Hi everyone,
I got the following message of the German Bird Net, and I think it's a
worthy enough cause to add help from Australia.
Andy Green wrote:
> I have just returned from a visit to El Hondo, Valencia, with very
> bad news. At the beginning of the month, after a fantastic breeding
> season, there were 500 Marbled Teal counted (the highest ever count
> in Valencia). However, last week a die-off of waterbirds of all
> types started. Amongst hundreds of dead birds collected by saturday 13th
> September, there were 20 Marbled Teal. I visited the area
> myself with Des Callaghan, and it was obvious that for every bird
> collected there are several more lying dead inside the reeds, and that
> something like 50-150 birds have died already. The die-off continues,
> and analyses to date suggest various causes of death including
> salmonella and lead poisoning. There appear also to be blooms of
> blue-green algae which are another possible cause of mortality via
> toxication.
>
> It is too early to make any guess about how much longer this might
> continue. Obviously it is possible that most of the Marbled Teal
> may die before it stops. The ultimate cause is likely to be the contaminated
> water
> supplied to the reservoirs where the die-off is concentrated.
>
> Unfortunately, the Valencian government has ALREADY announced on
> Frday 12th that hunting will be permitted at the site this winter.
> They are paying very little attention to the die-off (the decision
> makers haven't even bothered to visit the site, and so far it has
> been kept out of the press and TV), and are planning to
> make the final decision about exactly which parts of the site will be
> opened to hunting at some time during this week.
>
> The signs are currently very bad. Last year hunting was banned on the
> reservoirs of Levante and Poniente (the main area used by the Marbled
> Teal). The current indications are that
> it is likely that hunting will be permitted everywhere this year. It
> is already certain that only lead shot will be used, and that there
> will be no effective inspections of what the hunters shoot..
>
> At this moment in time, we need a strong show of support from
> conservation organisations to try and persuade the politicians that
> the hunters are not the only ones to listen to. We have very little
> time, and ask you all to send email messages to the following people
> in the Valencian Government ASAP. Please do what you can: international
> protest was very successfully a year ago and we need to repeat that
> now.
>
> President, Generalitat Valenciana, <>
>
> Ricardo Jimenez, Director General, Conselleria de Medi Ambient
> <>
>
> Jose Manuel Castella, Conseller, Conselleria de Medi Ambient
> <>
>
> Sending a copy of your messages to <>
>
> The message can be as short as you like, but I make some suggestions
> below:
>
> Congratulate them on the steps taken in the 1996-97 season to forbid
> hunting in the areas of Levante and Poniente, which have led to
> record numbers of Marbled Teal and White-headed Ducks breeding in El
> Hondo this year.
>
> Express serious concern that
> a decision to allow hunting this season has already been taken when a
> major waterbird die-off is underway, when the causes are still
> unclear and nothing has been done so far to solve this problem. In
> addition, early analyses suggest lead poisoning is one of the causes
> of mortality, and allowing further hunting can only make things
> worse.
>
> Point out that this is not an appropriate way to manage a Ramsar Site,
> EC-SPA and Parque Natural
> holding 80% of the European population of the globally threatened
> Marbled Teal and an important number of globally threatened
> White-headed Duck.
>
> Ask that hunting be banned everywhere in El Hondo until the die-off
> has stopped, the causes fully identified and measures taken to
> prevent it happening again. Ask that, at the very least, hunting be
> banned again in Levante and Poniente reservoirs for the 97-98 season.
>
> Remind them that the Council of Europe-BirdLife Action Plan for
> Marbled Teal calls for a hunting ban at El Hondo.
>
> Many thanks,
>
>
> Andy Green
>
> _____________________________________________________
> Andy Green
> Donana Biological Station
> Avenida Maria Luisa
> Pabellon del Peru
> 41013 Sevilla
> Spain
>
> Fax (34) +5 4621125
> Tlf (34) +5 4232340 (1000-1900 local time)
> Email
>
> NEW HOME PHONE NO. (mobile): inside Spain 939 109625
> from outside Spain (34) 39 109625
>
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Kirrama Wildlife Tours PO Box 133 SILKWOOD N.QLD Australia
http://www.gspeak.com.au/kirrama/
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