Avian News Archives

Bird crime still at a high

15th November 202215th February 2023 By chXout Team Comment Closed

RSPB Birdcrime Report The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has published their Birdcrime report today covering confirmed cases of bird of prey persecution in 2021. The chXout® team have read through the report to provide you with a summary of the key points.All wild birds and their nests are protected by law but this does not seem to be enough. Existing laws appear to be little to no deterrent due to punishments not being used to their full extent. There is a concern that killing is becoming more targeted, especially in Scotland, with a concerted effort to conceal the evidence.108 incidents of persecution took place in the UK in 2021 which is the second highest number on record after 2020. Sadly, it is considered that this figure is likely to be much higher as these are only the confirmed cases with evidence. The 2020 report confirmed 137 cases which has now risen to 146.As seen in previous years...

The Pablo Escobar of Eggs

16th January 202010th February 2020 By chXout Team Comment Closed

Jeffery Lendrum, an ex-special forces officer, was caught at Heathrow airport on June 26th, 2018 after arriving from South Africa with illegal cargo. The self-proclaimed “Pablo Escobar of the falcon egg trade” strapped eggs from endangered birds of prey, including vultures, eagles, hawks and kites to his body in hopes of achieving financial gain. The Telegraph reported that the value of his cargo was estimated to be worth around £100,000 [1]. That day, eagle eyed officers noticed something unusual about Lendrum. Unfortunately for him, a heavy jacket wasn’t going to conceal his contraband but expose him like a scarlet macaw (Ara macao) in a flock of pigeons (Columba livia domestica). Because who wears a thick jacket in hot weather in a stuffy airport? The government’s news story details that officers asked him whether he had anything to declare and he admitted to carrying “fish eagle” and “kestrel” eggs [2]. Yet the full extent of his egg smuggling mission was not unveiled until officers performed a full body search. Shockingly, a body belt...

EU ban on bird imports sees ‘massive’ cuts in global trade

11th December 20178th January 2020 By chXout TeamNo Comments

Wild birds are one of the most traded animals on the global market, with approximately 1.3 million birds bought and sold internationally every year, according to Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) [1].However, the introduction of the EU ban on trade of wild birds in 2005 has reduced global trade by around 90%, according to new research published in the journal Science Advances [2].Before 2005, EU members such as Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain accounted for the buying of around two thirds of all birds sold on the global market.The ban was a result of fears of a loss of biodiversity in countries where the birds were captured and an increase in the spread of exotic birds in imported nations, which can cause damage to ecosystems as local crops are destroyed and the population of native birds is threatened as they are outcompeted for food.As a result of the ban, Latin America has...

Eagles killed and sold illegally on the black market

5th October 20178th January 2020 By chXout TeamNo Comments

Project Dakota Flyer, an operation set up by the Fish and Wildlife Service in the US, has been investigating the illegal selling of eagles and other protected birds in South Dakota. Eagle parts such as wings, head, feet and feathers are often illegally sold on the black market. This commercialisation of protected birds for the economic gain of illegal traders goes against the safeguarding of species such as the bald eagle and the golden eagle. Bald eagles were removed from the Endangered Species act in 2007 after intense population management resulted in a flourishing increase in the bird of preys population. This increase was due to the banning of the pesticide DDT which contaminated the birds prey, resulting in a great decline in population. Both the golden eagle and the bald eagle are protected by federal laws in the US to help prohibit the possession, use and sale of eagle feathers and parts that have been illegally obtained through means...

Bats tricked into colliding with buildings

14th September 20178th January 2020 By chXout TeamNo Comments

When you initially think of a species under threat, often your first thought would be to blame predation, poaching or habitat destruction. You don’t often think of inanimate objects as being a threat to wildlife. So then, why are bats often found dead or injured near buildings with smooth surfaces - a recent study published in the journal ‘Science’ has found the answer. Bats use echolocation to navigate around their environment and forage for food. They emit a call and listen to the resulting echo from nearby objects, thus allowing them to locate and/or avoid objects in their flight path. In modern architecture a lot of smooth, vertical surfaces such as mirrors and windows are affecting bats’ abilities to avoid collisions. The study found that of the 21 bats investigated, 19 collided into a vertical metal plate while none collided with horizontal objects. It appears that vertical surfaces, in the way they reflect an ‘echo’ trick the bats into thinking...

Could the iconic hen harrier be facing extinction in the UK?

30th June 20178th January 2020 By chXout TeamNo Comments

The hen harrier, a beloved resident of Scotland’s heathland, is reported to be at high risk of becoming extinct. Although figures in 2015 showed the greatest reported breeding success rate of the raptor, with 6 successful nests and 18 newly hatched chicks, the suspicious disappearance of 5 males resulted in nesting failures. According to the latest annual survey there has been a decline of 88 pairs (13%) over the last 6 years, despite suitable habitat environments for 300 breeding pairs. This alarming decline is attributed to the destruction of habitats, cold and wet weather conditions and illegal killings. Unfortunately, the hen harrier is a natural predator of the red grouse which causes conflict with the interests of gamekeepers and farmers. High numbers of hen harriers in moorlands owned by private landowners are associated with decreased red grouse density and therefore increased shootings in the interests of commercial estates. Despite being protected under both UK and National Law, it is often surmised...