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Headlines from week beginning 7 August 2017 |
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A round up of the top countryside, conservation, wildlife and forestry stories as chosen by the CJS Team.
There is only one native wild cat in Britain (for now!) and work is
ongoing in Scotland to ensure its survival. Read about one volunteer's
Wonderful Wildcat Experience. James Walker writes about what prompted him to leave a paid ranger
post to take up this voluntary role with Scottish Wildcat Action, the
work involved and the life changing decisions it lead to. And of course find out more about the project: Scottish Wildcat Action is the first national project to save the highly endangered Scottish wildcat from extinction.
First ever images of pine marten in Yorkshire The first ever images of a pine marten living in Yorkshire have been
captured. A single male pine marten was captured by NatureSpy on a wildlife
camera trap on Forestry Commission land on the North York Moors. This is
the first confirmed record of pine marten in the area for 24 years, and
the first living record for approximately 35 years. The
Yorkshire Pine Marten Project, run by non-profit social enterprise
NatureSpy in partnership with the
Forestry
Commission, began over four years ago with the hope of proving that
these elusive creatures were calling Yorkshire home. The ambitious project uses wildlife camera traps which monitor a
particular area, 24/7, for months at a time and trigger when an animal
passes in front of them, taking a picture or video. With support from
the Forestry Commission and a team of dedicated volunteers, camera traps
have been set-up in various locations around the North York Moors. The last confirmed pine marten record in Yorkshire was in 1993 when a
skull was recovered. Since then there have been a number of elusive
sightings and reports of pine marten in the forests in Yorkshire. Recent
evidence from scat DNA tests confirmed their presence in Northumberland
but previous searches by other organisations proved inconclusive. Pine martens are vigilant, mysterious and arboreal, making them near
impossible to track and monitor without the aid of remote technology and
baiting to tempt them down to the forest floor. NatureSpy’s
success is a result of a huge monitoring effort by passionate volunteers
covering a number of sites and using some of the most advanced camera
trap technology available. Ed Snell, Yorkshire Pine Marten Project Co-ordinator for NatureSpy,
said "To finally prove pine marten presence in Yorkshire is a massive
achievement for everyone involved.” Pine marten are such an important
species, being the second rarest carnivorous mammal in the UK, it’s so
exciting to plan the next stage of the project and aid whatever
populations we may have here”.
Innovative app to transform cetacean citizen science in the Hebrides
– Hebridean Whale & Dolphin Trust A new app from conservation charity Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust
is set to transform the way that members of the public and boat
Whale Track provides an easy and quick way for anyone to report and
submit their sightings of these species from across the Hebrides, and
has been made possible by a grant of more than £79,000 from the Heritage
Lottery Fund (HLF). The initiative has the backing of television presenter, wild animal
biologist and biochemist Liz Bonnin, Patron of Hebridean Whale and
Dolphin Trust. “Encouraging the public to play a very real part in the protection of
their local wildlife is essential if we are going to have any chance of
safeguarding it for the future,” said Liz. Whale Track is designed to work at sea and in remote coastal
communities where there is often no cellular coverage – allowing boat
operators, fishermen and other seafarers to get involved, while coastal
communities can report their sightings from land.
Rare plant returned to Greater Manchester canal after remarkable rescue
– Canal & River Trust
Bob Gough with the rare Royal Fern (Canal & River
Trust) The Canal & River Trust will restore the rare plant, Royal Fern, to
the Huddersfield
Narrow Canal this month after a remarkable rescue. It's part of a
canal habitat improvement project Making Special Places for Nature. The plant, believed to be the Huddersfield Narrow Canal’s only
surviving Royal Fern specimen, was saved in 1992 when the canal was
undergoing major restoration work by Huddersfield Canal Society in
preparation for its reopening in 2001. Canal Society ecologist Dr Bob
Gough noticed the Royal Fern had been discarded during the excavation
works and managed to scoop up the plant from the water. He took it home to his terraced house in Failsworth and has carefully
nurtured it in a black plastic plant pot in his back yard for the last
25 years. A few weeks ago Tom King, one of our ecologists, heard about
the rare Royal Fern and invited Dr Gough to return the plant to its
natural home.
