The European Parliament stood up to defend key EU nature laws in a vote at its plenary session in Strasbourg yesterday. MEPs on 2 February 2016 overwhelmingly approved a report on the Mid-term review of the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy, which calls for the protection of the Birds and Habitats Directives. The report stresses that full implementation […]
European Parliament Votes for Nature Read More »
New bird species are rarely discovered nowadays. Since 2000, five new species are discovered every year on average, most of which in South America. While studying birds at high elevations in India, an international team of scientists realized that what was considered a single species, the Alpine Thrush Zoothera mollissima (previously known as Plain-backed Thrush), was in fact
Himalayan Forest Thrush: new bird species identified in India and China Read More »
BirdLife Cyprus will be undertaking over the following month a winter anti-trapping survey with the help of volunteers, checking various locations for trapping activity. Ιt is still early to have an overall picture of illegal bird trapping for this winter, however last winter 2014-15 we detected a large number of mist nets in situ, 48
BirdLife Cyprus is out for its winter anti-trapping survey Read More »
The EU Commission has given its final and categorical opinion regarding the proposed derogation for the selective hunting of ambelopoulia, the so called ‘alternative plan’, which the Cyprus Government included unilaterally in the Strategic Plan against illegal bird trapping which was approved last May 2015. According to a newspaper article (2 January 2016), Mr Enrico Brivio, a
EU Commission’s reply is final – NO to the ‘alternative plan’ Read More »
On 8 January 2016, the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment, Mr Nicos Kouyialis, presented the catastrophic proposal of the Ministerial Committee about Akamas to the Parliamentary Committee on the Environment. At the same time, Environmental NGOs and active citizens had gathered outside the Parliament for a peaceful demonstration to oppose once more
Update on Akamas Peninsula Read More »
Some 20 recorders covered 36 wetlands (and two coastal sites) across the island as BirdLife Cyprus took part in the 50th International Waterbirds Census (IWC) mid-winter count, which has been organised by Wetlands International since 1967. Some 25,453 birds, of 56 different species were recorded over the weekend of 16-17 January 2016. The most abundant
Over 25,000 waterbirds recorded during January 2016 Mid-Winter Count Read More »
Hundreds of Cypriot citizens and tourists have been flocking to Larnaka Salt Lake the past few weeks to admire the amazing Flamingos that have arrived in Cyprus in their thousands in search of food and shelter. According to the most recent bird count, 12,500 Flamingos have settled at Larnaka Salt Lake and 2,500 more at Akrotiri
15,000 Flamingos at Larnaka and Akrotiri Salt Lakes this year Read More »
BirdLife Cyprus will be undertaking over the following month a winter anti-trapping survey with the help of volunteers, checking various locations for trapping activity. Ιt is still early to have an overall picture of illegal bird trapping for this winter, however last winter 2014-15 we detected a large number of mist nets in situ, 48
BirdLife Cyprus is out for its winter anti-trapping survey Read More »
The European Court of Justice has condemned Bulgaria on 14th January 2016 for failing to protect nature and putting threatened species at risk. The Court found that Bulgaria had not safeguarded Natura 2000 sites on cape Kaliakra and adjacent coastal areas properly, allowing a large number of developments to go ahead. The region is part
EU Court rules on Bulgaria: Government has failed nature Read More »
Hundreds of Cypriot citizens and tourists have been flocking to Larnaka Salt Lake the past few weeks to admire the amazing Flamingos that have arrived in Cyprus in their thousands in search of food and shelter. According to the most recent bird count that took place last weekend, 12,500 Flamingos have settled at Larnaka Salt
Do not disturb the Flamingos Read More »
BirdLife Cyprus condemns the decision taken by the Ministerial Council on 11th January 2016, on the Akamas issue, which according to press reports includes: The declaration of a National Forest Park, which will include the whole State Forest and the public land in the Natura 2000 site, excluding all the private land. The preparation of
BirdLife Cyprus condemns the decision by the Ministerial Council on the Akamas issue Read More »
BirdLife International published last month a scientific review on illegal bird killing across the Mediterranean region, the first ever comprehensive scientific study to quantify the scale and scope of illegal killing across this region. The results of this study are gruesome and despite the legal protection that is in place in the various countries, an estimated 25
Scientific Review on Illegal Bird Killing in the Mediterranean Read More »
Illegal killing of migratory birds is a widespread problem across the Mediterranean. Various illegal methods of killing and trapping are sadly used in countries found on the bird migration routes, including France, Italy, Spain, Malta and Cyprus. Such methods include limesticks, mist nets, stone traps, wire traps etc., making the journey of birds even more challenging.
Illegal killing of birds – a widespread problem across the Mediterranean Read More »
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