Yeah, Donna - go figure. I seethe with rage every time this topic comes up... and the only way to hurt them is in the purse. I have said already that I have walked out of Spanish restaurants that sell "pajaritos" or "little birds", having made sure they know why! And when I was first in Cyprus - pre-birding days for me - I wondered what all these big nets were. It as only later that the penny dropped with a sickening thud. Believe me, tho, you do not want to tangle with any of these trapper/shooter guys. A European wide effort is needed, and already many bird groups and others are raising the cry of protest. Good luck to them... please support them if you can.

This is a quote from the website 10,000 Birds (http://10000birds.com)

'Why are millions of birds still being illegally killed in Cyprus? If a comment piece in today’s Cyprus Mail is an accurate reflection of how the local population thinks, it’s because politicians are afraid implementing (appropriate) fines would cost them votes, and because jailing poachers “would be too harsh a penalty, even though it seems to be the only way to stop the poaching�. And in a nutshell there’s the problem: illegal activities won’t be punished because politicians are spineless, and - anyway - killing birds is hardly worth a proper punishment is it? Sad, really sad…'

It led me to the piece mentioned in the Cyprus Mail. Politicians? Stand up and be counted? Uhhh... no.

And once you have read the piece, google the Blackcap... After you've seen one, you will wonder...

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/poaching/our-view-harsher-fines-needed-curb-poaching/20100930

[Investigation under way after 5,000 mink freed from farm]

Sorry I can't find the relevant link for this story from earlier this week... But this piece from The Irish Times underlines the consequences - and even the equal cruelty - of the alleged wholesale release of thousands of mink in County Donegal by animal activists. I heard the owner of the mink "farm" on the radio yesterday, and he had no idea how many creatures he had, so this is equally as bad. Any mink that survive will end up doing what they do - following their wild instincts. So how is releasing them to their own devices - and probably fear and confusion at their new situation - an act of liberation?


Investigation under way after 5,000 mink freed from farm

GENEVIEVE CARBERY and STEPHEN MAGUIRE

THE RELEASE of some 5,000 mink from a farm in Co Donegal is being investigated by gardaí [the Irish police force] while locals search for the hundreds of animals that remain on the loose.

The owners of the mink farm are blaming “animal liberation terrorists� after the animals were freed in what they claim was a deliberate attack.

A Garda spokesman said that a fence on the farm near Meenavalley was damaged by being cut or broken between 1am and 9am on Sunday...

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2010/0929/1224279906818.html

OK, now on to today's!

Who am I

This is easy....not for me but you guys.

Female (european) Redstart?

No Annette, sorry! 

Whoa-hoa, Donna! Those warblers are stinkers! And even the Big Guys can - and do - get them wrong. Two warblers here the Willow Warbler and the Chiffchaff. Now, Mister Chiffchaff is easy when he is sitting there in plain sight going "chiff-chaff-chif-chif-chaff". But if he is just hopping about in the branches and doesn't say a word, he is usually ID'd as a Willow-Chiff.

So I say Hooray for critters like the Hoopoe!

Why, thanks so much re that ID, everyone. If it isn't called a Yellow Warbler, it should be.

I just finished Italy.  Wow!  My only disappointment was NO Food pictures.  I love seeing the presentation of the food and wine

Greece will have to wait until Friday.

Probably too busy eating it, Janet. "So much good food... so little time."

Aren't these lovely? Even in the autumn plumage, I think I might be able to ID one. And how amazing to know what a little appropriate "pishing" can do.

http://php.democratandchronicle.com/blog/birds/?p=3574

(Guess I am particularly fascinated by them because we have only one (1) Sparrow species here: House Sparrow - do you call them English Sparrows? Same critter. And maybe not a NA native?)

(Haha! Spell check acccepted "pishing".)

Just see I have Shaky to thank for those image posts... Tata!

And I as well!  Where would we be without this consummate techie at the helm?
 
Carol

Cannot wait to see what he has to say about that comment, Carol.

Another record of Avian Longevity... and again from Scotland.



A whimbrel ringed on a Shetland island almost a quarter of a century ago is now believed to be the world's oldest, RSPB Scotland has said.

The bird was ringed on Fetlar in 1986 and has now been identified breeding on the same island.

RSPB Scotland said it was believed to be the oldest surviving ringed whimbrel in the world, more than doubling the typical 11-year lifespan.

The previous oldest 16-year-old was shot in France in 1995...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-11435139

Just see I have Shaky to thank for those image posts... Tata!

Oh my! How splendid! You know, in that first pic, if you had put the sculpture outside, it could be the real Mariah. (If you see what I mean...?) You must be thrilled. What an amazing sculptor. Oh - and thanks for taking the time to post. (I hate to be left out!)

By David Shukman, Environment correspondent, BBC News, Texas

One-fifth of the world's plants - the foundation of life on Earth - are at risk of extinction, a study concludes.

Researchers have sampled almost 4,000 species, and conclude that 22% should be classified as "threatened" - the same alarming rate as for mammals.

A further 33% of species were too poorly understood to be assessed.

The analysis comes from the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, the Natural History Museum and International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11434109

Does this site ever deserve a bookmark, Patti! Doubt it will help my skills any, but what a treat to hear them all. I am going to "hit" a few frogs, as there is something that does a lot of singing/trilling/cheeping on warm summer evenings when I am home... and I have yet to ID the sound to my satisfaction. Someone told me Tree Frogs, but when I did a search, I was not convinced.

And... someone, please, tell me the bird in the left-hand corner on the home page. I know I have seen them/it but cannot ID. (Anything new, then?)

(Spell Check: left-hand = Lufthansa. Haha!)

I would so love to see your Mariah! But Big Mac does not like that "share" system. (And I don't like to yell at him, such is his sensitivity...)

So - any chance you could put up a few pix on the Forum as Jpegs? (Big Mac does not mind these.)

Thanks!

is it a Pallas's Grasshopper-warbler

  Whoa! NOT!! 

You know, I would have said Aquatic Warbler too, esp with that serrated tail. (And if anyone thinks I am relying on my own ID abilities and not a field guide, they should think again!)

Oh well... still fun. Gives me something to think about when I get sick of the editing project...