Briefly
GOOD NEWS IN TROUBLED TIMES
Campaign success as UK government bans use of bee-killing pesticide The ban of a neonicotinoid pesticide that is highly toxic to bees has been upheld by the UK government, refusing emergency use in England. The pesticide, Cruiser SB, is used on sugar beet to tackle a disease spread by aphids and has previously been allowed as an emergency measure to protect crops, despite a general ban on its use in the EU and the UK. The move, which is a vital step in efforts to protect UK wildlife, comes after continued campaigns by environmental organizations, including a sector-wide effort from the Pesticide Collaboration. These NGOs call for alternative, nature-friendly measures to be used instead. The Labour government plans to outlaw the emergency use of three neonicotinoid pesticides so they are no longer legally obliged to assess applications brought by farmers who want to use them. Source: RSPB (2025)
rspb.org.uk/whats- happening/news/campaign-success-as-uk- government-upholds-ban-on-emergency- use-of-bee-killing-pesticide
Polka dot glass prevents bird deaths In the USA, up to 1 billion birds die each year from window collisions, and the skies of Chicago are particularly affected, as the city is located in a critical migratory corridor. McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago is the largest convention centre in North America, and is largely covered with glass. For years the building has been the cause of huge numbers of bird deaths, and in October 2023 at least 1,000 birds died on a single day, after collid- ing with the building. Following a public petition, the Center collaborated with Feather Friendly, a company that installs bird-friendly window deterrents, to apply a polka dot film to its windows. The pattern on the film disrupts the reflection of the glass, making it easier for birds to detect and avoid. According to data recorded dur- ing the autumn migration period, bird col- lision deaths at McCormick Place dropped by as much as 95%in 2024. It is hoped this success could encourage others to adopt similar measures to protect migratory birds. Sources: Good Good Good (2025)
goodgoodgood.co/articles/bird-window- collision-polka-dot-glass
Bluesky’s science takeover According to a recent online poll, 70%of Nature readers are now using Bluesky, a so- cial media platform that works a lot like X (formerly Twitter) and whose popularity has soared in recent months, in particular since the USA election in November 2024. Although the survey is not statistically rep- resentative of the scientific community at large, it echoes widespread disillusionment with X and enthusiasm for Bluesky among researchers. Of c. 5,300 readers who re- sponded to a question about X, 53% said they previously used but have now left the platform. In January 2025, Bluesky had .27 million users. It is broadly similar in functionality and user experience to X, which for a long time was a go-to platform for scientists to discuss and disseminate theirwork. In the survey, 55%of respondents to the question ‘What do you use Bluesky for?’ said it was a mix of research-related activities: to connect with other scientists, keep up to date with research or researchers, and promote their own research. Positive terms used by respondents to contrast the platform with X included more pleasant, more supportive, friendlier and safer. Source: Nature (2025)
nature.com/articles/ d41586-025-00177-1
Is the North Sea bouncing back? The North Sea’s chalk reefs, sea grass mea- dows and shallow waters arehome to a huge array of wildlife, including internationally important seabird colonies, but centuries of overfishing, pollution, oil and gas explo- ration and the climate crisis have led to dra- matic declines. In the 1930s,wealthy visitors flocked to Scarborough for bluefin tuna fishing, but by the 1950s, the tuna had large- ly disappeared, highlighting the ecosystem’s deterioration. Overfishing of herring re- sulted in a 97% decline in biomass by the 1980s, and North Sea anglerfish and cod populations are shrinking. However, recent signs of recovery offer hope. Species in- cluding bottlenose dolphins, humpback and minke whales, grey seals and bluefin tuna are returning, raising cautious opti- mism. Although the North Sea remains one of the most pressured marine environ- ments, the rebound of these species demon- strates the resilience of nature when given the chance to recover. Sources: The Guardian (2025) theguardian. com/environment/2025/jan/09/north-sea- bouncing-back-glory-days-grey-seals- minke-whales-bluefin-tuna-aoe
Endangered seabirds return to Pacific island after century-long absence Endangered Polynesian storm petrels Neso- fregetta fuliginosa have returned to Kamaka Island in French Polynesia for the first time in.100 years, after a team of conservation- ists used drones to remove invasive rats eat- ing the birds’ eggs and chicks. Scientists attracted the birds back to the island using solar-powered speakers playing bird calls recorded from a neighbouring island. The birds began exploring the island just 3 weeks later, and monitoring cameras show regular visits, although nesting has not yet been confirmed. The project demonstrates successful collaboration between internation- al conservation groups and local communi- ties, with the local Mangareva community’s knowledge and support proving crucial to the operation’s success. The birds’ return could benefit the entire island ecosystem, as seabirds bring nutrients from the ocean that help sustain both terrestrial and marine life. It is estimated there are c. 250-1,000 storm petrels remaining in the wild. Source: Mongabay (2025)
news.mongabay. com/2024/12/endangered-seabirds-return- to-pacific-island-after-century-long-absence
Turning traps into hope Wildlife snaring is common across Africa, driven by a combination of poverty, de- mand for bushmeat, and organized wildlife crime. Snares, which are cheap and easy to set, often trap unintended species, includ- ing elephants, lions and wild dogs. The Endangered Wildlife Trust recently re- moved 3.5 t of snares from a protected area in the Lowveld region of South Africa, along the boundary of Kruger National Park. These snares had been stockpiled over 5 years after being removed during routine patrols by anti-poaching teams. Rather than being discarded, the snares are being repurposed through a part- nership with Down2theWire, a local initia- tive that transforms confiscated poaching materials into handcrafted jewellery. This project raises awareness of the harm caused by snaring and generates funds for conser- vation efforts, reinvesting profits into anti- poaching initiatives, supporting rangers, education programmes and community- driven conservation. The collaboration highlights the potential for sustainable solu- tions in wildlife protection. Source: The Endangered Wildlife Trust (2025)
ewt.org/snares-repurposed- conservation
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution and reproduction, provided the original article is properly cited. Oryx, 2025, 59(1), 4–9 © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Fauna & Flora International doi:10.1017/S0030605325000523
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