A WEALTH OF WILDLIFE
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
Line
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
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
Line
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
Stop press
Congratulations to the winners of certificates in our annual competition held on 13th November 2000. They were: Frank and Jacqui Hollinshead; Mary and Reg Poad; Adrian Langdon; Dave Thomas; Norman Froggatt and David Chapman. Yet again, the standard of photography seems to have risen and our thanks go to Stuart Hutchings who judged the competition. We were very fortunate to have such an experienced and knowledgeable photographer to judge our images and we have all learned a lot from his useful and constructive comments.
The strange-looking ocean sunfish is one of a host of marine creatures which you can help simply by reporting what you see.
Photo: Jeremy and Nicky Thomas
page 16 sunfish
     
Wild Cornwall - Issue No.84 - Spring 2001