MIGRATION: A FLIGHT FOR SURVIVAL
or many people, it’s
an iconic sound of the
countryside: a rich,
complex musical whistle
which culminates in a loud, high-
pitched crescendo. It is so strident
that you might not be able to work
out where it’s coming from: the tiny
Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla, a
handsome woodland-dwelling warbler.
Nicknamed the “mock nightingale”, its
mellifluous music has inspired artists
through the ages: in fact, 20th century
composer Messiaen’s opera Saint
François d’Assise draws directly from
the Eurasian Blackcap’s song.
In a more tragic tale, 19th century
author Giovanni Verga based his novel
on the story of a blackcap trapped
and caged by children. Deprived of its
freedom, it stops singing and eventually
dies. Sadly, this tale is reflected in
reality: as it migrates through the
Mediterranean en route to its European
breeding grounds, hundreds of
thousands of birds end up tangled in
vast, near-invisible “mist-nets” or unable
to take off from perches secretly coated
with glue. Those birds that don’t perish
from the initial shock can struggle in
pain for hours.
The reason: ambelopoulia, a
traditional dish made of Eurasian
Blackcaps and other songbirds,
boiled or grilled and eaten whole. For
centuries, songbirds have been trapped
for food across the Mediterranean –
but in Cyprus, the large-scale industry
it has become is a far cry from past
traditions. Although banned since 1974,
the demand for this delicacy is driving
a lucrative black market. Restaurants
charge up to €80 per plate. Run by
career trappers, some involved in
organised crime, this racket can make
€15 million per year.
In an ironic twist, poachers use the
Eurasian Blackcap’s beautiful song
against it, playing it on illegal electronic
F
EURASIAN BLACKCAP
FACT FILE
WINGSPAN: 15-18 CM
TOP SPEED: 75 KM/H
THREATS: TRAPPING,
SHOOTING
APR-JUN 2019 • BIRDLIFE
The Eurasian Blackcap takes off
from northern Africa, crossing
the Mediterranean to reach its
European breeding grounds. The
species is a “leap-frog” migrant
- birds from the north of the
breeding range travel furthest
south, while southern European
breeders travel shorter distances.
EURASIAN
BLACKCAP
MIGRATION
ROUTE
calling devices to lure them towards
the traps. The result is devastating,
but the decimation is part of a far
bigger problem: although aimed at
the Eurasian Blackcap, these traps are
indiscriminate, and have been found
to catch at least 155 bird species
- including those with decreasing
populations, such as the Red-backed
Shrike Lanius collurio and Eurasian
Scops Owl Otus scops. Unwanted
birds are simply killed and discarded.
According to a study by BirdLife Cyprus,
2.3 million birds were illegally killed in
Cyprus during autumn 2016 alone.
Nowhere has this been worse
than Cyprus’ British Sovereign Base
Area, spanning the Dhekelia and
Famagusta districts. 2016’s record
level of illegal killing at this “blackspot”
sparked an urgent response from the
UK government. But action isn’t just
coming from the outside - BirdLife
Cyprus is working tirelessly to end this
practice on their home soil. Knowledge
is power, and their long-running
surveillance programme has made
them a national expert on the illegal
killing crisis and its impact on migratory
bird populations. Now, conservationists
know where to focus their efforts.
Illegal bird killing is a complex issue,
especially when it is so ingrained in the
culture of local people. BirdLife Cyprus
knows that to end this crisis, it’s not
enough to simply enforce laws. They
also need to change minds. One of
the best ways to do this is to inspire a
love and respect for nature at a very
young age. Their large-scale education
programme extends to schools, where
children can take on the persona of
Ulysses the Blackcap in a specially-
designed board game, experiencing
the challenges he faces on his epic
migratory journey home.
BirdLife Cyprus’ awareness-raising
also extends to adult audiences. They
speak out across a wide range of public
media to dispel the myth that bird
trapping is still the harmless, small-
scale tradition it once was. And the
movement has already begun making
a huge difference. Since 2016, mist
netting has decreased by a staggering
72% at Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area,
and in Cyprus overall, the estimated
number of birds trapped is less than a
third of what it was. There is still much
work to be done, but we are confident
that, like the tiny bird with a powerful
voice, we will get our message heard.
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