A million songbirds eaten in Cyprus in 2008

March 2009. BirdLife Cyprus has denounced the fact that in 2008 more than 1.1 million birds were illegally slaughtered in Cyprus by trappers eager to feed a lucrative demand for banned Warbler 'delicacies'.

Worst year for 5 years
Cyprus lies on a key migratory route and bird trapping has been a very common activity for years, with trappers using either fine mist nets or sticks dipped in sticky lime. Worryingly, the trend showed that last winter mist netting activities considerably increased, while the trapping reached the highest level for five years. About 90 % of the migratory birds which fly over Cyprus each year are protected.

"It is an unacceptable toll and a depressing trend, which ever way you look at it", said Martin Hellicar, Executive Manager at Birdlife Cyprus. BirdLife Cyprus have been systematically monitoring illegal trapping with mist nets and limesticks since 2002, with the support of the RSPB (BirdLife in the UK).

Song thrushes and Blackcaps targeted
Trappers usually target Song Thrushes or migrant birds such as Blackcap, which are then served in restaurants as ambelopoulia 'delicacies', for up to five Euros a piece. The trapping methods are so indiscriminate that up to 100 species of bird are known to have been captured.

Blind eye turned
"Bird trapping is coming back to haunt us in a big way and the reason is the same as it has always been: there is a lot of money to be made out of it, and it will continue as long as restaurants are allowed to break the law", said Hellicar. The banned bird delicacies remain widely available, because in 2008 only 9 restaurateurs were charged for serving ambelopoulia.

"We have been collecting condemning data on this problem for years, but when it comes to the ‘delicacies‘ on peoples' plates, decision makers don't really want to know."

A report on the situation, compiled by Birdlife Cyprus and RSPB, has been submitted to the Wildlife Committee of the Council of Europe, the Cypriot government and the European Commission.

In response to worrying declines, BirdLife has launched the Born to Travel Campaign to protect migratory waterbirds, soaring birds and songbirds along the African-Eurasian flyway. Born to Travel is a perfect example of how effectively our unique BirdLife Network meshes together as a united force to take action for conservation. Visit the campaign website to find out more now! www.birdlife.org/flyways  

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