Stories (not only) from the wildlife

[Liz01]

Climate change: Thousands of penguins die in Antarctic ice breakup

August 24



A catastrophic die-off of emperor penguin chicks has been observed in the Antarctic, with up to 10,000 young birds estimated to have been killed.

The sea-ice underneath the chicks melted and broke apart before they could develop the waterproof feathers needed to swim in the ocean.
The birds most likely drowned or froze to death.
The event, in late 2022, occurred in the west of the continent in an area fronting on to the Bellingshausen Sea.
It was recorded by satellites.

Dr Peter Fretwell, from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), said the wipeout was a harbinger of things to come.

More than 90% of emperor penguin colonies are predicted to be all but extinct by the end of the century, as the continent's seasonal sea-ice withers in an ever-warming world.

"Emperors depend on sea-ice for their breeding cycle; it's the stable platform they use to bring up their young. But if that ice is not as extensive as it should be or breaks up faster, these birds are in trouble," he told BBC News.

"There is hope: we can cut our carbon emissions that are causing the warming. But if we don't we will drive these iconic, beautiful birds to the verge of extinction."

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-66492767

[Susanne]

There is a wonderful series of docs. about national parks in the Baltic countries on ARTE.: 1. Laheema, 2. Soomaa, 3.Gauja, 4. Lithuania: Curonian/Courish Spit.

Exemplary link: https://www.arte.tv/de/videos/101926-00 ... -baltikum/
Notable - I have just made a quick review to see if there is anything or anyone we might know:
2. Soomaa, from 18:00 ff.: Marko Kübarsepp, wolves; 3. Gauja, from 03:30 ff.: Ugis Bermanis, LSEs.
It's a German documentary from 2023 by Britta Lübke.

[sova]

*****

I don't know what I could do to someone like that...

One of Britain's most photographed trees has been illegally felled. The massive sycamore maple “Sycamore Gap Trew” in Northumberland was the location for the 1991 Hollywood film “Robin Hood: King of Thieves” with Kevin Costner. A 16-year-old is under strong suspicion.

https://www.stuttgarter-nachrichten.de/ ... f20dc.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tyne-66947040

[Polly]

The “Bird of the Year” 2024 stands out, no question. The lapwing has a bold crest of feathers on the back of its head. Its plumage is white on the underside and dark on the upper side with a metallic green and purple shimmer. But if you want to observe the meadow breeder, which has now become rare, you need luck - or you have to know the right places.

GT

Der "Vogel des Jahres" 2024 fällt auf, keine Frage. Am Hinterkopf trägt der Kiebitz einen kecken Federschopf. Sein Gefieder ist auf der Unterseite weiß, auf der Oberseite ist es dunkel und schimmert metallisch Grün und Violett. Doch wer den inzwischen selten gewordenen Wiesenbrüter beobachten will, braucht Glück - oder muss die richtigen Stellen kennen.

...

Der taubengroße Vogel aus der Familie der Regenpfeifer und der Erhalt seines Lebensraums könnten nun mehr Beachtung bekommen: Bei der Wahl zum "Vogel des Jahres" 2024 flatterte er mit fast 28 Prozent der Stimmen auf den ersten Platz und darf im kommenden Jahr deshalb den Titel tragen. Seit 1971 küren NABU und LBV einen Jahresvogel, um auf die Gefährdung der heimischen Vögel aufmerksam zu machen. Seit 2021 darf die Bevölkerung online abstimmen. Rund 120.000 Menschen beteiligten sich in diesem Jahr.

GT

The pigeon-sized bird from the plover family and the preservation of its habitat could now receive more attention: In the election for “Bird of the Year” 2024, it fluttered into first place with almost 28 percent of the votes and can therefore hold the title next year . Since 1971, NABU and LBV have chosen a bird of the year to draw attention to the endangerment of native birds. Since 2021, the population has been able to vote online. Around 120,000 people took part this year.

(by picture alliance / blickwinkel/M. Woike)

Source:
https://www.n-tv.de/wissen/Luftakrobat- ... 43281.html

Der Kiebitz gehört zu den sogenannten Kurzstreckenziehern. Im Herbst verlässt er sein Brutgebiet, um in milderen Regionen zu überwintern, zum Beispiel in Frankreich, Spanien, Großbritannien und den Niederlanden. "Ein paar bleiben hier in Deutschland, ein Teil zieht weg. Das hängt aber auch von der Witterung ab", erläutert NABU-Experte Rümmler.

