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