Denis Cachia A European Robin, ringed in Russia and weighing just a few grams, traveled over 2200 km to spend the winter in Malta. Zoom In

News in Brief

02-12-2009

Stories in this News in Brief: Remarkable Robins land in Malta; Langebaan Lagoon saved from port expansion project; Ferruginous Ducks migrating south; Dwarf Olive Ibis nest found; Future conservationists out to raise money; Ethiopia to join AEWA and CMS

Remarkable Robins land in Malta - Scientists working as part of BirdLife Malta’s (BirdLife Partner) ringing scheme recently captured two remarkable European Robins Erithacus rubecula. One bird had flown 1100 km from the Czech Republic in just 27 days, whereas the other bird had travelled 2200 km from Russia within 42 days. The birds were identified from the uniquely numbered rings that were attached to their legs. After the rings were read, and scientific measurements taken, the birds were immediately released back into the wild. “This is an amazing feat for a 13 gram bird that must face the full power of the elements on an exhausting migratory journey”, said Mark Gauci, Head of BirdLife Malta’s Ringing Scheme. “These scientific records show once again the importance of Malta as one of the main migration routes taken by various bird species”. For more information, please click here.

Langebaan Lagoon saved from port expansion project - Two and a half years of intensive, high profile lobbying by BirdLife South Africa (BirdLife Partner) and its partners has saved the internationally important wetlands of Langebaan Lagoon and the Saldanha Bay area from a port development project. Langebaan Lagoon is an Important Bird Area (IBA) and Ramsar site, and regularly supports more than 34,500 waders. BirdLife South Africa worked with representatives of BirdLife West Coast and the Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve – with financial support from the RSPB (BirdLife in the UK) - to appeal to the Ramsar Secretariat, and lobby the media to raise the profile of the threat. "BirdLife South Africa’s successful lobbying for the proper management and protection of Langebaan Lagoon represents one small victory for the environment", said Carolyn Ah Shene-Verdoorn – BirdLife South Africa's Policy & Advocacy Division Manager. "However, the battle is far from over as the threats remain on the increase for our Important Bird Areas around the country". Find out more at: www.birdlife.org.za

Ferruginous Ducks migrating south - For the first time a huge flock of some 3,500 Ferruginous Ducks Aythya nyroca has been recorded in the Durankulak IBA, along the Black Sea Coast in Bulgaria. It is likely the Ducks are now migrating south, heading to their wintering sites along the Nile or in Sudan. For more information contact Nicky.Petkov@wetlands.org

Dwarf Olive Ibis nest found - Great news from Associação dos Biólogos Santomenses (ABS), the BirdLife Species Guardian for Dwarf Olive Ibis Bostrychia bocagei in São Tomé. Researcher, Hugulay Maia, leading a team of ABS members located an ibis nest with two eggs at a height of 8 m in primary forest. Although it was not possible to photograph the female, it was observed at the nest on the following day. ABS will continue to monitor the nest in the coming weeks and hopes to provide more detailed data on its breeding and nesting habits. The BirdLife Preventing Extinctions Programme is providing help and funding to this and more than 50 other threatened species. Find out more by clicking here.

Future conservationists out to raise money - Fourteen promising young Indonesian conservationists recently received a 5-day training in project proposal writing and fundraising. The training was provided by the Conservation Leadership Programme which helps young conservationists to achieve their goals and move into positions of influence within the conservation sector. “The training has been of tremendous help for me”, said Dwi Adhiasto, a delegate from the Wildife Conservation Socieity Indonesia. The training was facilitated by Maaike Manten from the BirdLife International Pacific Partnership Secretariat and Kiragu Mwangi from the Conservation Leadership Programme. “The destiny of the natural environment in the second most biodiverse country in the world will rely immensely on the focused and enthusiastic conservation leaders like these, and they need all the support they can get to develop winning project proposals”, said Kiragu Mwangi. For more information, please click here.