GT

The lapwing is one of the so-called short-distance migrants. In autumn it leaves its breeding area to overwinter in milder regions, for example in France, Spain, Great Britain and the Netherlands. “A few stay here in Germany, some move away. But that also depends on the weather,” explains NABU expert Rümmler.

We were in central Denmark in January and saw a few.
Perhaps moved from even further north.

[Polly]

*****

I don't know what I could do to someone like that...

One of Britain's most photographed trees has been illegally felled. The massive sycamore maple “Sycamore Gap Trew” in Northumberland was the location for the 1991 Hollywood film “Robin Hood: King of Thieves” with Kevin Costner. A 16-year-old is under strong suspicion.

https://www.stuttgarter-nachrichten.de/ ... f20dc.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tyne-66947040

It would be good to plant oak trees for it.

I love oak trees. We have two 'under our noses' and it's great, this life in them! Oaks seem to provide good food in addition to good branches.

I don't know what I could do to someone like that...

...oh yes, we would know.

[Susanne]

This is sad - but bearing hope, regarding the people fighting against poachers of the meanest kind, kudos to all of them involved! - The Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) was active in Lebanon in September 2023.
https://www.komitee.de/de/service/vogelschutz-blog/

Quote, GT: " October 10, 2023, New short film: Thousands of eagles and other migratory birds killed in Lebanon
Lesser spotted eagles are among the most common victims of poachers in Lebanon. The committee released a video of its operation against migratory bird hunting in Lebanon in September 2023. The film shows how our experts document illegal mass shootings of lesser spotted eagles, short-toed eagles, booted eagles, black kites, short-fanged sparrowhawks, honey buzzards, meadow harriers, marsh harriers, kestrels and tree falcons in the Akkar district (Northern Lebanon Mountains). Together with the police and with the support of our partners MESHC and SPNL, the team returned a few days later. A total of 14 poachers were caught and disarmed."
Link to the You Tube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74X7l_T5GuQ

Warning: This is absolutely hard to bear - and likely to cause nightmares. ( I admit: I skipped some parts ...) -
I personally am thankful for the documentation, I most probably would not be strong enough to do such work, I would not be able to stop screaming my guts out, facing such unnecessary, pointless destruction of life.

[Liz01]

This is the area that is now being massively bombarded. I am without words! this area is basically smaller than Berlin! Where should the birds save themselves?


source : Checklist of the birds of the Gaza Strip - Palestine, Open Journal of Ecology · March 2023


source : Checklist of the birds of the Gaza Strip - Palestine, Open Journal of Ecology · March 2023

provided by Shai Blitzblau ( Israel Waders ISRW)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1216946 ... 837137696/

[Liz01]

After shots at black stork in Gotha district: expert gives assessment



The stork was found injured in the Gotha district in mid-August. It quickly became clear that he had been shot. How the animal is doing two months later.

The black stork, which was found injured near Remstädt in mid-August, was able to start its migration south after a considerable delay. As the Seebach bird sanctuary announced, the young stork was released back into the wild near Niederdorla on October 10th after a successful recovery.

The black stork, which was ringed in July in Bagniewo, Poland, was 405 kilometers from its birthplace and was captured by Nabu members near Remstädt on August 15th, seriously injured. In addition to broken ribs and a broken leg, veterinarians said the bird had also suffered a bullet wound.

Experts assume the shooter is in an elevated position
“The injury suggests a shot from an elevated position, probably with a small-caliber rifle,” said ornithologist Susanne Löw, deputy chairwoman of the Gotha Nabu district association. Just in July, a white stork with a similar pattern of injuries was found dead not far from its nest in Bufleben.

After being given antibiotics and painkillers, the black stork recovered quickly in the bird sanctuary. A final follow-up X-ray confirmed that the broken bones had healed well.

