Minz

CURRENT MOON moon info

Rare birds 'faring better' in UK

Widespread birds such as the starling are in decline Rare birds in the UK have been faring far better than their more common counterparts over the last decade, according to a new assessment. The research shows almost 60% of the 63 rare birds that breed in the UK have increased over the last 10 years. By contrast, only about one third of common species have increased over the same period. Just 28% of rare birds have decreased over the same period, compared with four out of every 10 common birds. The rare birds described in the assessment with increasing populations include the osprey, corncrake, avocet, cirl bunting and stone-curlew. All of these birds are subject to conservation action. The declining common birds include the linnet, nightingale, swift, guillemot, starling, house sparrow and red grouse. These are suffering declines for a variety of reasons, including changes in farming practices. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME   More from Today programme Dr David Noble, from the British Trust for Ornithology, said: "That some of our rarer birds have responded to targeted conservation action is great news. It shows just what can be achieved. "What we need to do now is to continue the good work and use some of the lessons we have learned to help our more common birds." Dr Mark Avery, the RSPB's conservation director, said: "Over the last decade we've enjoyed some cracking conservation successes, including removing some threatened species from the Red List and increasing the populations of red kite, bittern, avocet, osprey, stone-curlew and cirl bunting. "However, these triumphs are countered by continued declines of some widespread species, like the skylark, kestrel, willow warbler and grey partridge." The overview of 210 native breeding birds has been produced by a coalition of conservation organisations, to mark the publication of the State of the UK's Birds report, which is in its 10th year. The report is published by the RSPB for a coalition of conservation organisations.

posted by: Mara at 14:51 | link | comments (1) |
nature, birds, conservation, enviromental issues, bbc news report

Coyotes kill Canadian folk singer !

Taylor Mitchell was found bleeding heavily from multiple bite wounds Two coyotes have attacked and killed a 19-year-old folk singer in Nova Scotia, eastern Canada, officials say. Taylor Mitchell, a promising musician from Toronto, died in hospital after the animals pounced as she hiked alone in Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Walkers alerted park rangers after hearing her screams. The rangers shot one coyote, but were still searching for the second. Attacks by coyotes on humans are rare; they usually prey on deer and hares. Bleeding heavily from multiple bite wounds, the singer-songwriter was airlifted to a Halifax hospital, but died of her injuries on Wednesday morning, authorities said. "Coyotes are normally afraid of humans. This is a very irregular occurrence," Brigdit Leger, a spokeswoman for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, told Reuters news agency. She said the two coyotes were "extremely aggressive" when authorities arrived at the scene. Coyotes are also known as prairie wolves The small wolf-like animals are found from Central America to the United States and Canada. Ms Mitchell - touted as a rising star in the folk music scene - was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award earlier this year in the youth category. "Words can't begin to express the sadness and tragedy of losing such a sweet, compassionate, vibrant, and phenomenally talented young woman," Lisa Weitz, Ms Mitchell's manager, said in an e-mail to the Associated Press news agency. "She just turned 19 two months ago, and was so excited about the future." BBC NEWS REPORT.

posted by: Mara at 17:43 | link | comments |
wildlife, animals, nature, enviromental issues

Rare birds 'faring better' in UK !

Widespread birds such as the starling are in decline Rare birds in the UK have been faring far better than their more common counterparts over the last decade, according to a new assessment. The research shows almost 60% of the 63 rare birds that breed in the UK have increased over the last 10 years. By contrast, only about one third of common species have increased over the same period. Just 28% of rare birds have decreased over the same period, compared with four out of every 10 common birds. The rare birds described in the assessment with increasing populations include the osprey, corncrake, avocet, cirl bunting and stone-curlew. All of these birds are subject to conservation action. The declining common birds include the linnet, nightingale, swift, guillemot, starling, house sparrow and red grouse. These are suffering declines for a variety of reasons, including changes in farming practices. Dr David Noble, from the British Trust for Ornithology, said: "That some of our rarer birds have responded to targeted conservation action is great news. It shows just what can be achieved. "What we need to do now is to continue the good work and use some of the lessons we have learned to help our more common birds." Dr Mark Avery, the RSPB's conservation director, said: "Over the last decade we've enjoyed some cracking conservation successes, including removing some threatened species from the Red List and increasing the populations of red kite, bittern, avocet, osprey, stone-curlew and cirl bunting. "However, these triumphs are countered by continued declines of some widespread species, like the skylark, kestrel, willow warbler and grey partridge." The overview of 210 native breeding birds has been produced by a coalition of conservation organisations, to mark the publication of the State of the UK's Birds report, which is in its 10th year. The report is published by the RSPB for a coalition of conservation organisations. BBC NEWS REPORT.

