Positive Wildlife News 2021

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New National Conservation Vision Sparks Opportunity to Conserve Nature and Create Jobs

The administration’s “America the Beautiful” campaign is a chance to expand access to our lands and waters, help birds and other wildlife, and benefit communities across the country.

“The administration has outlined a generational commitment to address our nation’s most urgent conservation challenges,” said Sarah Greenberger, senior vice president for conservation policy, National Audubon Society. “We all want to leave our communities healthier than we found them, and birds – the proverbial canary in the coal mine - are telling us that they are in trouble, which means so are we. This plan will help bring birds and nature back and include all of us in the decisions on how we restore and conserve the lands and waters we share.”

The Biden administration released a roadmap today to achieve several of the conservation commitments made in the early days following the president’s inauguration, including to conserve and restore 30 percent of the nation’s lands and waters by the year 2030. The new report reflects support for a locally-driven process over the next decade to achieve the “American the Beautiful” vision.

New National Conservation Vision Sparks Opportunity to Conserve Nature and Create Jobs
 
UngulateNerd92 said:
Cranes: Flying giant returning to Ireland after 300 years

A giant bird that has been part of Irish folklore and was often kept as a pet in medieval times could be returning to the island after an absence of more than 300 years.

A pair of cranes are nesting on a rewetted peat bog in the Republic of Ireland's midlands.

It is hoped they could be the first of the species to breed in Ireland for centuries.

The cranes are on land owned by former peat producer Bord na Móna.

The location is to remain confidential to protect the birds.

In January, Bord na Móna ceased peat harvesting for good and has been rehabilitating thousands of hectares of boglands, rewetting the drained sites

https://www-bbc-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57074156.amp
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As someone who is most familiar with Sandhill Cranes, which tend to be more abundant in areas with intensive agriculture, it always shocks me that the British Isles are only just getting their cranes back after being extirpated for so long! Are Eurasian Cranes less like Sandhills that I would have thought, or is something else going on here.
 
birdsandbats said:
As someone who is most familiar with Sandhill Cranes, which tend to be more abundant in areas with intensive agriculture, it always shocks me that the British Isles are only just getting their cranes back after being extirpated for so long! Are Eurasian Cranes less like Sandhills that I would have thought, or is something else going on here.
Click to expand...

Cranes got extinct 3 -4 centuries ago from British isles. The whole European population was really depleted and survived in badly accessible land where agriculture was so difficult it was left alone by farmers. Source population for most returnees to Western Europe is core area in Eastern Germany and Baltics. There cranes prefer (+80%) to nest in woods with standing water. Like this pic down. They get accustomed to larger open reed beds as substitute but this is rather new development of last few decades. They however love agriculture areas with intesive corn cultivation during their autums and winter roosting.

ausnahme-nur-wenige.jpg


One more pic. This shows change in breeding range extension between 1997 and 2020. Blue colour means extension, orange is shrinkage. Growing european population first leads to increased density of pairs who start to breed in secondary biotop (open agriculture land with fish ponds) and only then start to re-colonize some long lost new territorium, always starting with most "wild" pieces of land where human influece is least to feel. In Czechia for example, they first took over some mountanous peat bogs before they settled down in cultural landscape too. Common crane used to inhabit whole Europe (with exception of south Italy and Spain). It still has huge area to return to and for that, the species must become even more accustomed/synantropised to nest in areas with intensive agriculture.
6970638.jpg
 
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Jana said:
Cranes got extinct 3 -4 centuries ago from British isles. The whole European population was really depleted and survived in badly accessible land where agriculture was so difficult it was left alone by farmers. Source population for most returnees to Western Europe is core area in Eastern Germany and Baltics. There cranes prefer (+80%) to nest in woods with standing water. Like this pic down. They get accustomed to larger open reed beds as substitute but this is rather new development of last few decades. They however love agriculture areas with intesive corn cultivation during their autums and winter roosting.

ausnahme-nur-wenige.jpg


One more pic. This shows change in breeding range extension between 1997 and 2020. Blue colour means extension, orange is shrinkage. Growing european population first leads to increased density of pairs who start to breed in secondary biotop (open agriculture land with fish ponds) and only then start to re-colonize some long lost new territorium, always starting with most "wild" pieces of land where human influece is least to feel. In Czechia for example, they first took over some mountanous peat bogs before they settled down in cultural landscape too. Common crane used to inhabit whole Europe (with exception of south Italy and Spain). It still has huge area to return to and for that, the species must become even more accustomed/synantropised to nest in areas with intensive agriculture.
6970638.jpg
Click to expand...
Interesting! Sandhill Cranes will breed in agricultural areas, so I guess I assumed Commons would as well.
 
