reported conservation successes which give us all huge hope. Highlighting that conservation is not just urgently needed and effective – it’s fundamental to a sustainable future for people and for wildlife.

The big species news in July just kept coming. We reported how conservationists from the BirdLife International Cambodia Programme and University of East Anglia (UEA), UK, have counted the largest number of White-shouldered Ibis Pseudibis davisoni ever recorded (Largest ever count of White-shouldered Ibis). We also covered the story that a species new to science has been discovered living in a rugged region of Laos. The bizarre-looking bird – named the Bare-faced Bulbul Pycnonotus hualon - is the only example of a bald songbird in mainland Asia (New 'bald' bird discovered).

In Colombia, the Conservation Leadership Programme – Chicamocha project - finalised the purchase of 1,300 hectares of dry forest habitat which will help to protect the Critically Endangered Niceforo's Wren Thryothorus nicefori. Whilst on Socotra, the alien invasive House Crow Corvus splendens has been successfully eradicated - removing the risk posed by crows to native fauna on the Yemeni island (BirdLife News-Byte #13).

It was also great to read that the first Common Guillemot Uria aalge egg has been discovered south of the Canadian border on the east coast of the United States for more than 100 years. The egg was discovered by a volunteer working for Audubon’s (BirdLife in the US) Seabird Restoration program (Lures ensure more murres...).

BirdLife’s work to save seabirds also continued apace in July. Our Global Seabird Programme received renewed support from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation the Partnership to extend our invasive species eradication programme to an additional 19 important seabird islands in the Pacific (News in Brief #14). We also took a major step towards the identification of Marine Important Bird Areas for seabirds around the globe with the production of new guidelines to track and analyse seabird data (New guidelines bring hope for world’s seabirds). Furthermore, where our simple bycatch mitigation measures are being used in South America, the results are already impressive:

·          In the south of Chile, the incidental capture of seabirds was reduced from over 1,500 birds in one year to zero through the adoption of modified fishing gear.

·          In Argentina the use of mitigation in the trawl fishery has shown that it is possible to reduce seabird mortality to close to zero.

·          In Brazil the voluntary adoption of simple bird-scaring lines has helped reduce incidental capture of seabirds by 56%.

BirdLife’s Spring Alive campaign celebrated the success recieveing 94,000 sightings from children of migratory birds. At an event attended by HIH Princess Takamado of Japan, BirdLife’s Honorary President, we also revealed how next year the Spring Alive campaign will reach children and their families not only in Europe but also in Africa (HIH. Princess Takamado of Japan celebrates BirdLife’s Spring Alive campaign).

The BirdLife Preventing Extinctions Programme also received royal support last month. 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 Critically Endangered Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita. “I am delighted to support BirdLife’s conservation efforts for this iconic and Critically Endangered species, and am honoured to be their Species Champion”, said the Prince (Northern Bald Ibis gets Royal Support).

Following the recent discovery of what is thought to be the largest extent of medium-altitude moist forest in southern Africa, at Mount Mabu in Mozambique, the Mozambican government is to establish a National Programme for the Conservation of Montane Ecosystems, Coastal Forests and other habitats (News in Brief #14). Great news for forest conservation in the country.

Finally, congratulations must go to BirdLife Africa Secretariat staff in Nairobi (Kenya) for recently being presented with the ‘100 Years for Nature’ conservation award from NatureUganda (BirdLife Partner; News in Brief #14).