Black Wheatear
Bowed but not broken, yet!
You are more than welcome Andrew and lets meet if you are able to get across here in October. I am up in the mountains near to Ronda.
Peter:t:
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Andalucia Bird Society (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Black Wheatear
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You are more than welcome Andrew and lets meet if you are able to get across here in October. I am up in the mountains near to Ronda.
Peter:t:
wolfbirder
Well-known member
Andrew Tongue
Well-known member
Black Wheatear
Bowed but not broken, yet!
3 Spanish Imperial Eagles Poisoned!!!
3 Spanish Imperial Eagles Aquila adalberti were killed by poison, from the pair near Isla Mayor, Donana. The female and two chicks were found dead last week, the male is missing. May the perpetrators of this most cowardly of acts rot and fester!!
I am afraid news like this just leaves me cold and speechless. :C :-C
A very upset Peter.
3 Spanish Imperial Eagles Aquila adalberti were killed by poison, from the pair near Isla Mayor, Donana. The female and two chicks were found dead last week, the male is missing. May the perpetrators of this most cowardly of acts rot and fester!!
I am afraid news like this just leaves me cold and speechless. :C :-C
A very upset Peter.
Last edited:
Black Wheatear
Bowed but not broken, yet!
New runway path at Malaga
Regarding another thread expressing concern over the direction/path of the new runway at Malaga and its affect on the Guadalhorce reserve, I asked my colleague Andy Paterson for his view. Andy watches this area regularly (his local patch) and is involved with those in the know.
Andy replied:
"I know little about it, others have been worried about it, but I don't think it will affect the Guadalhorce reserve too much. My own worry would be about increasing bird strike possibilities on final approach over the sea as there are often biggish flocks of gull and I've seen gulls turned arse over tea kettle by the jet wash, although I have never seen one ingested and nor do I wish to be too near if one ever does. take-off, is ofcourse,a different matter.
Perhaps equally important is the fact that raptors do cross the inland side and across the flight path of aircraft on final approach any time from early August (flocks of Black Kites mainly) to mid/late October when migrating Griffons also pass across, and they don't give a damn about aircraft! I once saw one from the aircraft when over the Chorro on the final drag in - fortunately well below us but it made me wonder!"
Peter
Regarding another thread expressing concern over the direction/path of the new runway at Malaga and its affect on the Guadalhorce reserve, I asked my colleague Andy Paterson for his view. Andy watches this area regularly (his local patch) and is involved with those in the know.
Andy replied:
"I know little about it, others have been worried about it, but I don't think it will affect the Guadalhorce reserve too much. My own worry would be about increasing bird strike possibilities on final approach over the sea as there are often biggish flocks of gull and I've seen gulls turned arse over tea kettle by the jet wash, although I have never seen one ingested and nor do I wish to be too near if one ever does. take-off, is ofcourse,a different matter.
Perhaps equally important is the fact that raptors do cross the inland side and across the flight path of aircraft on final approach any time from early August (flocks of Black Kites mainly) to mid/late October when migrating Griffons also pass across, and they don't give a damn about aircraft! I once saw one from the aircraft when over the Chorro on the final drag in - fortunately well below us but it made me wonder!"
Peter
Barred Wobbler
Well-known member
I'd wonder about the effect of one of the flamingos I've seen at the reserve should one be injested into a turbine.
They're a lot bigger than a gull and I'd think would pose much more of a hazard, more to aircraft taking off than those landing.
They're a lot bigger than a gull and I'd think would pose much more of a hazard, more to aircraft taking off than those landing.
Black Wheatear
Bowed but not broken, yet!
And the story gets even worse! I had this report from a investigative source and I quote:
"thank you for qick response. The horrible thing is that the poison was hidden in rabbits, which someone layed directly under the nest in the first days of July - the man knew what he did..."
A very very angry Peter :C:C:C
wolfbirder
Well-known member
this is shocking sad news. I went to see these birds in june with a guide. Awful news.
Black Wheatear
Bowed but not broken, yet!
Hi Nick,
As yet nobody has been caught. Right now they are searching for the male, hopefully he survived. I will let you know any news. I still feel numbed by the ability and mentality of this kind of sub human behaviour. If caught the person could very well face an extremely hefty fine and/or even a jail term. Of course I would like to do far worse to the offender!
Peter :C
wolfbirder
Well-known member
I felt sick when I read about this on the post above Pete. Yes ok its partly because I was there a few months ago watching the splendour of one of the adults circling, and the 2 large juveniles on the nest. The crime is hideous, why would anyone wish to inflict such pain on these birds. Its really upsetting and I can tell you what I would do to the person if he is found - make him eat rabbitt pie from the same torso!
I know thats probably deemed over the top but its how I feel right now.
Black Wheatear
Bowed but not broken, yet!
Hi Nick,
It simply beggars belief doesn't it? I mentioned this on another thread, but can you and anyone else reading this please get any publicity going to report on this case. There has been absolutely no 'local' or 'Spanish' publicity given on this horrific crime and I am very suspicious about that!
