News and comment

News and comment
Compiled by Adrian Pitches
Opinions expressed in this feature are not necessarily those of British Birds
As this graphic image shows,
birders in Malta face a level of
threat unrecognisable to most
birders in mainland Europe. Three
cars, including that of John Borg
from Heritage Malta, were
destroyed in an arson attack as the
war of words over spring hunting
in Malta literally reached a flashpoint.
European Court action is
looming over the Maltese Government’s continued flouting of the
EU Birds Directive since accession
to the European Union in 2004.
And spring hunting of Common
Quail Coturnix coturnix and Turtle
Dove Streptopelia turtur was a
significant issue in the Maltese
general election.
Labour had pledged to put
spring hunting on hold but it was
John Borg
Spring hunting fight turns ugly in Malta
117. The scene bird ringers in Malta returned to in late February…
the incumbent Nationalist Party
that was returned to power with a
one-seat majority. An announcement on whether or not the
Nationalist PM Lawrence Gonzi
will permit spring hunting in 2008
is imminent.
And birders’ car is attacked
on North York Moors
Volume 100 of BBi
now available
Another incident of criminal damage to a birder’s car has been recorded
much closer to home. It’s far less devastating than the Maltese attack – but
unpleasant and troubling nonetheless. Teesmouth Bird Club chairman Ted
Parker takes up the story:
‘At Sleddale on Sunday 10th February, several of our members were
parked in one car on the Commondale to Kildale road looking for raptors.
Being a nice day, they left their car to walk up the road towards Commondale and, on returning a short while later, found a man in a green Land
Rover interfering with their tyres. When the man saw them, he got into his
vehicle and sped off down the road towards Kildale. It transpired that he
had slashed all four tyres of the car.
‘Other birders who were present gave chase and the Land Rover turned
left onto the Westerdale road, down to the ford at Hob Hole and up the
steep bank on the other side. Unfortunately, due to icy conditions, the
birders’ car couldn’t negotiate the bank and follow the man any further.
The Land Rover was a hand-painted green, with an old-style number plate
and a vertical exhaust pipe at the front near the bonnet.
‘I am assured that the birders’ car was parked well off the road and not
causing any problem, so it can only be assumed that this criminal act was
conducted against those who were known to be birders by someone who,
for whatever reason, doesn’t like birdwatchers.
‘Incidents such as this against people who merely wish to enjoy the
countryside are totally unacceptable and one can only assume the motives
of the perpetrator and what other criminal acts he is carrying out in our
countryside. It is to be hoped that the police will find and prosecute this
criminal.’
Subscribers to our centenary DVDROM British Birds interactive (BBi)
will be pleased to learn that the
electronic version of Vol. 100 of
British Birds is now available to
download on the BirdGuides
website.
When BBi was released in
August, it contained the entire
archive of British Birds from
1907–2006. The 2007 volume is
available FREE to everyone who
purchased the DVD-ROM. Just
visit www.birdguides.com/bbi/
updates to download all 12 issues
from our centenary year. Note that
the Vol. 100 update is approximately 140 Mb; if you don’t have a
broadband connection, this update
can be supplied on disc for a
nominal cost, to cover duplication,
postage and packing, of £10.00.
Please contact sales@birdguides.
com A review of BBi appeared in
last month’s BB (Brit. Birds 101:
157–159).
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© British Birds 101 • April 2008 • 220–223
News and comment
North Yorkshire
gamekeepers guilty
of cage trapping
Three gamekeepers working on the
Snilesworth
Estate,
near
Northallerton, have pleaded guilty
to a range of charges relating to the
use of cage traps containing live
pigeons Columba livia to take birds
of prey. The case was heard at Scarborough Magistrates Court on 8th
February. In May 2007, following
allegations of traps being set to
catch raptors, North Yorkshire
Police, supported by the RSPB and
RSPCA, visited the Snilesworth
Estate, owned by Mr Mark
Osborne, of Banbury, Oxfordshire.
James Benjamin Shuttlewood,
of Hagg House, Snilesworth,
Hawnby, is the head keeper of the
Snilesworth Estate. A gamekeeper
of 20 years’ experience, Shuttlewood pleaded guilty to five
offences, relating to the setting of
illegal traps by his subordinates. He
was fined £250 for each offence.