posted by: Mara at 18:55 | link | comments |
nature, birds, conservation, enviromental issues

Rare bird sighting draws hundreds !

The bird is usually found in the Far East. Pic. Dougie Holden Hundreds of birdwatchers have flocked to a South Tyneside quarry after a bird usually found in the forests of Asia was spotted there. Twitchers from all over the country have descended on Trow Quarry in South Shields after the sighting of an eastern crowned warbler. News quickly spread on internet message boards after a photo of the bird was posted on Thursday night. The last reported European sighting of the bird was in Holland in 2007. It is believed the bird landed in the quarry after becoming disorientated for some reason. Birdwatcher Paul Cook, from Whitburn, near South Shields, told the BBC: "There has been nothing like this in Britain before. This is massive. "Within minutes of the discovery last night pagers were going into overdrive and my phone has never stopped since. "I would say about 300 people have been there already and I would imagine the numbers will run into the thousands come the end of the weekend." The most recent sightings of the bird in the last four years have been in Holland and Finland but it is normally a native of the Far East. Lee Evans, of the British Birding Association, said the sighting was "significant" and was on his way to South Tyneside from the organisation's base in Buckinghamshire.

BBC NEWS REPORT.

posted by: Mara at 16:05 | link | comments |
nature, birds, conservation, enviromental issues

Key fishing talks ahead of quotas !

The minister will stress conservation measures already adopted The Scottish fishing fleet must be allowed more freedom to operate, the fisheries minister is to urge. Richard Lochhead is meeting the European Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg in Brussels ahead of the latest round of quota talks. Mr Lochhead will highlight work already done by Scottish boats to conserve stock levels and ask for recognition of this when setting quotas. He also stressed the economic fragility of certain sections of the fleet. Speaking ahead of his meeting with Mr Borg, Mr Lochhead said he was looking to protect all sectors of the fleet and reduce the "scourge" of discards. He said: "Despite the economic downturn, Scottish fleets have shown remarkable commitment in terms of adopting innovative solutions. "We have demonstrated international leadership adopting real time closures to protect juvenile cod and cod spawning areas and selective gear to allow cod to escape from prawn fishing nets. "This approach allows fishermen to earn the right to spend more time fishing and we are keen to build our reputation even further while standing up for our rural and coastal communities."

posted by: Mara at 07:07 | link | comments |
nature, conservation, sealife, enviromental issues

Soldiers find peace in the saddle !

By Steven Duff BBC Scotland   Learning to ride has helped Rick Anderson cope with post-traumatic stress An ex-soldier takes up the reins of a horse using his only surviving hand. Rick Anderson served with the Royal Marines in battle zones around the world, including the Falklands. Since leaving the armed forces he has faced a new battle against post traumatic stress disorder. He lost his arm while working in the oil industry. Now, in the Aberdeenshire countryside, he finds an inner peace and growing self esteem, learning new skills in the saddle "The way they move, everything about it. The way you act on them. It reflects on oneself," says Rick. "My health and stature is improving on it. A horse never questions you." Rick is learning how to handle a horse with a charity set up by another former marine. Jock Hutchison. Horseback UK offers veterans and serving military personnel some "unique rest and recuperation". "We want to create adventure," explains Jock. "We want the guys and girls to come here and drive cattle "We want to get them up into the mountains. We've got 76,000 acres south of us, the Cairngorm National Park behind me. "These are areas of outstanding natural beauty and to see them from the back of a horse makes you feel good." Jock learnt his own skills growing up in North Carolina - true cowboy country. With his cowboy hat and Indian blankets, campfires and dust raising gallops, the experience he has created is more typical of a western on TV than the Scottish Highlands. But its effects on old soldiers like Rick are testament to its ability to heal old wounds. "The camaraderie the guys have when they come up here, chilling out with their mates," said Rick "In the military they have their own kind of lingo. It will be a total blast." The charity has won the backing of the military, particularly from Rick and Jock's old unit, 45 Commando based at Arbroath. 'We have a saying in the marines that we don't leave our people behind," said Jock "There are some people who need a bit of a leg up. That's our aim" BBC NEWS REPORT.

