So many people in the old world still have that medieval attitude that wildlife is there only to be exploited. They can¡¯t understand why anybody would be interested in it for other than that purpose. And for governments in every country, birds and wildlife are always one of the very lowest priorities. The economy, finance, creating development and jobs, the migrant crisis, wars and terrorism, civil unrest and strikes, etc. etc. If any government didn¡¯t focus on these things they would be voted out of office and no politician wants that. They will do whatever it takes to stay in power, and that means pushing development, development and more development. Birds? What¡ are you kidding? We have serious issues to deal with! Who cares about birds?
As you say, a very sad situation.
Daniel Bastaja
danielbastaja@...
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On Mar 7, 2024, at 23:32, Derek Matthews <Derek@...> wrote:
Thanks Dan - Yes, I read that Egypt is the worst place to be a migratory bird with 140 million birds trapped during fall migration with hundreds of kilometers of nets, traps, snares and lime-coated sticks set out to harvest wild birds. And European Turtle Dove populations have declined by 95% with more than one million of them illegally killed each year in the Mediterranean ¨C no species can survive that level of persecution year after year in addition to all the other anthropogenic threats they face! It's too sad!
Derek
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Daniel Bastaja
Sent: March 7, 2024 12:57 PM
To: Vanbirds <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [vanbcbirds] Loony loon
Not just Cyprus Derek. Many birders in North America don¡¯t realize the industrial scale of the carnage that takes place all around the Mediterranean Basin every spring and fall. In Spain, Malta, France, Italy, Albania, Greece, Crete, Cyprus, Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt. Birds are trapped with lime sticks, lured into mist nets with playback, or just shot. Billions die every year.
Many places have traditional dishes that contain songbirds. For example ambelopoulia in Cyprus, made of Blackcap Warblers, or Ortolon Buntings in France. Trapping songbirds, especially in EU member countries, is illegal, but enforcement is up to local authorities and usually they turn a blind eye. They don't like outsiders or bureaucrats from Brussels telling them what they can and cannot do, especially when it is a cultural tradition. It¡¯s a tragic situation.
That¡¯s why I support organizations like The Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS), a charity based in Germany that takes direct action against illegal poaching.
Daniel Bastaja
danielbastaja@... <mailto:danielbastaja@...>
On Mar 7, 2024, at 18:48, Derek Matthews <Derek@...> wrote:
Not such a happy ending for songbirds in Cyprus though! What a truly
despicable species we are - sheesh! :o( <image002.jpg>More than
400,000 songbirds killed by organised crime in Cyprus theguardian.com
Derek J. Matthews - VARC
T: (604) 218-1191
E: Derek@...
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Daniel
Bastaja
Sent: March 7, 2024 6:16 AM
To: Vanbirds <[email protected]>
Subject: [vanbcbirds] Loony loon
CNN did a segment on the Yellow-billed Loon in the Bellagio Hotel
fountain in Las Vegas. The bird was captured by the Nevada Department
of Wildlife and released at an undisclosed location¡ presumably Lake
Mead. It was in good health. So happy ending to a strange story. :)
Daniel Bastaja danielbastaja@...
