-Caveat Lector- <http://www.sunday-times.co.uk/news/pages/Sunday-Times/frontpage.html?2533646> March 4 2001 BRITAIN Swans crash to their deaths on rainy roads Edin Hamzic and Guy Dennis WILDLIFE organisations are investigating why growing numbers of Britain's swans are dying as they mistake rain-soaked roads for rivers and crash-land on them. Conservationists believe one of the wettest winters on record may be to blame for an increase of up to 25% in the number of swans injured or killed in this way. The birds are deceived by wet roads, which look like open water from a height or in low light. When the tarmac is wet, and at dawn or dusk, they see its smooth black surface as a placid river, and car parks as lakes. Problems also arise in hot weather, when heat from the dark surface of roads creates a mirage. Swans, weighing about 8kg (18lb), come in to land with their feet outstretched, expecting a gentle touchdown. Instead they crash to a halt, leading to sprains, cut feet, injured backs and wings, and broken legs. Many injured birds are then run over and killed. Graham Madge, of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, said: "Sadly, it is happening with some regularity. As their habitat is constantly invaded by people and altered, it is becoming harder for the birds to find their way around." Conservationists say it is hard to put an exact number on the accidents because most deaths are not reported. However, they estimate that up to 1,000 swans crash each year. The Swan Sanctuary, Britain's largest refuge for the birds with five sites, treats more than 3,000 birds a year. It claims that 130 to 140 of these are crash-landing victims- a quarter more than five years ago. Steve Knight, director of operations, said the number of injuries rises during the autumn and winter when young swans leave their nests and go in search of new territories. "You get a young swan just out of the parental nest - with L-plates, so to speak - flying for the first time, getting into trouble." While the mute swan was almost perfectly designed for altitude flying, the birds were vulnerable during take-off and descent, making it difficult for them to abort a landing even if they realised their mistake, he said. According to Knight, an added danger is at points where roads cross rivers. A warm thermal from the road mixes with a cold one from the river, creating a crosswind. As swans have a wingspan of about 6ft, it is easy for them to get caught in it and crash into the road. "Only last week we were called to an accident on Chiswick flyover on the M4 in west London," Knight said. "A large adult swan appeared to have confused the motorway for a river and attempted to land. "It crashed through the windscreen of a minibus taking passengers to Heathrow airport. Luckily the bird survived and is now recovering." In another incident, last July, a female swan crash-landed on a busy road in Coventry city centre in the middle of the morning rush-hour. Police had to close the road while RSPCA officers collected the bird and took it to a vet. Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue Trust in Scotland reports a tenfold increase in the number of injured swans, to between 200 and 250 a year, over the past 10 years. A quarter of the incidents involve swans landing on roads. In the past week alone the trust has taken in three birds injured in this way. Meanwhile, naturalists are struggling to stop a decline in Britain's 30,000 swan population. According to figures from the RSPB, the number fell by 15% ================================================================= Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, YHVH, TZEVAOT FROM THE DESK OF: *Michael Spitzer* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Best Way To Destroy Enemies Is To Change Them To Friends ================================================================= <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