posted by: Mara at 06:40 | link | comments |
animals, nature, enviromental issues

Dog 'killed with hoe' in dispute !

Wurzel had to be put down after the incident A man accused of killing a woman's dog following a series of disputes threatened to become the "neighbour from hell", a court heard. Tricia Wales, 60, is bringing a private prosecution against Neville Hill, 48, alleging criminal damage after he hit her border terrier with a garden hoe. Chichester magistrates were told the blow fractured the dog's skull and it had to be put down. Mr Hill admits hitting the dog with a garden hoe but denies criminal damage.  Mr Hill, now of Copse Lane, Walberton, said he struck Miss Wales' dog, Wurzel, after it trespassed on his property on 21 September 2008 but did not mean to kill it.  Richard Orridge, solicitor for the prosecution, said relations between the neighbours in Yapton, near Arundel, deteriorated after Mr Hill complained her dogs, Wurzel, Kylie and Charlie, got into his garden and left faeces on his grass. Mr Orridge said Miss Wales did her best to secure the hedge between the gardens and supervise her dogs but a week before Wurzel's death Mr Hill threatened to kill them after Charlie got into his garden and grabbed one of his chickens. Miss Wales alleges that during a disagreement over a right of way through his garden, Mr Hill said: "I hate you, I want to get rid of you. I want to get away from you as quickly as I can, you and your rats."  Miss Wales told the court when she threatened to take him to court, he told her: "You're going to regret this. I'm going to be the neighbour from hell. I'm going to make your life a misery." She found Wurzel lying unconscious on her doorstep when she returned from a shopping trip the following week. "I knew immediately what had happened. I knew the threat had been carried out. Suddenly Hill came in [to her house] and said: 'That's what I do to rats when they come in my garden'." Miss Wales added: "I just said: 'Get out, you've killed my dog' and he pointed to Kylie and said: 'You're lucky I didn't kill her too, I could have killed her, I had her by the neck'." The court was told the police were called after Miss Wales' former partner attacked Mr Hill during a confrontation and advised her to take the animal to the vets. The dog was put to sleep later that night and the matter was referred to the RSPCA but it did not prosecute Mr Hill because the dog did not suffer undue pain. The trial continues.

BBC NEWS REPORT.

posted by: Mara at 16:06 | link | comments |
animals, nature, pets, cruelty

Protection for sea birds extended !

The extension to the protection areas came into effect on Friday Seabirds are being given greater protection in Scottish waters, the Scottish government has announced. Protection areas on land have been extended out to sea to help birds such as the guillemot, puffin and gannet. The 31 extension areas will reach between one and four kilometres out to sea, depending on the species. They include St Kilda, an archipelago with World Heritage status, the Forth islands, parts of Shetland, Orkney and Highland and Aberdeenshire coastlines. Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "It is vitally important they receive suitable protection throughout their lives at sea and on land." "A seabird's marine habitat is as crucial to its ability to survive as nesting sites on dry land." Andrew Thin, chairman of Scottish Natural Heritage, said: "This is an important measure for the long-term conservation of seabird populations around our coasts. "In recent years significant declines have been recorded in the breeding success and size of key Scottish colonies for many species." Stuart Housden, director of RSPB Scotland, said: "Seabirds on RSPB Scotland reserves have recently suffered a run of terrible breeding seasons and, although this year was better, it's vital that we do all we can to protect them and the food resources they need to prosper." The area extensions came into effect on Friday following consultation last year. BBC NEWS REPORT.

