Biodiversity News

Below are links to storiesĀ on Biodiversity, especially relating to aviation and airports.

 

Bird cull to make way for planes – Manchester

Hundreds of bird-watchers have signed a petition to save 800 rooks facing a cull at Manchester Airport. The action was due to be taken against the flock of birds, which have nested in woods near Dunham Massey for 300 years, on Thursday. The rookery, on a golf course, is directly under a flight path from the airport. The airport has postponed the cull to hold talks with the local community, many of whom say the cull is "unnecessary and cruel". (BBC)

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Is biofuel policy harming European biodiversity?

Transport is responsible for about 25% of the energy-related greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. The EU has set a target of 5.75% share of biofuels in the transport section for all EU Member States by 2010, and 10% by 2020. More growing of biofuel crops could lead to an increasing pressure on the environment, habitat loss and biodiversity decrease, especially if habitats are converted into monoculture plantations for biofuel. (Science Daily)

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USA – Transportation chief rejects secrecy on bird data

The Transportation Secretary is scrapping a proposal by the FAA that would make secret its data on when and where birds and airplanes collide. He believed the public had a right to the information. Until now, FAA officials had said it was necessary to keep specific information from the public because it might discourage voluntary reporting. The information could also be embarrassing to some airports with higher numbers of bird strikes. (Washington Post)

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Britain’s birds facing extinction as climate change leaves them with nowhere to go

As temperatures rise and European breeds arrive, native species such as the lapwing and Scottish crossbill are being forced out. Soon, say the RSPB and Durham University, many of our rare birds will disappear. Britain's birds are being driven northwards to extinction at an accelerating rate because of global warming. On average British birds will move 550 kilometres north by 2100 as the climate heats up. Article gives details of many species affected. (Observer)

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Airport geese risks played down

The threat of a bird strike at a UK airport similar to the recent incident in New York is kept under constant scrutiny, ministers have said. Transport minister Lord Adonis said it was the job of regulators to make sure individual airports had "effective" bird control monitoring procedures. The number of birds in the vicinity of Heathrow was not "unusual", he added. (BBC)

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Heathrow bosses insist no geese cull planned

Experts claim the growing population of Canada geese near the airport is putting planes at increasing risk of bird strikes, like the one which brought down a jet in Hudson Bay. Heathrow this week insisted existing tactics to keep birds away from the runways were working and there was no need for a cull. Staff patrol the airfield every day and play a variety of bird calls to scare off different species - as well as keeping grass short. (Hounslow Chronicle)

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Exclusive: Fears that swan flock could cause disaster at Glasgow Airport

The airport fears roosting birds could cause a catastrophic plane crash similar to last week's near-disaster in New York. Aircraft could be in danger due to flocks of whooper swans which migrate from Iceland to live near the runways during the winter. BAA admitted they want to get rid of the birds, which can weigh up to 15kg, because of the risk but cannot move the birds from Black Cart Water, as they are a protected species on an SSSI. (Daily Record)

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Thames estuary airport plan threatens wildlife – say RSPB

Increasing numbers of wildlife and birds in the Thames Estuary could end plans for an airport on an artificial island, the RSPB has claimed. Its Waterbirds in the UK 2006/2007 report places the estuary in the top 5 most important sites in the UK for water birds wintering or migrating. The RSPB said it proved plans for an airport in the estuary were doomed. This year's count has found 12 species in the Thames Estuary in internationally important numbers. (BBC)

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Birds eggs destroyed over Belfast City Airport plane fears

Bird eggs are being destroyed at Victoria Park in east Belfast by the Environment and Heritage Service over fears that the hatchlings could affect flights at Belfast City Airport. The Canadian and greylag geese eggs nesting in the park alongside the runway. There were apparently 16 bird-strikes last year. (UK Airport News)

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Wildlife populations ‘plummeting’

Between a quarter and a third of the world's wildlife has been lost since 1970, according to data compiled by the Zoological Society of London. Populations of land-based species fell by 25%, marine by 28% and freshwater by 29%. Humans are wiping out about 1% of all other species every year. WWF said that over the next 30 years, climate change was also expected to become a significant threat to species, and this will affect human welfare. (BBC)

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