Unprecedented conservation project starts in Warwickshire
- High Speed Two (HS2) Limited As part of preparations for Britain’s new high speed railway, HS2 Ltd
is creating its first new wildlife habitats along the line of route. Work at the Finham Brook site in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, starts
this month and includes the creation of 6 new ponds as well as new
woodlands featuring over 6,200 trees and shrubs. It’s expected to be
completed by the end of the year. The new habitats will support local wildlife species ranging from
birds to great crested newts. They are part of an unprecedented
conservation project, which will see a green corridor of connected
wildlife habitats created alongside the railway, including up to 7
million new trees and shrubs, as well as wetland, ponds, heathland and
meadow. Anthony Coumbe, High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd’s Head of Environment for
this region said: “The new habitats at Finham Brook will be the first of
many to come between London and the West Midlands. They will help us to
care for the local environment and serve as a new home to wildlife
affected by the future development of the railway.”
Fake plastic trees could fuel your home –
Brunel University London Tech meets art in a life-like ‘energy tree’ with e-leaves that suck
up sunshine and quiver in the breeze to produce solar and wind power.
It works as a giant solar panel and wind turbine, so the stronger the
sun and the windier the day, the more power it produces. Image: Brunel University London “We wanted the leaves to look like leaves, so we used a green plasma
coated solar cell,” said Dr Zahir Dehouche at Brunel University London.
“The idea is for people to see a leaf. It’s very attractive, an art
installation almost that combines design and an energy system.” Design and engineering students developed the tree concept and tested
the e-leaves prototype for London-based renewable energy start-up, Solar
Botanic. Inspired by nature, its e-leaves are a thin sunlight-activated
photovoltaic film, cocooned in protective green layer flexible enough to
shimmer in the breeze. The branches, twigs and leafstalks are laced with
high-resistance piezoelectric ribbons that harvest kinetic energy as
they move, so sunlight, raindrops and wind all create energy.
Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham opens a new centre for
volunteering and research - RSPB Image: RSPB The Flows Field Centre is one of the key outputs of the Partnership’s
£10.6 million Flows to the Future Project and is situated on RSPB’s
Forsinard Flows National Nature Reserve. The Field Centre, which cost
around £2 million, is situated in the heart of The Flow Country and was
completed in the autumn of 2016 by a local Caithness based building
firm. After a tour of the Field Centre and a chance to meet members of the Peatlands Partnership members, staff, and volunteers working on the RSPB Forsinard Flows reserve, Ms Cunningham explained: “I’m delighted to be here to officially open this new, state-of-the-art centre, which should allow for further research, and therefore greater understanding of how we can best preserve these vital peatlands, and ensure it has a long term sustainable future. The centre will also provide a much needed base for increasing the numbers of volunteers carrying out important conservation work in this area."
Record number of hen harriers fitted with satellite tags
- RSPB The RSPB has fitted a record number of hen harrier chicks with
satellite tags, across a wider geographical area than ever before in the
UK this year, more than doubling the number it tagged in 2016. By tracking the movements of these threatened birds of prey, the RSPB
will be able to build up an even clearer picture of where hen harriers
go and where they are most at risk from wildlife crime linked to
intensive grouse moor management. This is the third consecutive year that the RSPB has tagged hen
harriers as part of its EU- funded Hen Harrier LIFE Project. Birds have
been tagged in Scotland, the Isle of Man and, for the first time, in
Wales, by highly trained experts working under strict protocols. Unfortunately, poor weather conditions at the critical time, just
before fledging, prevented the RSPB from fitting satellite tags to any
hen harriers in England this year. The RSPB hopes that satellite tagging hen harriers will eventually
help pave the way for better protection for hen harriers through the
introduction of a licensing system for grouse moors. The Scottish
Government recently set up an independent enquiry into gamebird shoot
licensing after an independent scientific review of golden eagle
satellite tracking data revealed that approximately a third of them are
being illegally killed. Blánaid Denman, Project Manager for the RSPB’s Hen Harrier LIFE+
Project, said: “By satellite tracking more hen harriers than ever
before, we’ll gain a clearer picture of where these birds are spending
their time and what exactly is happening to them. We’ve already
discovered previously unknown nesting and winter roosting sites, as well
as been able to pinpoint where natural deaths and illegal killings have
occurred. It’s both infuriating and utterly heartbreaking to see
these beautiful birds, year after year, disappear off the radar.
