Andy Hultberg; www.rarebirdsyearbook.com This year's theme has a particular focus on migratory birds on the very edge of extinction. Zoom In

News in Brief

24-03-2010

Stories in this news in brief: World Migratory Bird Day focuses on globally threatened migratory birds; Forest & Bird reveals Government mining plans; The noose tightens: Carnaby's Black-Cockatoo; New WOW Publication Showcases 'Flyway Conservation at Work - Across Africa and Eurasia'

World Migratory Bird Day focuses on globally threatened migratory birds - This year's World Migratory Bird Day theme has been announced as: 'Save migratory birds in crisis - every species counts!' This years awareness-raising campaign will take place from 8-9 May 2010, and aims to inspire people to take action for the conservation of migratory birds. “This year’s theme aims to raise awareness on globally threatened migratory birds, with a particular focus on those on the very edge of extinction – the Critically Endangered migratory birds”, said Bert Lenten, Executive Secretary of the UNEP administered African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) and initiator of the World Migratory Bird Day campaign. “In line with the International Year of Biodiversity, the 2010 WMBD theme also highlights how migratory birds are part of the biological diversity of our world and how the threat of extinction faced by individual bird species is a reflection of the larger extinction crisis threatening other species and the natural diversity that underpins all life on earth”, added Lenten. To find out more, and to register your event, please click here. To read more about BirdLife's work on migratory birds, please click here.

Forest & Bird reveals Government mining plans - Forest & Bird (BirdLife in New Zealand) has uncovered Government plans to allow mining in 7000 hectares of high-value conservation land in the West Coast's Paparoa National Park, Great Barrier Island and the Coromandel Peninsula. Forest & Bird Advocacy Manager Kevin Hackwell says all the areas have outstanding ecological and landscape value, which is why they have been protected from mining. "We're not talking about gorse-covered hillsides with the odd tree in these areas. We are talking about rare native Hochstetter's Frogs, Endangered Brown Teal [Anas chlorotis], mature forest and pristine wilderness areas." Forest & Bird said that it does not see any sense in Government plans to create a conservation fund from mining royalties. "If you don't dig up wilderness areas, you don't need to spend even more money in vain attempts to put them back together again," added Hackwell. To find out more, please click here.

The noose tightens: Carnaby's Black-Cockatoo - Birds Australia (BirdLife Partner) was recently offered - and declined to accept - $100,000 as part of an offset for the clearance of 258 hectares of Carnaby's Black-Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus latirostris habitat near Albany in Western Australia. The land has been proposed to be mined for Magnetite by Grange Resources Limited. Carnaby's Black-Cockatoo numbers have declined by 50% over recent decades, and their greatest threat is loss of habitat. Birds Australia states that they do not  believe that the conditions drafted by the Australian Government for this project are sufficient to mitigate the loss of such important habitat for the Endangered cockatoo. To find out more, please click here.

New WOW Publication Showcases 'Flyway Conservation at Work - Across Africa and Eurasia' - The third annual newsletter of the Wings Over Wetlands (WOW) UNEP-GEF African-Eurasian Flyways Project has now been printed and is available from the WOW Project Coordination Unit upon request. BirdLife is a key partner in the WOW project which is making an enormous difference to the understanding of migratory waterbirds and their needs, demonstrating best practice in the conservation and wise-use of wetlands, and increasing cooperation along the flyway. The new publication gives an overview of the WOW project and the latest achievements of this unique flyway initiative in the African-Eurasian region. To download an electronic version of the WOW Newsletter please click here.

120,000 people call for a stop to illegal hunting on Malta - BirdLife Malta (BirdLife Partner) have received reports about a series of illegal shooting incidents as the spring migration starts on the island. In recent days BirdLife Malta was given four protected birds of prey with gun shot injuries as reports of illegal hunting increased. These included Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni (Vulnerable), Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus and Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus. The latest illegal hunting incidents occur as BirdLife’s international petition - calling on the Prime Minister to take strong action against the illegal killing of protected species and refrain from opening another spring hunting season - is about to be handed to the officials of the Office of the Prime Minister. “Thanks to your amazing cooperation and support, we have reached 120,000 signatures”, said Tolga Temuge – Executive Director, BirdLife Malta. For more information please visit www.birdlifemalta.org.