The opportunities to get involved
in action for wildlife are as diverse as wildlife itself, as you
will see in this round-up from various specialist groups.
CORNWALL BIODIVERSITY INITIATIVE
Cornwall's biodiversity is all
around us. We encounter it every day of our lives, whether it is
waking to the dawn chorus, walking down hedge-lined lanes, or looking
out the window at the sea, a stream, or even old mine workings.
We are looking at a living landscape, but it needs everyone's help
to protect it.
Public awareness plays a big
part in the Cornwall Biodiversity Initiative's work. We provide
training days and awareness seminars for local authorities, landowners,
teachers and tourism providers. There are various publications on
Cornwall's wealth of wildlife, including information on the best
spots to see it and advice on how best to look after it. We run
events throughout the year and produce a regular newsletter to keep
people up to date with progress and positive action being achieved.
The Initiative aims to involve
everyone in working together to conserve and enhance our
wildlife. So, are you doing your bit for biodiversity?
Everyone can help, whether it
is by making a "greener" garden, making your business or school
more energy efficient and biodiversity friendly, or participating
in practical conservation efforts and activities. Recycle your rubbish,
build a compost heap, put up bird and bat boxes, and remember to
tell us about what animals and plants you see. From farmers to Government
agencies, and from businesses to the humble gardener, everyone can
help by doing their bit.
Ruth Adams
SEAQUEST SOUTH-WEST
At this time of year our thoughts
turn to strandings - and by-catch. Prolonged south-westerly winds
wash dead cetaceans - whales and dolphins - onto our shores and
whenever possible we send them for post-mortem. If you see a stranded
cetacean while out walking along the beach, please don't forget
to give me a call on (01872) 240777 ext 200.
Last year was a quiet year for
sightings - probably because the weather was so bad that people
weren't out walking the coastal paths or sunning themselves on the
beaches.
Nick Tregenza was travelling
the world carrying
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out surveys and attending cetacean
meetings - influencing people in high places, we hope! Colin Speedie
did several basking shark surveys and, although he didn't see many
basking sharks off Cornwall, he did see several leatherback turtles
and ocean sunfish. Stephen Westcott has continued his study of seals,
and has particularly concentrated on harassment.
Disturbance of marine life has
been of great concern to us. Living in Cornwall we are lucky enough
to see common and bottlenose dolphins, pilot whales, Risso's dolphins,
orcas and even fin whales (the world's second-largest living animal),
to name but a few. If we wish to continue seeing these magnificent
creatures around our coastline we must encourage people, particularly
when in boats, to keep their distance. If you see any disturbance
of marine creatures, please take photos or video footage, if possible,
and report it to Seaquest or to your local Police Wildlife Liaison
Officer.
Many thanks to all of you who
have sent in your sightings - please keep them coming in.
Tricia Hoskings
PHOTOGRAPHIC GROUP
Despite the recent abysmal weather
we can look back on a successful summer for field trips. In June
and July we had two excellent trips: a combined trip to Walmsley
and Daymer Bay and then one to Ventongimps. Adrian Langdon and Howard
Miles, both members of our own group and very knowledgeable naturalists,
led the trip to Walmsley and Daymer Bay. This was the best attended
of our trips for some time and we managed to get some good shots
of dragonflies in the morning and of marbled white butterflies in
the afternoon. There were also good opportunities for flower photography
on the dunes of Daymer Bay. Our thanks go to Howard and Adrian for
leading this trip.
Ventongimps was, as usual, a
first class site for photographing dragonflies and damselflies.
The small red damselflies were particularly obliging but we also
found some photogenic grasshoppers. Our first indoor meeting of
the autumn presented a chance to view our more successful slides
from the summer.
We look forward to a busy and
varied schedule in the winter and spring. Amongst others we have
Adrian Langdon talking in February, Mary and Reg Poad showing audiovisuals
in March, and the latest offering from the Royal Photographic Society's
Natural History Group in April. For more details please see the
diary section.
David Chapman
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