Archive for June, 2008
I’m pleased to announce that iberianatureforum stalwart Lucy Brzoska has started her own blog on iberianature called straightforwardly enough, Lucy’s Blog. Lucy will probably concentrate on Barcelona and environs with forays into the Catalan Pyrenees and her beloved Leonese mountains.
Check out this frankly excellent post by Lucy, on Barcelona’s best kept secret, the heronry, perched in the trees above the city’s zoo. Read Citadel of herons
In the near future Simon Rice will be joining in with his own blog from the deepest hinterlands of Catalonia.
Barcelona, Iberianature news, birds | |
The tiger mosquito continues to expand in Catalonia, doubling its area of distribution between 2006 and 2007, and now present in 55 municipalities including Barcelona. El Periodico
See also arrival of tiger mosquito to Spain (2005)
Barcelona, Catalonia, Invertebrates, On Spain, invasive species | Tags: tiger mosquito|
A couple on holiday from Madrid found an injured bear cub by the side of the road near Villarín, Somiedo this Thursday afternoon, 26th of June. Disorientated, she was wandering from one side of the road to the other. After waiting a while to see if the mother would appear, the couple took her to the police station in Somiedo where the Guardia Civil contacted agents from the Natural Park to take charge of her. The 5-6 month old cub, who weighs 4 kilos, was examined by vets and found to have received a blow to the right-hand side of her head but otherwise appeared to be healthy so the decision was taken to try and put her back into the area where she was found, with help from personnel from Fapas and the Fundación Oso Pardo. Three attempts were made but each time the cub returned to the road. On the fourth attempt, the cub was taken further into the mountains but didn’t get out of the container she was transported in and stayed the night in it. First thing Friday morning her health had deteriorated so she was taken to a veterinary clinic in Oviedo where she was put on a drip in an incubator. Providing she recovers from the severe head injury sustained, the authorities are determined to reintroduce her into the wild and a search is on for the two female Cantabrian brown bears known to be in the same area, one of which has three cubs and the other just one. If all goes well, she’ll be tagged on release.
News from La Nueva España
Follow the Cantabrian brown bears on Iberianature forum
Update on the bear cub - After being moved to the Cabárceno safari park in Cantabria for a few weeks, where it was felt she would be better able to receive the correct treatment, the cub has now been moved again. This time, a step nearer home, to the brand new breeding centre for Capercaillie in Sobrescobio, Asturias. In the peace of this new temporary home, it is hoped that she will continue her recovery with even less human contact and the opportunity to forage for her natural food, hopefully leading to her eventual reintroduction into the mountains of Asturias.
Asturias, Mammals, bears | Tags: Cabárceno, injured bear cub found, reintroduction, Sobrescobio, Somiedo, Villarín|
The Wine Harvest (La Vendimia) was painted by Goya between 1786 and 1787. The painting’s other name The Autumn (El Otoño) is in reference to the fact that it forms part of a series of four paintings depicting the seasons of the year. The landscape is thought by some to depict Campo de Borja, in the province of Zaragoza, famous for its wines, and located at the foot on the imposing Moncayo, the highest peak in the Sistema Ibérica. See also The landscape of Goya 1
Aragon, Landscape, Mountains, Paintings of Spain | Tags: Campo de Borja, Goya, Moncayo|
I’m pleased to announce the Barcelona swallow webcam is back on line after some technical hitches this year. Once again it is hosted by iberianature and organised by Galanthanus.
Press f5 to refresh every 30 seconds. There is no artificial lighting so it’s only clear between about 12:00-1600 CET.
The swallows appeared on 2nd April. This year they were given an artificial nest (by Schwengler) in which to nest but preferred to build their own on a wooden beam above. In early May the eggs were laid and on May 18th five chicks hatched of which two fell from the nest and died. On June 11th the fledglings flew for the first time. There is a possibility of another clutch. Information about last year’s webam.
Barcelona, birds, urban wildlife in Spain, webcams | Tags: swallows|
Europe has still not managed to eradicate Mad cow’s disease (BSE). last year 174 cases were detected, 65 in the UK and 40 in Spain. 500,000 animals were tested in Spain last year El País + EU reports here in English
The removal of livestock because of BSE has had a huge effect on Spanish wildlife. See archive on iberianature
Farming, Livestock, Mad Cow’s disease in Spain, On Spain | Tags: BSE cases in Spain, BSE testing in Spain|
Unlike northern Europe where most yew woods were felled, northern Spain is still home to a few remarkable patches of yew forest, the biggest of which (and the largest yew forest in Europe), is in the Sierra de Sueve in Asturias. After years of campaigns, it is now finally to be protected. The wood covers 80 hectares and is home to a remarkable 8,000 yew trees, many of which are more than 1000 years old. La Crónica Verde
Medieval Spain exported much yew wood to Northern Europe which was in demand for boat and longbow manufacture. Iberian yew wood had less knots in it than northern yews because climatic conditions and was highly valued.
