Sep 28 - EuroBirdwatch 2015 – Discover The Fascinating World Of Bird Migration
Millions of migrating birds will leave Europe during these weeks, flying to their wintering habitat in Africa. BirdLife International invites people in Europe to take the opportunity on 4th October to discover the fascinating world of bird migration.
BirdLife International is a global alliance of conservation organisations working in more than 120 countries, which together form the leading authority on the status of birds, their habitats and the issues and problems affecting bird life. In Gibraltar, the local BirdlIfe International Partner is the Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society (GONHS).
This year, the national partners of BirdLife International of 37 countries in Europe and Central Asia once again invite people to join them and learn about migrating birds. In Europe, many hundreds of activities are planned, including on the Rock.
A recent study by BirdLife International shows that 25 million migratory birds are being caught around the Mediterranean annually. And after overcoming that huge hurdle, most birds still have to cross the inhospitable Sahara desert and other dangers along the way, twice a year. BirdLife partner organisations in the countries involved are making it their top priority to combat this useless killing, for which there is no excuse. Fortunately, Gibraltar stands out as a Mediterranean country where no hunting takes place.
The aim of EuroBirdwatch 2015 is to raise awareness for the wonders of bird migration and the needs of the migratory birds on the breeding areas, the flyways and in the wintering areas in the Mediterranean and in Africa. EuroBirdwatch is an annual event comprising hundreds of nationally organised activities. Last year, 38 countries in Europe and Central Asia took part in organising 1184 events, with more than 33,000 people turning out to watch and help count the birds. The numbers, when it comes to the birds, are even more staggering: almost 7,5 million birds were counted last year, the highest in the history of the event!
GONHS will be organising several events to celebrate EuroBirdwatch 2015, all of which are open to the public.
The first of these will be a bird ringing demonstration at the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens, where migratory and other birds will be caught using mist nets and then ringed by licensed bird ringers, with specific measurements being taken, before being released back into the wild.
Later, the Raptor Unit will host a bird of prey display and the unit members will be on hand to provide further information on how each bird is cared for by the unit, which in addition to rehabilitation also breeds rare birds of prey such as the Lesser Kestrel for subsequent release into the wild.
In the afternoon, observers will be at the Europa Point Marine Observatory looking for birds (and cetaceans) in the Strait of Gibraltar.
Key times and locations for Sunday 4th October events:
- 8am-11am Bird Ringing – up Heathfield Steps and left at the entrance to the Alameda Botanic Gardens.
- 10.30am-12.30pm Bird of Prey Display – between the top of Heathfield Steps and The Cottage.
Please remember that dogs are not allowed within the gardens.
- 3pm – 6pm - Europa Point Marine Observatory. Below and to the left of the Harding's Battery mound.
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