Illegal bird trapping - the dark side of Cyprus

"A Robin Redbreast in a Cage
Puts all Heaven in a Rage"

William Blake 1757-1827

Its Saturday and I am about to start my third and final week in Cyprus where I have volunteered to work with the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS), a German charity dedicated to the eradication of illegal hunting and trapping of birds throughout Europe.  Cyprus, which lies in the eastern end of the Mediterranean basin, is one of the key migratory routes that birds use during their journey between Europe and Africa.  It is assessed that over 100 million birds visit the island every spring and autumn.  According to BirdLife Cyprus, over 2.5 million birds are killed by illegal bird trapping on the island every year.  The number is improbably large, but sadly this is a conservative estimate.

Cyprus

Illegal hunting, mainly with shot guns, is endemic, even in conservation areas

Care of the environment seems to be of little importance - sadly a common sight.  'Fly-tipping' is rife

Bird trapping has been a traditional rural activity in Cyprus using mainly the sticky sap of Syrian plums applied to short sticks deployed in trees and attracted sometimes by tethered decoy birds.  Most people indulged, seeking a little morsel of precious protein to improve their diet.  The overall impact on bird populations was probably insignificant.  In the modern era trappers have taken advantage of the use of mist nets, upgraded the lime sap to include industrial strength glue and have deployed MP3 players and car batteries to mimic and attract passing birds.  The result has been a wholescale scale expansion in slaughter which was only reduced following Cyprus' accession to the European Union in 2004.  However, and again according to Bird Life Cyprus, trapping has again increased significantly since 2005, triggering the intervention of a number of non-government organisations, like CABS, and brave individuals prepared to run the gauntlet of organised crime. 



Blackcaps - or 'ambelopouli' - considered a local delicacy

Female Blackcap or 'ambelopouri' about to be released by a CABS volunteer

CABS runs camps in Cyprus each spring and autumn.  Every night and often early in the morning too, small patrols venture forth into the countryside and suburban areas listening for the unnatural and unmistakable siren sound of bird song.  The most commonly heard is that of the Blackcap, a beautiful warbler familiar to most of us in Europe.  'Ambvelopouli', as they are known here, are the main target.  Each bird is worth approximately €40 driving an industry estimated to be worth €15M a year.  Sadly it's not only Blackcaps that get trapped.  30 other species of bird can be eaten including thrushes and other warblers.  The rest of the 120 or so species that have been reported as caught are simply left to die.  There is a local saying that it is bad luck to release a bird, as each is a gift from God. 

Lime sticks seized by the police



An olive tree prepared for lime sticks - the planks enable access to higher branches

A hard day's night

Patrolling can be dangerous; approaching pick-up trucks and strange voices in the night force volunteers to take cover and hide.  Activists have been beaten up in the past and in my time our hire car was immobilised and key-scratched.  This in no holiday.  Between 4:00 and 5:00 am, the CABS patrols rendezvous with the Animal Protection Service (APS) to brief them on trapping sites they have found during the night and to organise an ambush and hopefully make an arrest.  However, the current scale of trapping and the small capacity of the APS are such that their effect is limited.  A recent excursion of mine into the British Sovereign Base (SBA) area of Dhekalia identified so many active decoys that we could only conclude that the situation is now, in this British controlled area at least, out of control. Despite Prince Charles writing to Commander British Forces Cyprus in March 2014 demanding action, very little seems to have been achieved and trapping continues unabated.  Mention should also be made of the gauntlet Quails run here in Cyprus.  Trappers deploy quail decoys by the dozen across the dry dusty farmland so that the night is filled with the weirdly unnatural sound of their calls.  Whilst hunting Quails in season is legal, attracting them with batteries of eclectically powered decoys is not.



A mist net trapping site 

A night's black harvest - all these birds - mainly Blackcaps - were successfully released, save one which had to be destroyed

Fortunately it's not all bad news.  Trapping is abating in some areas and many young Cypriots are determined to turn things around.  From my perspective, the dedication and determination, combined with an academic rigor in documenting the issue, of the CABS personal has been humbling.  Many have genuinely dedicated their lives to saving birds across Europe in this way and their approach in tackling this distressing issue is impressive.  For me, working as a volunteer, the highlights must include the release of birds following the seizure of mist nets.  Above you can see how they come.  Trapped in mesh and unceremoniously dumped in a bucket. However, careful hands are on standby to cut them free and to release them.



A Garden Warbler cut free

Ian - a CABS volunteer with a small friend

The past 2 weeks have been amazing and eye opening.  As I conclude this post a day after starting it, I reflect on the 7 blackcaps and single Lesser Whitethroat we rescued in the early hours of this morning and released at dawn in a car layby somewhere in the middle of Cyprus.  One's happiness is tempered by the knowledge that many hundreds will not have been so lucky.  Finally, if you wish to join a CABS camp, look at their website and apply.  Please also spread the word so that together we can accelerate the end of this barbarous trade.



A Wryneck shortly before release

In the back of a car in a layby- cutting free a Blackcap

Clockwise from bottom right: a dead Ortolan Bunting, Red-backed Shrike, Wood Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Lesser Whitethroat and Great Reed Warbler



Herbst - Drömling

A short post following a visit to the Drömling this morning.  The weather was initially overcast with sunny periods developing steadily as the morning went on.  The temperature was about 18C.  I have written about the Drömling before - its a huge area not suited for the concentration of migrants and is at its best in Spring when its fit to bursting with newly arrived birds, and late Autumn when the Cranes and Geese are passing through.  Small migrants will pass through on a broad front and are therefore not easy to see. 