Charles Lambert Woof, of Sparrow
Hall, Scugdale, Swainby, pleaded
guilty to one offence of misusing a
cage trap. He was fined £100. Eighteen-year-old David George Cook,
of Ingleby House Farm, Ingleby,
Arncliffe, pleaded guilty to two
offences of setting cage traps.
Cook, who was 17 at the time the
offences were committed, was
given a conditional discharge for
12 months.
Additionally, the three convicted keepers have each been
asked to pay £43 costs. Commenting on the verdict, Ian West,
head of the RSPB’s investigations
team, said: ‘The conviction of
another three gamekeepers for
attempting to kill birds of prey
provides further evidence of the
lack of tolerance some estates have
towards these fantastic birds. The
estate is part of a network of
shooting estates managed by
Osborne. Ian West added: ‘As a
major manager of shooting estates,
Mr Osborne has a real opportunity
to show leadership and signal an
end to the Victorian tradition of
intolerance towards birds of prey.’
British Birds 101 • April 2008 • 220–223
Winter sport capers scare off Capers
Expansion of winter sports in the Highlands could have a major impact on
the vulnerable Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus population. A study of German
birds has found that the species is significantly affected by disturbance from
winter sports tourism. The researchers say a craze for winter snowshoe
walking is having a particular impact on the Capercaillie because walkers are
able to reach parts of open woodland that off-piste skiers typically don’t
visit. In some areas, the birds have very few undisturbed refuges left.
The Capercaillie is common in Scandinavia and Russia, but clings to
survival in Scotland. It became extinct in Scotland in the 1770s, but was
reintroduced to Perthshire in 1837.
Researchers studied populations of the giant grouse in the Black Forest,
in southern Germany. The team attached radio transmitters to 13 birds so
that they could follow their movements. They also collected droppings
from the tracked birds and from more than 50 other individuals. The team
analysed these for breakdown products of a stress hormone. They found
that the birds avoid areas most heavily used by winter sports enthusiasts.
Furthermore, droppings deposited closest to these areas had higher levels
of stress-hormone breakdown chemicals, indicating that they came from
the most stressed birds. The team believes that this is an indication of problems for the birds, which may lead to difficulties in breeding. Dr Lukas
Jenni of the Swiss Ornithological Institute in Sempach, who led the study,
recommends that tourism development be halted in regions inhabited by
the Capercaillie and more restrictions introduced to prevent tourists from
straying away from marked trails.
An RSPB spokesman said that the results tied in with its studies at
Abernethy in the Cairngorms, the UK’s largest remnant of the ancient
Caledonian pine forest and posed ‘questions about how we promote recreation and access in sensitive forests where there are Capercaillie.’
More ‘Spoonies’ discovered
Some heartening news for fans of that charismatic wader, the Spoon-billed
Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus: sightings of 84 ‘Spoonies’ at two
coastal wetland sites in Myanmar have cast new light on the winter distribution of this Endangered species, and confirmed that these wetlands are
of international importance for their biodiversity.
The known global population of Spoon-billed Sandpiper has plunged
alarmingly in the last few years to only 200–300 pairs. ‘The number of
breeding pairs in Chukotka, Siberia, fell by 50% between 2006 and 2007,
and no birds have been seen this year at their traditional wintering sites in
Bangladesh,’ says Evgeny Syroechkovskiy, Vice President of the Russian Bird
Conservation Union (BirdLife in Russia).
Analysis of satellite images, combined with the experience of previous
surveys in India, Bangladesh and Thailand, and with historical records of
the species in Myanmar, suggested that potentially suitable habitats existed
in the southwestern state of Arakan (Rakhine) in the Bay of Bengal, and
Martaban (Mottama) Bay near the Thai border.
Thirty-five Spoon-billed Sandpipers were counted at one high-tide
roost in Arakan, which had never been surveyed before, including one
juvenile ringed on the breeding grounds in Chukotka last summer. The
team at Martaban found a total of 48 Spoon-billed Sandpipers, scattered
over the huge mudflats of the bay, but including a flock of 39 birds.
Norfolk County Recorder
Giles Dunmore has stood down as County Recorder for Norfolk after 12 years.
