![]() These are issues that affect all birds of prey, although some species have managed to fare better than the red kite. He explains that the red kite faces numerous problems: besides the drop in rabbit numbers – one of the main sources of food of the red kite – there is the increasing frequency of droughts, and the increase in farmland and scrubland, which affect the bird’s hunting areas. While an agreement on a monitoring plan in the Doñana National Park is set to be signed, Blas says action must be taken immediately. If it wasn’t for Doñana, it would already be extinct “If we can increase the adult survival rate to the top values recorded in the bibliography, within 10 years we could pass the threshold of 70 pairs that existed in the 1980s,” says Blas. These devices would allow researchers to see in real time where the birds are dying, analyze the cause of death and take action to limit the problem. To address the problem, researchers want the birds to be tagged with GPS tracking devices that can be accessed by remote surveillance teams. We have begun a study on the hormonal system of the species and its relationship to their response capacity to certain ecological aspects,” explains Blas. ![]() It’s likely that these problems are interacting with climate change. “The priority is understanding the role these factors have on the population decline. Sergio and Blas are demanding immediate measures to identify, locate and address the threats. These phenomena on a regional level are replicated within the Doñana Nation Park, only that here, because it is a protected area, they occur at a much slower rate, and give the false impression that everything is in order in protected areas,” says Sergio, who co-authored the study on the population decline of the red kite. “Over six decades we have documented a silent and gradual fall in the number of the species, a notable reduction in their distribution area and a deterioration of their reproductive capacity. According to the researcher, the main threats facing the bird are the illegal use of poisons, habitat changes, a decline in prey, exposure to pollution, and an increase in competition with other species.īut none of these reasons alone explains the “historic decline” of the red kite. It is not completely closed off, especially for a species with so much mobility,” warns Blas. “Doñana is important but it’s not enough. Using information taken from field work over nearly half a century, the study found that 40 years ago, an average of 100 red kites were born every year in the reserve. “If it wasn’t for Doñana, it would already be extinct,” says Blas, the co-author of a study on the red kite’s dramatic population decline published in Endangered Species Research. ![]() Please remember to wash your hands after handling any dead bird.Forty years ago, an average of 100 red kites were born every year in the reserve. If the bird is a pigeon - rings can be reported to The Royal Pigeon Racing Association Do not touch or handle the dead bird if you can avoid it, but if you must, wash your hands thoroughly as soon as possible, keeping your hands away from your face and any food. You can contact them on the Defra helpline ( 03459 33 55 77). You should also report any other dead wild birds you find in numbers of five or more. ![]() In the interests of monitoring and understanding the spread of avian influenza (bird flu), Defra ask that you report any dead waterfowl (swans, geese, ducks), gulls, or birds of prey you find. Also include your details so the BTO can be in contact. If the bird was dead please also include any information on the cause of death. Also include the date you found the bird and the species if it is known. Provide as much information as you can about the location of where the bird was found, for example, the nearest town/ grid reference. Please report the ring number and if the bird is dead send the ring along with your letter. However, it will be difficult to do this on a small bird, in this case it is ok to pick them up but remember to wash your hands and any equipment you used to handle the dead bird. If the bird is large you may be able to read the ring without handling it. If you find a bird that has been ringed please contact the Ringing Unit at the British Trust for Ornithology.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |