World Migratory Bird Day in Kenya

This video is called Birds feeding at the Mount Kenya Safari Club.

From BirdLife:

BirdLife Africa Partnership Secretariat joins Mount Kenya Site Support Group to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day (WBMD) marked on 12th to 13th of May, 2012.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Each year around the world, people come together to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day to raise awareness on the protection of migratory birds. This year’s 2012 theme for World Migratory Bird Day is “Migratory birds and people- together through time”. Migratory birds and people are inseparably connected in many different ways but human activities like excessive land use, unsustainable hunting, poor agricultural practices, industrial pollution and many other activities now gravely threaten migratory birds around the world. WMBD strives towards preserving the cultural ties people have with migratory birds and the vital economic and environmental benefits they sustain.

WMBD is an important event in the BirdLife Africa Partnership Secretariat calendar of events and this year, staff led by Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Julius Arinaitwe, took time off their busy schedule to mark WMBD in Mount Kenya Forest, one of Kenya’s top water towers and an Important Bird Area (IBA). This event was hosted by the Mt Kenya community SSG. The SSG was represented by 3 groups; the Mt. Kenya biodiversity conservation group, Baguretti ecotourism club and Baguretti conservation youth club each with a membership of at least 60 people.

The events kicked off with Bird watching through the forest with team leaders leading four groups. Several bird species were sited among them the Cinnamon chested bee eater, Grey headed Bush-shrike, Grey Apalis, African Harrier Hawk, Speckled Mousebird, Variable sunbird, Purple Grenadier, Red eyed dove and many more. At least 30 species were sighted. Participants also took part in planting trees with various species being planted in the forest. At least 100 seedlings were planted. All this activities were aimed at the protection of the forest which is an important IBA.

Kenya: Two Rare Bird Species in Taita Forests Face Extinction: here.

Kenya: Scientists in Bid to Save Taita Bats, Bush Babies: here.

Africa: Loss and Degradation of Natural Habitats Threaten Migratory Birds, Pushing Species Towards Extinction: here.

Related articles

• Networking for migratory birds (learntoconserve.wordpress.com)
• International Migratory Bird Day – May 11, 2013 (naturalhistorywanderings.com)
• Helping people and birds in Peru (dearkitty1.wordpress.com)
• Safari parks in Kenya (dancomtours.wordpress.com)
• Migratory birds have their days (abqjournal.com)
• Celebrate migratory birds this Saturday at Trempealeau refuge (winonadailynews.com)
• Phenotypic Divergence among West European Populations of Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus: The Effects of Migratory and Foraging Behaviours (plosone.org)

Haarlem poetry festival

This is a video about the Haarlem poetry festival in the Netherlands in 2011.

This year, 17 May 2012, there was a festival as well.

It was at six places near the inner city central market square, where the medieval main church is.

The official opening of the festival was by the two poets Rick de Leeuw and Erik Jan Harmens; reading from their new poetry book which they had published together.

There were a hundred poets participating. Including yours truly. I read some poems of mine twice.

The first time was on the street before the Koops pub.

The first poet there was Maarten Willems. Also a singer-songwriter, he sang a few songs as well.

Then Jos Zuijderwijk. His poems included one on birds’ songs (including wheatears and shrikes).

Third was Jack Terrible. All his poems this time were about psychology and psychiatry, and his bad experiences with them.

Then, me, with poems on the Dutch government, insects, and other subjects.

Then, Harry Aukes from IJmuiden.

Then, Dick van Hoeve from Bergen.

Finally, Jando (stage name of Jan de Dood). His poems included one about anabolic steroids.

Then, to the Waag building to hear other poets.

Mirjam Al had a poem against the Greek “Golden Dawn” nazis.

Mirjam Bros had one on great crested grebes.

Then, to the archaeological museum. There was my second time to read my poems.

One poem by Til Schaap was about bankers’ bonuses.

Ex-nurse Liesbeth de Kat had poems about Auschwitz. Ex-homeless bicycle repairman Michel Fakkeldij had poems on homelessness.

Gloucestershire avocet chicks, first time ever

This is a video of an avocet with chicks.

From Wildlife Extra:

Avocets breed at Slimbridge for the first time in recent history

Avocets breed in Gloucestershire for the first time on record

May 2012. Conservationists are celebrating after an iconic bird has bred in Gloucestershire for the first time on record. A pair of avocets has bred at WWT Slimbridge and two of their young have just hatched, with a further egg potentially hatching.

The wading bird was extinct in Britain for a long time due to habitat destruction and persecution by skin and egg collectors. However, soon after World War II they started breeding on reclaimed land near the Wash, which was returned to marshland to create difficulties for German invaders. Since that point numbers have slowly recovered in the UK but this is the first time they have bred in Gloucestershire in recent history.

Related articles

• Red-necked Avocets illegally shot in Victoria (worldwaders.wordpress.com)

Chicago anti-NATO demonstration

This video from the USA is called National Nurses United’s G8/NATO Rally-May 18th 2012, Chicago.

From daily The Morning Star in Britain:

Protests draw links from war to cuts

Friday 18 May 2012

Thousands of anti-Nato demonstrators converged on Chicago today ahead of the military alliance’s planned summit this weekend.

Protesters marched through the city as fellow activists headed for the presidential retreat in Camp David, Maryland, where a G8 summit on the global economic crisis will take place.

The G8 meeting had also been planned for Chicago, but President Barack Obama moved the location at the last minute in a suspected bid to avoid mass protests.

