Song Thrush VS extinction (1 Viewer)

[Aegitalos]

Perhaps use of the apologia of catastrophism but if anyone for this, this species soon will be relegated to the Red List of endangered species.
Everyone knows of the legal killings by hunters in Mediterranean countries but few people know of the whereabouts of a thousand and one sneaky trick to massacre this species.
Customs rooted in the countries of origin would make any person who is solvent to pay a fine of several thousand Euros to have the satisfaction of indiscriminately kill everything it wants.
Very few people know the facts about these killings in remote places, rarely has the courage to report incidents for fear of reprisals but the reality is that, every day that passes, hundreds of these birds die in the hands of poachers.
These winter birds that visit these southern lands, are also assets of the people of the north where they breed so they must know what's happening with something that also belongs to them,
The abolition of the legal hunting of Song Thrush now in Mediterranean countries like Spain, would cure this problem, if it persists over several years, our next generations will not forgive us. Is in our hands.
And lest you to remain impassive to these facts will show you some pictures:
http://www.internatura.org/estudios/informes/parany2005/parany_2005.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjWGF-wchPs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUOz-AkHQMk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4SkG0xiC3c
Kind attention Fernando
http://birdringal-andalus.blogspot.com/

 

[melanothorax]

Sadly the same massacres of birds take place in Malta, Cyprus and many other Mediterranean countries as well. The loathsome attitudes of the peoples in these countries is that it's fun to kill as much wildlife as they can, for no reason other than "sport."

Simply disgusting...

 

[Aegitalos]

We will have to change as the saying "healthy Ments et corpore Insane" ...
Saludos: Fernando.

 

[lashinala]

If you can't change the laws that forbid the catching of the birds, has anyone tried another tactic, like trying to pass a law requiring a listing of the species of all birds caught by the tactic by those catching the birds, or requiring some kind of tagging after death? I know it doesn't sound like much of a change, but think of the implications of what it would require. Are there any catch limits now? Just grasping at straws here.

 

[melanothorax]

If you can't change the laws that forbid the catching of the birds, has anyone tried another tactic, like trying to pass a law requiring a listing of the species of all birds caught by the tactic by those catching the birds, or requiring some kind of tagging after death? I know it doesn't sound like much of a change, but think of the implications of what it would require. Are there any catch limits now? Just grasping at straws here.

The EU Birds Directive 79/409/EEC in Cyprus, and should apply for Spain as well, making such poaching of birds illegal. Requiring the listing of illegal catches would be rather self-defeating.

I'm sure that Aegitalos can speak more about the problem in Spain, but for Cyprus the problem isn't so much with the trappers/poachers/hunters themselves, but the law enforcement and the media. Most police officers and officials in the game fund (which is directly responsible for managing hunters, etc.) look upon the poaching as a very minor problem, akin to driving 5km/h over the speed limit. And even when there was a crack-down in 2002-2003 here in Cyprus, there was a public outcry over "harsh" fines imposed on the restaurants serving Ambelopoulia (grilled Blackcaps and other european warblers) by the thousands (per restaurant). This, despite the fines barely bit into the profits that these restaurants bring in (such is the popularity of Ambelopoulia).

So the demand for the poached birds is high amongst the public, and the people with power to address the situation are strongly motivated - by the public's attitude - to turn a blind eye.

... which is why I'm disgusted by the average Cypriot... and I know that the Maltese, Spanish, and others are just as bad.

If you want to help out, the Committee Against Bird Slaughter is an activist group trying to effect change (imagine that - it's the activists who want laws followed in these countries - so backwards!).

 

[Aegitalos]

Many problems that are prompting this kind to a worrying decline.
In Spain there are currently nearly one million hunting licenses, this moves a year over 15 million Euros only with shotgun hunters.
The problem is compounded with another way to catch as Paranys that only one month decline in nearly a third of the population of Song Thrush in Europe.
http://proaction.tripod.com/proact_spain/no_to_paranys.html (in English)
On top of all this, poachers throughout our country with non-selective methods, annihilate each year millions of birds with different types of insect traps.
The hunting ban Song Thrush would be the most effective, under the status of protected bird and including this in the Red List of Threatened Species as vulnerable.
In the hands of politicians is the solution, much will have to work for money is not more important than the survival of the species.
Greetings. Aegitalos.

 

[steve west]

I think concern for this situation is perfectly legitimate, although it does not go far enough to explain the sorry plight of the Song Thrush in the UK. It's only part of the picture, and I'm not going to defend hunting, and certainly not illegal hunting of this species, but I do get the impression that when it comes to Spain the stones are thrown very quickly.

Intensive agricultural practices, habitat loss, cats, road casualties, etc. are all problems that face the Song Thrush and some other species in the UK. Are equal efforts being made to tackle these problems?

Steve
http://www.BirdingInSpain.com

 

[David]

I think concern for this situation is perfectly legitimate, although it does not go far enough to explain the sorry plight of the Song Thrush in the UK. It's only part of the picture, and I'm not going to defend hunting, and certainly not illegal hunting of this species, but I do get the impression that when it comes to Spain the stones are thrown very quickly.
Steve
http://www.BirdingInSpain.com

and what about this

 

[Jon Turner]

and what about this

Strange that there is now a campaign in Catalonia to ban bullfighting, perhaps those in the lead in that project could start to take on board the Parany problem as well?

Jon

 

[David]

Strange that there is now a campaign in Catalonia to ban bullfighting, perhaps those in the lead in that project could start to take on board the Parany problem as well?

Jon

We are working on it - with some success this year. I qoute from our website:

Successful protest campaign in Spain - trapping installations remain closed (03.12.09)

Although the regional parliament in Valencia decided in September 2009 to permit once again bird trapping with lime sticks on Spain’s Mediterranean coast, the installations will not be activated for the time being. This is because the pressure caused by the protest campaign organised by CABS and local environmentalists was so effective that the local authorities have refused to issues the necessary individual licences.

Indeed, at the end of November the Valencian government instructed the responsible authorities to prosecute offenders. We must ensure that the situation remains so and we will initiate new protest and monitoring measures in 2010.

A joint report by CABS and local Spanish conservation groups was also sent to the European Commission this autumn.

 

[Jon Turner]

Good to hear David, thanks for your prompt reply.

Best wishes for the festive period.

Jon