Golden garden visitor

09/03/2018  

A stranded European Golden Plover has been rescued from a garden in Porthcawl, Glamorgan, by the RSPCA.

The harsh conditions brought in by the ‘Beast for the East’ saw some large bird movements as winter visitors attempted to avoid the snow and ice, as well as gardens hosting some less expected visitors. Among the numbers of Eurasian Woodcock and Common Snipe marooned in unusually domestic circumstances, was also a European Golden Plover in a garden in the Porthcawl area of south Wales.

The bird was found unable to fly away in a back garden and was rescued by the animal welfare charity RSPCA for rehabilitation. Residents spotted the bird, which was walking around a garden for approximately four days; it had made no attempt to fly away or even lift its wings. The RSPCA was alerted to the bird’s situation and collected it, finding it to be severely underweight and only able to run and fly a very short distance. However, officers noticed the bird had a dirty beak, indicating that attempts had been made by it to forage.

Continued  

Wind farm construction 'cuts golden plover numbers by 80%'

15 April 2016

The construction of a wind farm in Sutherland led to an 80% drop in the number of golden plovers in the area, according to a five-year study.

Scientists have now said their research project should be used as the basis for future studies on the effects of wind farms on other bird species.

The study was funded by the Gordonbush site's owners, energy company SSE, and conducted by RSPB Scotland.

SSE said it had tried to minimise any potential risk to golden plovers.

The study monitored golden plover numbers before, during and after construction.

According to the report, the drop in numbers was greater than in areas surrounding the wind farm that were studied over the same period.

Lead researcher Dr Alex Sansom said: "Golden plovers breed in open landscapes and it is likely that the presence of wind turbines in these areas leads to birds avoiding areas around the turbines.

"This study shows that such displacement may cause large declines in bird numbers within wind farms.

"It will be important to examine whether these effects are maintained over the longer term at this site, and we should also use these detailed studies to examine the effects of wind farms on other bird species."

Golden plover, of which there are believed to be between 38,000 and 59,000 breeding pairs in the UK, are protected under the European Birds Directive.

It places "great emphasis on the protection of habitats" for 500 endangered and migratory species across the European Union.

Aedan Smith, head of planning and development for RSPB Scotland, said it was vital that wind farms "like any development, are sited to avoid harming our most important places for wildlife".

Read on ...

Birds, bugs and blanket bogs—Scientists warn an entire eco-system is under threat

July 31, 2015

Several rare upland bird species are being put at risk together with other ecosystem functions by the effects of climate change on the UK's blanket bogs, ecologists at the University of York have discovered.

Most of our drinking water comes from these upland peats and several iconic bird species such as the dunlin, golden plover and red grouse depend on these wetland habitats for nesting and feeding.

The scientists warn that climate change threatens these habitats, not only from rising temperatures increasing peat decomposition, but also via altered rainfall patterns - with summer droughts drastically affecting the blanket bog hydrology.

Read more at: 

Government to allow bird trapping

The government has announced a special autumn live-capturing licence to registered trappers. Trapping of song thrush will be allowed between October 20 to December 31, and Golden Plover between October 20 and January 10.

Not more than 5,000 song thrush and 1,150 Golden Plover may be caught throughout the season. Not more than three birds may be caught every day by each trapper, with a season's bag limit of six birds per licence.

The government said in a statement that the licence is available for those already in possession of a valid Carnet de Chasse, and whose authorised trapping sites have registered with the police.

The derogation to allow trapping is being issued in terms of the Conservation of Wild Birds Regulations.

Trappers shall only be allowed to use traditional manually operated selective clap-nets with the mesh-size of the net not less than 30mm square, operated solely by human intervention, the government said, adding that its recommendation was being made after it considered the recommendations of the Ornis Committee.

No trapping shall be allowed on Xaghri within Natura 2000 sites indicated on maps that will be published by the Environment Director.

Continued: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120925/local/regulations-for-special-autumn-trapping-licence-issued.438377