Peter :eek!:
wolfbirder
Well-known member
Will do anything I can of course Pete, tho sadly very limited.
Barred Wobbler
Well-known member
I sent an e-mail this morning to typicallyspanish.com alerting them to this event. They have covered stories in relation to the breeding programmes of the Iberian lynx in the Coto Doñana and the burying of turtle eggs on the Cabo de Gata beaches in the past, so maybe they will pick it up.
http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/publish/
I included a link to the conservation board thread in my e-mail.
http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/publish/
I included a link to the conservation board thread in my e-mail.
Black Wheatear
Bowed but not broken, yet!
Black Wheatear
Bowed but not broken, yet!
Thank you Alan and hopefully a wider audience will promote some more/improved action (see joint statement below).
Peter :t:
Black Wheatear
Bowed but not broken, yet!
Joint Statement
Ecologists in Action, WWF-Spain, SEO / BirdLife and Andalucia Bird Society (14/07/09)* reported poisoning of three imperial eagles in the Doñana Natural Area (15/07/09)
The Board of Andalusia is required to use all reasonable means and forceful actions to find and punish the guilty. On July 4 in the Doñana Natural Park 3 corpses were found poisoned, a female and her two chicks in the town of Aznalcázar (Seville). In addition, the male of the pair is missing since that date, it is suspected it might also have been a victim of poisoning.
According to the data accessed by the ecological associations, poison was relayed via a poisoned rabbit, which was used as bait to attract the adult eagles in the enclosed supplementary feeding area in the vicinity of the nest, where food is shipped in for meal times by the technicians of the Board of Andalusia for the eagles.
For the environmental associations, place and type of bait used is clear proof of intent to attack directly the imperial eagles nesting in Veta Ali. Given the seriousness of this, the environmental agencies require that both the government and police and state security forces should redouble their efforts to identify and make available for criminal trial those responsible.
This loss is a major blow to the population of imperial eagles in Doñana, which after years of significant declines and on the brink of extinction, had entered a recovery phase, reaching the 9-pairs, for which the couple Veta Ali was essential, as it was among the highest reproductive successes of the Doñana region, with 10 chicks raised in the past five years.
The ecological associations consider this poisoning, which clearly was directed only to remove the pair of imperial eagles in Veta Ali as both an eco-catastrophe, since it means losing a few of the 250 pairs that exist of imperial eagle in the world (and its genetic basis), as economically and socially, because you cannot forget that human and economic efforts are being devoted by the government to ensure the survival of the species endemic to the Iberian Peninsula.
Ecologists in Action, WWF-Spain, SEO / BirdLife and Andalucia Bird Society consider it as unacceptable the ease with which it was possible to access the area and put down poisoned bait, requiring the Ministry of Environment to institute greater efforts in preventive measures for the eradication of venom in Doñana and increased surveillance both inside and outside of protected natural areas. It also asks the prosecution to face an offence like this with due consideration to the seriousness of the crime, initiate the procedures required to clarify and, once aware of their responsibilities, ask for the maximum sentence for such an offence.
Environmental organizations are also called upon to cooperate with investigations and submit any information that may help to identify the person/s or organisations for this poisoning.
* First publicly announced by Andalucia Bird Society on the 14/07/09
Peter
Ecologists in Action, WWF-Spain, SEO / BirdLife and Andalucia Bird Society (14/07/09)* reported poisoning of three imperial eagles in the Doñana Natural Area (15/07/09)
The Board of Andalusia is required to use all reasonable means and forceful actions to find and punish the guilty. On July 4 in the Doñana Natural Park 3 corpses were found poisoned, a female and her two chicks in the town of Aznalcázar (Seville). In addition, the male of the pair is missing since that date, it is suspected it might also have been a victim of poisoning.
According to the data accessed by the ecological associations, poison was relayed via a poisoned rabbit, which was used as bait to attract the adult eagles in the enclosed supplementary feeding area in the vicinity of the nest, where food is shipped in for meal times by the technicians of the Board of Andalusia for the eagles.
For the environmental associations, place and type of bait used is clear proof of intent to attack directly the imperial eagles nesting in Veta Ali. Given the seriousness of this, the environmental agencies require that both the government and police and state security forces should redouble their efforts to identify and make available for criminal trial those responsible.
This loss is a major blow to the population of imperial eagles in Doñana, which after years of significant declines and on the brink of extinction, had entered a recovery phase, reaching the 9-pairs, for which the couple Veta Ali was essential, as it was among the highest reproductive successes of the Doñana region, with 10 chicks raised in the past five years.
The ecological associations consider this poisoning, which clearly was directed only to remove the pair of imperial eagles in Veta Ali as both an eco-catastrophe, since it means losing a few of the 250 pairs that exist of imperial eagle in the world (and its genetic basis), as economically and socially, because you cannot forget that human and economic efforts are being devoted by the government to ensure the survival of the species endemic to the Iberian Peninsula.
