|
24/08/2009 14:29:23
 Madagascar pochard. Urgent action
required to save the bird from extinction.
Worries increase for world's rarest duck
August 2009. Conservationists have become increasingly concerned for the plight of the
Madagascar pochard, the world's rarest duck and possibly the world's rarest bird,
following the discovery of only six females during a recent expedition to the country.
Project partners, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
(WWT) and The Peregrine Fund (TPF), also report the devastating news that there were no
surviving young from 2008, when the small known population of just 19 birds did breed
successfully. Without active conservation intervention the species may become extinct.
Critically endanagered
This small endemic duck was thought to have gone extinct in the 1990s, but was rediscovered in 2006
by The Peregrine Fund on a small remote lake in north-western Madagascar. This has given
us a second chance to save this species. But, although this tiny population seems
relatively stable, it may be extremely vulnerable to the slightest change to its
environment.
Recovery plan
Building on Durrell's extensive experience with the conservation and breeding of
threatened ducks in Madagascar and WWT's long history of endangered wildfowl conservation
worldwide, these UK institutions together with TPF, an American conservation organisation,
and the Government of Madagascar are launching a recovery plan for the species.
Captive breeding
Following last month's trip to Madagascar, this recovery plan will focus on the
instigation of an immediate programme to rear ducklings and hold adults in secure
conditions within Madagascar.
These birds would form the basis for a conservation breeding programme, when facilities
are built in 2010. At the same time the team will start to collect ecological data on the
species and identify potential lakes for reintroduction.
Durrell's Project Leader, Dr Glyn Young, believes action needs to be taken now,
"The window of opportunity to save the species from extinction is incredibly small,
and we must all muster the energy and resources necessary to stop another species from
becoming extinct".
WWT's Aviculture Manager, Nigel Jarrett, said: "The original plan was to take the
first batch of eggs in 2010 but, following the expedition, discussions are underway to see
if the timetable can be brought forward to this year's breeding season, which would see
the team return to the lake in October.
"Once we have secured eggs from the wild, WWT's and Durrell's extensive experience
of rearing endangered wildfowl, at Slimbridge and Jersey, will be used to breed the birds
at a purpose-built facility in Madagascar. This will act as a ‘safety net', greatly
reducing the immediate risk of extinction.
Within three years, the hope is to at least double the total numbers of pochards. In
time, these will be released into the wild on suitable sites." |
Peregrine Falcons nest robbed, a quarry in Kingswinford is
again the venue
of a heinous crime. The eggs of a pair of
peregrines have been stolen and
the safety of the parents is in question. If you have
any information about
this serious crime please contact us or the police.
Birdlife
Flyways campaign to kick off
23rd April
One of the worst stories we have highlighted.
Penguins are starving.
14th April
Great news one of the internets best web sites just got
better.
Xeno-canto have launched there Australasia site
Purple Martins
keep pests at bay
Kansas
gives prairie chickens to Missouri, where population is not ...
Pheasants
Forever Press Release
The rich life
of Svalbard faces a creeping thaw
Check it out and if you do take sound recordings of birds, there isn't a
better place to get them heard.
13th April
Central
Asians Unite To Protect Globally Important Natural Sites
National
Parks- Valuable Assets In Efforts To Conserve Birdlife ...
The
Easter Bunny under Threat-
Mark
Levin- You Won't Believe Brignell's List of Global Warming ...
4th April 2009
OG&E
pledges $3.75M for threatened birds
‘State of
the Birds’ highlights urgency of eider conservation
Whooping
crane population declines for first time in almost a decade
BIRDS
ETCETERA—Birds, Birding, Birders, and Birdwatching- Michigan ...
Sandhill
crane recovers from arrow injury, reunites with mate
Twitchers
flock to Corton to view bird
Everything's
just ducky- Wastewater-treatment plant becomes home ...
The
RSPB- Nethy down-
Bird
protection efforts praised at BirdLife activity
Downhill
for montane conservation | B92 Blog
WorldBird Comment: This is a very important step and we urge everyone to
support the proposals.
2nd April
Great news as I sometimes think it's only wetland birds that are catered
for.
The
RSPB- Now is the time to save threatened farmland birds
How
legal protection for Europe's birds moved from hope to reality ...
African
Grey Parrot Populations in Decline Throughout Central ...
Audubon
program explores relationship between bird movement and ...
Detailed
study predicts Africa’s first bird extinction looming
Rare
Bird Sightings At Kingfisher Bay
[STARTING
UP IN TURKEY] Discovering Turkish wildlife
London G20
summit belays global power shift
Wetland
birds highlighted as conservation success- U.S. repo ...
For the
Birds- - CJR
The
Future of Birding and Conservation- Predictions and Wishful ...
DEC manages
potential bird problem on forestland adjacent to Stewart
Songbirds
pour on the speed to get back to Minn. in spring
Obama
signs wilderness bill into law
EU- Environment-
EU celebrates 30 years of the Birds Directive
A Few
Things Ill Considered - Another Week of GW News, March 29, 2009
1st April
Early WorldBirds got the worm, computers crashed maybe because of a
virus but harddrive was damaged and we were of line.
31st March 2009
Greens
move to ban duck shooting as season opens
It's a lot harder to shoot with a camera than a gun, more rewarding and
the ducks prefer it.
