Rare Seabird Makes Comeback In West Country

3:16pm 16th September 2015

A rare seabird makes a comeback in West Country.

Thanks to two seabird conservation projects, the rare storm petrel has this year made a comeback in the West Country, breeding at new locations on the Isles of Scilly and for a second year on Lundy.

Storm petrels are tiny seabirds, about the size of a sparrow, that spend most of their lives at sea.

They nest in burrows and are extremely rare breeding birds in England - confined entirely to the West Country.

Up until last year the only place they nested was on a few outer rocks and islands in the Isles of Scilly.

Continued ...

West Country seabirds top list of most threatened EU birds - via Tony Whitehead

Media release

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West Country seabirds top list of most threatened EU birds

Puffin, fulmar, kittiwake and Balearic shearwater all listed as endangered and vulnerable in new “red” list of European birds

The EU Red List of Birds published today is a groundbreaking study of the continents birds. Carried out over three years it describes the conservation status of over 500 species. At the European level it lists 13% birds as threatened, and a further 6% near threatened.

Of particular concern in the West Country are a number of the region’s seabirds.

Topping the list is the critically endangered Balearic shearwater, a visitor to south west coastal waters particularly in Summer and Autumn. With a population estimated at just 3,200 pairs globally this bird faces threats from predation by introduced mammals where it breeds, and from fishing by-catch. 

There are concerns too for the ever popular puffin – a bird that breeds on the Isles of Scilly, Lundy and occasionally on the mainland in the region. The population in Iceland and Norway, which together account for 80% of the European population, decreased markedly since the early 2000s and, although the population size was estimated to be increasing in the UK during 1969-2000, evidence suggests that it has undergone declines or probable declines since 2000. As a result, the population size in Europe is estimated and projected to decrease by 50-79% during 2000-2065 (three generations). It is thought that puffins are highly susceptible to the impacts of climate change, such as sea temperature rise and shifts in prey distribution and abundance.

Despite historical increases over the past hundred years, there are now concerns too for fulmars. These seabirds, relatives of albatrosses, breed on cliffs around the south west coast. Since declines began in the mid-1980s the population size in Europe is estimated to have dropped by more than 40%.They are  highly susceptible to ingesting marine litter and plastics and, like Balearic shearwaters bycatch in fisheries is also a significant threat, with large numbers recorded as caught in longline fisheries in the North East Atlantic and in trawl fisheries.

The decline of kittiwakes in the West Country has been particularly acute, with losses at most breeding colonies. In Europe by 2020 it is expected this dainty member of the gull family is will have declined by up to 49% since the early 1980s. Kittiwakes are particularly threatened by the depletion of food resources, marine oil spills and chronic oil pollution.

Tony Whitehead, speaking for the RSPB in the South West said; “The state of seabirds in Europe is particularly worrying and it’s clear we need to work much harder to provide a well managed and properly protected marine environment as well as providing protection for coastal breeding colonies.”

In the West Country over the past decade conservationists have done much successful work to ensure seabird nesting sites are protected from predators.

Tony added; “We’re very pleased at the response to our partnership seabird projects on Lundy and the Isles of Scilly where nesting seabirds are responding very positively to the removal of rats. On Lundy we have seen significant increases of populations of Manx shearwaters and puffins and we fully expect the same on the Isles of Scilly. We do however remain concerned about the state of the wider marine environment.”

ends

For further information, images and to arrange an interview please contact

Tony Whitehead, RSPB South West Press Officer 01392 453754, 07872 414365

Notes:

The European Red List of Birds can be found here

RSPB News: Children in West Country to spot birds in their playgrounds

Media release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Children in West Country to spot birds in their playgrounds
RSPB’s Big Schools’ Birdwatch:  5 January - 13 February

It’s back – the RSPB’s Big Schools’ Birdwatch has started, with children across the West Country peering out of their classroom windows to take part in the world’s biggest school wildlife survey.

Running from 5 January-13 February 2015, the survey encourages schoolchildren of all ages, and their teachers, to count the birds in their school grounds for one hour of one day. Each school’s findings will help the RSPB’s experts to build a picture of bird populations and monitor any changes.

Last year, more than 70,000 pupils and teachers across the UK took part in the Big Schools’ Birdwatch, which revealed the blackbird as the most commonly seen bird in school grounds, with 85% of schools seeing an average of five [see note 1].