Something needs to change. A system of grouse moor licensing would not
only protect hen harriers but also tackle wider damaging grouse moor
management practices, such as heather burning on deep peat and
inappropriate drainage. For now though, I’ll be watching our newly
fledged hen harriers, praying for their safety, and waiting to see what
incredible journeys are about to unfold.” From September, it will be possible to follow the travels of a
selection of this year’s tagged hen harriers, together with last year’s
surviving birds at
www.rspb.org.uk/henharrierlife
Grouse moors and conservation bodies join forces to deliver long-term
environmental benefits A pioneering initiative between grouse moors and conservation bodies
is set to transform the health of the nation’s peatland – a prized
environmental landscape. Restoring and enhancing the UK’s deep peat is fundamental to the
future of the UK’s environment as it plays a major role in carbon
storage, flood alleviation and the provision of clean drinking water.
24,000 hectares of blanket bog have undergone restoration work
including revegetation on grouse moors in England– an area larger than
the combined cities of Manchester and Liverpool – and an increase of 50%
on last year. English peatland experts who have carried out the work are
world leaders in this field. To help that restoration, grouse shooting estates are now developing
new long-term management agreements in collaboration with Natural
England to ensure the moorland vegetation is managed sympathetically for
win-win goals. This new approach is considered to be a real step in the
right direction by the International Union for the Conservation of
Nature’s (IUCN) UK Peatland Programme, who have welcomed a move away
from rotational burning. Wemmergill grouse moor in County Durham was the first estate to have
signed up to a new 25 year agreement with Natural England. Wemmergill is
one of Britain’s most historic grouse moors, with shooting records
dating back to 1872. Today the estate employs seven keepers and the plan
ensures it is run in harmony with nature. Rob Stoneman, Co-Chair of IUCN UK Peatland Programme, said: “I must
pay tribute to the team at Wemmergill for their commitment to restoring
the habitats on their estate. The partnership between the Wemmergill
staff, Natural England and the North Pennines AONB is a beacon of good
practice for all upland Britain, and is inspiring to see.” Wemmergill Estate’s 25-year management plan can be viewed
here
Welsh Government must provide leadership to protect our marine
environments - National Assembly for Wales The Welsh Government needs to take a
stronger lead to safeguard our marine environments for future
generations, a National Assembly Committee says.
Mike Hedges, Chair of the Climate Change, Environment and Rural
Affairs Committee, launched the report at the National Eisteddfod.
The report into the Welsh Government’s management of Marine Protected
Areas in Wales found:
Download the report:
Turning the tide? Report of the inquiry into the Welsh Government’s
approach to Marine Protected Area management (PDF)
2016
Breeding Bird Survey – JNCC Latest results from the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) show that
everything might not be as it seems, with many of our woodland birds in
trouble.
Breeding Bird Survey Cover (image: BBS)
Read the full report:
The Breeding Bird Survey 2016
65 badgers vaccinated this year - and counting!
– Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Derbyshire Wildlife Trust hit a milestone last week, as we have now
vaccinated 65 badgers since resuming our campaign. A key factor in our badger vaccination boost has been the amount of
volunteers who have come forward. We currently have over 80 volunteers
willing to help with badger vaccination and this number continues to
increase. With the cull widening across the country the Wildlife Trusts
argue that increasing vaccination of badgers and not shooting them is
the answer. Vaccinations will continue throughout this summer and into
the autumn. Karen Hinkley recently asked us to vaccinate on her land in Ashover.
She is a local farmer who keeps sheep and a few cows, and thanks to her
cooperation we vaccinated five adults and three cubs there last week.
