BIRD SIGHTINGS AT INCREASE- NEPAL

In the Barju Lake of Chimadi VDC of Sunsari district, Eastern Nepal around 5,000 species of birds have been sighted. Conservation initiative taken by the locals in 1995 turned the lake into wetland and bird sightings have increased in the area.

27 December

Republica

RED PANDA SPOTTED NEAR LUKLA IN SOLUKHUMBU - NEPAL

Red Pandas are rarely found near human settlement but they have been recently spotted in Chaurikharka Buffer Zone Community area (CBZCA) of Lukla bazaar in Solukhumbu Central Nepal. The threatened species which is normally found at an altitude of over 3,500 meters is considered to have come down to lower altitudes (2,800 m) due to cold temperature.

29 December

The Himalayan Times, Republica

LARGE NUMBERS OF BIRDS AT MACOUN MARSH, CANADA

While female pine grosbeaks are common, males are a rare site. 

 

Common redpolls number close to 60.

 A very colourful little face!

Hong Kong seizes $1.36M in illegal ivory tusks

Ivory tusks seized by customs officials from an imported container are pictured in Hong Kong January 4, 2013. According to the customs department, 779 pieces of ivory tusks from Kenya weighing about 1,300 kg and worth about HK$10.6 million ($1.36 million) were confiscated from an imported shipping container sent from Malaysia to the Hong Kong port.


http://ca.news.yahoo.com/photos/hong-kong-seizes-1-36m-in-illegal-ivory-tusks-slideshow/ivory-tusks-seized-customs-officials-imported-container-pictured-photo-093453921.html

HIGHLIGHTS IN BIODIVERSITY AND YOUTH 2012

 Youth were well represented at COP11 in Hyderabad, India

 The Global Youth Biodiversity Network became official in Berlin, Germany.

 Youth were also involved at the UN conference on sustainable development in Rio. 

 Youth in Canada gave out international, national, and local awards for biodiversity initiatives. 

In Denver, Colorado youth came together for the National Green School's Environmental Conference.

Water and Biodiversity

Water is essential for life. No living being on planet Earth can survive without it. It is a prerequisite for human health and well-being as well as for the preservation of the environment.

The theme Water and Biodiversity was chosen to coincide with the United Nations designation of 2013 as the International Year of Water Cooperation. Water and Biodiversity is the theme for International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) in 2013.

MACOUN MARSH UPDATE, OTTAWA, CANADA

Common redpolls are very "common" today with numbers as high as 50 around our feeders.

They can be very aggressive to each other when it comes to food.