Demonstrators included around 2,000 nurses of the National Nurses United trade union, who called for a “Robin Hood” tax on financial institutions and an end to cuts to social services, education and health care.

March organiser Andy Thayer said the protest aimed to highlight that money spent fighting wars meant less money for welfare.

“This is the 99 per cent staking itself against the 1 per cent, drawing the connections between the war abroad and the war on working people here at home,” he said.

Cases of whooping cough have reached epidemic proportions in Washington State under conditions where health care services have been cut drastically: here.

Montenegro conservation victory

This video is called Birds in Montenegro.

From BirdLife:

Great Victory for Montenegrin biodiversity!

Thu, May 17, 2012

The months of intensive advocacy work from the Center for Protection and Research of birds of Montenegro (CZIP) and the support from the biggest international centers of nature conservation (BirdLife International , BirdLife Europe, the Secretariats of the Bern and Ramsar Convention, the European Commission, Euronatur and other conservation organisations from Montenegro and abroad) have finally paid off: the Montenegrin Government has decided to refuse a Salt Factory covering 15 square kilometers in the Ulcinj Salina area permission to convert the saltworks, which are one of the most important salty wetlands in the Mediterranean zone, into a tourist attraction with hotels and golf courses.

Moreover, the Government has also decided to grant the Ulcinj Salina area, already internationally recognized for its natural richness (as an Important Bird Area, Emerald Site, and potential Ramsar and Natura 2000 site), the appropriate status of protected area and natural heritage it fully deserves.

This is a significant victory for nature conservation, not only for Montenegro, but also at global level, considering that the Ulcinj Salina area, with its 250 registered bird species, represents the main nesting, wintering, and roosting site for birds passing along the migration route along the eastern coast on the Adriatic Sea.

For more information, please contact Bjanka Prakljacic, Coordinator of programme activities at the Center for Protection and Research of Birds of Montenegro (CZIP).

British royals welcome Bahraini, Swazi dictators

This video is called Lethal Use of Tear Gas in Bahrain from Amber Lyon of CNN.

New York, May 17, 2012–A journalist who criticized Bahrain’s proposed union with Saudi Arabia was seized from his home near Manama on Wednesday and his whereabouts are unknown. The Committee to Protect Journalists called today for his immediate release: here.

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights expresses (BYSHR) its deep concern after the riot police using birdshot in all the villages in Bahrain to suppress the protests: here.

Bahrain Live Coverage: Day 100 of a Hunger Strike: here.

A Crackdown in Crayon: Bahrain’s Children Draw Their Country’s Crisis: here.

From the BBC in Britain:

18 May 2012 Last updated at 03:26 GMT

The Queen’s lunch for monarchs attracts controversy

The King of Bahrain and Swaziland‘s King Mswati III are among controversial monarchs expected at a Windsor Castle lunch being hosted by the Queen later.

Critics accuse Bahrain of human rights abuses and say King Mswati lives in luxury while his people starve.

Campaigner Peter Tatchell criticised The Queen for inviting “royal tyrants to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee“.

The Foreign Office said it was having “a full and frank discussion on a range of issues” with Bahrain’s government.

Buckingham Palace said it will not comment on the lunch.

It will be followed by an evening banquet, hosted by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall. Not all the monarchs will be at both events.

Mr Tatchell said the invitations were “a shocking misjudgement” that showed the Queen was “out of touch with the humanitarian values of most British people”.

“Inviting blood-stained despots brings shame to our monarchy and tarnishes the Diamond Jubilee celebrations,” he said.

“It is a kick in the teeth to pro-democracy campaigners and political prisoners in these totalitarian royal regimes.”

Bahrain officials said King Hamad al-Khalifa – whose country is in a state of civil unrest following crackdowns on protests last year – was expected to attend.

From WalesOnline:

Guests from controversial regimes include Swaziland’s King Mswati III, Sheikh Nasser Mohamed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of Kuwait and Prince Mohammed Bin Nawaf Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia.

From news24:

Mbabane – Swazi pro-democracy groups were outraged on Thursday at the invitation of King Mswati III, Africa’s last absolute monarch, to a lunch marking the diamond jubilee of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.

Queen accused of ‘error of judgement’ for shaking hands with despotic King of Bahrain at controversial Jubilee lunch: here.

From daily The Guardian in Britain:

Guess who’s coming to dinner? Anger over Queen’s jubilee bash guest list

Protesters say invitation list includes monarchs of several countries accused of human rights abuses

‘Blood-stained despots’ invited to Buckingham Palace facing protests: here.

From The Zimdiaspora:

King Mswati’s 6th wife flees domestic abuse

Thursday, 17 May 2012 10:37

By Correspondent

The 6th wife of Swazi King Mswati III has fled the royal compound due to domestic abuse according to the Swaziland Solidarity Network.

A royal guard revealed that Angela “LaGija” Dlamini was subjected to emotional and physical abuse by her husband for many years.

She left the palace to visit her parents in Hhohho, northern Swaziland and never returned.

LaGija is now the third wife to leave the royal household. According to a 2004 report in the Daily Sun, the first to flee was Delisa Magwaza 30, known as Inkhosikati LaMagwaza, who made her way to London via Cape Town.

Swaziland: Queen’s Shoes Cost 3 Years’ Pay: here.

In this the jubilee year please bear in mind that when visiting Paraguay in 1967 Prince Philip said to dictator General Alfredo Stroessner that it was “good to be in a country that wasn’t ruled by its people!” Here.

Diamond jubilees are not common affairs. The current Queen’s celebrations are only the second such event in recent British history: here.