State acquires Huckleberry Mountain property in Warren County, New York

The state has acquired the 1,263-acre Huckleberry Mountain property in the town of Johnsburg for addition to the Adirondack Park Forest Preserve, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced Friday.

The state is paying $770,000 to the Open Space Institute to buy the property, which sits immediately northeast of Crane Mountain, a popular hiking destination in the southern Adirondacks.

Huckleberry Mountain is an elongated peak that tops 2,400 feet, with spectacular cliffs on the ridge’s south and southwest face, state officials said.

“Through the Environmental Protection Fund, New York state continues to invest in land acquisitions that conserve open space and preserve the natural beauty of this great state for future generations to visit and enjoy,” Cuomo said. “Preservation of the spectacular Huckleberry Mountain lands will benefit the region for generations to come, providing new opportunities for visitors to explore the outdoors.”

State acquires Huckleberry Mountain property in Warren County
 
Yorkshire wetlands designated Site of Special Scientific Interest

A cluster of land along the River Dearne and its tributary the River Dove, near Barnsley, has been officially recognised as a Site of Special Scientific Interest by Natural England.

Natural England has today officially notified that the Dearne Valley Wetlands is a SSSI for its nationally important bird species, including the willow tit, as well as wetland birds such as bittern, garganey, lapwing, redshank and avocet.

The SSSI links different pockets of valuable habitat in the Dearne Valley area between Pool Ings near Royston in the north, a large area between Worsbrough in the west, and Adwick Washland in the east.

Natural England worked with a number of organisations on the SSSI proposal, including the RSPB, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Garganey Trust, Environment Agency, Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster councils, together known as the Dearne Valley Green Heart Partnership.

Yorkshire wetlands designated Site of Special Scientific Interest
 
The mid-air walkways saving endangered animals

The mid-air walkways saving endangered animals

Conservationists have come up with an ingenious way to help an endangered species – the Javan slow loris.

They've built a network of mid-air walkways to help them move between treetops, across land that has been cleared for growing crops.

And the farmers who own the land are keen to co-operate because the walkways have another special feature that makes their lives easier too.

The mid-air walkways saving endangered animals
 
Cayman Islands sea turtles back from the brink

Sea turtles in the Cayman Islands are recovering from the brink of local extinction, new research shows.

Monitoring from 1998-2019 shows loggerhead and green turtle nest numbers increased dramatically, though hawksbill turtle nest numbers remain low.

In the first counts in 1998-99, just 39 sea turtle nests were found in total on the three islands. By 2019, the figure was 675.

Captive breeding of green turtles and inactivity of a traditional turtle fishery due to tightening of restrictions in 2008 contributed to this - but populations remain far below historical levels and still face threats including illegal hunting.

The study was carried out by the Cayman Islands Department of Environment and the University of Exeter.

Cayman Islands sea turtles back from the brink
 
Winter survival estimates for mule deer, elk remain above average and similar to 2020

Statewide survival of collared mule deer fawns and elk calves was above average through the end of April. Fish and Game biologists will continue monitoring through May, but traditionally less than 5 percent of the mortalities occur after April.

“In years with milder winters, like this one, we tend to see the number or mortalities drop off in May,” said Rick Ward, Deer and Elk Program Coordinator. “While we anticipate we will see some additional mortality by the end of the month, the statewide survival of mule deer fawns and elk calves is likely to end up being above average this year, barring an unusual event.”

Fish and Game crews and volunteers trap fawns and calves during winter and fit them with telemetry collars that allow biologists to track the young animals through their first winter and early spring.