[Liz01]

I have been following the reintroduction efforts for some time via FB and other media.
Northern Bald Ibis Project
https://www.waldrapp.eu/projektinfo/

https://www.waldrappteam.at/hlm/

An unusual journey can currently be observed.
On Saturday a group of at least 18 northern bald ibises set off. Instead of flying south, however, they headed north. The two subadults Koda and Eugen flew together with 16 young birds from Salzburg via the Czech Republic to the Upper Palatinate. The group stopped there and separated. The young bird Mallo had already decided to return in the Czech Republic, while Koda and Eugen hesitated for a moment, but then decided to return to the group in Salzburg. Meanwhile, the young bird Satus continued to fly highly motivated on its course together with 5 other young birds without radio transmitters and they reached Sweden on Monday
The rest of the troop continued to fly at a somewhat more moderate pace, but they are also currently further on a northerly course, currently north of Wolfsburg.
The young birds follow their natural migration motivation, but without any knowledge of the location of the winter area.
We still hope that the young birds will change direction again and look forward to any visual reports so that we can better assess the situation!

https://www.facebook.com/Waldrappteam

Now they are in the Swedish newspapers
https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/jonko ... ge--dflaks


Today they flew a little bit south. I really hope they find their way to where they need to go! Italy or Spain

[sova]

https://www.geo.de/natur/tierwelt/wieso ... 40756.html

Why birds sing lullabies to their unhatched chicks

In many species of songbirds, female song is less noticeable than male song. But that doesn't make it any less important: A new study shows how the embryos in the egg learn to sing from their mother
It is primarily the male songbirds that belt out their characteristic songs in spring and summer - be it to charm potential mates or to mark their territory. But the – often more discreet – song of the females also fulfills an important function. Because he serves as a role model for their offspring. And not just after the chicks have hatched: the embryo in the egg already learns from the mother. A research team led by behavioral biologist Sonia Kleindorfer from the University of Vienna has now been able to show this.

For their study,
https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/728105
published in the journal “American Naturalist,” the researchers examined eight different species of Australian songbirds, so-called season-tailed birds and grasshoppers. Biologically speaking, the birds, which are somewhat reminiscent of wrens, all belong to a family in which the ability to sing developed very early - around five million years ago.

At 13 different locations across Australia, the research team recorded and compared the voices of brooding mothers and their chicks. The result: Apparently the embryos in the egg are already listening to their mother - and learning the song from her.

“The role of the mother as a sound and singing teacher has so far been overlooked”
In the case of the Black-tailed Blackbirds examined, it was found that the newly hatched chicks repeated one of their mother's characteristic calls - namely as a begging call. The sound analyzes also showed that the slower the chicks had previously uttered their begging call, the more precisely they could imitate their mother.

With their study, the research team closes an important gap in understanding the learning process in birds - and in understanding the role of the mother in "early language acquisition." Because “until recently, their calls and singing and thus their function as potential sound and singing teachers were overlooked,” says the first author of the study, Sonia Kleindorfer, in a university press release.
https://medienportal.univie.ac.at/media ... tm_kwd=idw
The results are also likely to apply to European songbirds. “It seems to be a general pattern,” Sonia Kleindorfer told GEO.

And something else surprised the researchers when they evaluated their studies: apparently, through their singing, the mothers not only help their offspring learn to sing. They also soothe their chicks in the egg with lullabies: when the embryos heard their mother's characteristic call, their heart rate slowed down.

[sova]

....
Today they flew a little bit south. I really hope they find their way to where they need to go! Italy or Spain

...Well hopefully

[Liz01]

sova, thanks for the interesting study!

...Well hopefully

sova, there are 2 groups. Now the 2nd group has landed on the Danish border. The group in Sweden hiked a little north again.

Without help they cannot find their way to the south.

https://www.facebook.com/Waldrappteam

[Susanne]

Not all the Black Storks fly to Africa - sometimes one of them joins a group of White Storks in Bavaria that have neither migrated.
Dec 04, 2023: https://www.lbv.de/news/details/kaltes- ... vogelwelt/

Quote: ""An unusual observation currently comes from the Nördlingen area in Swabia <Bavarian Swabia, S>. There, a black stork has joined a group of already known white storks. The fact that individual black storks spend the winter in Bavaria is a previously rare phenomenon that we continue to keep an eye on," said the LBV stork expert Oda Wieding."
There is a pic in the article, it's a ringed BS.

[Susanne]

Now, this is something for a Happy 3rd Advent - and a nice prospect for summer: A new Becorn Story by David Bird (yeah, that's his true name),

Becorns Episode 4: The Birdbath Challenge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNSNQVWPfQA



Enjoy!

