Cyprus-Forum.com

[denizaksulu]

Conservationists dismantle and remove over 2,000 lime sticks and 33 mist nets:

The 2009 CABS spring bird protection camp on Cyprus took place from 24 April to 3 May. The participants, from Italy, United Kingdom and Germany searched for illegal lime sticks, nets and electronic decoys, reported poachers to the police and monitored the ban on spring hunting. In addition checks of shops and restaurants for the illegal sale of song birds were carried out.

In close cooperation with the police and the Game Fund wardens, over 200 sites in the south of Cyprus were searched for illegal bird traps. A total of 2,136 lime sticks, 33 nets (with a total length of 570 m) and 14 electronic decoys were found and destroyed. Game wardens and police were led to 9 fenced in gardens where lime sticks and traps had been observed. Investigations continue apace.

202 birds were found in the nets and on lime sticks of which 155 could be released unharmed. They included Lesser Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Collared Flycatcher, Golden Oriole, Scops Owl and a Wryneck.

The 14 illegal electronic decoy devices (with recordings of Blackcap calls) and the associated car batteries, loudspeakers, timers and hundreds of metres of cable were removed from the trapping areas.

In contrast to previous operations the trappers were decidedly aggressive. On a number of occasions members of the CABS teams escaped from the poachers in the nick of time. In one case a team member from North Germany was hit and thrown to the ground and his backpack taken from him. In another case CABS members were surprised by a trapper as they were dismantling his net. The man tried to attack the conservationists who managed to flee in their vehicle. A chase followed which was brought to an end by the British Sovereign Base Area police who were called upon for assistance. The poacher was caught and an investigation started.

Illegal shooting of returning migrant birds was less extensive this year than in April 2008. Last year we recorded 38 shots - this year only 10. Six of these were fired by a presumed poacher at a flock of Bee eaters. One bird was killed and the poacher managed to escape from the CABS teams closing in on him. The dead Bee-eater was recovered and a complaint against the poacher registered with the police.

Kudos to these guys from CABS for finding and destroying so many limesticks and nets. I find this to be an appalling practice. What do others think?

Golden Orieles too> OMG. No wonder Oracle has not seen any. Well done for finding these savages. I hope the are suitably punished.

[thevoo]

while we're on the subnject foes anyone know what is bembedzoukia? or some derivitive of that name of a bird? my dad has a nickname of Gumbetzi supposedly cos he chased the bembetzoukia as a kid?

[Floda]

Before departing for an extended vacation, I left my 'African Grey' parrot in the care of a Cypriot neighbour.

I sought the return of my old friend yesterday, only to be told that he had been eaten the day after I had made my departure.

Naturally I was very distressed and informed my neighbour that my parrot was an extremely good talker.

"That's funny " he replied, "He never said a word !".

[miltiades]

Way back in the 50s , growing up in Cyprus , hunting for birds , any birds , was an activity that most kids got involved in . We didn't just hunt birds for fun but also for food remembering that meat was a rare treat in those days. We did not know better and hunting birds was perfectly acceptable on the other hand many other activities were also acceptable but was 50 years ago. We have progressed now , we have many more activities to keep us occupied like visiting other parts of Cyprus , watching TV , listening to the radio and also the pleasure of wiping our rears with toilet paper which was non existent way back in the 50s .
Birds are so beautiful and bother no one give or take a farmer or two. They sing beautifully and are a joy to watch why on earth should such tiny little creatures like ambelopoulia be considered a delicacy !
I love my meze and particularly snails , ameletita , olives on the charcoal , zalatina , liver and occasionally when I can get it sheep's brains with lemon and parsley. !!
One might say why eat snails they are also tiny creatures , yes but do they sing or fly ?
The moral of the story is that the EU and Cyprus consider the hunting and killing of ambelopoulia as illegal and it should stop forthwith .

[Floda]

I love my sheep's brains with lemon and parsley. !!.

Be careful on that one my old friend, over indulgence can interfere with the functioning of your own brain, the effect could well result in a tendency to follow the lead of undesirables, (Politicians etc) if you catch my drift.

Far better to form your OWN opinions don't you think ?.

[purdey]

I have always wondered why this practice has not stopped in Cyprus, or is it allowed to continue even though illegal.
The lime sticks and mist nets have been set in the same areas for years, along the flightline of the migratory birds. These areas are known to hunters, police, wildlife wardens and locals alike, but yet it continues. I believe although illegal it is still considered part of Cypriot culture and a blind eye is turned.

[denizaksulu]

I have always wondered why this practice has not stopped in Cyprus, or is it allowed to continue even though illegal.
The lime sticks and mist nets have been set in the same areas for years, along the flightline of the migratory birds. These areas are known to hunters, police, wildlife wardens and locals alike, but yet it continues. I believe although illegal it is still considered part of Cypriot culture and a blind eye is turned.

Ofcourse they turn a blind eye. Even every village idiot will know where to find the watering holes where the Ambelopoullia congregate. Our prt time rivers in the south at least are great gathering places for these delightful creatures. Especially the Pendashino near Ay. Theodoros was famous for the numbers of birds caught. If you see a pot bellied policeman, he knows for sure.