We have just introduced a new conservation and research award, created to continue the legacy of our former Chairman, Marion Paviour.
We have just introduced a new conservation and research award, created to continue the legacy of our former Chairman, Marion Paviour.
The shocking news about the intentional and targeted poisoning of an elephant carcass that affected 121 Critically Endangered vultures on 25 February 2018 in southern Mozambique is distressing but not surprising. These incidents are becoming more frequent. The impact of this event is devastating, however it is important to realise that without a quick response the mortalities would have been much greater.
Of the 121 affected vultures, 18 were recovered poisoned but still alive and these are all undergoing treatment. The rapid action taken by the poison response team neutralised the poisoned carcass and prevented many of the hundreds of vultures seen in the area plus other scavenging animals from a death via poisoning. Research by the Hawk Conservancy Trust’s Head of Conservation and Research, Dr Campbell Murn, has demonstrated that a quick response by poison response teams will significantly reduce deaths and minimise the loss of wildlife and contamination of the environment.
The killing of wildlife by poisoning is very difficult to prevent, but a fast response to poisoning events limits their impact. Working in partnership, the Hawk Conservancy Trust, the University of Reading and the Endangered Wildlife Trust deliver a training programme on the effective neutralisation of poisoning events and also provide poison response kits to field personnel in southern Africa.
A lot more poison response training is required, and we have identified key areas and poisoning hotspots where urgent work is needed to enable stakeholders in these areas to adequately plan for and manage incidents when they occur.
Vultures are in severe decline and the situation is now critical. Africa is fast losing its vultures, and with them the important and highly efficient ecosystem services they provide. Without scavengers, carcasses are left to rot and potential for disease increases for both humans and wildlife.
It cannot be overlooked that the most significant underlying issue is illegal elephant poaching, and as long as there is elephant poaching, vultures are at risk. However, elephants already have a huge support network, which is having a positive impact on elephant conservation.
Vultures cannot wait for the underlying issue to be resolved. Immediate action is needed and we are here to help vultures because without effective intervention when poisoning occurs, they will become extinct. Our ability to supply the training and kits needed across this region is limited by our resources and so we are asking for your support to expand these vital skills and equipment into the key areas where we can play our part together in preventing the extinction of these vital birds.
Congratulations to Colin Wyatt, the winner of our raffle to win a stunning Barn Owl sculpture. Given the time of year, we just had to let some of Father Christmas’ elves present the prize!
The stunning piece was created in metal and wood by artist Diccon Dadey. For those of you not lucky enough to win on this occasion, keep an eye out for our 2018 art raffle.
The Trust undertakes a number of UK-based research projects aimed at monitoring the status of a number of UK raptor species. Although the majority of this work is performed by members of our Conservation and Research Department, there are a number of other aspects to these projects we are unable to perform due to lack of manpower. To get around this problem, we have identified ways in which you can help.
Last month, Ben and James took on the challenges they set themselves in order to raise funds for critically endangered vultures. Thank you to everyone who has supported them.
Each year, the Trust admits dozens of sick and injured birds into its National Bird of Prey Hospital™. After receiving expert veterinary treatment and rehabilitation, many of these birds are then released back into the wild. As part of an assessment of the success of our treatment and rehabilitation programme, all released birds are fitted with a BTO metal ring. Several of these birds (usually Tawny or Barn Owls) have since been re-encountered during checks of local nest boxes. Although useful, the low recovery rate of ringed birds means that it can take a long time to generate enough data to make a thorough assessment of the success of rehabilitation. A more direct approach is to use radio-transmitters to monitor daily movements of released birds.
We are now continuing this work using rehabilitated Buzzards. Only those birds more than two years old and found less than 25km from the Trust are included in this study. This is because young Buzzards are prone to disperse more than 20km in their first 18 months, whereas adults tend to stay within the same territory. The transmitters we are using have a maximum range of approximately 10km, and so we have a better chance of maintaining contact with adult birds. The transmitter is attached to one of the central tail feathers, and will eventually be shed when these feathers are moulted.
The first bird released with a transmitter had been in rehabilitation at the Trust for almost a month, having been brought to us after being found alongside a road. It was released near to where it was originally found, near Collingbourne Kingston on 3 July (white marker on the above map). On release, the bird flew strongly to the north before heading due east. It was relocated later the same day at Brokenway Copse, an 8.4ha area of woodland 3km east of the release site. Daily checks by our intern, Abigail Maiden, have revealed the bird to be spending almost all of its time in the vicinity of the same stretch of woodland, occasionally being seen in nearby roadside trees or soaring over the area. On most days since settling in its current location, the bird has been recorded interacting with a juvenile Buzzard. Our bird looks healthy and, more than eight weeks after release, it appears that its rehabilitation has been successful.
We are thrilled to announce that we have been presented with two awards at the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) annual awards ceremony.
In April of 2017 our team was joined by two adorable balls of fluff.
This year, two members of our bird team, James and Ben, will be challenging themselves in order to raise funds for critically endangered vultures.
Between April and June 2017, our National Bird of Prey Hospital™ received and treated a total of 36 birds.
