Friday, 24 June 2022

Flying Red Kites Back to Spain

The Red kite (Milvus milvus) was almost driven to extinction in the UK. These raptors were persecuted largely by keepers of game birds (e.g. grouse). This persecution was in spite of Red kites largely being scavengers, mainly eating dead animals (like road kill). The species was saved, by introducing breeding stock from Spain and Sweden. The UK population is now thriving. Chicks bred here, are being taken back to Spain, where the species has fallen on hard times (https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/61921083). Conservation clearly works best, when there are alternative populations.
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Flowers of Oahu 64. Wikstoemia uva-ursi or Akia

The bark, roots and leaves of this plant release a narcotic that was used to stun fish.

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