Scotland's red kites thriving again after 10 years of effort

Red-letter day for red kite projects as they celebrate tenth anniversaries

October 2013. Two of Scotland's most successful wildlife viewing projects are set to celebrate their tenth anniversaries this October.

Argaty Red Kites and the Galloway Kite Trail,

Both Argaty Red Kites near Doune, and the Galloway Kite Trail, near Castle Douglas, were opened in 2003, close to the sites of kite re-introductions that took place in the preceding years. Red kites are sociable birds, and naturally congregate together, particularly in the winter months, flocking noisily to available food sources, and forming large communal roosts at night.

The viewing projects give the public an opportunity to watch the birds up close in their natural environment, and since launching, both have attracted thousands of visitors, and provided an unforgettable experience for wildlife enthusiasts of all ages.

Continued

Hamburg – A haven for white storks

In contrast with much of Europe, Hamburg's white storks are thriving

August 2013. Hamburg has emerged as an unlikely haven for white storks, according to Jürgen Pelch, of NABU International - Foundation for Nature (BirdLife in Germany - NABU) in Hamburg.

NABU Hamburg have announced the best stork breeding season for 51 years in Hamburg, where 23 pairs have raised 50 young this year. In 2012 there were just 15 pairs and 37 fledglings, and in 2011 19 pairs with 46 young. 

It is possible that, as habitat declines in other parts of northern Germany, more storks are identifying Hamburg as a haven. In the region to the east of Hamburg, In Mecklenburg-Pomerania, the breeding population has declined by 30 percent due to intensification of agriculture.

NABU Hamburg has been working to improve conditions for the storks, by erecting nesting platforms and improving other habitats. NABU helped recreate some wetlands along the Kirchwerder meadows to attract frogs and other wildlife.

In 2012 NABU launched a campaign with Vattenfall, a power company, after two young storks were electrocuted to place wind flags on some power lines to stop such accidents in future. 

More risks

Jürgen Pelch stressed that despite Hamburg's recent success, the birds are still at risk. On their migration routes they are exposed to a range of hazards, and only one in four fledgling storks make it back to the breeding area. Agricultural monocultures, drained wetlands, trigger-happy hunters and the use of pesticides continue threatened the white stork. 

Bad year for Czech storks.

Terrible year for white storks in Czech Republic as cold weather kills a generation

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/hamburg-stork.html

Grizedale's Red kites thriving - Have you seen any?

More than 200 sightings of Grizedale Forest's red kites recorded but public's help more important than ever

February 2013. Red kites released in the Forestry Commission's Grizedale Forest appear to be thriving following more than 200 sightings of the birds in England and Scotland - however help from the public is becoming more crucial than ever.

Photo courtesy of Forestry Commission

Wildlife officers from the Forestry Commission released 90 red kites as part of a three-year reintroduction programme to return the species to North West England - with the final release of 30 birds taking place last summer.

Mull to Hastings
Grizedale's red kites have been spotted as far north as the Isle of Mull, and as far south as Hastings. Many sightings have been made in Dumfries and Galloway, North Yorkshire and throughout Cumbria, particularly around Broughton-in-Furness and Kirkby Moor. It is hoped the birds will return to Grizedale Forest to breed and establish a sustainable population.

Orange tags
The birds carry an orange tag on their left wings to show they are from Grizedale, and one on the right to indicate the year of release - blue for 2010, white for 2011 and red for 2012. A selection also carried radio transmitters to allow officers to monitor their progress. However, some of the transmitters attached to birds released in 2010 are reaching the end of their battery-life so it is becoming increasingly important to record kites through visual sightings.

Read more:  http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/grizedale-kites.html

Rare Birds Thrive On Brownfield Sites

The alarming decline in the country’s bird population was revealed in the ‘State of the UK's Birds 2012" report, which was carried out by experts from organisations such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the British Trust for Ornithology, using data compiled from volunteers' observations of birds since the 1960s. 

The report found there are an estimated 166 million birds nesting in the UK compared with 210 million in 1966.
Yet the Land Trust, a charity which owns over 50 open spaces around the country, has found that bird numbers on the majority of its spaces are very healthy.

Simon Pile, the Trust’s estates manager, commenting on the report, explained “What might surprise people most is that it’s our former brownfield sites which show the most diversity of species. Indeed, there’s been a number of rare species spotted in recent weeks; there is currently a little bunting at Elba Park which is a former coking work near Sunderland and six short eared owls are fascinating visitors to Rabbit Ings Country Park, which is a former colliery tip in Barnsley.

A few months ago a red backed shrike was seen at a former colliery site in Staffordshire, where only a few weeks previously an osprey had been spotted. Bitterns can be heard booming on other former brownfield sites, whilst in spring and summer the alarming decline of the skylark is well and truly bucked as a host of these iconic birds fill the skies.”

Bird populations are considered to be a good indicator of the broad state of wildlife because birds occupy a wide range of habitats and tend to be near or at the top of food chains. So a healthy bird population is a good indicator of biodiversity

Pile continued, “Although not as rare as the little bunting, bitterns or short eared owls it’s the skylark which really demonstrates the importance of brownfield land. Experts believe the decline overall bird numbers is largely down to changes in landscape providing less habitat in which birds can feed and nest. One such change would be the way land is farmed and, as such, birds that are reliant on farmed land, such as skylark, lapwings, cuckoos and turtle doves, have seen a significant decrease in numbers, according to the study. However, reclaimed brownfield land is providing a viable alternative home these birds. One small reserve in Derbyshire on a former coking works has 32 bird species classified as either Red List or Biodiversity Action Plan species (meaning they are endangered or threatened).”

“There are three key reasons why former brownfield land and in particular the Trust’s sites are rich in biodiversity. Firstly, brownfield land, because of its former use can often provide diverse typographies such as, shallow pools, margins, hedgerows, meadow or wetland. Secondly, nature is an innate regenerator, it often needs only the lightest of restoration touches to allow nature to thrive. Thirdly the Trust provides sustainable management and takes an informed approach that enables the preservation of existing habitats and the creation of new ones.”




Read on: http://www.greenbuildingpress.co.uk/article.php?category_id=34&article_id=1359