Winter survival estimates for mule deer, elk remain above average and similar to 2020
 
Canada Declares Plastics Toxic, Paving the Way for Restrictions

“I think the days of waiting for recycling to work are over,” notes one environmentalist.

Plastic is now considered toxic under Canada’s primary environmental law—the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA)—the Trudeau government announced Wednesday.

The decision, which comes despite months of lobbying by Canada’s $28 billion plastics industry, paves the way for a proposed ban on some single-use items. A series by Canada’s National Observer earlier this year cataloged the sustained push by the plastics and food industries to disassociate plastics from anything to do with the word “toxic.”

However, the government held firm, which now clears the way for other measures to reduce plastic waste proposed by the government last fall. “This is the critical step,” said Ashley Wallis, plastics campaigner for Oceana Canada. “It’s the key that unlocks so many possibilities to help us actually address the plastic pollution crisis.”

Canada declares plastics toxic, paving the way for restrictions
 
How many people care about biodiversity and nature loss? Hundreds of millions and counting

The past couple of years have seen a wave of reports on Earth’s biodiversity and its dire state, finding that 1 million species are under threat of extinction and that populations of monitored animals have declined 68 percent since 1970. But how much are these scientific findings making it through to the zeitgeist? Are their numbers changing how much people care?

A new report released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), commissioned by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), found that the number of people engaging in conversations and actions on biodiversity loss numbers hundreds of millions and is on the rise. This “eco-wakening,” as the report deems the trend, is most quickly climbing in Asia and emerging markets, with top growth and engagement rates in India, Pakistan and Indonesia, as measured between 2016 and 2020.

New EIU biodiversity report calculates growing “eco-wakening”
 
World's strangest turtle' is brought back from the brink of extinction: Scientists track down rare Cantor's giant softshell turtle eggs in India and release five hatchlings back in the wild

London Zoo has rescued one of the world's rarest – and strangest – turtles from extinction.

Cantor’s giant softshell turtle, which can grow up to 3.3ft long, was thought to have permanently vanished from India after it had not been sighted for 10 years.

https://www-dailymail-co-uk.cdn.amp...trangest-turtle-brought-brink-extinction.html
 
Conservation Groups Expand Tennessee's Fiery Gizzard Trail

Fiery Gizzard Trail in South Cumberland State Park expanded for habitat protection and recreational opportunities

Today, TennGreen Land Conservancy (formerly the Tennessee Parks & Greenways Foundation) and The Conservation Fund announced a critical expansion along the popular Fiery Gizzard Trail in South Cumberland State Park.

By purchasing this land and adding it to the park, the partners helped secure the viewshed of the popular trail that will connect Denny Cove, Foster Falls, and most of the park system.

The Conservation Fund and TennGreen purchased this tract vital to the park's and the Fiery Gizzard Trail's continuity and transferred it to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) for permanent protection. The acquired land contains rich forests essential for wildlife habitat and outdoor enthusiasts. A portion of Little Gizzard Creek runs through this land.

Conservation Groups Expand Tennessee's Fiery Gizzard Trail | The Conservation Fund
 
Niger designates two Wetlands of International Importance

Niger has named two new “Ramsar Sites”, bringing to 14 the total number in the country.

Lac de Guidimouni (Site no. 2450 on the List of Wetlands of International Importance) is located in the rural commune of Damagaram-Takaya in the Zinder Region, which receives low and unreliable annual rainfall. It is a permanent lake as it lies in a significant depression that is continuously filled by groundwater sources as well as surface water.

https://www.ramsar.org/news/niger-designates-two-wetlands-of-international-importance
 
Republic of Korea (South Korea) adds Janghang Wetland to the List

The Republic of Korea has named Janghang Wetland as its 20th Wetland of International Importance. This “Ramsar Site” (no. 2448 on the List of Wetlands of International Importance) is a typical wetland of the Han river estuary, and forms an intertidal zone featuring woody plants and salt marshes.

https://www.ramsar.org/news/republic-of-korea-adds-janghang-wetland-to-the-list
 
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