Note from the Editor Dear Friends: Welcome to NewsLink on-line. Our hope is that you will find this format easier to read and the information easier to access. As always, let us know what you think about the new design by writing a note under the Feedback tab. Your suggestions are vital to keeping this news source responsive and useful to readers. Last month one news piece captured my interest. In the aftermath of the tsunami disaster, an article in The Asia Times described how the biological warning signs including "the cries of birds" helped save the lives of stone-age tribes from India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The article can be found at: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/GA07Df05.html And, as a final note, here are two other news items: to find out how a number of groups in the wetland community are responding to the tsumami go to: http://www.wetlands.org/tsunami/ - and don't forget - celebrate, World Wetland Day on February 2nd. Best wishes, Heidi Heidi Luquer, Editor  Migratory Bird & Wetlands NewsLink ews from Friends News from BirdLife International... Advancing Range-Wide Conservation Waterbird Conservation in the Western Hemisphere This project, started in 2004 seeks to advance conservation for critically threatened waterbird species and sites. Information gathered from the project will be used to: raise awareness among decision makers and representatives from key agencies of the increasing threats to waterbirds and their habitats; and to further monitoring and management goals. Several of the key project outputs include: a summary of the state of knowledge relevant to waterbird conservation in the Americas; a searchable database and maps of priority sites for waterbird in the Neotropics; completion of regional waterbird conservation plans for Central America and the Caribbean; conservation action needs at no less than 5 priority sites identified and efforts to support these initiated. News from Malaysia New Sightings in Malaysia Confirm Theory that Raptors Migrate Via the Southern Most Tip of Mainland Asia, in Malaysia The Ramsar sites in the Johor state of Malaysia report “excellent consistent sightings lead by the Parks staff and various nature interest groups of the migratory raptors, notably of Black Bazas -Aciceda Leuphotes and Oriental Honey–Buzzards Pernis Ptilorhynchus. These raptors from Siberia, Russia and the like, head towards the direction of Indonesia namely Sumatra and the Riau Archipelago. Little research has done here previously due to infrastructural inaccessibility. Hence this discovery is vital…” News from Harban Singh, Ramsar Manager, Johor National Park Corporation, Malaysia. Ramsar News: New Countries to Join Ramsar: - Myanmar will join Ramsar on March 17, 2005. Its first site: "Moyingyi Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary." - Samoa will join as Ramsar’s 142nd Contracting Party, on 6 February 2005. Its first site: "Lake Lanoto'o", the largest freshwater lake in the country. - Seychelles' first Ramsar site is the "Port Launay Coastal Wetlands." New Ramsar Sites: In celebrating World Wetland Day, 2 February 2005, Switzerland will designate three valuable and scenic Wetlands of International Importance as part of its celebration of World Wetlands Day, 2 February. And in other countries: Austria - Moore am Nassköhr Chile - Bahía Lomas People's Republic of China has designated 9 new sites Czech Republic - Punkva subterranean stream United Republic of Tanzania - Rufiji-Mafia-Kilwa Marine Ramsar site The Tunisian Government has officially announced its commitment to designate at least 15 new Ramsar Sites. U ruguay - Esteros de Farrapos e Islas del Río Uruguay For more Ramsar news: http://ramsar.org/ News from the Royal Society of Preservation of Birds (RSBP) The Eagle Odyssey is considered the most successful and acclaimed RSPB film ever made. According to BirdLife International, this film has become the greatest success in RSBP's long history of wildlife film-making. The Eagle Odyssey charts the struggles of the UK's largest breeding bird of prey, the White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla. Against worldwide competition the film won the award for Best Script at the largest and most prestigious natural history film festival in the world, Wildscreen, held in Bristol in October 2004. Go to: http://www.birdlife.net/news/news/2005/01/eagle_odyssey.html U.S. National Ramsar Committee (USNRC) News - The USNRC is pleased to announce that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has formally requested Ramsar designation of three new sites (two in California, one in Hawaii) to the Ramsar Secretariat, and once the Secretariat ensures that the applications are complete, these three sites will be added to the current list of nineteen. - The USNRC, along with The Nature Conservancy, the Caddo Lake Institute and the Caddo Lake Ramsar Wetland Clearinghouse, was a cosponsor of "Flows Prescription Orientation Conference and Natural Science Ecotourism Flotilla" held in Jefferson, Texas, on December 2-3. For details see www.caddodefense.org. - Stetson University College of Law, a member of the USNRC, recently hosted an International Environmental Moot Court Competition that focused on issues related to invasive species in a wetland of international importance. Ramsar Secretary General Peter Bridgewater delivered the opening lecture and served as a final round judge. For details see http://www.law.stetson.edu/environmental/, http://www.ramsar.org/w.n.usa_stetson.htm, and http://www.ramsar.org/w.n.usa_stetson2.htm News from the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) - Two sites of Hemispheric Importance (more than 500,000 