Paraglider 'flies into nature reserve and scares off birds'

Warwickshire Police are investigating the incident at Middleton Lakes RSPB reserve

Daniel Newbould

13:09, 25 APR 2018

Police are investigating reports a paraglider flew into a nature reserve near Tamworth and Sutton Coldfield and scared the birds.

The incident happened on Thursday evening at Middleton Lakes RSPB reserve.

Site manager Nick Martin said: “There were several hundred birds breeding in the area, including rare and endangered birds such as the avocet.

“The incident has been reported to Warwickshire Police as the paraglider was disturbing breeding species, and this is a criminal matter.

“Middleton Lakes is a haven for rare and endangered birds, and we work hard to manage it so that they can thrive but also that people can enjoy this natural wonder.

 “We would like to thank everyone who has shown support, and acted quickly to protect this special site.”

A spokesperson for RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) said: “We have notified the police and BHPA (British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association) who have a photo to pass around their members to help with identification of the person.

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British conservationist takes to the skies for 4,500-mile migration with swans

Sacha Dench will follow Bewick’s swans on their annual journey from the Russian Arctic in a motorised paraglider in a bid to shed light on their decline 

Jessica Aldred

Monday 19 September 2016 11.03 BST Last modified on Monday 19 September 2016 22.00 BST

A British conservationist took to the skies in a motorised paraglider on Monday morning for the start of a daring 4,500-mile expedition across the Russian Arctic that will attempt to shed light on the decline of the UK’s smallest, shyest species of swan.

For the next 10 weeks, Sacha Dench, 41, will act as a “human swan” and follow the route of thousands of Bewick’s swans on their annual migration. From the tundra of Siberia she will head west and south through 11 countries including Finland, Poland and Germany to the swans’ wintering grounds in Britain and other parts of western Europe.

A light tailwind gave Dench the ideal conditions to start her journey from the Pechora delta on Russia’s northern coast.

“I’m so excited to finally be off. I’ve been planning this expedition for two years. It’s going to be a real adventure. I love flying and I’m fascinated by wildlife. I’m filming the whole trip and I can’t wait to share my swan’s eye view with the world,” she said.

By meeting people who cross paths with the swans each autumn, she will attempt to find an explanation as to why so many fewer swans have survived the journey in the past 20 years. In 1995, there were around 29,000 Bewick’s in Europe; by 2010, the figure had dropped to 18,100 and the numbers have continued to decline.

There are multiple factors involved, say experts, but the main one is illegal shooting. “About a quarter of Bewick’s have shot in them, when we x-ray them at Slimbridge [a wetland centre in western England],” Dench has said. “But even at that high rate is doesn’t seem to be solely responsible for their decline.”

A loss of wetlands for the swans to land on, disturbance of habitats along the route and more predation by Arctic foxes, a proliferation of power lines that swans may strike in mid-flight, and climate change are all considered further factors. 

 

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'Superdell' faces federal charges for allegedly chasing bird with his paraglider

SALT LAKE CITY — Former computer store owner and TV pitchman "Superdell" faces federal charges for allegedly chasing an owl with his motorized paraglider more than three years ago.

Dell Schanze, 45, of American Fork, was charged Tuesday in U.S. District Court with two misdemeanor counts of knowingly using an aircraft to harass wildlife and pursuing a migratory bird.

A video of a paramotorist chasing and kicking a migratory bird west of Utah Lake surfaced on YouTube in April 2013, drawing sharp criticism from members of the paragliding community who asked federal and state authorities to investigate.

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