Sir Peter
Scott was a keen duck shooter, but after painting and learning to appreciate the
beautiful creatures he put his guns away.
BioBeer-
Bird Conservation in Mongolia
WorldBird comment "I'll drink to that"
A
Conversation With Dee Boersma A Census Taker for Penguins in ...
The
RSPB- Hunting danger to one of world's most-threatened birds
Africa's
first bird extinction likely within four years ...
Wetlands
restoration helps dwindling bird species thrive
Hunting danger to
one of the world’s most threatened birds
Wildlife
biologists probe mystery of missing Albatross
Funds
Help Preserve Birds
Living the
Scientific Life (Scientist, Interrupted)- Birds in the ...
More Land Protected! |
BSI Blog
Bird
Populations Suffering
30th March 2009
A special day for
WorldBirds
BirdLife International - conserving
the world's birds
Save
South Africa's penguins _ give them a home Pick up a Penguin today
Safer
Fencing Can Help Save Western Birds | Electric Cost Monitoring
Endangered
species listing could hurt economies..
WorldBird Comment Their extinction wouldn't help either
Northern
Warren County site recognized as 'Global Important Bird ...
Taiwan
to reveal mysterious migration route of gray-faced buzzard
Proper
Bird Feeder Care Important to Bird Health - Wake Forest ...
Wetlands
restoration helps dwindling bird species thrive info@ecologicalinternet.org
A
Single Swallow- Following the Migration from South Africa to ...
EARTH
HOUR- People power rules in the Hunter
High
Island beckons bird watchers
Crest delay...Major
blizzard...Bird strike secrecy | KXNet.com ...
Next
Generation of Aviation Safety Bird Strike Radar Systems ...
Report- Habitat
loss hurting Colorado birds
BIRDS
VANISHING IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY In a tailspin
Flowering
trees attract birds
28th March 2009
All
4 female ibises now on mainland, 4 males stay on island - The ...
Australia
kicks off Earth Hour climate campaign
50 years of
Australian mutton bird research
Birds
and bugs of the forest have a lot to tell
These
birds are nesting in durian trees
Bird-watchers
rally to support winged friends UAE - The Official ...
Bald
eagle's death may impact others
Nature’s Q and
A
Climate
And Habitat Diversity Affect Variety Of Animal Species In ...
Photo in
the News- Bird Flu Reaches Western Europe
27th March 2009
FAA
to seal bird-strike records
WorldBird Comment "This could only happen in a free country"
Coate
Water's Nature Reserve has new heron chicks (From Swindon ...
Eckert- Hit the
lights to save birds, Mother Earth
WorldBird Comment Please support this movement
Earth
fever takes hold across globe
Climate
change aims need to be better integrated
Natural
beauty
.Gannets
take long way to Oz
Australia-
Carbon neutral farming a furphy - Last News from Earth ...
Drop
in Daddy Long Legs hurting bird populations | Eco Speak ...
Bird
team become star attraction
26th March 2009
Climate change
affecting European birds, study reveals
The
RSPB- Building a road to agreement
Australian minister
steps in to protect endangered Eastern Bristlebird
Ninety
years of birdwatchers' notes going online
Condors
at Oregon Zoo on roll in delivering eggs
Rosamond
Gifford Zoo celebrates birth of rare thrush bird
WorldBird comment well it's not a thrush or rare but it's a pretty
picture.
White-crested
Laughingthrush
Mystery bird Living
the Scientific Life (Scientist, Interrupted)- Today's ...
Devils
find a safe haven
25th March 2009
Long-tailed tit
flies up charts
Flight
of Scotland's garden birds
Will
Birdville's birds switch roosts-
DLNR
accused of failing to protect endangered bird on Big Island ...
RSPB
drop wind power objections | Online news | New Civil Engineer
Birds in
the News 164
Wetland
Birds Highlighted as Conservation ...
Conservation
efforts to increase hunting, birdwatching opportunities
The Wildlife
Society Blog » The State of the Birds
Happy with the bird watching part.
24th March 2009
Bird
Controls Offspring's Gender
White-eyes
evolve new species faster than any other known bird family
Africa's
first bird extinction likely within four years
Sidamo Lark
The
sound of silence- The Cuckoo is vanishing
When the
birds come home to roost
American
Birds Sending Troubling Message About The Environment
24th March 2009
Conservation
International biologist to receive Harvard medal
23rd March 2009
Avocets at Upton Warren
THE
EAGLES ARE LANDING
22nd March 2009
More
funds needed to save native birds
Major
Decline Found In Some Bird Groups
21st
March 2009
Bad
News
---------------------------------------
1/3
of all North American birds are Threatened.
US birds
in 'widespread decline'
WorldBird
comment:- How can we call ourselves civalised.
---------------------
Good
News
How
the pink pigeon escaped the fate of the dodo
------------------------------
Help
Science- Build Your Own Bird Tracker, Cheap
Rare
Cambodian vultures recuperate from poisoning
Cats
Versus Birds- The Debate Continues
Working
together for farm birds
20th
March 2009
Endangered
Palila birds released on
Mauna Kea in Hawaii
Our
hopes go with them.
Related video
Loving her
role in kiwi conservation
|