All future records should be sent to Dave and Jacquie Bridges, 27 Swann Grove,
Hempstead Road, Holt, Norfolk NR25 6DP, e-mail dnjnorfolkrec@aol.com
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Robin Chittenden www.harlequinpictures.com
News and comment
Stacks of money for Corn Buntings
Beck’s is back
The continuing decline of Corn Buntings Emberiza calandra among a suite
of farmland birds is a sadly familiar story now. But there is a ray of sunshine in the Outer Hebrides, where a simple change in crofting practice has
seen an upturn in fortunes for the ‘fat bird of the barley’.
The Corn Bunting was once common as far north as Shetland, but suffered a decline of 86% in the UK between 1967 and 2003. The Scottish
population of this
red-listed species
now comprises
just 800 territorial
males, concentrated mainly in
the eastern lowlands from Moray
to Fife, and with
isolated populations in the Outer
Hebrides
and
Inverness-shire.
All of these
populations are
still falling, except
in the Outer
Hebrides, where
numbers increased
by over 20%, from
111 to 134 territorial males, between
2006 and 2007,
118. Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra.
after many years of
gradual decline. This is thought to be a response to a scheme introduced in
2004 (the ‘Uist and Barra Arable Stack Scheme’) which pays crofters to
stack a part of their grain crop in the autumn. This provides a valuable
winter food source for Corn Buntings, which is otherwise lost when the
crop is stored in black plastic bales.
Jamie Boyle, RSPB Uist Warden, said: ‘The changes in harvesting techniques in the Uists unfortunately removed a major winter food source for
Corn Buntings. Farmers now generally harvest crops early, before they
come to seed, and wrap them up in big plastic bags to store as silage over
winter. By offering payments to crofters, we seem to have been able to help
the Corn Bunting at the same time as preserving a traditional form of agriculture in the Uists.’
At the time of writing, David
Beckham’s 100th appearance for
England is still in the balance but
another Beck’s has reappeared in
spectacular fashion. Beck’s Petrel
Pseudobulweria becki was known
only from two records from the
1920s. Now it’s been rediscovered
in the Pacific after a gap of 79
years. Writing in the Bulletin of the
British Ornithologists’ Club (Bull.
BOC 128: 3–16), Hadoram Shirihai
has described how he tracked
down this enigmatic tubenose on
an expedition around the islands
northeast of Papua New Guinea in
July and August 2007.
On his voyage around New
Britain and New Ireland, Hadoram
managed to photograph more than
30 of these elusive seabirds. Some
of the petrels were fledged juveniles, suggesting recent breeding. A
freshly dead young bird salvaged at
sea becomes only the third specimen in existence.
‘This re-finding of Beck’s Petrel
is exceptional news and congratulations to Hadoram Shirihai for his
effort and energy in rediscovering
this “lost” petrel,’ commented Dr
Stuart Butchart, BirdLife’s Global
Species Programme Co-ordinator.
Hadoram first visited the area in
2003, where he observed ‘possible
Beck’s Petrels’ – inspiring him to
return four years later. Explaining
this decision, he commented: ‘I
was eager to know about these
amazing petrels… and to understand better how we may conserve
them.’
The petrel was first described
by Rollo Beck, an ornithologist and
collector of museum specimens,
and was previously known from
just two specimens he collected in
1928 and 1929 during an expedition to the region. Hopes were
raised two years ago in Australia
with the sighting of a possible
Beck’s Petrel in the Coral Sea off
Queensland, but this record was
not accepted by the Birds Australia
Rarities Committee.
Confirming the existence of
Beck’s Petrel was difficult because
it is similar to Tahiti Petrel
Godparents for Godwits
Rare raptors are regular recipients of voluntary nestwatch schemes. But this
spring the RSPB in northwest England is seeking godparents for nesting
waders – Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa. Each year one or two pairs of
Black-tailed Godwits nest on marshland on the Ribble estuary. Only
around 60 pairs breed in the whole of the UK, and those on the Ribble are
the only ones in northwest England.
Their rarity makes them a target for egg thieves, however, and if the
birds breed this year the RSPB and Fylde Bird Club will mount a 24-hour
guard on the nest. The two organisations have launched an appeal for
people to become ‘godwit guardians’, by volunteering to help with the nestwatch near Freckleton. For more information, contact Carol Coupe on
01995 642251 or e-mail carol.coupe@rspb.org.uk
222
British Birds 101 • April 2008 • 220–223
News and comment
P. rostrata (which Hadoram saw
alongside Beck’s Petrel), and few
people have looked for it at sea;
indeed, it may be nocturnal at the
breeding grounds. ‘There are
numerous atolls and islands where
it may breed,’ said Dr Butchart.
‘However, the remaining population may be small.’
Like other tubenoses, Beck’s
Petrel is potentially threatened by
introduced cats Felis silvestris catus
and rats Rattus at its breeding sites,
and by logging and forest clearance
for oil-palm plantations. Until the
breeding sites have been identified,
the threats remain speculative but
BirdLife has designated Beck’s
Petrel as Critically Endangered.
Corrections
The authors of the paper ‘The use of stable-isotope ratios in ornithology’
(Brit. Birds 101: 112–130) wish to point out that when the mass spectrometer vapourises the sample and propels the ions into the magnetic field, the
force deflects the ions to a degree that is dependent on the mass-to-charge
ratio, so light ions (of course) get deflected more than heavier ones. We
regret an unfortunate mistake in the original, where it is stated in Box 1
that ‘light hydrogen with be deflected less by the magnetic field than heavy
hydrogen’.
The Atlas of the Birds of Delhi and Haryana, reviewed last month (Brit.
Birds 101: 163–164), was incorrectly priced. It is available in the UK only
from the Oriental Bird Club www.orientalbirdclub.org price £12.50,
including p&p; £17.50 for airmail anywhere overseas.
Dorset County Recorder
James Lidster is standing down as County Recorder for Dorset. The new
Recorder is Kevin Lane, 42 Twin Oaks Close, Broadstone, Dorset BH18 8JF,
tel. 07901 614629, e-mail kevin@broadstoneheath.co.uk
Recent reports
Compiled by Barry Nightingale and Eric Dempsey
This summary of unchecked reports covers
early February to early March 2008.
Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis Easton,
16th–17th February; Skinburness Marsh (both
Cumbria), 6th March; Caerlaverock (Dumfries
& Galloway), 7th–9th March; West Wittering/
Thorney Island (West Sussex)/Hayling Island
(Hampshire), long-stayer to 6th March. Black
Duck Anas rubripes Ventry (Co. Kerry),
21st–26th February; long-stayer at Blanketnook
(Co. Donegal), 24th February. Ferruginous
Duck Aythya nyroca Craigavon Balancing Lakes
(Co. Armagh), to 1st March. Lesser Scaup
Aythya affinis Lough Rea (Co. Galway, 11th–14th
February; Lough Ennell (Co. Westmeath), two,
17th February to 1st March, one to 2nd;
Thompson Water (Norfolk), 19th February;
Stourton (Wiltshire), 20th February to 1st
March; Clea Lakes (Co. Down), 23rd February
to 3rd March; Castle Loch 26th–27th February,
presumably same Loch Magillie 3rd–4th March
and Soulseat Loch 10th March (all Dumfries &
Galloway); Torr Reservoir (Somerset), 2nd
March. Long-stayers: Benbecula (Outer
Hebrides), to 29th February; Sutton Courtenay/
Appleford Gravel-pits (Oxfordshire), to 16th
© British Birds 101 • April 2008 • 223–226
February; Yell, to 19th February, occasionally
visiting Unst (both Shetland); Lough Arrow
(Co. Sligo), to 2nd March; Draycote Water to
4th March, presumed same Brandon Marsh
(both Warwickshire), 5th March. King Eider
Somateria spectabilis Northam Burrows area
18th February to 9th March (first for Devon);
Murcar (North-east Scotland), 24th February;
Uisead Point (Argyll), 5th March; Mousa (Shetland), long-stayer to 25th February. Barrow’s
Goldeneye Bucephala islandica Quoile Pondage
(Co. Down), long-stayer to 4th March.
White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii Lewis (Outer
Hebrides), long-stayer to 2nd March; Bluemull
Sound (Shetland), long-stayer to 19th February;
South Nesting Bay (Shetland), long-stayer to
2nd March.
Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Mere Sands
Wood (Lancashire & N Merseyside), 12th–15th
February and 9th–10th March.
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Most, if not all, of the
following involve long-stayers, with undoubtedly some relocation taking place. Cornwall
Drift/Sancreed area, max. 20 in the period, 19 to
223