Cyprus -Nature- BirdLife Projects

BirdLife Cyprus was formed in 2003 through the amalgamation of the two Cyprus Ornithological Societies. The main aims of BirdLife Cyprus are:

1. to promote the study of birds in Cyprus and to publish the results.

2. to assist in the protection of birds in Cyprus.

3. to assist in bringing the birds of Cyprus to the notice of the widest possible audience and to co-operate with international ornithological societies.

4. to organise field meetings for the benefit of the members of the Society.

5. to encourage and support the conservation of natural and man-made habitats for birds in Cyprus.

6. to provide a social forum for members.

Major projects that Bird Life Cyprus is currently engaged in are:

1. Birds and Farming in Cyprus Project. To assess the impact agricultural intensification will have on the island�s birds. Intensification is already happening and could well accelerate after EU accession. The effect of intensification is being assessed by comparing bird populations at existing extensive and intensive sites. For more information see News page.

2. Important Bird Areas for Cyprus. 4 members of Birdlife Cyprus are currently working on reviewing the already published Important Bird Areas for Cyprus and looking at the suitability of other sites to be awarded this status. The project has a duration of 12 months and is funded by Birdlife International.

3. Illegal bird trapping. The RSPB have generously funded the appointment of Field Officers to undertake a surveillance programme, document and report cases of illegal bird trapping and the sale of trapped birds in a defined area of SE Cyprus. The officers will work in the main migration periods of spring and autumn and will liaise with the Cyprus Ministry of the Interior [Game Fund Department] and the British Bases Administration Authority and its associated police force. For more information see News page.

4.Hunting. Birdlife Cyprus requested the Minister of the Interior to become a member of the HAC and this request was accepted by the Minister. BirdLife Cyprus will be able to discuss with the Government and the Hunting Federation the hunting issues and express its views.

5. EU Accession. Funded by Birdlife International, Birdlife Cyprus have an EU Accession Officer, based at Strakka, who will monitor and attempt to steer the correct application of the EU bird protection laws during the islands current accession into the EU.

Many hundreds of thousands of birds are illegally trapped each spring and autumn while on migration through Cyprus. Your letter to the Cypriot Government will help keep this issue high on the agenda in Cyprus and make sure that this illegal activity is finally stamped out. Blackcaps, and other songbirds such as robins and bee-eaters, are the main target, taken for ambelopoulia - an expensive local delicacy in which the whole bird is pickled. Other species unfortunate enough to be caught in the traps are killed and discarded.