Latest news with #habitatdestruction
Telegraph
2 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
How to support the birds in your garden
Many of the UK's bird species are in serious decline, largely due to habitat destruction and the collapse of food chains caused by development, intensive farming, pesticide use and climate change. Red-listed species at risk of extinction include the swift, house sparrow, house martin, tree sparrow, starling, greenfinch, skylark and cuckoo. The song thrush, wren, tawny owl, curlew, bullfinch and dunnock are on the amber list. These lists are compiled by wildlife organisations, including the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). According to the RSPB, between 1995 and 2023 the UK's swift population fell by 68 per cent, house martins by 42 per cent and starlings by 57 per cent. Chaffinch numbers are down 34 per cent, while greenfinches have declined by 66 per cent. Since 1970, almost 30 million house sparrows have disappeared from the UK. In response, the Swift Garden – a show garden at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, running from today (1 July) until 6 July – demonstrates how a naturalistic approach can benefit all garden birds. A collaboration between the RHS and the RSPB, the garden by landscape designer Lilly Gomm and horticulturist Coralie Thomas offers practical ideas we can all adopt to support the birds that visit our gardens. Here is some expert advice from Gomm and Thomas, along with wildlife specialists Adrian Thomas (RSPB) and Helen Bostock (RHS). Introduce multiple habitats To support garden birds, we need to focus on increasing the natural availability of food and shelter. 'A good habitat is all about creating a nature-rich, insect-rich space,' says Thomas. A garden can be neat and attractive while still being wildlife-friendly – but a clinically tidy space won't do. Multiple habitats help sustain a wide range of insects and invertebrates: woodlice and termites thrive in decaying log piles; slugs and snails shelter under dead leaves; grasshoppers and ants live in grassy areas; and dragonflies and beetles are drawn to ponds. Look to woodland glade design Many popular garden birds – including blackbirds, robins, blue tits and great tits – were originally woodland species, so they're naturally drawn to a woodland glade-style layout. This means planting shrubs and trees around the edges, with open areas of grass and flowers in the centre. The outer planting provides shelter, nesting sites and food, while the inner space offers ideal hunting grounds. Aim for plant diversity and continuity Diversity feeds biodiversity, so a wide variety of plants will help attract a range of edible insects and pollinators. 'When combining plants, make sure there's something of interest each month – both visually and for wildlife – so your garden evolves throughout the year,' says Gomm. Using a mix of native and non-native ornamentals can help achieve this. In the Swift Garden, native species such as Galium verum (lady's bedstraw), Acer campestre (field maple) and Rosa canina (dog rose) attract native insects, while non-natives like Nepeta kubanica (catmint), Verbascum bombyciferum (Broussa mullein) and Scabiosa columbaria ssp. ochroleuca (pale yellow scabious) help extend the supply of pollen and nectar. Include 'weeds' Leaving some 'weeds', such as dandelions and bird's-foot trefoil, adds colour and provides nectar and food for caterpillars, a delicacy enjoyed by many birds. Plant to attract pollinators Pollinators help keep your garden thriving, providing not only plant life but also shelter, berries, seeds and insects for birds. The nectar in single-flowered and spiked herbaceous perennials and annuals – such as helenium, cranesbill and lavender – is far more accessible to pollinators than that of dense, double-headed cultivars. Planting a variety of flower shapes attracts a broader range of species, including some of the UK's 250-plus types of bee. For example, tubular flowers like foxgloves and penstemons are ideal for long-tongued bumblebees. Late-winter and early-spring blooms, such as snowdrops and crocuses, are vital for early-emerging bees, while autumn-flowering asters, chrysanthemums and rudbeckia provide sustenance as other sources fade. Provide food for birds All kinds of creatures provide food for birds. Flying insects such as aphids, mosquitoes, hoverflies and small beetles are favourites of swifts and house martins. Blackbirds feed on slugs uncovered beneath dead leaves, while robins, starlings and wrens hunt for grubs and worms in lawns and soil. Berry-bearing shrubs and trees – including female holly, ivy (which is high in fat and especially nutritious), hawthorn and pyracantha – also help sustain birds, says Bostock. Overwintering seedheads, such as teasel and sedum, further boost the food supply. Grow fruit trees Fruit trees are a great starting point, says Thomas, as you can choose a rootstock to suit the size of your garden. They provide blossom for pollinators, while moth and butterfly caterpillars feed on the leaves – and are, in turn, eaten by birds and their chicks. The bark shelters spiders and butterfly eggs, and windfall apples offer food for winter thrushes and redwings. Plus, you get to enjoy some of the fruit yourself. Accept some pest damage Allowing foliage to be nibbled by caterpillars and earwigs helps maintain a healthy food chain. The Swift Garden includes a chewed-up Tilia henryana, an aphid-covered Epilobium hirsutum (great willowherb), and dead stems left in place on Viburnum opulus and Rosa canina to support overwintering wildlife. 'Some people get very annoyed when their hostas are eaten, but you could look at it as having some very healthy slugs – and, in turn, some very happy birds,' says Gomm. 'A garden will balance itself out naturally, without us needing to spray it.' Avoid an antiseptic garden Far from being low-maintenance, gardens dominated by hard landscaping – such as decking, fencing and artificial grass – are costly in more ways than one, says Thomas. 'A hedge is cheaper to install and easier to maintain than a fence. Fences may seem like the quick, simple option, but they're not – they blow down, rot, need preserving or end up having to be replaced. People often worry they haven't got green fingers, but many plants are very easy to care for – especially trees and shrubs. Once they're established and watered in, they pretty much look after themselves.' Offer places for birds to nest Meticulously restored buildings can also pose a problem. Swifts spend nearly their entire lives on the wing – eating, sleeping and mating in flight. They arrive in the UK from Africa in April or May and leave by August, only landing to lay eggs and raise their young. These birds typically return to the same nest each year, but their favoured sites – small holes under the eaves of houses and churches – have been largely lost to redevelopment. Some developers, such as Barratt and Redrow, are now incorporating swift bricks into new builds, and anyone can fit a nesting box for swifts or other species onto the side of their home. Birds also need nooks, crannies and thick foliage to thrive. 'Retaining cavities in mature trees and pruning bushes helps create dense nesting opportunities,' says Bostock. Tree cavities are especially important for species such as the starling, blue tit, little owl, nuthatch and kestrel. Do not sideline wildlife 'Some people think, 'I like wildlife, so I'll allocate a little corner of the garden to it – maybe behind the shed,'' says Thomas. 'But you can support wildlife throughout the whole garden. Rather than dividing it into a 'human' bit and a 'wildlife' bit, the more we think of humans and wildlife as interconnected, the better.' Choose feeding stations with care Unless you're prepared to keep bird tables and feeding stations scrupulously clean, you could be harming birds rather than helping them. Increasing evidence suggests that, for some species, feeding stations can be deadly. Trichomonosis – a parasitic disease that affects birds' ability to swallow – is a growing concern, particularly among finches. Greenfinch and chaffinch populations in the UK have been badly affected. The disease is thought to spread through infected birds' saliva left on tables and feeders, and organisations such as the RSPB are actively researching the issue. The RSPB recommends thoroughly cleaning feeders, bird baths and tables once a week with hot, soapy water and detergent (for guidance, visit
CTV News
05-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
B.C. First Nation builds small island, fisheries officials check for habitat damage
An excavator is seen on the shores of Coles Bay, B.C., where it was used to help build a small island and a land bridge. May 30, 2025, handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Richard Smith, *MANDATORY CREDIT* VICTORIA — A British Columbia First Nation has built up a small artificial island in the tidal shallows of Coles Bay off Vancouver Island, triggering an investigation by fisheries officials into whether it involved habitat destruction and if authorization should have been required. Two yellow excavators could be seen at work last week in the bay, heaping up stones and gravel on top of an existing rock outcrop, in a project the Department of Fisheries and Ocean said was linked to a 'clam garden.' Nearby resident Richard Smith said he watched dump trucks carry loads of rock to the shore, where the excavators hauled it into the bay, also building a temporary land bridge during the construction process. He said the rock outcrop was previously visible at low tide, but the island is now exposed at all times after the construction, which lasted from May 26 to May 30. The Canadian Press watched the excavators at work on May 30, then saw that they had left the scene later that day. That afternoon, about 20 workers, some wearing outfits with the logo of the Pauquachin First Nation, were on the bay's mud flats spreading what one described as 'shell hash.' The worker declined to be identified. Shell hash, made of finely ground sea shells, is used in some aquaculture operations to promote growth of mollusks, such as clams. The Department of Fisheries and Ocean was asked by The Canadian Press about the construction last Friday, and on Tuesday the department said in a statement it was 'aware of work being undertaken involving excavators and dump trucks to move and stockpile rocks in Coles Bay, B.C., to facilitate construction of a clam garden,' a traditional form of aquaculture. It said fisheries officers and biologists visited the site on Monday to evaluate the work. 