Big game hunters in Africa urged to drop the lead to help save vultures

Lead bullet fragments in carcasses left by hunters are poisoning endangered African vultures, a new study has found

Date:  March 15, 2018

Source:  University of Cape Town

A third of all vultures caught and tested in the Botswana study showed elevated levels of lead in their blood, most likely due to ingesting lead bullet-contaminated flesh. Hunters' bullets shatter inside their prey and can then be absorbed into the blood stream of the vultures when they feed on these animals or their remains. This ingested lead is highly toxic to birds.

"We were all shocked by how widespread lead poisoning was for this population and just how clearly these elevated levels were associated with recreational hunting activity," said Dr Arjun Amar, Associate Professor from the University of Cape Town's FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, who supervised the research.

The study, published this week in the international journal Science of the Total Environment, is based on tests of nearly 600 critically endangered African White-backed Vultures. Higher lead levels were found in the blood of vultures in the hunting season and in hunting areas, suggesting that the source of the lead in their blood stream was lead bullets used for hunting.

"The only logical explanation for the patterns of lead poisoning we observed is if lead bullets were the source of this contamination" said the study's lead author Beckie Garbett, who conducted the research as part of her PhD.

Continued

Pesticides poisoning birds in the Balkans

By Marko Tucakov, Thu, 11/02/2016 - 16:35

You may think that bird species of the Least [conservation] Concern on the European Red List of Birds are not threatened because of the name of the category they are in. However, this doesn’t mean they don’t face serious, often man-made threats to their survival that must be addressed.

The White-tailed Eagle is one such bird. Native to Serbia and its neighbouring East European and Central Asian countries, the Serbian population of the species has been growing: it reached 125 pairs in 2016. The annual growth rate of the species is about 50 birds across Serbia, only five of which reach sexual maturity and reproduce in monogamous couples, according to Serbian researchers. So losing even one bird is a big loss.

Since 2009, 33 White-tailed Eagle carcasses have been found in Serbia. The culprit? In a majority of the cases: pesticide poisoning.

Poison problems

The bodies of most poisoned White-tailed Eagles and other affected species such as theCommon Raven, Common Eurasian Buzzard and Black-billed Magpie were found close to poisoned baits (mainly cattle carcasses intended for predators like Golden Jackals and Red Foxes).

The majority of the cases was recorded around Gornje Podunavlje and Karađorđevo, two nature reserves in the northwest that host a large concentration of White-tailed Eagles – almost 30 breeding pairs and more than 100 individuals in the winter.   

http://www.birdlife.org/europe-and-central-asia/news/pesticides-poisoning-birds-balkans

A disgrace! Bird group hits out as poison used to kill rare falcon in Shropshire

PUBLISHED: November 10, 2015 07:59

A peregrine falcon found dead in a quarry on Clee Hill was poisoned, it has been confirmed.

The male bird found in June was poisoned by diazinon, according to toxicology tests.

Two chicks were found dead in the nest and a female falcon went missing from the area after the body of the bird was found.

The news has been branded an “absolute disgrace” by a member of Shropshire Peregrine Group. It comes after three peregrines, which are a protected species, were also found poisoned in the same area in 2010 and 2011.

John Turner, the group’s co-ordinator, said: “This is yet another tragic incident at this site.

“The female parent also disappeared and we are concerned she may have also been poisoned.

“The situation was made even worse as the two chicks in the nest also died with the loss of the parents.”

The group and the RSPB have offered a £1,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of anyone found to have been involved in the poisoning.

Continued …

Gamekeeper found guilty of poisoning eleven birds of prey

A Norfolk gamekeeper was found guilty on 1st October 2014 for the poisoning of at least eleven birds, including 10 buzzards and one sparrowhawk. 

A sparrowhawk was among the birds

 found to have been poisoned

Allen Lambert, 65, previously a gamekeeper on Stody Estate near Holt, was also found guilty of the possession of pesticides and other items capable of being used to prepare poison baits. Earlier in the trial at Norwich Magistrates Court he had pleaded guilty to five other charges, including three offences of illegal storage and use of pesticides, and the unlawful possession of nine dead buzzards. 

Suspicion of the poisoning was raised when, on 4th April 2013, the remains of five buzzards, a sparrowhawk, and a tawny owl were found apparently dumped in a wood on Stody Estate. Analysis of the birds confirmed that cause of death in at least one buzzard and the sparrowhawk had been due to poisoning from the pesticide mevinphos, which is a former agricultural pesticide banned from use in 1993. 

Continued ...

Doubletree Bird Poisoning

updated: Aug 25, 2014, 9:46 AM 

Source: Environmental Defense Center

The Fess Parker Doubletree in Santa Barbara was investigated and found in violation of regulations related to its poisoning of up to roughly 21 protected and desired bird species at its Cabrillo Boulevard location. After complaints were filed by the Environmental Defense Center (EDC), the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the Santa Barbara County Agricultural Commissioner investigated this matter and have concluded that the Doubletree applied a bird poison known as Avitrol in bird feeders and illegally used this poison with the intention to control pigeons and sparrows near the hotel's rotunda.

EDC received several reports from Santa Barbara residents between February and April 2014 and contacted CDFW wardens which were dispatched to the site. It was quickly determined that the Doubletree placed bird food in feeders for several weeks then hired Hydrex to periodically place the poisoned bait in the bird feeders. No experts were employed by the hotel to monitor the poison to ensure that it only affected target nuisance species birds. This violated the Avitrol Mixed Grains label which specifically states "Avitrol must not be exposed in any manner that may endanger desirable and protected bird species." Additionally, the Avitrol label states "a certified applicator must ensure children, pests, and non-target species do not come in contact with the blend during the entire application period." Hydex left bait at the site unsupervised, thus violating Avitrol label use restrictions.

Continued ...

'Highly protected' bird poisoned in Penmaenmawr

Published date: 19 August 2014 | 

Published by: Mike Williams 

Read more articles by Mike Williams Email reporter

A BIRD belonging to a “highly protected” species was killed by poison in Penmaenmawr.

The female Peregrine Falcon was found in a quarry in the village in June, and a vet’s examination has since determined the bird was killed by poison.

North Wales Police launched an appeal for the public’s help with its investigation on Monday.

Rural Crime Team manager Sgt Rob Taylor said: “This is the second suspicious death of Peregrine Falcons in just a few months in North Wales.

“Only a couple of years ago we recovered a live pigeon tethered to the ground and covered in poison, as a bait in the same quarry and also a dead Peregrine nearby, so it seems the same person feels they can carry on with this cruel method of removing the birds.”

Poisoning was also suspected when four birds were found dead in a nest in the Nantlle Valley in July.

Continued ...

Rumours RSPB accidently killing birds 'outrageous'

6 June 2014 Last updated at 09:07

RSPB Scotland has said "outrageous rumours" have been spread accusing it of accidently causing the deaths of 16 red kites and six buzzards.

The charity said the anonymously-made claims blamed it for killing the birds by leaving contaminated meat at its Tollie visitor centre in the Highlands.

Police said tests had shown 15 of the birds - 12 red kites and three buzzards - had eaten an illegal poison.

On Thursday, Police Scotland made a fresh appeal for help in its probe.

The dead birds have been found in Ross-shire since March.

RSPB Scotland volunteer Andrea Goddard said rumours the charity was responsible were "completely outrageous".

She said: "The poisoned birds were all found around Conon Bridge, some distance from Tollie.

"Most of the birds have been proven to have been illegally poisoned and we are awaiting confirmation that the others were likewise killed this way.

"These anonymous rumour-mongers seem to be attempting to muddy the waters and mislead the general public."

Mrs Goddard said that the regular feeding birds at the Tollie Red Kites viewing centre have all survived the "mass poisoning".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-27730164

Blame game begins over 'horrendous' Scottish wildlife crime

MSPs clash over how culpable landowners and estate managers are for recent spate of apparently deliberate raptor poisonings

By Ben Riley-Smith, Scottish Political Reporter

5:59AM BST 07 May 2014

A row over the culpability of Scottish landowners for "horrendous" wildlife crime has broke out in Holyrood as MSPs debated a recent spate of raptor poisonings.

Claire Baker, a Labour MSP, pointed the finger at estate management teams, saying there were elements that believed such actions against birds of prey were both "acceptable" and "necessary".

But Alex Ferguson, a Tory MSP, warned against attempts to turn the problem into an "us and them" issue, suggesting wildlife groups were "whipping up" hostility towards landowners and gamekeepers.

Scottish Land & Estates, which represents the country's landowners, later released a statement saying it was "too simple" to blame recent incidents on land management.

The dispute came as MSPs united in their condemnation of recent raptor poisonings during a Holyrood debate on how best to tackle the problem.

Continued

Online donations to boost reward for information about poisoned birds of prey

Published by surfbirds on April 7, 2014 courtesy of RSPB

RSPB Scotland has set up a Justgiving web page after being inundated by calls from members of the public asking to contribute to a reward for information about the deaths of 16 birds of prey.

The conservation charity is responding to an outpouring of support from the public, many of whom have expressed a wish to donate money.

Police Scotland confirmed earlier this week that 12 red kites and four buzzards were found dead in Ross-shire. At least some of the birds were illegally poisoned.

RSPB Scotland is offering a £5,000 reward for information that leads to a successful conviction. An anonymous donor has pledged a further £5,000, taking the total on offer to £10,000.

Read on

'Fewer birds of prey poisoned'

The number of birds of prey illegally poisoned fell dramatically last year, a report has revealed.

The first annual report on wildlife crime in Scotland shows the number of confirmed poisonings of birds of prey fell from 16 in 2011 and 30 in 2009 to just three last year.

One golden eagle and two buzzards were found to have been poisoned during 2012 and over the past five years there have been a total of 94 confirmed poisonings of birds of prey.

But while there is a "encouraging decline" in poisoning cases, the report raised concerns that other forms of persecution could be increasing.

"The last few years have shown an encouraging decline in raptor poisoning numbers. It is too early to say yet whether this represents a genuine reduction in overall raptor persecution, or whether there has been a corresponding increase in other forms of persecution," the report stated.

While there was one case in the northern region where a golden eagle was poisoned last year, there was a case in Tayside where such a bird was trapped and another case in Dumfries and Galloway where a golden eagle was shot.

Conservation charity RSPB Scotland says it is concerned that some criminals may have changed tactics from illegal poisoning to trapping, shooting and destroying nests.

It is now calling for more resources to be put into tackling and preventing such crimes.

Continued

Blow for Egyptian vulture conservation as tagged bird is poisoned

Balkan Egyptian vulture conservation

April 2013. In 2012, an Egyptian vulture was found suffering from poisoning. The bird was cared for and recovered, and was fitted with a satellite tag before being released. He had recovered well enough to migrate all the way to Chad where he spent the winter.

In spring of 2013, he returned to the Balkans to breed, but, tragically, he was poisoned once again, and sadly this time he didn't survive. He was found dead in Greece, just 200 kilometres from his breeding grounds in Bulgaria, along with another Egyptian vulture that had also been poisoned, probably when eating a carcass that was laced with poison to kill foxes or wolves.

Heavy blow
This is a heavy blow against the efforts to save this species from extinction in the Balkans and Greece. In one single incident, we have lost 5% of the species breeding population in Greece.

Worryingly, this incident was only discovered as this bird was tagged and his location could be followed practically to the metre on a daily basis. The actual magnitude of the losses - of Egyptian vultures, and of many other endangered wildlife species, from the illegal use of poison is difficult to estimate due to its "silent killer" nature, but examples such as this speak for themselves.

The fight against poison is not an easy one as it involves a wide range of socio-economical parameters and certainly needs the joint efforts of all parties involved (livestock breeders, hunters, etc) with that of the public authorities at the lead. Unfortunately, this is not the case at the moment in Greece, where authorities together with society, seem to be indifferent to the problem.

Continued:  http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/egyptian-vulture-conservatoin.html

Eagles and other raptors still being poisoned in Ireland

Wildlife continues to suffer as illegal poisoning shows no signs of dying out - Courtesy of BirdWatch Ireland 

February 2013. The recent deaths of two White-tailed Eagles in south-west Ireland have once again raised serious concerns over the continuing incidents of illegal poisoning in the country. Despite changes to the legislation in 2010 which effectively banned the use of poison meat baits, this archaic practice is still being carried out by a small minority in the Irish countryside, with devastating effects on wildlife.

The carcasses of the two dead White-tailed Eagles:

note the radio trasmitters on each bird 

(Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan)

Eagle poisoned in west Cork
In January of this year the carcass of a female White-tailed Eagle was discovered by a member of the public near Glengariff in west Cork. Subsequent toxicology analysis confirmed that the bird had died from poisoning. A second White-tailed Eagle was also found dead near Caherdaniel in County Kerry in the same month, and although poisoning is suspected it has not been possible to confirm the cause of death.

100 sea eagles released - At least 12 poisoned
White-tailed Eagles were once relatively widespread in Ireland, but became extinct in this country during the 19th century, largely as a result of human persecution. Since 2007, a total of 100 eagles have been released in Killarney through a re-introduction project managed by the Golden Eagle Trust. Although 2012 marked their first breeding attempt in Ireland in over 100 years, the issues which originally led to these magnificent birds being wiped out from this country over a century ago have unfortunately not disappeared. Twenty six eagles have been found dead since their re-introduction began in 2007, and it has been confirmed that at least twelve of these were poisoned.

Continued:  http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/ireland-poison-2013.html

Birds being poisoned in a Nebraska city

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Officials have poisoned hundreds of starlings in the south-central Nebraska city of Grand Island, hoping to reduce the health threats posed by the bird droppings.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the toxic chemical being used won't affect people, other animals or any other birds.

Residents are urged to use gloves or shovels when picking up and disposing of the bird carcasses.

The city began poisoning starlings back in 2005.

Health officials say starlings can spread salmonella, E. coli and West Nile and can perpetuate a fungus soil known as histoplasmosis.

Information from: The Grand Island Independent, http://www.theindependent.com

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/Birds-being-poisoned-in-a-Nebraska-city-4092864.php#ixzz2EHXJRqTe

Marsh harrier - rare bird of prey - found poisoned on Goxhill marshes near Humber

Bird protection organisation the RSPB is offering a £1,000 reward for information leading to a conviction after a marsh harrier was found poisoned on Goxhill marshes.

The dead bird was discovered on top of a large bush by a local bird-watcher who was monitoring a breeding pair of harriers in the area.

The position of the dead bird aroused his suspicion as its spread wings suggested it had fallen from the sky.

The RSPB’s investigations team were alerted about the incident and collected the bird.

Analysis was undertaken by Natural England under the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme (WIIS).

The post-mortem found residue of the agricultural pesticide aldicarb, which is often used to illegally kill birds of prey through the lacing of bait.

The marsh harrier is a rare breeding bird of prey with fewer than 400 pairs in the UK.

Habitat loss and persecution almost drove to the marsh harrier to extinction in Britain.

In 1971 there was only one pair left in the whole of Britain but the population has started to recover well in the last 40 years.

It typically breeds in lowland wetland and farmland and will take a wide variety of prey.

But like many other birds of prey it continues to suffer from illegal persecution.

Most of the population is based in eastern and south east England with a few pairs also breeding on the east coast in Scotland.

Their local breeding stronghold is RSPB Blacktoft, near Goole, which had 12 nests this year.

Mark Thomas, RSPB Senior Investigations Officer, said: “This is another appalling example of the crimes which continue to be committed against birds of prey.

Read on:  http://www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk/Marsh-harrier-rare-bird-prey-poisoned-Goxhill/story-17100450-detail/story.html