She says “I am absolutely delighted that Derbyshire Wildlife Trust has
recently vaccinated the badgers on my farm. Over the last twelve months,
the badger group’s dedicated volunteers put in an immense amount of hard
work, often battling through jungle like undergrowth, surveying all
areas to locate the setts in preparation for baiting and trapping”. Karen goes on to say “I have always enjoyed seeing badgers quietly
going about their business in my garden and in the fields and woods
during the thirty-something years I have lived here. I feel privileged
to live near these unassuming but enchanting creatures. They have lived
alongside my herd of traditional Hereford cattle which have never had a
positive TB test. Badgers do not deserve persecution. I hope that the
vaccination programme will prevent the culling zone extending into
Derbyshire and protect these wonderful animals from harm”. Derbyshire Wildlife Trust’s Tim Birch points out "Derbyshire Wildlife
Trust is leading the way in showing vaccination of badgers to be a
better solution than shooting badgers in helping deal with bovine TB in
cattle. It is a lot cheaper to vaccinate badgers and also does not need
expensive police operations to implement. We will continue to roll out
our vaccination programme across Derbyshire and are very keen to hear
from landowners interested in vaccinating their badgers."
Underwater noise pollution stresses and confuses fish
– Newcastle University Increased noise pollution in the oceans is confusing fish and
compromising their ability to recognise and avoid predators. Researchers at Newcastle University found that European sea bass
experienced higher stress levels when exposed to the types of piling and
drilling sounds made during the construction of offshore structures. The fish also showed signs of being confused when they encountered a
potential predator while exposed to these underwater noises. When
researchers played recordings of piling sounds and mimicked an
approaching predator, the seabass made more turns and failed to move
away from the predator.
Seabass (image: Newcastle University)
Lead researcher Ilaria Spiga explained: “Over the last few decades,
the sea has become a very noisy place. The effects we saw were
subtle changes, which may well have the potential to disrupt the
seabass’s ability to remain ‘in tune’ with its environment. “Sea bass, along with other bony fishes, rely on a characteristic
‘startle and response’ mechanism to get away from predators. Exposure to
underwater noises can make it harder for fishes to detect and react to
predators. It could also impair their own ability to detect food. “Man-made marine noise could potentially have an adverse effect on
reproduction also. If fishes actively avoid areas where these sounds are
present it could prevent them from entering spawning grounds, or affect
communication between individuals.” Access the paper:
Anthropogenic noise compromises anti-predator behaviour of the European
seabass, Dicentrarchus labrax Ilaria Spiga, Nicholas
Aldred, Gary S. Caldwell. Published in Marine Pollution Bulletin.
DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.06.067
More than 100 cats trapped in fight to save endangered Scottish wildcats
– Scottish Wildcat Action Action to save the enigmatic Scottish wildcat from extinction
received a major boost this week with the news that more than 100 cats
have been trapped during a recent neutering and vaccinating campaign. Scottish Wildcat Action’s far-reaching Trap Neuter Vaccinate Return
(TNVR) programme was carried out in its priority areas, including
Morvern, Strathpeffer, Strathbogie, Northern Strathspey and the Angus
Glens. These areas represent a total of 676 square miles (1750 square
kilometres) of wildcat habitat. Feral cats present a threat to wildcats by hybridising with them and
diluting the gene pool. Since November last year three wildcat project
officers, contractors and dozens of local volunteers helped to catch a
total 115 cats. Of these, 82 were taken to a veterinary surgeon
for treatment and later returned, 12 feral kittens were rehomed, seven
cats were either pet cats or had been neutered previously and so were
all released and two were possible wildcats that were released without
neutering. The remaining 12 feral cats sadly tested positive for disease
or were in such poor condition and had to be put to sleep on welfare
grounds. Scottish Wildcat Action is a national project supported by the
Heritage Lottery Fund, which aims to halt the decline of this native
species by 2020. It is led by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and is a
partnership of 20 organisations. The species’ conservation is an
important feature of the Scottish Government’s 2020 Biodiversity
Challenge.
Avenue Washlands Nature Reserve celebrates 10th anniversary
– The Land Trust From ‘one of the most polluted sites in Europe’ to a wildlife haven
and vital community green space Avenue Washlands Nature Reserve this week celebrated its 10th
anniversary with a community event and ceremonial tree planting. The 17 hectare site near Chesterfield was opened in August 2007,
following reclamation work. The reserve was established on part of the
former Avenue Coking works site, and the wider restoration work within
The Avenue project is just now completing. To mark the 10th anniversary, the Land Trust and Derbyshire Wildlife
Trust hosted an open day, incorporating historical and wildlife
displays, and a short walk to explore the site’s habitats and amenities.