'Assessment of the work will determine whether there has been any harmful alternation, disruption or destruction of fish and fish habitat that would require authorization under the Fisheries Act,' the statement said, adding that 'it would be premature to comment further at this time.' Work above the high-water mark occurred on Pauquachin territory, maps show. The First Nation did not respond to questions about the work. But it had previously announced an event in August to build a 'traditional sea garden' in Coles Bay, with guests invited to help construct a 250-metre long wall on the tidal flats using 'mindfully sourced and prepared rocks' from a quarry. 'A traditionally designed sea garden will nurture clam beds, welcome the return of numerous sea life, provide food sustainability, awaken sleeping traditional teachings, harvesting practices and sharing to future generations,' a description says on a Pauquachin First Nation website. Shellfish harvesting in Coles Bay was prohibited in 1997 on health grounds because of pollution from septic systems. The Pauquachin First Nation of 423 people along the western shore of the Saanich Peninsula has said the prohibition represents an 'infringement' of traditional fishing rights granted under an 1852 treaty. Chief Rebecca David said in a June 2023 letter to the provincial government that government-authorized septic systems represent the 'primary source of pollution,' calling on Ottawa and Victoria to fulfil obligations under the 1852 treaty by cleaning up the bay so shellfish harvesting can resume. The University of Victoria's Environmental Law Centre said in a report attached to David's letter that the closure of shellfish harvesting had deprived families of a critical food source and 'failure to redress the pollution' represents 'a grievous breach of treaty rights.' David's letter calls for the decontamination of Coles Bay to serve as a 'pilot project for developing a systemic approach to decontaminating shellfish beaches in British Columbia.' The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship said in a statement the province 'has supported Pauquachin's efforts to rehabilitate shellfish harvest in Coles Bay through regularly scheduled meetings and other technical support.' It did not respond directly to questions about the construction in Coles Bay. The lack of public information about the work has frustrated Smith, who said he is a 'big supporter of reconciliation' and supports 'anything that we can do to assist, co-operate and partner' with First Nations in almost any sphere. 'My frustration is really with the enforcement people or the people that are supposed to be governing this, who provide me with no information at all,' he said. Smith said this uncertainty is weighing heavily on him given the environmental stakes. 'It's the ocean and we all have to protect the ocean,' he said. 'That's part of our lives … theirs (the First Nation's), everybody's, and I'm constantly out on the beach, cleaning it, pulling tires out of the water.' North Saanich Mayor Peter Jones said on Tuesday that neither he nor the council received any notice about the work, but would have to confirm whether the First Nation contacted the municipality. 'I know for myself, I have not been contacted,' he said, adding the municipality has a 'very, very positive and very open' relationship with the First Nation. Jones said he does not know what the First Nation is doing, but said it has been working for a long time with Victoria, Ottawa and the Capital Regional District on restoring clam beds. 'This council is very, very hopeful that the (First Nation) can, in fact, restore the clam beds to a level that would make them very, very useful to them,' he said. 'Again, I hope they are successful, and with regard to what's happening there right now, council and I have no idea.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 4, 2025. Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press
CTV News
05-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
B.C. First Nation builds small island, fisheries officials check for habitat damage
An excavator is seen on the shores of Coles Bay, B.C., where it was used to help build a small island and a land bridge. May 30, 2025, handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Richard Smith, *MANDATORY CREDIT* VICTORIA — A British Columbia First Nation has built up a small artificial island in the tidal shallows of Coles Bay off Vancouver Island, triggering an investigation by fisheries officials into whether it involved habitat destruction and if authorization should have been required. Two yellow excavators could be seen at work last week in the bay, heaping up stones and gravel on top of an existing rock outcrop, in a project the Department of Fisheries and Ocean said was linked to a 'clam garden.' Nearby resident Richard Smith said he watched dump trucks carry loads of rock to the shore, where the excavators hauled it into the bay, also building a temporary land bridge during the construction process. He said the rock outcrop was previously visible at low tide, but the island is now exposed at all times after the construction, which lasted from May 26 to May 30. The Canadian Press watched the excavators at work on May 30, then saw that they had left the scene later that day. That afternoon, about 20 workers, some wearing outfits with the logo of the Pauquachin First Nation, were on the bay's mud flats spreading what one described as 'shell hash.' The worker declined to be identified. Shell hash, made of finely ground sea shells, is used in some aquaculture operations to promote growth of mollusks, such as clams. The Department of Fisheries and Ocean was asked by The Canadian Press about the construction last Friday, and on Tuesday the department said in a statement it was 'aware of work being undertaken involving excavators and dump trucks to move and stockpile rocks in Coles Bay, B.C., to facilitate construction of a clam garden,' a traditional form of aquaculture. It said fisheries officers and biologists visited the site on Monday to evaluate the work. 