Interesting birds of prey article.

So far throughout this blog I have focused upon the diminishing populations of large numbers of species around the world. These doom and gloom case studies of disappearing species are numerous, so I was delighted to find an article on the BBC News website portraying a more positive story.

Here is the article:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12634698

The article states that a number of bird of prey populations have increased over the last 50 years. Humans had a negative impact upon populations in the first half of the 20th Century through rapid industrialisation and the wide use of organochlorine pesticides. Two examples of increased populations are the Red Kite which now has 1,800 breeding pairs in the United Kingdom, and the Buzzard with a population of around 40,000.

However, not all of the 15 species of birds of prey native to the United Kingdom are experiencing this increase in populations. A number of species are still at risk including the Golden Eagle, with only one breeding pair in the United Kingdom.

(Image of Golden Eagle with a lamb in its grasp. Images like this shown in the Daily Mail this week create negative views of birds of prey, often encouraging persecution.)

Food and territory are not the problem for birds of prey, it is persecution including poisoned bait that is limiting populations. Yet another case study of the negative impact of humans on a wide range of animal species.

References:


http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/02/27/article-1361000-0D5D039E000005DC-275_634x689.jpg
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12634698