Planting an oak tree at Avenue Washlands Nature
Reserve 10th anniversary (image: Doug Jackson)
Euan said: “It’s wonderful to see Avenue Washlands Nature Reserve
continuing to thrive ten years on. Transforming the former industrial
site into an accessible space for people and wildlife was an enormous
task, but thanks to the resilience of nature and a strong partnership
between the many organisations involved, it’s a huge success story. Previously a coking works, the land and water were heavily polluted,
but through the East Midland Development Agency and the National
Coalfield Programme of the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), the
clean-up operation created what is now a wildlife haven and much-loved
community green space.
Striped dolphin’s sighted on Isles of Scilly survey route
- ORCA A rarely seen species of dolphin was spotted off the Cornish coast
for the first time by citizen science volunteers. ORCA Marine Mammal Surveyors on board the Scillonian III passenger
ferry to the Isles of Scilly sighted a pod of striped dolphin during
their survey on Saturday, the first ever reported sighting of this
species in the area. The three person team were on the bridge of the Isles of Scilly
Steamship Group's ferry on the way back from St Mary’s to Penzance
looking out for marine life as part of the ORCA OceanWatch project when
one of the team called out the sighting. The group scrambled to
catch a better view and some pictures, but unfortunately the animals
disappeared from view before they could.
However, it offers a tantilising hint that, as has been long
suspected, striped dolphins do venture from their more typical habitats
to visit the Cornish coast. ORCA’s Head of Science & Conservation, Lucy Babey, said “This is a
sensational finding and is the first solid evidence of striped dolphins
in the area. Though we have seen them stranded (live and dead) around
the Cornish coast there has never been a sighting of this species in the
water and we are so proud of the team for their eagle eyes on this trip.
The only disappointment is that only one member of the team saw the
animals and no photos were snapped – as it stands we have to downgrade
the sighting to ‘likely striped dolphin’ since it is such an unusual
occurrence! However, the surveyor in question is one of our most
experienced and we are 100% confident it wasn’t one of the other dolphin
species commonly seen in the area.”
Police investigate persecution of breeding marsh harriers
- North Yorkshire Police North Yorkshire Police are investigating an incident in which men
disturbed a pair of marsh harriers nesting on moorland north of Denton,
near Ilkley, in Wharfedale. In May 2017 a pair of marsh harriers was discovered nesting on
moorland forming part of Middleton and Denton moors near the village of
Denton in North Yorkshire. The site was monitored by RSPB investigators
who photographed the nest containing five eggs. The adult birds were
observed at the nest. A camera was set up to record activity at the nest site. Video images
recorded by the camera show that on 17 May at least two individuals, who
appeared to be men, wearing dull, brownish green coloured jackets,
traditional country caps, and carrying what looked like shotguns and a
brown game bag approached the nest site on six occasions between 12.40pm
and 9.30pm. The sound of several shots fired in the vicinity of the nest
were recorded, as was the noise of an engine, believed to be a quad
bike. One of the men stood over the nest, bent down, and appeared to
pick up something from the nest before walking away. The following
day, 18 May, a further visit by a man, similarly attired, along with a
green rucksack, was recorded at around 9.40am. This individual stood
over the nest, bent down, and appeared to remove something from the
nest. An RSPB investigator checked the site on 19 May and discovered the
nest had no eggs in it, with no sign of any debris from damaged eggs. The people shown on the video at the nest site have not been
identified. A number of men have been spoken to by police as part of the
investigation.
Rare caterpillar found at RHS Garden Hyde Hall after 150 year absence
from Essex - Royal Horticultural Society A rare, red, black and pale green caterpillar, not thought to have
been seen in Essex for nearly 150 years, has been found at RHS Garden
Hyde Hall in Chelmsford. The 10cm insect which feeds on Spurge (Euphorbia) and belongs to the
migrant Spurge Hawk moth (Hyles euphorbiae) native to Southern
Europe, was found in the gardens by visitors Keith and Jennifer Fridd.
