Reintroduced white-tailed eagle pair raise chick

Scotland's largest bird of prey, the white-tailed eagle, has bred in the east of the country for the first time in almost 200 years.

This is really good news! Look at them so careful with their chick! Let's hope it will survive and live to breed,too!

The reintroduced pair of white-tailed eagles have raised a male chick at a secret location in Fife

BBC Scotland has learned a pair of the birds have raised a male chick, after nesting at a secret location in Fife.

The country's last native white-tailed eagle was shot in Shetland in 1918.

The species only returned to the UK following a reintroduction project in the west of Scotland, which began on the Isle of Rum in 1975.

Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse welcomed the news.

"I hope this will be the first of many of this magnificent species, which will eventually spread their territories right across Scotland," he said.

"I'd like to thank all the partners who have played their part in making this exciting and special event happen."

The east coast reintroduction project involved RSPB Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and Forestry Commission Scotland, with financial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Fife and Rural Tayside Leader programme.

A total of 85 young white-tailed eagles taken from nests in Norway were released in Fife between 2007 and 2012.

The pair which bred this summer were both released in 2009.

Stuart Housden, director of RSPB Scotland, said: "This success further strengthens the strong bond we have formed with the people of Norway, who kindly gifted birds for release in Scotland throughout the reintroduction process, which started over 30 years ago on the west coast.

"We owe a great deal to the project staff, farmers, landowners, partners and, of course, the general public, for their support and enthusiasm."

The reintroduction of white-tailed eagles to Scotland has attracted criticism from some farmers and crofters, worried about the impact the birds could have on their lambs.

Andrew Stevenson, of Scottish Natural Heritage, said: "We are working with the National Farmers' Union in Scotland and the Scottish Crofters' Federation to manage any incidents which do occur.

"In the east, it's very early days, we only have one breeding pair, but we will take any problems which do take place very seriously."

BBC Scotland revealed in June that police were investigating allegations that a white-tailed eagle nest had been destroyed on an estate in Angus.

RSPB Scotland has asked members of the public to email reports of white-tailed eagle sightings on the east coast toeastscotlandseaeagles@rspb.org.uk.

White-tailed eagles in Scotland

The last British white-tailed eagle was shot in Shetland in 1918.

Since the 1970s, the species (also known as the Sea Eagle) has been reintroduced to the west coast of Scotland.

Over the past six years, the focus has been on Scotland's east coast.

More than 80 birds, taken from nests in Norway, have been released from a secret location in Fife.

The reintroduction project is run by RSPB Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and Forestry Commission Scotland.

It has cost £452,000 to date, with funding coming from the RSPB, SNH and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

From BBC Sci/Environment

Senegal's Lake Retba - also called Lac Rose, in French, or the Pink Lake - is a famous tourist attraction.

Located some 30km (18 miles) north-east of the capital, Dakar, the lake is known for its bright pink colour - especially in the dry season - said to be caused by an alga that produces a red pigment.

Its high salt content also allows tourists to float easily but they are not the only ones to take interest in the site.

An estimated 3,000 salt miners collect the precious commodity which is exported all over the region, as BBC Africa's Laeila Adjovi reports.

From BBC News

Lake Retba

Lake Retba or Lac Rose lies north of the Cap Vert peninsula of Senegal, north east of Dakar

It is so named for its pink waters, caused by Dunaliella salina algae in the water that produce a red pigment that uses sunlight to create more energy, turning the waters pink. The color is particularly visible during the dry season. The lake is also known for its high salt content, which, like that of the Dead Sea, allows people to float easily. The lake also has a small salt collecting industry and was often the finishing point of the Dakar Rally, before it moved to South America in 2009.

Many salt collectors work 6–7 hours a day in the lake, which has a salt content of up to 40% in some areas.^] In order to protect their skin, they rub their skin with "Beurre de Karité" (shea butter, produced from shea nuts obtained from the Shea nut tree), which is an emollient used to avoid tissue damage.

Lake Retba is under consideration by the World Heritage Committee for inclusion as a World Heritage Site.

in Wikipedia

Hundreds of seals found in London's River Thames

Great News, isn't it?

Hundreds of grey and harbour seals have been found living along the Thames in London.

It's after the first large-scale survey of them.Scientists from the Zoological Society of London, found there were more than 700 seals living along the river - most of these were in the Thames Estuary.

They say this suggests that the quality of water in the river has improved.At this time of year the seals go onto sandbanks to get rid of their summer jackets and grow an autumn/winter coat.So it was a great time for scientists to do a headcount.

Fropm CBBC Newsround

Surf's up... and its full of rubbish!

Shocking picture shows Indonesia's most famous surfer gliding through trash-filled wave

It is one of the world's most photogenic sports, often taking place in exotic locations. 

But, as this worrying picture shows, surfing is not always that glamorous. 

The picture was taken off the coast of Java in Indonesia and shows the country's most famous surfer Dede Suryana gliding through an enormous trash-filled wave.

Trash: The picture was taken off the coast of Java in Indonesia and shows Indonesia's most famous surfer Dede Suryana surfing through an enormous rubbish-filled wave

The 28-year-old looks poised and balanced as bits of debris and trash roll over the top of him.

The incredible picture was captured by surf photographer Zak Noyle who searches the world looking for the perfect surfing pictures.

He said: 'The trash suddenly showed up while we were out in the water in a large mass, including tree trunks the size of cars, lots of food wrappers and bottles as well, we even saw soccer balls floating amongst the debris.

'I kept on thinking I would be seeing a body of some type of animal or something float by.'

Despite its natural beauty, Indonesia is well known for its rubbish-filled water.

As reported by National Geographic, the Citarum River has so much garbage floating in it that you cannot see the water, making it impossible to fish in.

Marine wildlife - such as fish and turtles - often get into difficulty because they mistake plastic bags for food. This also creates prfoblems for humans as the fish which are captured by fishermen often contain high levels of chemical toxins .

These harmful toxins are then absorbed by people who eat the fish.

These men pick through garbage in Indonesia's Ciliwung River

Mr Suryana has previously spoken about Indonesia's problems with litter in water.

Speaking to the Jakarta Post, the dedicated environmentalist  said: 'I have seen how nice and clean it is in New Zealand and Australia and when I came back to Indonesia I was shocked. A dirty environment not only looks awful, but if it’s dirty people can get sick.

'When I go on a boat trip for surfing, I like to trawl for fish, and now I see so much rubbish in the sea.'

From: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2396076/Surfs--filled-rubbish-Shocking-picture-shows-Indonesias-famous-surfer-gliding-trash-filled-wave.html