Map extract - Drömling

Not surprisingly Swallows were much in evidence skimming across the meadows catching insects.  A few House Martins were also present.  A First Summer Redstart showed nicely on the edge of a bush line.  Amazingly I had not yet seen this species in Germany and so it was new both for the location and the country - for me at least.  Soon afterwards I was surprised by an adult White-tailed Eagle which, as is becoming a habit with this species, approached me from behind.  This is the third time I have seen this species here.  A Lesser Spotted and Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over - the former is scarce and is therefore a good sighting

Swallows - Drömling

First Summer Redstart - Drömling



Adult White-tailed Eagle -  Drömling


Roe deer were much in evidence - they are very common in Germany and roam freely all over the Drömling.  I saw 15 today - they obviously knew that no hunters were about.  Whinchats were quite common and make a nice change from their Stonechat cousins.  A Garden Warbler briefly showed its face before disappearing deep into the bushes again. And, last but not least, a couple of Ravens cavorted overhead against the now blue sky.  Some Common Buzzards and Red Kites added a bit of variety on the raptor front.

Roe Deer  -  Drömling



Whinchat  - Drömling

Raven - Drömling

All in all a pretty uneventful visit and proof that you need to time your visits to get the best from wherever you're going.



Herbst - Frose

Time to get back to the birds.  Autumn is here and things ought to be beginning to move.  A visit to Frose was in order to see what was coming through.  I had also read some reports of late summer congregations of Bee-eaters hawking over the water and was keen to see if I could see some.  I've been to Frose several times attracted by its diversity and the abundance of species - I've seen, after this morning's visit, 68 species here.  The weather was calm and warm - 20C.  A beautiful early autumnal day.
 

Map extract - Frose and the Concordia See



Frose village from over the reed beds

First impressions weren't too optimistic.  I'd timed my arrival so as to arrive mid-morning when the air would be warmer and therefore more conducive to insect activity.  Certainly compared to my visits in the early spring when the place was a cacophony of bird song, it was eerily quiet.  Halfway along the track bisecting the reserve are two expanses of water one of which contains a drowned wood.  The left hand area is more open and shallow and contained the wonderful sight of nearly 200 Lapwings. Often overlooked, these birds are really beautiful, particularly so when the entire flock, spooked by a local Marsh Harrier erupted into the air, their black and white wings contrasting spectacularly against the sun.  Accompanying the Lapwings were several Ruffs in winter plumage and right at the back, beyond camera range, a handful of Dunlins.  So, something was coming through and both waders were new to me at Frose.

Lapwings at Frose

Juvenile Marsh Harrier - Frose

Ruffs at Frose

On I walked pondering all the species I'd seen here in the Spring - nearly all of the warblers were gone save only for a softly plumaged gentle-faced Marsh Warbler and a couple of their Reed brethrens chuntering from deep within the reed beds.  I played cat and mouse with a juvenile Cuckoo hoping for a shot but he or she proved too elusive - always moving on in that long-winged elastic way of theirs.  There really didn't seem to be that much about, especially on the passerine front.  The other lake was graced with 12 Great-White Egrets and some Grey Herons whilst the sky was filled with hirundines fattening up before the long haul south.  Suddenly the air was filled with a quipping sound indicating the arrival of a 10 strong flock of Bee-eaters flying on stiffly held wings over the water.  This species is most obliging in the sense that they're easy to photograph posing obligingly on dead trees in the middle of the lake.  I spotted at least one juvenile bird and assume this raiding party came from the Osmarsleben colony I had visited in June.



Bee-eater - Frose



Bee-eater - Frose

White Storks flying over Frose

Turning back towards the car I picked up 3 White Stocks heading south which, when added to the handful of migrating Cranes I had seen the other day from the car, indicate that the big bird passage has started too.  Frose seems to attract large numbers of Starlings maybe because there is so much suitable roosting habitat.  Large numbers wheeling across the reed beds is a spectacular sight and certainly worth observing not least as a fascinating behavioural characteristic.

A flock of Starlings over Frose

One of ten Great White Egrets - Frose

Finally, I was really please to find a couple of juvenile Penduline Tits - another new species for me at Frose - which despite being widely distributed, aren't that easy to come by.  This couple were certainly easier to photograph than their bearded cousins which never stay still long enough for me to get a snap.  Lastly, just as I approached the car, some Sand Martins flew over head.  Here's the morning's list then: Great White Egret (12), Grey Heron (11), White Stork (4), Marsh Harrier (several), Buzzard (5), Lapwing (circa 200), Dunlin (4), Ruff (8), Black-headed Gull, Woodpigeon (2), Cuckoo, Bee-eater (10), Sand Martin (5), Swallow (circa 30), House Martin (22), Pied Wagtail (2), Wren, Dunnock (2), Robin, Song Thrush, Marsh Warbler (1), Reed Warbler (2), Whitethroat (3), Willow Warbler (2), Blue Tit, Great Tit, Penduline Tit (2 juv), Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Starling (100), Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch (15).

Juv Penduline Tit - Frose

Juv Penduline Tit - Frose

Finally, now that the summer is officially over I should return to my original subject - that of Montagu's Harriers.  Despite trying, driving and walking miles, I have seen none - save the early passage female bird in the spring.  I have looked in old haunts and promising acres of crops but must admit that I've drawn a blank.  As they say, information is power, and with so little useful intelligence and help, it was always going to be difficult - but I thought I would find some somewhere!  On the plus side I've got to know the landscape and villages north east of the Harz and have grown to love them in their inimical German way.  And I've seen a lot of great birds in the process and all under my own steam.  Next week the Drömling, but today Frose did not disappoint.