As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Friday 29 July 2016

Bases to rip up acacia bushes in fight against illegal bird-trapping


JULY 18TH, 2016 

The British bases announced on Monday they would continue to clear an area rife with illegal bird trapping of the acacia bushes planted by trappers to attract the birds.

“This week the bases will chop down more acacia bushes at Cape Pyla ahead of the anticipated illegal bird trapping season,” said a news release from British Forces Cyprus.

“The acacia has been planted by bird trappers and encouraged to grow by illegally watering the areas. Recent aerial photography of the area has revealed that trappers have moved back into areas which have previously been cut back and replanted acacia and introduced new irrigation, this will now be removed.”

Two aerial photographs provided by the bases reveal how trappers cut corridors in the acacia bushes to set their mist nets which trap thousands of protected Black Caps and other migratory birds.

“As well as protecting birds this action will preserve the environment,” explained Dr Philip Rushbrook, the bases administration’s chief officer.

“Cape Pyla is one on the many Special Area of Conservation within the Bases; as such we have a legal requirement to remove acacia from these areas just as the Cyprus Forestry Department are doing at Cape Greco and the Oroklini Lake.”

The bases administration said that as recently as last week they made offers to local community leaders to agree a programme to remove the acacia. These included paying the local communities to undertake the work themselves but as those offers fell on deaf ears the bases took it upon themselves to remove the acacia.


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