Saturday, October 8, 2011

Where Shall We Go Today?

What to do on another non-birding, non-ringing, windy, dismal, grey, drizzly morning and afternoon?

I turned my attention to sorting through the folders in Photoshop, where I dumped a number of inferior images in favour of some newer, sharper, and brighter versions. It’s much like the world of birding, where grumpy old birders droning on about “common” birds are best ignored, ditched in favour of superior, up-to-date versions with all the essentials for birding street cred – a permanently switched on pager and a Western Palearctic list containing Atlantic island endemics.

Here is a very significant list.

“August 2011 - The Pan-European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme has compiled population figures for 145 common and widespread bird species in 25 European countries between 1980 and 2009. Amongst those species covered, farmland birds are the most threatened group, with 20 out of 36 species in decline, and overall numbers at an all-time low, down by 48% since 1980. Some of the species that have declined the most over the last three decades include familiar farmland birds like Grey Partridge Perdix perdix (–82%), Skylark Alauda arvensis (–46%), Linnet Carduelis cannabina (–62%) and Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra (–66%).”

Here are a couple of images Photoshopped from this morning’s task.

Linnet

Corn Bunting

Skylark

“The results of the European bird population survey suggest that after missing its 2010 biodiversity conservation target, the EU will go on to miss the 2020 biodiversity conservation target unless decisive and urgent action is taken.”

And again. ”According to the State of Europe's Common Birds report, the European Turtle Dove population in Europe fell by 62% in recent times. This is partly because changed farming practices mean that the weed seeds and shoots on which the dove feeds, especially Fumitory, are more scarce, and also partly due to shooting of birds in Mediterranean countries during their migration.”

Turtle Dove

From the BTO, October 2011 – “It is six years since the inception of Environmental Stewardship (ES), England’s second generation agri-environment scheme. Although the formal target to reverse the declines was abolished by the present Government, the commitment to agri-environment funding remains. However the CAP which funds such schemes in Europe faces renewal in 2013, at a time of growing competing demands for land and agricultural production. Agri-environment policy in Europe is therefore at a crossroads. Sound evidence for the efficacy (or otherwise) of AES provision, coupled with the need to provide value for taxpayer’s money is more important than ever before. Across Europe, policy- makers will ask whether farmland bio diversity conservation is worth the expense and whether AESs are the best way to spend the money”.

Yellowhammers in Europe

Yellowhammer

Where shall we go tomorrow?

11 comments:

carol l mckenna said...

Your bird photos are awesome! Delightful! ~hanks, namaste, Carol (A Creative Harbor) linked w/Camera Critters ^_^

Kay L. Davies said...

Oh, no, Phil. What am I to do? Now I have another favourite bird, this time the turtledove. I'm beginning to forget what my favourite English birds are, there are so many.
Sigh.
I do love your photo of the turtledove. SO pretty and sweet. Similar to our mourning dove.

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel

Paco Sales said...

Si el tiempo no acompaƱa pues otra cosa para hacer Phil, un interesante articulo el que nos aproximas hoy amigo, espero que el tiempo mejore y puedas salir al campo. Un abrazo amigo Phil

Anonymous said...

That skylark is lovely as are the markings of the turtle dove.

eileeninmd said...

Wonderful birds, Phil My favorite is the yellowhammer, it is a beauty.

S K Ditta said...

Phil, these are some staggeringly sad statistics of decline in bird population. We should know well enough by now, no bird is "common". Isn't it the familiar story of human failure yet again?

The pictures are beautiful; especially the Turtle Dove and Yellowhammer. Thanks Phil.

Ornitocampero.blogspot.com.es said...

Really truth what you post as a text.Comonn especies are getting less comon....for example the ortolan bunting in spain has declined seriously like the turtle dove!
Saludos camperos.

grammie g said...

Hey Phil...your a Grumpy old birder ,only your droning on about the weather!! hahaha!!
Hasn't ( forgot your wife's name) got something for you to get done! Leaves out of the gutter or something..I know as a women there is plenty to do!! : }}
I always dislike it when I see and use the word "common" in a birds name...I want to leave it off!!
There may be hope for your weather!! It is a gorgeous weekend..temp's in the high seventies..total sunshine..I am sending it to you ...
That Linnet looks like it did something wrong and is feeling ashamed!!

Your buddy old pal
Grace

Tatjana Parkacheva said...

Great photographs.

Regards and best wishes

Mary Howell Cromer said...

How very unfortunate for the beautiful Turtledoves...Hope that you have a better week Phil, maybe you shall have a bit of sunshine~

JWBateman said...

Hi Phil. Over time the common becomes rare unfortunatley.Best wishes JWB.

Related Posts with Thumbnails