Ecologists in Action, WWF-Spain, SEO / BirdLife and Andalucia Bird Society consider it as unacceptable the ease with which it was possible to access the area and put down poisoned bait, requiring the Ministry of Environment to institute greater efforts in preventive measures for the eradication of venom in Doñana and increased surveillance both inside and outside of protected natural areas. It also asks the prosecution to face an offence like this with due consideration to the seriousness of the crime, initiate the procedures required to clarify and, once aware of their responsibilities, ask for the maximum sentence for such an offence.
Environmental organizations are also called upon to cooperate with investigations and submit any information that may help to identify the person/s or organisations for this poisoning.
* First publicly announced by Andalucia Bird Society on the 14/07/09
Peter
Black Wheatear
Bowed but not broken, yet!
Flamingo success - Fuente de Piedra
Another year and, after the disappointment of 2008, a report of a successful breeding season at Fuente de Piedra for Greater Flamingo Pheonicopterus roseus. 2009 saw the 25th anniversary for ringing of the Greater Flamingo chicks at Fuente de Piedra and a total of 600 chicks (only a small representative sample of the total raised) were fitted with specially coded plastic colour rings. These colour rings can be easily read through telescopes and sometimes through binoculars, allowing observers to report on the movements of these birds as soon as they gain their independence and are able to fly to feeding grounds throughout the region and North Africa.
The ringing of Greater Flamingo chicks is a highly organised affair and run with military precision. The group of volunteers, numbering somewhere over 300, embark during cover of darkness slowly and silently encircling the nursery of young. As dawn arrives the nursery is slowly and safely encouraged towards a fence line and bell mouth shaped entrance to a holding corral. For the protection of the young, the entrance and corral are lined and padded with soft fabric and the corral is circular to avoid any sharp edges. This year, from the moment the required number where successfully corralled to the moment when all had been ringed and released took a grand total of 2 hours. If you consider the operation and further that each bird is processed for weight, measurements, blood sampling and inspected by attending veterinaries, then the minimum of time taken is a huge tribute to the thorough organisation of the operation.
It’s been quite a year for the species at Fuente de Piedra with in excess of 30,000 adults being reported on occasions. As the water levels drop, many adults make the daytime journey to Huelva and the Doñana to feed and return during the night to provide necessary sustenance for their young. An undisputed burden and act of dedication with a round journey every day of at least 160km to feed their offspring! Talking with the wardens Lesser Flamingo Pheonicopterus minor apparently attempted to breed, but they believed the eggs were accidentally broken by the brooding adult and no further evidence for any further breeding was recorded.
Photographs below illustrate the corral and also show a fraction of the nursery.
Another year and, after the disappointment of 2008, a report of a successful breeding season at Fuente de Piedra for Greater Flamingo Pheonicopterus roseus. 2009 saw the 25th anniversary for ringing of the Greater Flamingo chicks at Fuente de Piedra and a total of 600 chicks (only a small representative sample of the total raised) were fitted with specially coded plastic colour rings. These colour rings can be easily read through telescopes and sometimes through binoculars, allowing observers to report on the movements of these birds as soon as they gain their independence and are able to fly to feeding grounds throughout the region and North Africa.
The ringing of Greater Flamingo chicks is a highly organised affair and run with military precision. The group of volunteers, numbering somewhere over 300, embark during cover of darkness slowly and silently encircling the nursery of young. As dawn arrives the nursery is slowly and safely encouraged towards a fence line and bell mouth shaped entrance to a holding corral. For the protection of the young, the entrance and corral are lined and padded with soft fabric and the corral is circular to avoid any sharp edges. This year, from the moment the required number where successfully corralled to the moment when all had been ringed and released took a grand total of 2 hours. If you consider the operation and further that each bird is processed for weight, measurements, blood sampling and inspected by attending veterinaries, then the minimum of time taken is a huge tribute to the thorough organisation of the operation.
It’s been quite a year for the species at Fuente de Piedra with in excess of 30,000 adults being reported on occasions. As the water levels drop, many adults make the daytime journey to Huelva and the Doñana to feed and return during the night to provide necessary sustenance for their young. An undisputed burden and act of dedication with a round journey every day of at least 160km to feed their offspring! Talking with the wardens Lesser Flamingo Pheonicopterus minor apparently attempted to breed, but they believed the eggs were accidentally broken by the brooding adult and no further evidence for any further breeding was recorded.
Photographs below illustrate the corral and also show a fraction of the nursery.
Attachments
Jon Turner
Well-known member
What a contrast your last two posts have been Peter. I had no idea that there were as many as 30,000 at Fuente de. Always worth a look at any time of the year!
Thanks for showing us that good things are happening in Spain!
Jon
Thanks for showing us that good things are happening in Spain!
Jon
wolfbirder
Well-known member
Here here - that is some co-ordinated project!
Black Wheatear
Bowed but not broken, yet!
My pleasure Jon, and have to say it is a bright spot amid the gloom surrounding the Imperial Eagle story. Jose posted a reply to the conservation thread and his story regarding local farming interests more or less coincides with what I have been told (unofficially).
Personally I think Fuente de Piedra is more of a 'great' site for spring, but as you say it always worth a visit.
Peter
