Birds and public health

North American scientist are studying West Nile virus and the way that birds populations can help to buffer people against infection. This study is also an interesting approach how biodiversity can provide a important service for the human people.

“Protecting biodiversity should be considered in public health and safety plans” as the author refers.

You can read more in here: Swaddle JP, Calos SE (2008) Increased Avian Diversity Is Associated with Lower Incidence of Human West Nile Infection: Observation of the Dilution Effect. PLoS ONE 3(6): e2488. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0002488

Ria Formosa during winter

A perfect place for a walk and to look for some waders... marches, salt pans, desert beaches, no boats or even stressed people. Just Nature and fisherman's villages.
Find more information about tours in the barrier islands of Faro and Olhão in here.

About seabirds…

Gannet (Morus bassanus) courtesy of Mar Ilimitado

Seabirds are considered those birds that spend most of their time in ocean, coming to land only for nest.
They feed on sea, capturing fishes on the surface normally associated with schools of larger pelagic. For the fisherman they can be a good indicator of fish, for example tuna fish.
In this group you can find, for example the gannets, petrels and shearwaters.

Shearwaters are superb flyers and travel large distances on sea. On the other way, are unable to walk well on land. In a way to avoid predators, they return land during the night and spend their time on burrows.
Gannets are among the most spectaculars sights in European bird watching. Breeding in small number, but in large colonies, normally choose small offshore island to put their eggs.
You can find more information about these birds in Portuguese coast in here.

Source: Hayman, P. , Hume,R. , 2007. Bird, the ultimate illustrated guide to the birds of Brittain and Europe.

Hume, P. , 2006. Birds of Britain and Europe.

Unusual number of Glaucus gull and Iceland gull

Glaucus gull (Larus hyperboreus) and Iceland gull (Laurus glaucoides) were observed in Portuguese coast in an uncommon number. Normally we only see one or two individuals of this species, but this winter, were registered 7/8 of each specie.
There’s still no scientific explanation for this behaviour.
Source: Fábrica de Conteúdos

Children observe the first arrivals of migratory birds

On 1 February 2009 the annual Spring Alive Campaign has been launched by the Partnership of BirdLife International in Europe. ‘Spring Alive’ invites children of the age of 8 to 12 to enjoy and marvel at the return of some of the most fascinating migratory birds to Europe. Through the Spring Alive website, children from all over Europe are asked to record their first sightings of the White Stork Ciconia ciconia, Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica, Common Swift Apus apus and Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus.
By attracting and uniting European children and their relatives in experiencing nature, Spring Alive aims at contributing to citizen science. Through the observations - which the children and/or their teachers communicate through the Spring Alive website - scientists hope to see whether these four bird species arrive earlier in Europe than previously, thus indicating an increase in temperature in European countries. That way, Spring Alive could contribute to raising awareness for climate change amongst Europe’s youth.

Ask for more information in here and join this large campaingne.

Source: BirdLife European Division, OTOP (BirdLife in Poland)