Cyprus: Fieldwork against ground-nets
15.06.2021
Homeowners in Cyprus often use ground nets to keep snakes away from their properties. Besides reptiles, many birds that get entangled and die a slow sufferable death because the owners never check the installation. In June 2021, a CABS team is checking ground nets that are not explicitly banned, saving trapped animals and pushing for the game wardens to intervene against the brutal traps.
After the discovery of a live barn owl, local media report on the issue for the first time: CABS rescue barn owl caught in net
Harrier protection project in Germany.
15.05.2021
Marsh and Montagu's Harriers are ground-nesting birds of prey. In the absence of suitable wetlands and near-natural meadows, they have shifted their breeding sites to grain fields. To ensure that the chicks of the migratory birds do not end up destroyed under the combine harvesters during harvest, CABS have once again started our harrier project in the Zülpicher Börde - located between Cologne and Aachen - as it does every May. Together with farmers and authorities, we secure the nests and save dozens of young birds every year.
Read more about the project here.
Italy to allow the shooting of Europe’s last turtle doves
26.04.2021
Conservationists all over Europe are shocked by the Italian government's plan to allow the shooting of up to 7.5 million Turtle Dove next autumn. This is despite the fact that population of the species have declined dramatically across Europe in recent years. The European Commission estimates that there are currently between 2.9 and 5.6 million breeding pairs across Europe. CABS strongly oppose the plans and is supported by anti-Mafia icon Sergio De Caprio.
You can find our current press release here.
Cyprus: spring bird protection camp starts
17.04.2021
In Cyprus, the largest CABS operation of this spring has begun. Until the end of the migration season in mid-May, we will be investigating the hotspots of illegal bird trapping and hunting in the south-east of the island. Our teams will be particularly focused special focused on combating the illegal use of nets and limesticks. In just the first few days, together with wardens from the Game and Fauna Service, we were already able to catch three trappers in the act. The operation is taking place under difficult corona conditions - but we have managed to ensure a presence during the entire migration period.
More information regarding Campaigns and Operations in Cyprus is available here.
Snared: catching poachers to save Italy’s songbirds.
08.04.2021
Snared: catching poachers to save Italy’s songbirds. With five million birds a year illegally caught in Italy, [CABS] activists in Brescia are teaming up with local police to trap the hunters. Last year’s operation recovered 78 bow traps – the lowest ever number – alongside 57 nets, compared with 12,104 in 2001.
Joey Tyson from The Guardian newspaper recently met up with CABS staff and our partners from WWF Italia to learn more about our anti-poaching work in the region.
Read today’s feature on CABS in The Guardian here.
Malta: Spring hunting illegal under EU law begins
10.04.2021
Today the spring hunting of quail, which is actually illegal under EU law, starts on the Mediterranean island of Malta. However, the Maltese government does not care about international nature conservation law and has issued a exemption until 30 April. 8,000 hunters are now allowed to shoot 2,400 quails. To ensure that birds of prey and other protected species are not also targeted - as is usually the case - as usual, CABS has deployed a team on the island to monitor the passage and protect roosting sites of migratory birds.
Read more about spring hunting in Malta here.
Bird trapping in Lebanon: 40 limesticks seized
06.04.2021
Our colleagues from the Lebanese MESHC Anti-Poaching Unit and Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon succeeded in shutting down a limestick trapping site for songbirds in the vicinity of Barja, Al-Chouf. Following a tip-off from local hunters, the team coordinated with the Security Forces and were able to seize 40 limesticks from an olive grove. The ground adjacent to the traps was baited with animal hair, which the birds collect now at the beginning of the breeding season to build their nests - luring them to get caught on the cruel glue traps. Several birds were rescued.
You can learn more about our bird protection operations in Lebanon here.
European Court of Justice bans limesticks
17.03.2021
On 17 March after years of negotiations, the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg ruled that the use of glue rods to catch thrushes in Provence violates the EU Birds Directive. The ruling is groundbreaking for the numerous other bird trapping derogations in France, but also a strong signal to other EU member states that continue to allow bird trapping. The case was only made possible following CABS surveillance and lobbying with our friends at the French BirdLife partner LPO.
Read more about the current bird trapping practice in France here.
WATCH our anti-poaching operations in Lebanon
05.06.2020
In autumn 2019, a camera team followed the work of CABS and our partners SPNL, MESHC and ABCL in Lebanon for three weeks. The result is a 15-minute film that documents the unbelievable extent of poaching and for the first time gives insight into the life of the team members during our bird protection camp. In addition to a German and English version of the film, a French-Arabic version was also produced - especially for our target audience in Lebanon. The English version can be found here:
"The Bird Guards - Fighting against illegal bird poaching in Lebanon"
Your donation makes the difference!
Your donation will enable us to fund our campaigns and bird protection camps throughout Europe, to keep up the fight for migratory birds. CABS is almost exclusively financed with private donations, from nature and animal lovers, as well as foundations and nature conservation associations. In order to stay independent, we do not receive public funds and we refuse business sponsorships. CABS is recognised as non-profit, thus, donations are tax-deductible. For a donation of 25 € or more, you will receive a donation receipt at the beginning of the following year.