Spurge Hawk moths are only occasionally found in southern England
with reports of caterpillars even less frequent. Sightings of the moth
in Suffolk have been reported this year, but the caterpillar found at
Hyde Hall is thought to be the first seen in Essex since 1872. Warm
weather conditions have been attributed to the find, with several other
uncommon migrant moth species observed in the UK this year. Elliot Wagstaff, Horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall, said: “To
find this attractive caterpillar at Hyde Hall is a real privilege and a
fantastic addition to the wide range of wildlife that the gardens
support. It’s possible that more could be found by eagle-eyed visitors
but it may be that others have already entered the soil to pupate.”
Martinig, A. R. (2017),
Habitat suitability modeling for mink passage activity: A cautionary
tale. Jour. Wild. Mgmt.. doi:10.1002/jwmg.21307 S.T. Buckland, A. Johnston,
Monitoring the biodiversity of regions: Key principles and possible
pitfalls, Biological Conservation, Volume 214, October 2017, Pages
23-34, ISSN 0006-3207, doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2017.07.034. Shuling Yu, Baoshan Cui, Philip Gibbons, Jiaguo Yan, Xu Ma, Tian Xie,
Guoxiang Song, Yuxuan Zou, Xiaojing Shao,
Towards a biodiversity offsetting approach for coastal land reclamation:
Coastal management implications, Biological Conservation, Volume
214, October 2017, Pages 35-45, ISSN 0006-3207, doi:
10.1016/j.biocon.2017.07.016.
Jens Rydell, Johan Eklöf, Sonia Sánchez-Navarro
Age
of enlightenment: long-term effects of outdoor aesthetic lights on bats
in churches R. Soc. open sci. 2017 4 161077; DOI:
10.1098/rsos.161077 Hannah L. Linder, John K. Horne, Eric J. Ward,
Modeling baseline conditions of ecological indicators: Marine renewable
energy environmental monitoring, Ecological Indicators, Volume 83,
December 2017, Pages 178-191, ISSN 1470-160X,
doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2017.07.015.
Noble, A., Palmer, S. M., Glaves, D. J., Crowle, A., Brown, L. E. and
Holden, J.,
Prescribed burning, atmospheric pollution and grazing effects on
peatland vegetation composition. J Appl Ecol. Accepted Author
Manuscript. doi:10.1111/1365-2664.12994 Da Silva, A. and Kempenaers, B.,
Singing from North to South: latitudinal variation in timing of dawn
singing under natural and artificial light conditions. J Anim Ecol.
Accepted Author Manuscript. doi:10.1111/1365-2656.12739 Sue Anne Zollinger, Peter J. B. Slater, Erwin Nemeth, Henrik Brumm
Higher songs of city birds may not be an individual response to noise
Proc. R. Soc. B 2017 284 20170602; DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.0602
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CJS is not responsible for content of external sites. Details believed correct but given without prejudice. Disclaimer: the views expressed in these news pages do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of CJS. |
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operators
can help gather vital scientific data about whales, dolphins and
porpoises – collectively known as cetaceans – off Scotland’s west coast.
Making
special places for nature - 400 hectares of important canal habitat
improved on 10 SSSI sites across UK
The
16ft solar/wind tree can generate nearly three times the electricity an
average family uses in a year and could completely change how we power
homes. 
(left
to right) Richard Johnson, Director of Wemmergill Moor Ltd, Dr Therese
Coffey MP and John Pinkney, head gamekeeper at Wemmergill Estate (image:
Moorland Association) 
Coastline
around Wales (image: National Assembly Wales)
The
BBS report is published by the British Trust for Ornithology in
partnership with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and the
RSPB. The latest produced trends for 111 species in the UK and the news
for our woodland birds makes interesting reading.
When
exposed to drilling sounds the sea bass actively avoided these areas,
spending more time in what the research team called the ‘safe zone’. 
The
highlight was the planting of a young oak tree, mirroring the opening
ceremony a decade ago. This time, Lee Rowley MP, Euan Hall – Chief
Executive of the Land Trust, and Tim Birch – Head of Living Landscapes
North of Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, dug deep to get the tree off to a
good start.
Striped
Dolphin (Image: ORCA)
Spurge
Hawk moth caterpillar (image: RHS)
