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Urgent Action to Save 'Rare' birds of Prey |
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Saturday, 26 November 2005 |
UK calls for Urgent Action to Save 'Rare' birds of Prey
The UK is asking world governments to sign up to an agreement that
would protect migratory birds of prey and owls - including vultures,
eagles, harriers, kites, kestrals and falcons - throughout Africa, and
in the Eurasian region.
Many of these species face major threats, such as shooting, poisoning,
illigal trade or loss of habitat through intensive land use, somewhere
in their migratory range within Africa/Euasia.
Each spring
and autumn, these inter-continental migrants make long and arduous
journeys. Due to their size and structure, many species find long
flights over water difficult, so they tend to consentrate in flyways
with narrow sea crossings, called bottlenecks. At these sites they are
particularly vulnerable to persecution or major habitat changes,which
may effect whole populations.
Research carried out by Nature
Bureau for DEFRA, published in September this year, found that more
than half of the 60 species of migratory birds of prey found in Africa
and Euasia are threatened, either globally or within the region, with
extinction. Defra believes that, if all the countries in which these
birds live, migrate through or overwinter were to work together to
protect both them and their habitats, the species could be saved.
Jim Knight, UK Biodiversity Minister,Commented:
"Of
all types of birds, birds of prey have always fascinated people,
because of their grace, speed, agility and strength. They are majestic
and rare. Indeed, they are inconic. They live long lives-hence the
'wise old owl'- but they have low breeding rates".
"Being at
the top of their food chain, birds of prey are particularly vulnerable
to poisoning and pollution, as the toxins in their prey accumulate
throughout their lives. Migratory birds of prey are also threatened by
climate change, if, for example, the climatic conditions at their usual
destinations become inhospitable or their food supply disapears. This
makes them sentinels for enviromental change and we should respect and
conserve them for tjhis too."
"Birds of prey are already
protected in many countries but, for migratory species, international
co-operation is the key to conservation. We have already won the
support of our European Union partners to put our proposal to all 93
ncountries that are contracting parties to the Convention on Migratory
Species. If they agree, the UK will organise an inter-governmental
conference to thrash out the details of what exactly is needed and how
we will set about achieving it."
"If we can find the key to
protecting migratory species throughout their ranges - the areas where
they live and breed, those over which they fly, and in which they
overwinter - we may be able to unlock a door to securing the future of
these truly spectacular birds so that our grandchildren - and their
grandchildren - can enjoy them too."
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