Vultures: allies in the ecosystem, with added financial benefits
Supporting vulture recovery, so they can act as nature’s ‘clean-up crew’, is not only good for the vultures themselves, it’s also good for our pockets, according to a new study.
Illegal shooting of protected species a new challenge lies ahead
In March, BirdLife Cyprus published its Autumn 2020 anti-trapping monitoring report, marking significant progress in relation to illegal bird trapping. A notable 94% decrease was observed with regards to trapping with mist nets last autumn compared to 2002, the lowest trapping levels recorded since the start of our field monitoring. This is remarkable progress and …
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Interview with wildlife vet Constantinos Antoniou
Wildlife vets are few and far between in Cyprus, so we could not resist an interview with a member of
this rare species, who also happens to be a close collaborator of BirdLife Cyprus.
Παγκόσμια Ημέρα Μεταναστευτικών Πουλιών 2021
Τη φετινή Παγκόσμια Ημέρα Μεταναστευτικών Πουλιών, Σάββατο 8 Μαΐου, το BirdLife Cyprus προσκαλεί μικρούς και μεγάλους, όπου και να βρίσκονται, να συνδεθούν με τη φύση παρακολουθώντας και ακούγοντας τα πουλιά.
Nest box series: Episode 2 – “Barn Owl vs Kestrel”
Before we begin the second part of the story, we urge you to watch episode 1 of our “Nest box series” here. Now that that you’ve caught up, get ready for episode 2. The trouble in ‘Barn Owl paradise’ was unfortunately more real than ever. Day after day, we observed the Barn Owl pair spending …
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What should we do to protect bird nests?
Every spring, birds devote a huge amount of time and energy looking after their eggs and chicks. If you want to give them a helping hand, here are some simple tips that you can follow in your garden and local area to keep nesting birds safe.
CAA, the wandering Griffon Vulture
The tale of a tagged vulture that reaches the parts that other vultures do not…
Τρίτωσε το κακό με τον αυτοκινητόδρομο Αστρομερίτη – Ευρύχου
Η αρχή έγινε με τη Μαρίνα στην Αγία Νάπα, μετά ακολούθησε ο αυτοκινητόδρομος Πάφου – Πόλις και τώρα, για το κερασάκι στην τούρτα, ήρθε ο αυτοκινητόδρομος Αστρομερίτη – Ευρύχου. Τρία έργα που έχουν ξεσκεπάσει ένα ανησυχητικό μοτίβο από πλευράς του κράτους να επικαλείται «δημόσιο συμφέρον» για να προχωρεί αμφιλεγόμενες αναπτύξεις με βαρύ περιβαλλοντικό κόστος. Και …
Τρίτωσε το κακό με τον αυτοκινητόδρομο Αστρομερίτη – Ευρύχου Read More »
Nest box series: Episode 1 – “Barn Owl vs Kestrel”
Our network of Barn Owl nest boxes has been steadily growing these past few years, thanks to a coordinated national effort that we are part of and includes the Game and Fauna Service, the Department of Forests, the Department of Agriculture and the Veterinary Services. Together, we have drafted a National Action Plan (NAP) aiming …
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Illegal bird trapping: plugging one gap only to create another
BirdLife Cyprus’ latest report on bird trapping, for autumn 2020, presents the lowest trapping levels with mist nets ever recorded. Unfortunately, this welcome progress contrasts sharply with a catastrophic recent relaxation of the hunting law, while at the same time limestick use is on the rise.
Cyprus’ Flamingos make headlines on Euronews
The issue of lead poisoning of Flamingos at our key wetlands has been making headlines, including internationally. Our Director, Martin Hellicar, was recently interviewed on the issue on Euronews. BirdLife Cyprus is calling for Soros lake hunting area to be closed unless (or until) the authorities can guarantee two things: 1. No more poaching (the …
Your voice matters: tell the EU Commission what nature restoration across the EU should look like
Nature as we know it is heading towards extinction. And it’s because of human activity. Logging, intensive agriculture and overfishing have pushed one million animal and plant species to the point where they’re hanging by a thread. The European Commission will propose a new law to make nature restoration legally binding for EU countries. But …
Early feathered signs of spring
Some things signal the arrival of spring like nothing else. The blossoming of almond trees and the arrival of Barn Swallows are surely among the most common telltale signs. Although the first Barn Swallows always arrive to our island sometime around February, this year they arrived even earlier than usual. Indeed, spring in general seemed …
5 λόγοι γιατί εν πρέπει να τρώμεν αμπελοπούλλια. Τζι ας μεν εν απειλούμενα.
Η πικρή αλήθκεια ένι ότι έσιει εκατοντάδες χιλιάδες λόγους γιατί εν μπορούμεν να τρώμεν αμπελοπούλλια. Γιατί έτσι πολλούς; Γιατί κάθε φθινόπωρον θανατώνουνται παράνομα στο νησί μας εκατοντάδες χιλιάδες πουλιά λόγω παράνομης παγίδευσης. Τζαι ένεν ούλλα αμπελοπούλλια. Πα’ στα βερκά τζαι τα δίχτυα πιάνουνται τζαι σιελιόνια, κουκουβάγιες, σιαχίνια, αηδόνια τζαι είδη που απειλούνται με εξαφάνιση σε …
5 λόγοι γιατί εν πρέπει να τρώμεν αμπελοπούλλια. Τζι ας μεν εν απειλούμενα. Read More »
New bird guide for children: What’s that bird? A bird guide for young explorers”
Our popular children’s bird guide “What’s that bird? A bird guide for young explorers” is now available in English! The English book is based on the second edition of its Greek counterpart, and presents 86 easily identifiable bird species of Cyprus. The bird guide is mainly targeted at children, but it is also a good …
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Griffon Vulture population remains steady according to latest census
Another annual winter Griffon Vulture census was completed with success last December, with the involvement of the Game and Fauna Service, the Cyprus Conservation Foundation – Terra Cypria, the SBA Environment Department, the Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF) and our team of dedicated volunteers. On the day, a maximum count of around 20 individuals was recorded, …
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Almost 17,000 waterbirds wintering at the wetlands of Cyprus
This year’s World Wetlands Day finds Cyprus playing host to almost 17,000 waterbirds as they take refuge from the frozen north at the island’s wetlands.
Monitoring birds with camera traps
Can you spot the camera in the photo below? Barely, right? Birds also tend not to notice it. This is why this nifty gadget is helping us record key data on key species, with zero disturbance and without us even being there.
Ethics in wildlife photography
An article focused on the need to be sensitive and considerate as a photographer when it comes to your impact on nature. Some hints and tips from our member, volunteer and wildlife photographer Ben Porter.
Call for the annulment of relaxation of bird protection law
In early December, a serious relaxation of bird protection law was voted through by the House of Representatives, undermining a 20-year effort to protect migratory songbirds from being illegally killed in Cyprus. We’ve just launched a petition calling for its annulment: https://change.org/ampelopouliaSOS With this recent law amendment, the on-the-spot fine for the offence of illegal killing (using …
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The story of a young Griffon Vulture named Kostis
Kostis’ story began about a year ago, when he/she was still the one and only egg in the nest, and of course, long before we decided to give it the name we did.
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