Now the RSPB is looking forward to receiving this year’s school wildlife sightings, which also contribute to the results of the RSPB’s annual Big Garden Birdwatch – the biggest wildlife survey in the world, which takes place on 24-25 January.

Tony Whitehead, speaking for the RSPB in the south west said: “Taking part in the RSPB’s Big Schools’ Birdwatch is a fantastic excuse to stare out of the classroom window and discover much more about the wildlife which visits your playground. It only takes an hour and can be held anytime between now and 13 February.

“By keeping a look out and making a note of the different kinds of birds, children will not only improve their observation skills and enjoy a great learning experience, but they will also be encouraged to want to help to give nature a home, which is fantastic.” [See note 4].

There is still time for schools to sign up to take part in the Birdwatch. Teachers, helpers or children don’t need to be experts to take part in the survey. Everything a teacher would need to plan a fantastic Birdwatch, and develop their children’s knowledge and interest in the birds they see every day, is available to download, including guidance notes, recipes, things to make and counting charts.

Tony added: “There’s plenty of flexibility for schools to run the survey as simply as they would like, or as the centrepiece of cross-curricular studies, project work or as part of work to improve their school grounds.

“It’s fun, easy and simple to set up, it works for all ages, and even if it’s a dull, rainy January day, you can still gaze out of the classroom window and see a flash of colour. We hope as many schools as possible in the West Country will take part in this great event and, don’t forget, the Birdwatch can also be adapted for youth groups such as Brownies and Cubs.”

The RSPB has also produced specially designed resources for under-5s, children aged five to eleven and for those aged 11 and above.

For further information on Big Schools’ Birdwatch, visit rspb.org.uk/schoolswatch and for more information on the Big Garden Birdwatch, visit rspb.org.uk/birdwatch

Bird lovers in Street and Glastonbury urged to help out wildlife as weather worsens

Conservationists have urged West Country wildlife lovers to fully stock their feeders to help birds through the winter.

With temperatures dipping below zero at night and in single figures during the day, the RSPB has encouraged people to provide high energy foods and water to aid resident populations.

Tony Whitehead, from the RSPB in the South West, said: "The drop in temperatures across the UK will have been a big shock to birds' systems after spending the past couple of months with few worries in terms of food availability. Up to now natural food sources have been readily available and water has been easy to come by. Now, as temperatures are falling, birds will need all the help they can get to survive the winter."

Read more: http://www.centralsomersetgazette.co.uk/Bird-lovers-Street-Glastonbury-urged-help/story-20392084-detail/story.html#ixzz2pGNZ1530

RSPB raps failure to tackle to bird attacks

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

By ANDY GREENWOOD

The Government has been criticised for failing to take "simple measures" to tackle wildlife crime such as the poisoning of birds of prey which has blighted the Westcountry.

Ministers rejected calls by MPs to guarantee long-term funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit – led by Devon and Cornwall Police Inspector Nevin Hunter – in order to ensure it can fight such crime effectively, including monitoring criminal activity on the internet.

The Environment Department and Home Office have each committed £136,000 to the unit for its running in 2013-14 and no decision on funding for 2014-15 has yet been made, the Government said.

In its response to a report by the Environmental Audit Committee on wildlife crime, the Government also rejected steps to criminalise possession of the main poison – the pesticide carbofuran – used to kill birds of prey.

Two years ago, four goshawks, three peregrine falcons and a buzzard were found poisoned in Devon and Cornwall.

The MPs said the Government should bring in the order listing proscribed poisons "to send a clear signal that it regards poisoning birds of prey as wholly unacceptable" and make it easier to secure prosecutions.

But the Government said existing laws already make the sale, supply, storage and use of carbofuran illegal, with unlimited fines upon prosecution, and that it is a crime to use a poisonous substance to kill or take wild birds.

Tony Whitehead, from the RSPB in the South West, said: "Our network of wildlife crime officers do a great job. Devon and Cornwall Police's Operation Wilderness, launched last year, introduced sophisticated surveillance equipment to help guard rare bird of prey nests.

Continued:  http://www.thisisnorthdevon.co.uk/RSPB-raps-failure-tackle-bird-attacks/story-18460045-detail/story.html#axzz2O0EgJ4XK