[Liz01]

Updatte from our Waldies


There were many questions about our young birds from the north, and we can now give a short update, even if many things cannot yet be answered with certainty.
Of the original 32 young birds that flew north, 11 flew back independently and have now mostly arrived in Italy.
Three young northern bald ibises were rescued in northern Germany and are currently in reception centers where they are well cared for and can regain their strength. Contrary to the concerns of many Northern Bald Ibis friends, we are currently trying to release them back into the wild in a suitable location.
Carlotta, who stayed in Niebüll for a long time with two other animals and had numerous fans there, is in an area with good food availability. It will no longer be found in our app until further notice, this is purely for your protection.
Although the winter has claimed some victims (Satus, Yasmin, Resi and probably other birds), we are currently receiving sighting reports from all over Germany again. A few seem to have escaped the worst, we are very excited to see where the birds will be seen in the future!

1.12 one was rescued in Bavaria

https://www.br.de/nachrichten/bayern/zu ... et,TxBwg14

7.12. one was rescued just before it was too late
Northern Bald Ibis "Arietta" was found malnourished and frozen and taken to the wildlife and species protection center in the Pinneberg district. The bird is now over the mountain.

https://www.ndr.de/home/schleswig-holst ... pp134.html

[Susanne]

Noteworthy article:
Fighting for wildlife in a time of war

By Adam Robertson Charlton, originally published by Hakai Magazine

January 4, 2024

https://www.resilience.org/stories/2024 ... me-of-war/

[Susanne]

A recommendable article on the work of anti-poaching units in Lebanon:

https://www.earthisland.org/journal/ind ... 9oTL9mIZ9U

Quote: "Lebanon is situated in the middle of the East African-Eurasian flyway, making the country one of the most important migration corridors in the world for many species of birds. But the country also has a long tradition of bird hunting, which has been a disaster for species of concern like honey buzzards and lesser spotted eagles. Between three and five million migratory birds are shot in Lebanon each year as they make the dangerous trip from Europe to Africa and back each spring and autumn."

(link provided by CABS, https://www.komitee.de/de/service/vogelschutz-blog/ )

[Liz01]

7.01.2024 Arrival of a black stork at a nest near humans

https://vimeo.com/900596443

8. January A black stork was spotted in a meadow near Karlsruhe. (NABU)
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=77 ... 2889249578

[Liz01]

What news!!

RSPB
@Natures_Voice
We humbly interrupt your scroll to share some feel-good avian news

At 73, Wisdom the Albatross is not just flying high as the world's oldest known bird – she's breeding again!

This graceful old gal is still going strong. We love to see it


https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-a ... iscussion/

the whole article by Bird Guides:
https://www.birdguides.com/news/worlds- ... ain-at-73/

[asteria]

Suspected spy pigeon freed after eight months in hospital’s custody

A pigeon, who was suspected of being a Chinese spy and had been in the custody of Bai Sakarbai Dinshaw Petit Hospital for Animals in Parel for the last eight months, was finally freed on Tuesday.

On May 17 last year, the bird was caught at Pir Pau Jetty, a chemical jetty, by the RCF (Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers) police in Chembur. What aroused the police’s suspicion were two rings – one copper and one aluminum – tied to its leg and messages written in a Chinese-like script on the underside of both its wings. While the rings were taken for a forensic test, the pigeon was sent to the hospital for a check-up.
Catch the complete coverage of Budget 2024 only on HT. Explore now!

The bird was in a fine medical condition, said Dr Mayur Dangar, the hospital’s manager. “Since we were given the pigeon in police custody, we could not set it free without permission.”

HT reported the story on January 17. On speaking to the assistant police inspector Ravindra Patil from RCF police station, HT learned that the pigeon used to take part in racing in open waters in Taiwan and at one such event it flew out of the country and landed in India. Patil also said the spying charges had been dropped and they were under the impression the bird had already been freed.

The pigeon had been occupying one of the eight cages meant for infectious and injured birds at the hospital. Letters to RCF police station elicited no response, Dangar had then said.

Following the report, the hospital wrote again to the police on January 22, asking for permission to let the bird go.

The police station sent a letter to the hospital on Monday, saying, “The bird was sent for medicinal and safe-keeping purposes. The inquiry is complete. If the bird is medically stable, the police station has no objection to its release.”

The release came as a massive relief to the hospital, as it is crunched for space with only eight bird cages, while other birds are kept in the open in an aviary. Dr Dangar said, “The cage was almost immediately replaced with two owls from Dadar, who were brought in by someone suspecting an accident. But finding them to be alright, we plan to release them tonight. The other cages are occupied by two parrots, four pigeons and one kite.”

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/m ... 20887.html