BirdLife Cyprus completed its report with the latest findings of the on-going and systematic surveillance programme on illegal bird trapping for the autumn 2015 season. Based on the analysis of the survey data, 19km of net rides were active during the autumn season of 2015 within the survey area covering Larnaca – Famagusta and Ayios Theodoros – Maroni areas and more than 5,300 limesticks were confiscated by enforcement agencies. Based on the data gathered, BirdLife Cyprus estimates that over 2 million birds could have been killed across the whole of Cyprus in autumn 2015 from this illegal activity. Mist netting activity for autumn 2015 has decreased by 13% compared to 2002, a positive outcome comparing to the record breaking levels recorded in autumn 2014. 

More than 30 delegates from conservation NGOs and other organisations from 24 countries, such as Spain and the UK, as well as countries of the Middle East, North Africa and the Balkans, met for a Mediterranean Flyway Conservation Network workshop organised in Lisbon (Portugal) by BirdLife International and hosted by SPEA (BirdLife in Portugal). The workshop titled ‘Mitigating the effects of wind farms and power lines on birds’ was supported by the MAVA Foundation and took place on 24 – 25 February 2016. BirdLife Cyprus participated at this workshop with one delegate.

BirdLife Cyprus' Annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place on Sunday, 20 March 2016 at the Akrotiri Environmental Education Centre, in the village of Akrotiri, Limassol. The AGM will start at 10.00 am, if there is no quorum at 10am the official start of the AGM will be at 10.30am. There will be welcome coffee/tea from 9.30am.

BirdLife Cyprus and its contract partner, consultants IACO Environmental, have entered the second and final round of consultations with local communities over management plans for NATURA 2000 sites for birds. In total, 30 village meetings will take place across all districts over the 5 months from February to June 2016. The discussions aim at engaging local residents in the drawing up of management plans for the 30 Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated for birds across Cyprus, a major project BirdLife Cyprus and IACO are tasked to complete before the end of this year.

The terrible news of six Griffon Vultures Gyps fulvus being found dead over the last few weeks, in the Paramali area of Limassol, dealt a serious blow to efforts to save our most threatened breeding bird of prey. BirdLife Cyprus recently also learnt of a November 2015 vulture death in the same area, bringing the death count to seven in under four months.

Seven Griffon Vultures Gyps fulvus met a tragic end, three of which were birds that were released in Cyprus in the framework of the successful GYPAS project which was carried out under the ‘Cross Border Cooperation Programme Greece-Cyprus 2007-2013’, while the remaining three were birds from the extremely small Cyprus population and one that was born at the Limassol Zoo and released. The birds were found dead in Paramali/Sterakovou area in the Limassol region in the last few weeks and were collected by the Game and Fauna Service and were sent for post-mortem examinations by the Veterinary Services. 

BirdLife Cyprus is organizing a workshop for IBA Caretakers on the weekend of 23 -24 April 2016 at Droushia Heights Hotel, in Pafos. IBA Caretakers have already been invited but if you haven’t expressed interest so far, please do so by contacting BirdLife Cyprus.

Would you like to get to know the magic world of birds and the wonder of migration? Do you know the Swallow, the Bee-eater, the Hoopoe and the Nightingale? Join us on Sunday 17 April 2016 at 11am at Famagusta Gate Moat for our event ‘153 birds!’ dedicated to birds, with drawing activities and feathered fairy tales and songs with Charalambia Theophanous and Veronika Alonefti. An opportunity for young and old to get to know some of the many and impressive birds found in Cyprus. Do you recognise any birds from your everyday life?

Grazing is one of the most important management tools for the conservation of Akrotiri Marsh. To enhance grazing and improve grazing opportunities, the Darwin project “Akrotiri Marsh Restoration: a flagship wetland in the Cyprus SBAs” will install a fence and build cattle sheds on site during March 2016.

BirdLife Cyprus participated at the 3rd European Workshop on Environmental Crime, organised by SEO (BirdLife in Spain) and RSPB (BirdLife in the UK) on 26 February 2016 in Edinburgh, UK. The workshop focused on Habitat Destruction. SEO (BirdLife in Spain) and RSPB (BirdLife in the UK) are implementing a project to create a European Network against Environmental Crime among BirdLife Europe partners. The aim of this project is the implementation of Directive 2008/99/EC for the protection of the environment through criminal law and also the facilitation of the work of EU BirdLife Partners in fighting environmental crimes, using the Directive.