posted by: Mara at 08:57 | link | comments |
birds, conservation, sealife, enviromental issues

Farmers want badger cull details

Opponents say a badger cull could make bovine TB worse Farmers are calling for Welsh ministers to give more details of a proposed badger cull in north Pembrokeshire. It was announced earlier this year that a pilot cull would take place after thousands of cases of bovine TB were found in cattle in west Wales. A veterinary conference in Cardiff is expected to discuss how best to tackle the disease. But opposition groups continue to fight plans for the cull saying that cattle movements are to blame for TB's spread. The Welsh Assembly Government spent £25m in 2008 on compensation paid to farmers with herds infected with bovine TB. In the first six months of 2009 almost 8,000 cattle were slaughtered and the assembly government's compensation bill at the end of the year could be almost £30m. Assembly government officials are currently considering the findings of a public consultation on the cull which closed at the end of July. They are visiting farms and land owners in north Pembrokeshire to try and establish a boundary for the cull of up to 200 square km and decide when it could take place. The officials are also testing cattle to help them stop the TB infection escalating more than it already is. The disease can be transferred between herds. Nicky Paull from the British Veterinary Association said it would be helpful for the farming industry to be told more about the plans. "I think there's huge concern in the general public that badgers are going to be culled but I think we have to put this in perspective," she said. "This will only be in small areas where it is shown that badgers are a significant contributor to the disease in cattle."We need to be absolutely sure that once we go down that route all the other controls are strongly in place so that the cattle to cattle passage of the disease is strongly controlled as well." Dai Davies, president of the National Farmers Union Cymru, said farmers were frustrated things were not moving faster. "Farmers have lived with this disease for years. We saw 12,000 cattle slaughtered in Wales last year. It's getting worse and from year to year. But we fully understand that the Welsh Assembly have to go through the proper channels." Wales' chief vet Dr Christiane Glossop, who will be advising on the cull, said officials had found evidence of bovine TB in areas of Wales where badgers do not appear to be infected. "(There is) every indication that these new breakdowns are the result of cattle movements," she said. "Farmers know that. They understand that part of the disease equation here is about circulating infection within cattle herds and between cattle herds." Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, parts of Powys and south east Wales are bovine TB hot spots. A new opposition group, Pembrokeshire Against the Cull, said some scientific research found a badger cull would not stop the disease. Celia Thomas from the group said: "I think most of the research to date shows that cattle movements are such a big part in spreading the disease around so how far can a cull go? "It is only one element of the wildlife that we are considering here. There may be many others implicated in the spread of the disease." BBC NEWS REPORT.

posted by: Mara at 17:26 | link | comments |
wildlife, animals, nature, conservation, enviromental issues

Puppy love is incentive for ride !

Smudge is just out of six months in quarantine. Picture: Nowzad Dogs A stray puppy is enjoying a new life in the UK after being rescued from Afghanistan by a British soldier. Cpl Ashley Phillips, 22, of the Royal Army Medical Corps, fell in love with Smudge at his base in Helmand province in September 2008. The mongrel bitch was in a litter of pups from one of the many dogs running wild in the war zone. Cpl Phillips spent Saturday on a cycle ride and a run to support the charity which brought Smudge to Bournemouth. She spent six months in quarantine at a centre in Surrey and is now enjoying her first taste of life at her new home with Cpl Phillips' mother. The medic is completing his self-imposed tasks for the rescue charity Nowzad Dogs to help pay for the quarantine costs and other stray dogs it helps to rehome. He rode 30 miles from Poole Quay, around the harbour to Studland before running back to the quay. He said: "She was born in autumn 2008 in Afghanistan and I met her when she was a puppy when I was last serving out there. "She was rescued by the charity and brought back to the UK at the beginning of 2009 along with her three siblings. "Smudge is just one of many who need a home here in the UK where they can be loved and cared for, just what they deserve."

BBC NEWS REPORT.

posted by: Mara at 17:12 | link | comments |
animals, nature, pets, conservation, enviromental issues

Template by motime.com  |  header image credit: Markus Gann © www.begann.de