BirdLife: The Magazine April-June 2019 | Page 6

NEWS ROUND-UP A R O U N D T H E EUROPE PA R T N E R S H I P ALL THE LATEST NEWS, INSIGHT AND SUCCESS STORIES FROM 115 PARTNERS IN 113 COUNTRIES Flamingo haven Gediz Delta has been saved from the threat of development. Following a successful court case lead by Doğa (BirdLife in Turkey), the proposal to build a mega- bridge spanning the Izmir Bay has been permanently dropped. The project would have destroyed crucial breeding islands for the Greater Flamingo and irreparably changed this delicate ecosystem, which is a Key Biodiversity Area and RAMSAR site. KEY BIRDLIFE PARTNER BIRDLIFE COUNTRY PROGRAMME AMERICAS A new population of Blue-eyed Ground-dove Columbina cyanopis (Critically Endangered) has been discovered in Botumirim State Park, Brazil. Four individuals were spotted by local people who relayed the information to SAVE Brasil staff – proof the organisation’s community outreach is working. Four might not sound a lot removed of context, but this discovery now takes the species’ known population to 19 individuals. AFRICA 6 On the 27th of January, a wildlife ranger in Nairobi, Kenya discovered 20 dead and five critically ill vultures around a poisoned hyena carcass. Thanks to Nature Kenya’s Rapid Response Poisoning Protocol, the scene was quickly decontaminated and four sick vultures were successfully treated and released. It is estimated this rapid response prevented the potential deaths of up to 100 more vultures. BIRDLIFE • APR-JUN 2019