Category: Help a species

1. Calling all bird lovers! It's World Migratory Bird Day on 9 May 2020

   Posted on 9:00pm Wednesday 6th May 2020

   On the 9th May 2020 (and 10 October 2020), it’s World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD for short).  It’s a global campaign  and it’s dedicated to raising awareness of migratory birds and the need for countries around the world to co-operate in their efforts to save them. This year, the theme is “Birds Connect Our World”. It was picked to highlight how important it is to conserve and restore the ecological connectivity and integrity of ecosystems which support the natural cycles that are essential for migratory birds to survive and thrive. The day gives us all an opportunity to discover more about migratory birds and be in awe at their amazing feats. Migratory birds need networks with stops Migratory birds travel far.  They need to be able to stop to rest and feed and breed. If you like, you could liken it as a journey along a motorway system and every so often, they need to stop for a break to fill their tummies and have a break. Birds need networks of sites They need a network of sites along these routes to breed, to feed, to rest and spend the winter.  They need different sites and habitats, irrelevant of which country they are in. They can cross incredible distances and over impossible terrains such as deserts and open seas.  They cross national borders and soar above any national agenda.  What they do need is for countries to co-operate to ensure their routes are kept open and safe for them.    Examples of migratory birds’ routes The East Asian – Australasian Flyway goes from the Russian Far East and Alaska through East Asia and South-East Asia, down to Australia and New Zealand – 22 countries in all.  The Flyway is home to over 50 million migratory waterbirds from over 250 different populations.   They need a system of wetlands to rest, feed and build up the energy they need for the next part of their journey.  Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust has an example of swan’s migrating from Slimbridge up to their tundra breeding grounds in the Russian Arctic.  RSPB has information about the Arctic tern who travels a rather amazing 22,000 miles a year – the longest migration of all – as they move continually between the Arctic summer and the Antarctic summer.   Swifts breed throughout Europe as far north as Lapland and the Arctic Circle, reaching east across Asia to China. So you can see how important it is that countries work together to give these birds the flight paths they need, with all the facilities along the way. What can be done at a national/international level: Increase action globally via environment treaties such as the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and the Africa-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA).  These are vital to protect migratory birds on their international flight paths. Creating habitat corridors which are protected and which go across boundaries would really help animals who migrate and fly over national boundaries.  Networks of crucial sites which are imperative to migration needs must be safeguarded and managed properly.  Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas as described by BirdLife International give migratory birds all they need during their long flights - necessary feeding, breeding, nesting and sheltering grounds. What individuals like you & me can do: Have a bird-friendly garden with safe shelters and a bird bath.  Give them bird food. Put feeders out of reach of cats.    Spread the word about how important it is to protect migratory birds.  Download and use birding apps – it’s a great way to connect to like-minded bird lovers. Find out more about migratory birds.  There are resources on the WMBD website so fly off and nest and rest there a while and peck at all the information you can.  This day is held twice a year , on 9 May and 10 October so you could prepare an event or attend an October event. Visit BirdLife International and the WMBD’s site here

    

2. Wild Koala Day is on 3rd May 2020 - please add your voice to help koalas

   Posted on 8:00am Sunday 3rd May 2020

   It's the 3rd May and that means one thing - it's Wild Koala Day :-) Please visit Koala Corner to see how you can help these adorable animals and meantime, here's a delightful clip from You Tube to enjoy:   Here is the petition mentioned in the clip - if koalas don't have trees, there won't be any koalas, so please sign it and spread the word!  Thank you!# And here are others.  Please, please add your voice.  This koala can't speak up - but you and I certainly can.  Please sign these petitions.  ©Change.org Stop Shenhua Mining Koala Habitat on Gomeroi ancestral lands  Save Koala habitat areas Koalas belong to the world, not just Australia Stop the Wallarah 2 Mine from impacting vital Koala habitat Protect our koalas Thank you :-)  Visit Koala Corner with this website to find more ways you can  help koalas, including 11 Ways to help koalas.

    

3. Petition to help African wildlife and people from the African Wildlife Foundation

   Posted on 11:00am Sunday 12th Apr 2020

   Please, please take a look at this petition!  The African Wildlife Foundation sent an email to say that the social distancing we are all doing has consequences for lions, elephants and other species in Africa’s 8,400 protected areas. What has happened with the breakout of COVID-19 and social distancing? Well, tourism has plummeted.  As a result, so has the revenue the safari industry receives.  The industry budgets revenue to dedicate to wildlife protection and protected areas management. Wildlife and the people who protect it – rangers and community members who are employed in tourism and related businesses – will pay the price of this decline. Please, please sign this petition and show support for Africa’s critical areas.  They are home to endangered species and they also drive economies that support wildlife. By signing this petition, the African Wildlife Foundation says that you are on the side of: Africa’s already threatened species who rely on protected areas for safe habitat The health of some of the most biodiverse habitats in the world, which are found in protected areas Local people who rely on sustainable nature tourism for a living Please sign this petition today. and give African wildlife a voice Visit the African Wildlife Foundation's website here  to find out more about the work they are doing and how you can help

4. Please see this video from Gravitas - how nature is reclaiming its spaces due to the Coronavirus

   Posted on 2:00pm Friday 10th Apr 2020

   Sometimes you see something on the internet or on television that really hits you hard and makes a point extremely well. I saw this video, this afternoon, and I wanted to share it with you.  Please share it with everyone you can. The ultimate message is that we SHARE this planet.  It demonstrates how dominant the human race has become - and how selfish.   I am not going to tell you anymore about it - please just watch it for yourself.   Here it is: Thank you, Gravitas. Please vow to make a difference today.  Find out how to reduce your impact on the earth's resources here.

5. Health, Koalas and Forests

   Posted on 10:00pm Thursday 19th Mar 2020

   Deborah Tabart OAM is Chairman of the Australian Koala Foundation And today, she sent out the most beautiful picture of an adorable koala, thinking it’s what we need right now.  Deborah, thank you.  It certainly cheered me up.   Save the Koala - Join the Koala Army One of the things Deborah said in the email she’d sent us was that she thinks the issues we are facing – the wildfires around the world and the coronavirus – stem in part from our lack of respect for the natural world, our lack of care for animals and our need to develop at all costs. I agree.  I remember once reading a phrase, Look after the earth and she will look after you.  Well, we have not looked after the world and she is finding it increasingly difficult to look after us.  We reap what we sow.  As Deborah says, we do not respect our planet, our forests, our rivers, our oceans.  We exploit them and abuse them far too much. My hope is that this virus will give us all the chance to reflect on what really matters and that it will give the planet a chance to do some healing.  We need to look at how we are living and what we are doing, and really start thinking about what we want going forward. The 21st March is International Day of Forests.   We need to love our forests around the world and to care for them like never before.   We are dependent on them.  Without forests that are in good health, we cannot be healthy.  They are the lungs of our planet. Without oceans and rivers that are in good health, we cannot be healthy.  They are our blood supply. Without air that is clean, we cannot be healthy. Without biodiversity, the right balance of species across the planet – I include humans in that – we cannot be healthy.  Every species has its place in nature – she has planned things pretty carefully and we are destroying that balance through activities dedicated to our own ends. So back to our Koalas.   Will you help put pressure on the Australian government to nudge them in the right direction and protect the koala, with the Koala Protection Act?  Protect one species and you protect far more.  Save the Koala - find out more about the Koala Protection Act Find out more here. And keep safe   Images above ©Australian Koala Foundation