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StraitsBirderA very good example of why conservation must work across borders for migratory birds….
The strange case of a Black Kite marked in Tarifa and recovered in Benin, West Africa.
…thanks for reading!
Helen- Seville
Thank you for posting that StraitsBirder.
Its a very thought provoking subject isn’t it? Of course migratory species should be protected in their summer nesting grounds and transit ways to and from their wintering grounds.
However, I guess its easier said than done? In many parts of Africa where European birds winter the people must see their arrival as a bounty from heaven, a food supply and also a way to earn money. Its not like these birds are hunted for sport in the way they are in Europe.
I bet the first time someone caught a bird with a ring on its leg, they must have thought it a gift from the Gods no?
Its hard to talk about this subject without sounding kind of conceited as I do come from one of the richer European countries.
Fascinating.
Breathe and try to be nice to people 🙂
clive- Grazalema
Interesting reading indeed StraitsBirder.
Quite a few years ago I was invited to a barbecue at a Spanish “friends” house where the little birds on the grill that I thougth were farmed quail turned out to be various species of thrush. Wintering on his land from northern climes… “There are thousands of them everywhere” he told me as he opened his chest freezer containing hundreds of mistle, song thrush and redwings.
The worst similarity between your kite story and mine is that he also had more than one necklace made out of rings from birds legs. This was 15 years ago or more now and I haven’t been invited to another barbecue.
In fact he’s never spoken to me since due to the argument that ensued about how in this day and age he wasn’t a starving peasant providing a food supply for his family. Times had changed here in Andalucia and he was just hunting them because he enjoyed it… He even said that most didnt have enough meat on them to even bother eating.
Unlike the people that Helen mentions in Africa that, in many cases I am sure, still have this need.
Its a contentious subject matter thats for sure
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StraitsBirderHi Helen…interesting point…
…You are quite right but often particularly birds of prey are used for nothing more than voodoo rituals (as this bird was destined for) ….not really helping anyone ! So in this case food is not the driver.
However you raise a valid point in other situations but hunting these birds is rarely anything to do with food, take for instance the hunting of Turtle Dove in Morocco which whilst for food (but not at all necessary) these are hunts hired out for British, Spanish, French and other nationalities of hunters. Where hunting migratory birds is for a real need of food (very few true cases of this) this is unsustainable and a completely unsustainable food supply so it is better to build sustainable agricultural systems that benefit people, nature and environment.
Thanks Clive ! I’m glad your “friend” no longer invites you ! Thrush, Quail and Turtle Dove hunting here in Spain/Iberia is completely unsustainable and should be banned across Europe. In the case of the Turtle Dove there is a real possibility that we will see the end of this species as a breeding bird in many European countries! …absolutely bonkers that this hunting is not completely outlawed in The EU. As for Thrushes (particularly Song Thrush) the hills of Spain are like a war zone when these birds are migrating on mass but yet they are also suffering major declines…and Quails similarly! Sadly hunters have not proven that the can refrain voluntarily from hunting majorly declining species so outlawing the practice is urgently necessary !
…..I’ll get off my soap box now!
CarlNo need to get off the soap box ☺️ what a fascinating conversation.
StraitsBirder
Helen
clive
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