Tag: wildlife

MP calls for action to halt bee decline

Local MP Mark Lazarowicz is calling for a precautionary moratorium on three pesticides – imidacloprid, clothianidin and TMX – linked to the decline of the UK’s bee populations. The North and Leith MP is a longstanding member of the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee and its new hard-hitting report on Pollinators and Pesticides is published today.

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Mark Lazarowicz (pictured above) said: “As part of our inquiry into insects and insecticides we looked at the sharp decline in the number of bees in the UK and there’s growing concern that the use of certain chemicals might be to blame. Bees matter to both gardeners and farmers because of their role in pollinating fruit and vegetables as well as flowers. They are fundamental to our ecology and economy. The scientific evidence points to the need for a precautionary moratorium to be introduced. DEFRA should listen to it and act.”

Two-thirds of wild insect pollinator species – such as bumblebees, hoverflies, butterflies, carrion flies, beetles, midges and moths – have suffered population declines in the UK. Managed honeybees have also experienced unusually high mortality rates, decreased fertility, increased susceptibility to disease and the loss of hives. Similar trends have been observed in the US and other European countries.

Disease, habitat loss and climate change can all affect insect populations, but a growing body of peer-reviewed research suggests that the use of one group of insecticides is having an especially damaging impact on pollinators — neonicotinoids. Applied to seeds, these systemic pesticides are widely used in the UK on oilseed rape, cereals, maize, sugar beet and crops grown in glasshouses.

Authorities in France, Germany, Italy and Slovenia have already suspended the use of some neonicotinoids in certain circumstances. The European Commission has also proposed an EU-wide moratorium on the use of imidacloprid, clothianidin and TMX on crops attractive to bees, following a recent risk warning from the European Food Safety Authority. The UK has refused to take domestic action or to support the EU proposal.

Many of the UK’s largest garden retailers, including B&Q, Wickes and Homebase, have voluntarily withdrawn non-professional plant protection products that contain neonicotinoids. The report recommends a full ban on the sale of neonicotinoids for public domestic use in order to create an urban safe haven for pollinators.

Pesticide manufacturers often claim that studies linking their products to bee decline are flawed or inconclusive and that other factors are primarily to blame, such as the Varroa mite. But although the agrochemical industry has produced many studies on the environmental effect of pesticides, it keeps most of its data secret on grounds of commercial confidentiality.

The report warns that this lack of transparency is preventing a fuller understanding of the problem. The MPs call on the industry to place the results of its trials and studies in the public domain so that they can be subjected to open academic scrutiny. Defra should help companies establish which genuinely commercially sensitive details need to be redacted to make this possible.

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Hedgehogs need help this winter …

The Scottish SPCA is urging members of the public to call its animal helpline if they find a hedgehog this winter.

Staff at the charity’s National Wildlife Rescue Centre at Fishcross, near Alloa, are currently caring for 75 hedgehogs, almost twice the amount cared for during the same period last year, and the majority of which are too small and weak to survive outside during the cold weather.

Centre Manager Colin Seddon said, “Hedgehogs should be hibernating by now but there will be some out there who won’t survive without help. Most of the hedgehogs in our care have either been caught out by the long wet spell of weather and haven’t been able to store up the necessary body fat to go into hibernation or are from late litters, which is common.

“These youngsters will be out foraging for food such as earthworms, beetles, slugs, snails, insects, fruit and carrion but they’ll be finding it very difficult at this time of year. Many of them arrived weighing between 300g and 400g, almost half their ideal weight. We would be particularly concerned if a hedgehog is out during the day and would urge anyone who finds one to call us so we can come and collect it. They should try to contain it by picking it up using gardening gloves or a thick towel and placing it in a secure box. It can then be left with fresh water and tinned cat food until we arrive.

“Hedgehogs will struggle as the temperatures drop, so if anyone spots one during the freezing winter weather they should call us immediately. Our rehabilitated hedgehogs will be released once they achieve a suitable weight of over 600g and when the weather warms up to a consistent night time temperature of over four degrees centigrade.”

Anyone who finds a hedgehog this winter is urged to call the Scottish SPCA Animal Helpline on 03000 999 999.

Missing bird returned to Edinburgh Zoo

Edinburgh Zoo have today confirmed that Cherry the Scarlet ibis has been safely caught and returned to the Zoo.

The Zoo were inundated with calls last week from locals as Cherry had set up home at Silverknowes Beach. Zoo staff spent days sitting in the area waiting on the bird to come down from the trees, their patience paid off and on Sunday and she was recaptured.

Cherry the Scarlet Ibis had set up home at Silverknowes Beach. (Picture: Thomas Brown)

Colin Oulton, Team Leader of the bird section at Edinburgh Zoo, Said:

“It’s really quite surprising how far the Scarlet ibis flew, eventually ending up at the shore at Cramond. Being flock birds, you would expect them to stay quite close to the rest of the flock.

“During her time away from the Zoo, the escapee bird took to perching in places that made it a tad more difficult to recapture her, so we had to wait for the best time to make our move.  We always knew that it wouldn’t be a straightforward or easy task to recapture her, and that it would take a little time and patience…and luckily it paid off, as we were able to do just that after a few attempts to encourage her towards a carry box with some mussels and prawns.

“The bird has been quite relaxed about the whole thing, choosing to stay in the Cramond area probably as it is quite close to the seashore.  The ibis will have been able to go down onto the mudflats and most likely catch food for herself.

“I would definitely say that she has a curious nature and I’m sure she has a great story to tell the rest of the Scarlet ibis flock when she returns to them later this week.  Although she seems to be in perfect health, we’re just carrying out some routine tests, and after four to five days in quarantine, she’ll be reunited with the other birds after her mini adventure across Edinburgh.”

Watch our video below of Cherry avoiding recapture.

 

 

 

Watch the birdies at Botanics!

Fancy a bird’s eye view of some young birds of prey? You can now get up close and personal with a family of sparrowhawks at the Botanic Gardens!

In partnership with RSPB Scotland, Lothian and Borders Raptor Study Group and the Scottish Seabird Centre a live ‘nestcam’ has been trained on the nest of a sparrowhawk in the Garden.

The Garden has been a key breeding site for these magnificent birds for many years and research on sparrowhawks across the City is indicating that it is one of the most productive breeding territories due to the healthy population of songbirds that make up the prey of sparrowhawks.

Live images of the sparrowhawk family can be seen at the viewpoint in the John Hope Gateway from 10am to 6pm, with interpretation of activity at the nest provided by RSPB staff and volunteers from Wednesday to Sunday 1-4pm.

RBGE