Dear all,
Greetings from Uttarakhand Himalayas, thought keen birders like you would like to know about our conservation initiative here, we at ARCH seek all your support in making this an ongoing bird activity. Do tell your birding fraternity members and friends about this forthcoming Himalayan Birding & Trekking Experience.
Finally some good news,
The Great Himalayan Bird Count, Winter of 2008 is planned on the most popular trekking trails situated in the valleys of Yamuna; Bhagirithi; Bhilingna; Ganga ; Mandakini and Alaknanda rivers in Garhwal.
- The Bird Count Dates are: 14th to 17th of November, 2008
- The bird count will start and finish at Dehradun
- We propose 15 Groups undertaking 34 different treks of +/- 10 kms
each between 14th and 17th November 2008 (Each Group size will be a
maximum of five birders plus 2-3 urban school students) local
village youths and govt. school students will join the trails at the
count destinations itself.
- We are
involving young school children because we at ARCH feel
that young minds should start thinking of Conservation as an academic
and career pursuit instead of just another constructive activity.
- This event will be organized with the support of Uttarakhand Forest
Department.
- There will be a Orientation and Debriefing Workshop at Dehradun on
the 14th & 17th respectively.
- The 14th & 17th are also the dates for to-&-fro journey to the
count destinations.
- Most of the groups will be undertaking two treks during the Count
but one or two groups will be undertaking 3-4 treks in the Count.
- It is an encounter-rate baseline data generation and conservation
awareness activity.
- Each group will accommodate some local youths and young school
children from the area and will provide orientation & motivation
to take-up bird watching as an revenue generation skill.
- Each group is encouraged to conduct a small half-hour workshop
with the local village elders to generate list of vernacular names
of the bird species found in different river valleys. They are
also expected to document any references occurring in oral folk.
- This is not a commercial activity, so we expect the participants
to share the cost of lodging, Boarding & travel expenses at
actuals.
- During the count modest lodging & boarding will be arranged at the
Forest Rest Houses of the area.
Friends now you know the dates, so plan your schedules accordingly and kindly let un know of your intention (with your trekking & birding experience of Himalayan bird species) to participate in this wonderful birding opportunity at the earliest possible.
Kindly take an early Registration initiative to avoid any disappointments later.
Each Group size is restricted to 5 birders only, so please hurry...
On hearing from you we’ll furnish the Count Trails and Registration Details at the outset.
Regards
Prateek Panwar
Founder Trustee ARCH
Action & Research for Conservation in Himalayas
MDDA Duplex Villa # 3, Sahastradhara Road,
Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001 INDIA
Tel# 9412054216
(0135)2114649
Email: arch.birdcount@...
arch.birdcount@...
Avin Deen <avinvasion@...> wrote:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/ 25679150/ ?pg=8#WildlifeTr ade_2008
Birds
The parrot family has more globally threatened species than any other bird family, and the capture for pets is a primary cause of decline. The trade in wild birds is banned in the United States and, since 2007, in Europe, but the trade is legal in other areas.
Of particular concern is trade in African Grey parrots in West and Central Africa. "The species may be threatened with extinction in its natural environment unless the trade is subject to strict enforcement," says Emmanuel de Merode, head of WildlifeDirect.
In 2008, some 1,200 live or dying African Greys stuffed into cages were seized from traffickers in Cameroon. The parrots were being illegally flown to Bahrain and Mexico for the exotic pet trade.
Asia also is a hub for the sale of birds as pets, both to locals and foreigners. "One bird market in Java (Indonesia) is estimated to sell between 1 and 1.5 million wild birds per year for the pet trade," says Liz Bennett, head of the wildlife trade program at the Wildlife Conservation Society.
At the Tangkoko Duasudara Nature Reserve in Sulawesi, Indonesia, the number of anoa and maleo birds declined by 90 percent between 1978 and 1993, she adds.
BirdLife International notes that bird species threatened due to the illegal trade include the:
*Yellow-crested Cockatoo Cacatua sulphurea of East Timor and Indonesia;
*Red Siskin Carduelis cucullata in northern South America;
*Java Sparrow Padda oryzivora of Indonesia.
The Spix's Macaw Cyanopsitta spixii of Brazil is already extinct in the wild due to the illegal trade and habitat loss.
Angus Starling-British missionary (Brian McArdie) :l've lived in Africa for a year,
and l don't know what you know.How long have you
been here?
Col. John Patterson (Val Kilmer) :Just about 24 hours.But l've been longing
for this all my life.in
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