'Assessment of the work will determine whether there has been any harmful alternation, disruption or destruction of fish and fish habitat that would require authorization under the Fisheries Act,' the statement said, adding that 'it would be premature to comment further at this time.' Work above the high-water mark occurred on Pauquachin territory, maps show. The First Nation did not respond to questions about the work. But it had previously announced an event in August to build a 'traditional sea garden' in Coles Bay, with guests invited to help construct a 250-metre long wall on the tidal flats using 'mindfully sourced and prepared rocks' from a quarry. 'A traditionally designed sea garden will nurture clam beds, welcome the return of numerous sea life, provide food sustainability, awaken sleeping traditional teachings, harvesting practices and sharing to future generations,' a description says on a Pauquachin First Nation website. Shellfish harvesting in Coles Bay was prohibited in 1997 on health grounds because of pollution from septic systems. The Pauquachin First Nation of 423 people along the western shore of the Saanich Peninsula has said the prohibition represents an 'infringement' of traditional fishing rights granted under an 1852 treaty. Chief Rebecca David said in a June 2023 letter to the provincial government that government-authorized septic systems represent the 'primary source of pollution,' calling on Ottawa and Victoria to fulfil obligations under the 1852 treaty by cleaning up the bay so shellfish harvesting can resume. The University of Victoria's Environmental Law Centre said in a report attached to David's letter that the closure of shellfish harvesting had deprived families of a critical food source and 'failure to redress the pollution' represents 'a grievous breach of treaty rights.' David's letter calls for the decontamination of Coles Bay to serve as a 'pilot project for developing a systemic approach to decontaminating shellfish beaches in British Columbia.' The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship said in a statement the province 'has supported Pauquachin's efforts to rehabilitate shellfish harvest in Coles Bay through regularly scheduled meetings and other technical support.' It did not respond directly to questions about the construction in Coles Bay. The lack of public information about the work has frustrated Smith, who said he is a 'big supporter of reconciliation' and supports 'anything that we can do to assist, co-operate and partner' with First Nations in almost any sphere. 'My frustration is really with the enforcement people or the people that are supposed to be governing this, who provide me with no information at all,' he said. Smith said this uncertainty is weighing heavily on him given the environmental stakes. 'It's the ocean and we all have to protect the ocean,' he said. 'That's part of our lives … theirs (the First Nation's), everybody's, and I'm constantly out on the beach, cleaning it, pulling tires out of the water.' North Saanich Mayor Peter Jones said on Tuesday that neither he nor the council received any notice about the work, but would have to confirm whether the First Nation contacted the municipality. 'I know for myself, I have not been contacted,' he said, adding the municipality has a 'very, very positive and very open' relationship with the First Nation. Jones said he does not know what the First Nation is doing, but said it has been working for a long time with Victoria, Ottawa and the Capital Regional District on restoring clam beds. 'This council is very, very hopeful that the (First Nation) can, in fact, restore the clam beds to a level that would make them very, very useful to them,' he said. 'Again, I hope they are successful, and with regard to what's happening there right now, council and I have no idea.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 4, 2025. Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press
E&E News
02-06-2025
- General
- E&E News
Feds stick with ‘threatened' status for key scarlet macaw population
The Fish and Wildlife Service said Monday that it's sticking with the current Endangered Species Act status of the scarlet macaw, a foreign bird with a colorful plumage and a complicated history. Capping a review compelled by prior litigation, the federal agency announced it will retain the northern distinct population segment of the southern subspecies of scarlet macaw as a threatened species under the ESA. The decision reaffirms a 2019 listing. 'The scarlet macaw's historical range and population have been reduced and fragmented over the last several decades primarily because of habitat destruction and collection of wild birds for the pet trade,' the Fish and Wildlife Service stated. Advertisement The agency's decision not to increase the scarlet macaw's ESA protection level was decried by Jennifer Best, wildlife law program director of Friends of Animals.
