Monthly Archives: September 2006

Seniors Forbidden To Feed Pigeons

An elderly couple from the Dutch town of Leeuwarden has been forbidden to feed pigeons within a two kilometer radius from their house. That was the judgement from the Frisian court on Thursday. Thirteen neighbor families brought the senior couple to court for attracting dozens of pigeons to their neighborhood, along with the nuisance of pigeon poop and coos. Food that was not eaten by the pigeons also attracted vermin to the neighborhood.

The offenders will be allowed to keep fifteen domestic pigeons in their yard, but they may only be fed in a caged area to prevent wild birds from returning to the garden.

Source: Bejaarden krijgen verbod op voeren duiven

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Posted in Netherlands, Offbeat, Pigeons! | Leave a comment

Ivory-bill Sightings In Florida?

This week researchers from Auburn University and the University of Windsor revealed there were 14 Ivory-bill Woodpecker sightings in the Florida panhandle between May 2005 and May 2006. No photos were captured, however. Read the full story at Birdlife International. For views on both sides of the issue I recommend this skeptic’s blog and this believer’s blog. Above all I highly recommend the Ivory-billed Woodpecker t-shirts and paraphernalia available from MagnificentFrigatebird.com.

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Posted in Aside, Endangered, Extinct, Florida, North America, Products, Websites & Blogs | Leave a comment

UK Tracking Buzzard Migration

A pair of young honey buzzards have been fitted with transmitters so conservationists can track their migration. The birds breed in the UK and winter in Africa and Asia. The birds left their summer homes in the Scottish Highlands on 7 September.

The progress of the birds can be followed on the internet via www.forestry.gov.uk/birdlife and www.roydennis.org/honeybuzzard.htm. Read the full article Buzzards tracked on journey south at the BBC.

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Posted in Aside, Europe | Leave a comment

EPA Bans Pesticide Responsible For Millions Of Bird Deaths

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has banned most uses of the chemical pesticide carbofuran, which is produced by FMC Corporation under the brand name Furadan. The American Bird Conservancy notes that the chemical is responsible for millions of wild bird deaths since it was introduced in 1967. Read the full story Pesticide ban from EPA follows millions of bird deaths in the El Defensor Chieftain.

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Posted in Aside, North America | Leave a comment

Deadly Disease Spreading Across UK Finch Population

Hundreds of finches across Britain are dying from an outbreak of trichomoniasis, a parasite which causes the birds a painful death but is not harmful to humans. The disease is transmitted via water or saliva, as infected birds share bird feeders and baths with healthy birds. Garden hygiene can stop the spread and homeowners are asked to keep bird feeding areas clean and change the water supply regularly. Read more about the epidemic in Garden finches fall prey to deadly virus on the Times Online.

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Posted in Aside, Europe, Yard Birds | Leave a comment

Rare Bird Seen Near Lawrence Kansas

“A white-tailed bird that is native to Central and South America has caused a stir by showing up near Lawrence. Bird watchers are flocking to the Lawrence are hoping to see the White-tailed Kite. Bird experts say it’s only the third documented sighting of the bird in Kansas.” Read the full article at WIBW.

White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus) bird El Chorro Regional Park, San Luis Obispo, CA, 12 Feb 2011
White-tailed Kite, El Chorro Regional Park, San Luis Obispo, CA, 12 Feb 2011 by mikebaird, Creative Commons on Flickr

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Posted in Aside, North America, Rare / Vagrant | 1 Comment

UK Raptors Boom While Eagles & Harriers Persecuted

“Britain’s birds of prey are doing better than ever before in modern times – with two notable exceptions. Many of the 15 species of eagles, buzzards, hawks and falcons that currently breed in Britain are on an upward curve, expanding both their numbers and their range, some spectacularly.” Hen harriers, which live on heather moorlands, come into conflict with grouse-shooting, while two golden eagles have been poisoned in Scotland in the past six months. Read the full story Birds of prey boom – but eagles and harriers still face persecution in the Independent.

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Posted in Aside, Endangered, Europe | Leave a comment