Rare Black-throated diver shot in Scotland

Appeal for information after rare bird found shot

July 2013. RSPB Scotland are appealing for information after a Black-throated diver, one of Scotland's rarest birds, was found dead on the shore of Loch Gowan, near Achnasheen in Wester-Ross. 

The bird was discovered by local biologist Jim Raffell and was reported to the RSPB. A post-mortem, carried out by Scottish Agricultural College vets, on behalf of the nature charity, revealed the bird had been shot. Police enquiries have been unable to identify a suspect.

Just 240 breeding pairs

The black-throated diver is an elegant black and white bird, breeding on freshwater lochs and wintering at sea. It is a very rare breeding species in the UK, with the population of around 240 pairs confined to north and west Scotland. They are known for their elegant summer plumage, haunting calls and their tendency to mate for life. This bird killed is believed to have been one from a breeding pair.

A spokesman for RSPB Scotland said: "This is an appalling and inexcusable crime. Black-throated divers are stunning and very rare birds, with their UK stronghold in the Highlands of Scotland. It is truly shocking that one of these birds has been deliberately targeted, with a complete disregard for both the law and the rarity of this species."

Mr Raffell, a fisheries biologist with the Scottish Government, added: "To find a dead black throated diver is very sad, but to then be informed that that it had been shot caused me much upset and made me very angry. How any person could deliberately shoot such a beautiful, enigmatic and uncontroversial bird is outrageous. I hope that by raising awareness of this crime, it will never be repeated."

Anyone with information relating to this incident is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, or RSPB Scotland on 0131 317 4100.

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/black-throated-diver-shot.html

White, leucistic, Heermann's Gull in California

A reader from Santa Barbara in California has sent us this image of a leucistic Heermann's Gull. Jane Kern took the photo, and has managed to include a 'normally' coloured gull alongside so we can see the difference, many thanks Jane.

Leucism (or Leukism) 

Leucism is a very unusual condition whereby the pigmentation cells in an animal or bird fail to develop properly. This can result in unusual white patches appearing on the animal, or, more rarely, completely white creatures. Albinism is a different condition. The easiest way to tell the difference between the two is that in albinism the eyes are usually pink or red, and albinism affects the entire animal, not just patches. This occassionaly causes very excited biologists to think they have discovered a new species, when in fact leucism is the cause of the unusual markings they have seen.

Click here to see our gallery of leucistic animals and birds

WHITE, LEUCISTIC, HEERMANN'S GULL IN CALIFORNIA. PHOTO COURTESY OF JANE KERN

Wildlife officials remove arrow from Canada goose that drew attention in Michigan; bird is OK

BAY CITY, Mich. — Wildlife officials in Michigan have removed an arrow from a Canada goose more than two months after the injured bird was spotted, leaving the once-easily recognized bird to blend in once again with its fellow geese.

The female goose initially was seen wandering in downtown Bay City in April and people alerted the state Department of Natural Resources, expressing concern for its safety, MLive.com reported (http://bit.ly/131InlA ).

Officials initially decided not to remove the arrow, because the bird was able to fly without difficulty. The DNR again came across the goose at the end of June when biologists were banding geese and decided to take action.

“It really, actually, was a lucky chance that we were able to get that goose in the pen when we were rounding up geese to band them,” Michigan DNR Wildlife Outreach Technician Holly Vaughn said. “That particular goose wasn’t targeted. It just happened to be with the rest of the geese when our biologists were banding.”

Continued

20 Critically endangered spoon-billed sandpiper chicks hatched by scientists

‘Headstarted' spoon-billed sandpipers hatch

July 2013. Twenty critically endangered spoon-billed sandpiper chicks have hatched under expert care in the Russian Far East.

Conservationists took the eggs from the wild, in order to protect them from extreme weather and predators. The first hatched early last Wednesday morning and they continued until the last hatched on Sunday evening.

Threats

Numbers of spoon-billed sandpipers plummeted in recent years because of the destruction of wetland habitats and the effects of illegal trapping along their migration route.

Release after fledging

While tackling these problems, conservationists are boosting the productivity of the remaining breeding pairs by taking eggs from the wild, hatching and rearing them in captivity and releasing them once they have fledged.

Predators

Foxes, skuas and feral dogs take eggs and chicks from the wild, ground-nesting spoon-billed sandpipers and sudden changes in the weather can be fatal. Studies show that on average each pair lays four eggs per year but raises less than one chick.

Continued

Mist nets set at Newport Wetlands – Police appeal for information

Birds left to die in mist nets

July 2013. Gwent Police have appealed for information following the discovery of illegally erected ‘mist nets' at Newport Wetlands National Nature Reserve. The nets are used to catch birds such as Finches, which are then sold on. Other birds which become trapped in the nets are sometimes left to die.

Tom Dalrymple of Natural Resources Wales, who own and manage the reserve in partnership with Newport City Council and RSPB Cymru said: "It's very sad that these illegal trappers, not only attempt to take birds from the wild, but appear to have left some birds to die slowly in the net".

Information

Anyone with any information about the nets, or who may have seen anything suspicious at Newport Wetlands in the last week is asked to ring Gwent Police by calling 101 quoting Log 272 08/07/13.

Newport Wetlands

Newport Wetlands is an important site for over-wintering birds with increasing numbers of black-tailed godwits, wigeon, shovelers, teal, shelducks and pintails. Hen harriers, short-eared owls and even bitterns may be an exciting sight during the winter, whilst little egrets now frequent the reserve throughout the year. Wildlife spectacles are not restricted to birds, with many species of orchids, butterflies and dragonflies present at the site. 

Read more about visiting Newport Wetlands 

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/newport-mist-nets.html

Red-throated diver dies after becoming tangled in illegal net

The dangers of illegal trout nets were demonstrated this week when a rare red-throated diver was killed and another trapped in the sea off Cunningsburgh.

A member of the public spotted the birds on Monday, which were caught in an almost invisible monofilament net close to the shore at Mail Beach, and reported the incident to the RSPB.

RSPB Northern Isles area manager Pete Ellis said the net was about 20 metres long with little grey floats along its length. The net was “not obvious”, he said, and had it not been for the birds it would have been difficult to spot.

Mr Ellis said: “In my view it was an illegally set trout net, which are incredibly dangerous to birds. Underwater monofilament nets are virtually transparent and the birds don’t see them.”

Continued

New Hawaii law bans excessive feeding of birds

Posted: Jul 10, 2013 12:20 AM GDTUpdated: Jul 10, 2013 12:20 AM GDT

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) -

Excessive feeding of feral birds that causes offensive odors, property damage or health problems for neighbors would be a public health nuisance under a measure signed into law Monday by Gov. Neil Abercrombie.

The new law—effective immediately—enables the State Health Department to investigate complaints of bird nuisances on private property and enforce the law by issuing warnings or ordering property owners to stop providing excessive amounts of feed.

The bill (HB619) was introduced by State Rep. Gregg Takayama (D-Pearl City, Waimalu, Pacific Palisades) and supported by fellow area legislators Sen. David Ige and Councilmember Breene Harimoto.

"This law will help provide welcome relief to Pearl City residents who have been plagued for years by neighbors whose excessive and inconsiderate bird feeding has attracted flocks of several hundred pigeons, whose droppings and feathers create odors, property damage and aggravation of health problems," said Rep. Takayama. Residents in several other Oahu neighborhoods, including Kailua, have raised similar concerns.

Related story: Pigeon problem pits neighbor against neighbor in Pearl City

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/22798596/new-hawaii-law-bans-excessive-feeding-of-birds