shorebirds/ yr or more than 30% of a flyway population Join WHSRN: The Fraser River Delta, British Columbia, Canada and The Upper Bay of Panama. - Guillermo Fernández Joins as WHSRN’s New Research Associate. Guillermo, from Guadalajara, Mexico joins WHSRN after completing his Ph.D. at Simon Fraser University (British Columbia, Canada) on differential habitat use in Western Sandpipers. Starting February 1, Guillermo will work out of the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences (WHSRN’s coordinating office ) on the WHSRN project “designing site-based conservation for the most vulnerable shorebird species.” Migratory Bird & Wetland News in the news - from around the globe Bird Flu Outbreak Started a Year Ago 28 January 2005, New Scientist.com — In the past week, country after country has admitted that millions of birds and a few people have succumbed to bird flu, and it has become clear that we are facing the worst ever outbreak of the disease. So how have things got so out of control? After strenuous denials, Indonesia has admitted the H5N1 virus has been spreading there since August. Thailand admits it had it in November. For the full story go to: http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn4614 Asia Bird Flu Outbreak Spurs EU To Check Readiness 25 January 2005, Planet Ark, Brussels, Belgium — The outbreak of deadly bird flu in Asia spurred the EU on Monday to check Europe's preparedness for the spread of a disease that scientists warn may become pandemic. For the full article go to: http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/29186/story.htm Study: Buy More Land for Everglades Restoration (Florida, USA) 25 January CNN.com - Associated Press - Miami, Florida — The state and federal governments should buy more land, and do so quickly, in order to restore the Everglades before the property becomes developed or too expensive in coming years, according to a new report. Go to: http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/science/01/25/everglades.restoration.ap/index.html Species Disappearing 100 Times Faster Than Ever Before 24 January 2005, Enviroment News Service, Paris, France — Species are being lost globally at a rate 100 times faster than the average rate during the Earth's history, a panel of prestigious scientists today warned an international convention gathered at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. They said tens of thousands of other species are already committed to future extinction because of the recent worldwide loss of their habitats. Go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/envecolnews/message/1685 Oil Drilling Planned for Alaska Preserve 21 January 2005, CNN.com, Washington, USA — The government plans to open for exploratory drilling thousands of acres on Alaska's North Slope that have been protected for decades because they are home to migratory birds and caribou. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) concludes exploration will have 'minimal impact' on wildlife. For the full story go to: http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/01/21/alaska.oil.ap/ Wildlife Benefits from £2.3m Fund 21 January, BBC News, England — More than £2m is to be spent improving reserved habitats for wading birds which have declined in numbers over the past 25 years. The money will help managers of key wetlands in East Anglia Environment Minister Elliot Morley has announced. These Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) are home to lapwing, snipe and redshank. Drainage boards can claim a share of a £2.3m fund. For the full story go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4194831.stm Chevron to Restore Coastal Wetlands at Port Arthur (TX, USA) 17 January, 2005, Environment News Service, Port Arthur, Texas — Three Chevron companies have agreed to clean up and restore lands and waters around the company's former refinery at Port Arthur, Texas contaminated with petroleum products and heavy metals from more than a century of refinery operations. For the full story go to: http://earthhopenetwork.net/Chevron_to_Restore_Coastal_Wetlands_Port_Arthur.htm Scientists Work to Save the Endangered Albatross 14 January 2005, National Public Radio — Long-line fishing boats kill about 100,000 albatrosses a year. Some British scientists say far fewer drownings would occur if the lines could be weighted to make them sink more quickly. According to the World Conservation Union, 19 of the world's 21 kinds of albatross are near extinction. NPR's John Nielsen reports. To listen to the full report go to: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4284297 Coastal Greenbelts As Tsunami Lifesavers January 11, 2005, By Roddy Scheer — According to Friends of the Earth, the amount of devastation from late December's Indian Ocean tsunami was significantly lower in those coastal areas protected by natural barriers such as mangrove forests and coral reefs. So-called "coastal greenbelts" in India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka helped mitigate damage and saved thousands of human lives. Go to: http://www.envirolink.org/external.html?www=http%3A//www.emagazine.com/ view/%3F2213&itemid=200501140925000.658612 Early warning? Ask Nicobar's Stone-agers 7 January 2005, Asia Times, By Ranjit Devraj, New Delhi — Stone-age tribes living on India's remote Andaman and Nicobar Islands not only survived the devastating December 26 tsunami - but may actually have a few lessons in reading natural early-warning systems for their less perceptive Asian neighbors, say scientists. The Onges, Jarawas, Sentinalese and Great Andamanese who live in the archipelago escaped unscathed because they took to the forests and higher ground well in time. "These tribes live close to nature and are known to heed biological warning signs like changes in the cries of birds and the behavior patterns of land and marine animals... Go to: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/GA07Df05.html European Union Comes to Aid of Egyptian Vultures 5 January 2004, BirdLife International — A European Union (EU) Life-Nature project is supporting the recovery of Egyptian Vultures Neophron percnopterus in south-east France. Unlike the population in the French Pyrenees, which has remained stable at around 58 pairs, Egyptian Vultures in the south-east of France have declined by more than 59% in the last 50 years. For the full article go to: http://www.birdlife.net/news/news/2005/01/egyptian_vulture.html €5 Million for Clean-up of the Danube 24 December 2004, RiverNet — In the fourth project under a joint facility with the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the EBRD is lending €5 million to Slovenia’s Probanka, Maribor, for projects aimed at reducing water pollution flowing into the Slovenian portion of the Danube River Basin. The EBRD/GEF environmental facility was set up last year. The Bank is committing up to €45 million to local banks for on-lending to local borrowers for environmental investment projects related to the Danube, while the GEF is providing $9.9 million in grant financing and for technical assistance. The aim is to promote environmental investments by private-sector companies and smaller municipalities. GEF provides financial incentives needed to overcome barriers to environmental investment. Researchers Predict Massive Avian Decline 22 December 2004, emagazine.com, By Roddy Scheer — As part of the most comprehensive study on worldwide avian biodiversity to date, researchers from Stanford University predict that within a century, 10 percent of bird species in the world will be extinct, with an additional 15 percent endangered. The study pinpoints habitat loss, diseases, climate change and over-exploitation as key factors contributing to the expected precipitous avian decline. Go to: http://www.emagazine.com/view/?2200 Critical Habitat Proposed for Pacific Coast (USA) Population of Western Snowy Plover A December 17, 2005 News Release from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service proposes 35 critical-habitat units along the coast of California, Oregon, and Washington for the Pacific coast population of the western snowy plover, a Federally protected species, opening a 60-day comment period on the proposal. The proposed critical habitat units total 17,299 acres, less than an earlier critical habitat plan the Service adopted in 1999. For the full article go to: http://news.fws.gov/NewsReleases/R1/E242D72A-057B-0956-149B6CA426FEB856.html Landsat TM Inventory and Assessment of Waterbird Habitat in the Southern Altiplano of South America By Terence P. Boyle, Sandra M. Caziani, Robert G. Waltermire Wetlands Ecology and Management; 12 (6): 563-573, January 2005 This research developed maps from nine Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) images (254,300 km2) to provide an inventory of aquatic waterbird habitats in southern alitplano of South America. Image processing software was used to produce a map with a classification of wetlands according to the habitat requirements of different types of waterbirds. For the full paper go to: http://www.kluweronline.com/issn/0923-4861/contents Publications & Resources The Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) Newsletter is available at: http://www.wetlands.org/IWC/awc/awcmain.html BirdLife Caribbean newsletter, October 2004: http://www.birdlife.org/worldwide/regional/caribbean/ caribbean_newsletter_oct_04.pdf VerAves - Onlink Tool for Birdwatching & Monitoring in Mexico This online tool will be continually updated and give users access to historical databases to explore and analyze the reports of other birdwatchers from all over Mexico. aVerAves is the Mexican version of eBird in the United States. Go to: http://www.conabio.gob.mx/averaves/ Grant Opportunities (Americas) The Ramsar Small Grants Fund - Call for 2005 Proposals The Small Grants Fund seeks to assist developing countries, and those with economies in transition in, working toward the conservation and wise use of wetland resources. Operational Guidelines and futher information is available at: http://ramsar.org/key_sgf_index.htm North Star Science and Technology Transmitter Grant Program (USA) In its third year, a total of 8 satellite transmitters (Argos Platform Transmitter Terminals (PTTs) will be awarded to one or two recipients (8 PTTs to one project or 4 PTTs to each of two projects)and the program is open to projects throughout the world. American Bird Conservancy will handle the propsal submission process, review proposals, and select the winning projects. The deadline is: February 2, 2005. Questions should be directed to George E. Wallace at the American Bird Conservancy: gwallace@abcbirds.org The 2005 Canon National Parks Science Scholars Program for the Americas The program, a collaboration among Canon U.S.A., Inc., the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the US National Park Service, will award eight US$78,000 scholarships to Ph.D. students throughout the Americas to conduct research critical to conserving the national parks of the region. Research projects in the biological, physical, social and cultural sciences are eligible, as well as projects in a new category—technology innovation in support of conservation science. Applications must be received by 2 May 2005. For information about the Canon National Parks Science Scholars Program and a copy of the Application Guide, please visit the website at