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Posted: 21-08-2013 10:43 Post subject:

Rutland ospreys: Back from the verge of extinction

A groundbreaking project to reintroduce the majestic osprey to central England is toasting its success.
Established in the 1990s, the Rutland Water Osprey Project was the first of its kind in Europe and it is hoped the birds of prey will now colonise neighbouring counties.

This year's young fledglings will soon make their first long distant flight - migrating thousands of miles to the west coast of Africa.

Here, Tim Mackrill explains the work done at the reservoir and tells the extraordinary tale of how they tracked one Rutland bird to a remote mountain in the Sahara desert using GPS technology.

[Videoslide show - great pictures and story.]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-23684463

Posted: 17-09-2013 23:14 Post subject:

An unusual story. This first surfaced in the local press as a case of callous cruelty, and a reward was offered to find the culprits. But it seems the truth may have been somewhat different:

Kittens thrown from car in Cornwall was 'tragic accident'

Two kittens allegedly thrown from a car and hit by traffic actually fell in a "tragic accident", police say.

Officers from Devon and Cornwall Police were told in August that the animals were thrown from a red VW Golf on the Penryn bypass heading towards Falmouth.
But after a witness came forward, police found the kittens had "fallen" from the engine compartment.
A police spokesman said: "No criminal action by any individual took place and this case is now closed."

The incident was alleged to have happened on 28 August and an appeal was made by police.
"A female came forward stating that she drives a similar car and can be put in the area at the time," the police spokesman added.
"She lives on a farm which has several feral cats and having returned from her journey she could hear a cat calling from within her car.
"A kitten was located in the engine compartment which was then reunited with its mother.
"Inquiries would suggest that two other kittens fell from the engine compartment while the vehicle was in motion."

He said that it was with "great relief" that the force could confirm "this was a tragic and unforeseeable accident rather than the act of a callous owner".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-24131421

Posted: 17-09-2013 23:37 Post subject:

Just one thing puzzles me, said the cop before he left. This ad. you put in the paper:

"VW, low mileage, 2 litter engine, one callous owner, offers"

Shocked

Posted: 01-10-2013 17:00 Post subject:

Eurasian Scops Owl takes refuge on HMS Illustrious

A owl which "ran out of steam" during its migration and "took refuge" on a Royal Navy warship has been returned to the wild.
Portsmouth-based aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious was patrolling off Yemen when the Eurasian scops owl was spotted cowering under a crane on deck.

Lt Chris Patrick, a member of the Royal Naval Bird Watching Society, spent several days nursing it back to health.
He said the "poor little thing must have seen the ship and took refuge".
Lt Patrick, from Weymouth, said the owl had landed on the vessel while on a migration route south towards Sub-Saharan Africa.
He said it had "looked as though it was simply waiting to die".

Weather conditions meant the bird would not be able to make it to shore, so he took it to his cabin and fed it pieces of meat.
Within two days, it was trying to fly again and Lt Patrick, the ship's meteorologist, calculated the best location to release the bird when wind conditions were favourable.

Lt Patrick said it had looked "in good condition" when it was released near the coast of Oman and was "heading to shore with the prevailing winds".
"We all hope it made the journey safely," he said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-24349122