Forbes
11-05-2025
- Science
- Forbes
Meet 4 Flightless Birds That Have Evaded Extinction. Hint: One Is The Biggest Bird In The World
Flightless birds have had a rough go of it over the past few centuries, with many going extinct — ... More the most iconic being the dodo bird. But not all have perished. Here are four flightless birds that managed to survive against the odds, and the story of how they did it. For millions of years, flightless birds thrived across the globe. With no need to fly, and few natural predators, they flourished. But their luck changed with the arrival of humans — bringing with them new predators, hunting practices, and habitat destruction. Species like the moa of New Zealand and the dodo of Mauritius disappeared within decades of first human contact. In fact, over 50 species of flightless birds have gone extinct in the last few thousand years. According to a 2020 study published in Science Advances, there are approximately 60 flightless birds that inhabit the planet today. Compare that number with the 166 flightless birds known to have gone extinct since humans came into existence and you can see how much this animal class has struggled. What's worse, scientists estimate that humans have been directly or indirectly responsible for 90 flightless bird extinctions. In other words, if it weren't for human hunting and related activities, we'd probably still have 150 flightless birds roaming the planet today, instead of 60. Of course, not all have perished. Some, against the odds, have managed to survive. Here are four remarkable flightless birds that have evaded extinction – and continue to walk, run, or waddle across our planet today. An ostrich, the world's largest living bird, relies on powerful legs and remarkable speed to thrive ... More in the open landscapes of sub-Saharan Africa. The ostrich (Struthio camelus) isn't just a survivor, it's the largest and heaviest living bird in the world, standing up to nine feet tall and weighing over 300 pounds. Native to the savannas and open woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa, ostriches have evolved not for flight, but for speed and endurance. They can sprint at over 40 miles per hour and use their powerful legs to deliver deadly kicks when threatened. Unlike many extinct flightless birds that fell prey to hunters, ostriches' size and speed make them difficult to catch. Additionally, they inhabit wide, open landscapes, giving them plenty of visibility to spot predators and expand their territory. In contrast, many of the flightless birds that went extinct inhabited remote islands where there was simply nowhere to hide. While they were once hunted extensively for feathers, meat, and leather, ostriches have bounced back. Today, they're farmed commercially in many parts of the world, and wild populations remain stable in protected reserves and national parks. The kiwi of New Zealand is characterized by some of the most unique traits found in any bird ... More species. New Zealand's kiwi may not be imposing in size (most are about the size of a chicken) but they're among the most unique birds on Earth. There are five species of kiwi, all endemic to New Zealand, and they've become national symbols of resilience. These shy, nocturnal creatures evolved in a predator-free environment. With poor eyesight, hair-like feathers, and a highly developed sense of smell (rare among birds), kiwis adapted perfectly to life on the forest floor. Unfortunately, this made them vulnerable once humans — and introduced animals like cats, stoats, and dogs — arrived. By the 20th century, many kiwi populations were in sharp decline. However, thanks to aggressive conservation efforts, including predator control programs, habitat restoration, and breeding initiatives, several kiwi species have seen rebounds. The North Island brown kiwi, for example, has had population increases in recent years. An emu and its chicks in Western Australia. Standing up to 6.5 feet tall, the emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) is the second-largest bird in the world, native to Australia's mainland and surrounding islands. Though they can't fly, emus make up for it with long strides and a top running speed of nearly 30 miles per hour. They're also impressive travelers, capable of walking great distances in search of food and water. Unlike many flightless birds that suffered catastrophic population crashes, emus have largely coexisted with humans. Their widespread range and nomadic nature made them harder to overhunt. They also proved surprisingly adaptable to the agriculturalization of land. Despite their generally stable status, emus haven't always had it easy. In 1932, Australia faced the bizarre "Emu War," where soldiers attempted (and failed) to curb large numbers of emus damaging crops in Western Australia. Today, emus remain common across the continent and are even farmed commercially for meat, oil, and leather. A flightless cormorant, endemic to the Galápagos Islands, stretches its small, vestigial wings — ... More remnants of a flying ancestry. While most cormorants are sleek, water-diving birds capable of flight, the flightless cormorant (Nannopterum harrisi) of the Galápagos Islands broke the mold. Evolving in isolation, it developed short wings, powerful legs, and strong webbed feet, trading flight for exceptional swimming ability. This bird is found only on two Galápagos islands: Fernandina and the northern coast of Isabela. With no land predators and plentiful marine food, it thrived without needing to fly – until humans arrived. Introduced predators and habitat disturbances took a toll, and today, only around 1,000 individuals remain. Still, the flightless cormorant has held on, thanks largely to the Galápagos' protected status and ongoing conservation programs. Its continued existence underscores how even highly specialized species — seemingly vulnerable — can persist when given a chance. Does thinking about the extinction of a species instantly change your mood? Take the Connectedness to Nature Scale to see where you stand on this unique personality dimension.
