El Annie
Phew..............
................Coots, the Rodney Dangerfields of the bird world, just might start to get some respect as a result of a new study showing that these common marsh birds are able to recognize and count their own eggs, even in the presence of eggs laid by other birds. The counting ability of female coots is part of a sophisticated set of defense mechanisms used to thwart other coots who lay eggs in their neighbors' nests, according to Bruce Lyon, an assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Lyon studied hundreds of coot nests in British Columbia during a four-year investigation. His latest findings appear in the April 3 issue of the scientific journal Nature.
More information -
University of California
Nature
For £118, a dolphin dies.....................
A fishing practice blamed for dolphin deaths generates only a few thousand pounds a year for the Westcountry economy, campaigners claimed yesterday. Conservationists say pair trawling for bass, in which two boats tow huge nets, cause hundreds of dolphin and porpoise casualties. They say the cetaceans are caught up in the massive nets and drown as they are held under the water. Pair trawling is largely carried out off the Westcountry by boats from Scotland and France during a three-month season in the winter. Official Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs figures obtained by the WMN show that 123 tonnes of sea bass worth £786,449 was landed at Plymouth - the main port used by the pair trawlers - during 2002.
More information - this is cornwall
Conservation groups warn of access risk to upland birds...........
Some of the country's rarest upland birds could be at risk unless walkers, cyclists and ramblers ensure their dogs are under control in the current nesting season, leading conservation groups warned today. The Moorland Association, backed by all the major northern National Park and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty authorities, sent out a message that rare species nesting in heather were easily disturbed. Species officer for the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority Ian Court said: "With so many of Britain's birds in decline and open access on moorland becoming a reality by 2005, it is increasingly important for visitors to understand the wildlife that relies on this rare habitat."
More information - Yorkshire Today
Iceland threatens to resume whaling...................
WWF today condemned Iceland's proposal for the resumption of whaling on three species of large whales, including Northern minkes and endangered fin and sei whales. Iceland rejoined the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in October 2002, following much controversy and a vote won by a margin of one. At the time, they stated that after 2006 they would not be bound by the IWC's long-term moratorium on all commercial whaling.
More information -
BBC
WWF-UK
From a bumper edition of conserv@tion - http://www.habitat.org.uk/news1.htm
Annie
:t:
More information -
University of California
Nature
For £118, a dolphin dies.....................
A fishing practice blamed for dolphin deaths generates only a few thousand pounds a year for the Westcountry economy, campaigners claimed yesterday. Conservationists say pair trawling for bass, in which two boats tow huge nets, cause hundreds of dolphin and porpoise casualties. They say the cetaceans are caught up in the massive nets and drown as they are held under the water. Pair trawling is largely carried out off the Westcountry by boats from Scotland and France during a three-month season in the winter. Official Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs figures obtained by the WMN show that 123 tonnes of sea bass worth £786,449 was landed at Plymouth - the main port used by the pair trawlers - during 2002.
More information - this is cornwall
Conservation groups warn of access risk to upland birds...........
Some of the country's rarest upland birds could be at risk unless walkers, cyclists and ramblers ensure their dogs are under control in the current nesting season, leading conservation groups warned today. The Moorland Association, backed by all the major northern National Park and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty authorities, sent out a message that rare species nesting in heather were easily disturbed. Species officer for the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority Ian Court said: "With so many of Britain's birds in decline and open access on moorland becoming a reality by 2005, it is increasingly important for visitors to understand the wildlife that relies on this rare habitat."
More information - Yorkshire Today
Iceland threatens to resume whaling...................
WWF today condemned Iceland's proposal for the resumption of whaling on three species of large whales, including Northern minkes and endangered fin and sei whales. Iceland rejoined the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in October 2002, following much controversy and a vote won by a margin of one. At the time, they stated that after 2006 they would not be bound by the IWC's long-term moratorium on all commercial whaling.
More information -
BBC
WWF-UK
From a bumper edition of conserv@tion - http://www.habitat.org.uk/news1.htm
Annie
:t:
