Pacificorp guilty in bird deaths

US utility Pacificorp must pay a $2.5m fine on charges related to the deaths of protected birds in Wyoming.

Subsidiary Pacificorp Energy pled guilty to two counts of unlawful take of migratory birds under a plea deal with prosecutors. Since 2009 more than 350 dead birds, including 38 golden eagles, were found at two wind farms.

The company must also implement a migratory bird compliance plan to avoid bird deaths at four Wyoming wind farms: Seven Mile Hill, Glenrock/Rolling Hills, Dunlap and High Plains/McFadden Ridge.

“PacifiCorp is concerned about the impacts to wildlife from our renewable energy facilities and we have been diligently working with federal and state agencies to protect migratory birds,” said VP renewable resources Mark Tallman.

“We are committed to enhancing protections to wildlife that minimize and mitigate impacts.”

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Fined £50 by litter warden for throwing birds crumbs

A bird lover was fined for littering because she dropped breadcrumbs out of her window to feed the pigeons.

Melania Cestari threw crusts on to the street below her second floor flat and was seen by an eagle-eyed litter warden – who ordered her to pay a £50 on-the-spot fine.

Ballet dancer Ms Cestari insists she was doing nothing wrong. ‘There are no signs saying: “Do not feed the birds” and the bread was gone in a few seconds,’ she said.

‘I looked out the window and there was nobody around, so I put out a few pieces of bread. Then a warden appeared and called up at me. He said I was littering and, without warning, gave me a fine.’

The 32-year-old Italian-born student, who is studying at Swansea University, added: ‘I was only trying to do good. The birds need to eat too. I was very upset.

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$85,000 fine for killing an endangered Whooping crane

$85,000 in restitution to be managed, as it becomes available, by the International Crane Foundation to further Whooping Crane conservation

February 2013. The International Crane Foundation (ICF) is very pleased and relieved that an appropriate sentence was issued to the man who shot an adult male Whooping crane in South Dakota last April. The migrating adult crane was one of fewer than 300 individuals remaining in the Aransas/Wood Buffalo population, the only self-sustaining wild population of Whooping cranes in the world.

Sentence
Jeff Blachford, 26, was given a sentence that includes $85,000 in restitution (Compensation), 2 years probation, confiscation of his hunting rifle, and removal of his hunting and trapping rights anywhere in the U.S. for 2 years. Read full sentencing details here.

"Today, hunters and other citizens are receiving a clear message that there is a real price to shooting an endangered species," notes Dr. Richard Beilfuss, President & CEO of the International Crane Foundation.

Because of ICF's leadership and experience in crane conservation, the USFWS has decided that the restitution money, as it becomes available, will be managed by ICF to further Whooping crane conservation. To address the continued threat of illegal shooting to the recovery of Whooping crane populations, ICF and our partners are expanding their educational outreach to students, hunters and the general public across the Whooping cranes' range. The goal is to increase awareness, understanding and appreciation for these natural treasures.

To learn more about ICF's ongoing conservation efforts for these birds, visit: www.savingcranes.org/whooping-crane-conservation.html.

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/whooping-shot.html

'Obsessional' thieves found guilty of stealing hundreds of birds' eggs after two-year undercover operation

'Premier league' bird egg collector Marcus Betteridge fined £1,000 for disturbing rare Dartford warbler's nest

Seymour Crang also fined £1,000 for unlawful possession of wild birds' eggs

Two 'premier league' bird egg collectors have been fined for stealing hundreds of rare eggs after a two year police investigation to find the culprits. 

'Obsessive' collectors Marcus Betteridge, 52, and Seymour Crang, 49, built up a unique collection of rare eggs after stealing them from the nests of birds including lesser redpolls, tree pipits and redshanks.

Police raided their homes after a two year joint investigation with the RSPCA and National Wildlife Crime Unit and discovered hundreds of eggs, collecting equipment, photographs and diaries relating to activities at nest sites.

Five eggs of a lesser redpoll, four of a tree pipit, five linnet eggs and one of a redshank, all kept in a cotton-wool lined ice cream carton were found at the home of Crang.

Police also discovered a diary belonging to Mr Betteridge which contained hundreds of pages with detailed notes covering more than a decade of activity.

Newton Abbot Magistrates Court heard Crang and Betteridge are 'premier league' and 'obsessional' egg thieves with a 'twisted psyche'.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2228904/Obsessional-thieves-guilty-stealing-hundreds-birds-eggs-year-undercover-operation.html#ixzz2BYINopza