Hello from Murcia

[Annie]

I've just found this website and wanted to ask specifically about protected birds. I live very close to a ZEPA area and, though I am not a bird-watcher, have been entranced by the variety and beauty of the birds that live around here.  Sadly, at this time of year, we are plagued by hunters, who set up their hidey-holes for up to 6 hours at a time, and set traps for a small, grouse-like bird.  Can anyone give me an idea what type of bird this would be and whether they are protected?  The birds, themselves, are small, quite nondescript, really, brown, stumpy tail-feather, but no distinctive markings.  Definitely a game bird, though.  We have already managed to deter some hunters, who were catching tiny birds by coating wooden rods with a sticky substance that the little birds were attracted to and which, once entangled, couldn't escape.  They eventually starved to death or died of fright or exhaustion.  We could see no reason to want the sad remains of these beautiful creatures, but the hunters were merciless.  The cruelty and indifference towards animals, that we have witnessed since moving here, has been dreadful.  It seems to matter little that this area is a protected zone.

[Petrea]

Hello Annie

Welcome to this great forum! 

Your question made me realize that we do not seem to have any of the "wild chicken" in our gallerty, so I decided to upload my photo of the perdiz roja. However, I do not think that answers your question, since you wrote that the bird did not have any distinctive markings. Since none of our experts seem to be available, I had a look in my bird book. The most likely candidate there was common quail, Coturnix coturnix, cordoniz común.

So you are not a bird-watcher, eh? 

Saludos
Petrea

[Clive]

Hi Annie and welcome to

Sorry to hear that you have found some of the more distasteful practices of "sport" such as the barbaric way of trapping birds by the "glue" method... As far as I am aware this practice is illegal in Murcia and a call to SEPRONA should be on your "to do" list in order to find out..... Have a read of this topic by clicking the link below.
http://www.iberianatureforum.com/index.php?topic=2669.0

Annie, it does matter that you and the wildlife around you is in a protected zone.... Post things here in the relevant board and I know that our great bunch of members will do whatever they can to help out...

Looking forward to any and all of your observations from your patch.

[tonyninfas]

Hi Annie
Welcome to the Forum from a relatively dry Els Ports
Tony

[lisa]

Welcome to the  forum Annie. Give 'em sh stick! 

[Technopat]

Greetings Annie - and welcome to

Sorry that your first posting has to be on such a negative note. One thing is that poachers and other deliquent break the law, and suffer the consequences if caught. A different matter is when local politicians expressly legislate against existing law.

The fact that it has been de facto prohibited nationwide since at least 2007 hasn't prevented the Valencian regional government from issuing special licences for parany - and where Madrid Valencia leads, Murcia ain't far behind... "El informe del Consejo de Estado dice que el parany entra en contradicción con la normativa básica estatal" - 20 minutos

At the beginning of this year, Spain's central government impugned Valencia's hunting laws as anti-constitutional. i.e. against national and European law.

In 2004, the Kingdom of Spain was found guilty in this regard by the European Court of Justice.

That said, I'm pretty sure that ZEPAs come directly under EU law, so regional governments can't make an exception there. As Clive points out - and something I have insisted on for years - SEPRONA is the way to go. Local police forces - heavily dependent on local politicians/bigwigs - are not to be trusted in matters regarding environmental issues, nature, animal protection and so on... I choose my words carefully

Looking-fwd-to-reading-your-future-contribs. regs.,
Technopat

Ps.

I think Lisa meant "shtick" (Merriam-Webster)

[Sue]

Hi Annie, welcome to this forum, you will get support here against this dreadful plight
Good luck and keep us informed
Sue