A poison from yew was used by the ancient Cantabrians and Celts as a poison to prevent their capture at the hands of enemies. As in much of the world the yew was venerated as a sacred tree and formed part of rituals, no doubt much of which was due to the yew’s extreme longevity. A vestige of this is the common presence of ancient yews growing in churchyards in Galicia and Asturias. Testament to the once more common presence of yew woods is the plethora of placenames - Tejeda/Tejedal/Teixadal - meaning yew wood.
See also Yews in Spain
Asturias, Spanish forests | Tags: largest yew forest in Europe, Sierra de Sueve, yew protection|
Livestock farmers in the Picos de Europa National Park are soon to be given the option of leaving dead ruminants as carrion instead of the, until now, obligatory and costly removal of cow, sheep and goat corpses due to the EU’s BSE laws. This is excellent news for carrion-feeding birds such as the area’s Griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) as well as for the future reintroduction programme for the Lammergeier (Gypatus barbatus), due to start now in 2009. It should also positively affect other occasional carrion-eating species such as Cantabrian brown bear (Ursus arctos) and Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus).
From elcomerciodigital.com
Follow the topic on Iberianature forum.
Mad Cow’s disease in Spain, On Spain, Picos de Europa | Tags: BSE law, carrion-eating species, Picos de Europa, relaxed|
After the wettest spring for 57 years in Spain, the latest predictions, contradicting a previous long-term forecast, are for a hot, dry summer, though without the long extreme heat waves of 2003. El País
Climate, On Spain | Tags: wettest spring in Spain|
September 2008 sees the launch of an new bird society for Andalucia. Basically, although not exclusively, the society aims to assist the non-Spanish speaking resident to become involved in regional and national census and survey work. However, a key role for the Society is to collect and hold the records of birds recorded in Andalucia. It is hoped their database will hold sufficient records for the data to be used widely by conservation organisations, local government bodies, academics and commercial consultants. As a member you would have the opportunity to participate in the Andalucia elements of national bird surveys, and to have your own bird records incorporated into our annual Andalucia Bird Report.
The objectives of the ABS are:
- To record and study wild birds in Andalucia
- To assist in the preservation of wild birds in Spain
- To encourage by use of meetings, outings, books and other ways:
1. The study of birds in the field and ornithological science in general.
2. The education of the general public and its members in ornithological science and the need for the protection of wild birds and their habitats.
To find out more take a look at their website here
Andalucia, birds | Tags: Andalucia Bird Report, bird society for Andalucia, ornithologt in Andalusia, wild birds in Andalucia|
The new digital camaras that Fapas have installed are paying their way. They’ve made a very informative PowerPoint slideshow of a young bear encountering a corpse of a cow (I think). On the first few visits, instead of tucking straight in as you might imagine, the bear concentrates on smelling around the corpse, eventually feeding on the maggots evolving in a hole probably pecked by ravens. Not until a month has passed does it tear apart the skin to reach the flesh that remains. Apparently, maggots and rotten meat provide more protein than fresh.
Cantabrian mountains, On Spain, bears | Tags: carrion, Fapas, maggots, powerpoint, slideshow|
A couple of articles on wind farms and their effect on nature and wildlife
One of Spain’s last untouched landscapes, the Sierra de Gata in north-western Extremadura, may shortly be inundated with up to 19 wind farms. The Times
And this piece by Steve West on his very nicely designed Birding in Spain site. “Should the inhabitants of Terra Alta, Montsià and Matarranya, with the great natural and scenic wealth of Els Ports, the serres of Pàndols and Cavalls, the wonderful via verda, the rivers Matarranya, Estrets, Algars (the cleanest in the Mediterranean basin)…should they let it all go and allow the hills to be plastered with wind turbines? ” Birding and sustainable tourism versus windfarms
This topic is also currently being hotly debated on the forum here. Renewable Energy, but at any price?
Landscape, On Spain, Renewable energy in Spain, iberianature forum, wind energy | Tags: effects of wind farms on wildlife, wind farms in Spain|
Remarkable news. A diver from Palma claims to have seen (and taken photo above) a possible monk seal (foca monje - Monachus monachus) in the marine reserve of Isla del Toro. The monk seal is considered to be extinct is the Balearic Islands (where it was known popularly as the vell marí - old man of the sea) since the late 1950s, and is among the ten most endangered mammals in the world, with colonies divided between Mauritania and the Eastern Mediterranean, the former being far the stronger. If true, I imagine we are talking about an animal in dispersion or just plain lost. The Balearic government periodically considers the possibility of attempting to reintroduce the animal. Whether it would fare well in an area of sea so popular with pleasure craft is another question. See more in El País
Update: this version of the story from Libertad Balear is much better researched.
There is also a half plan to reintroduce the animal along the Costa Brava (La foca monje volverá a Cadaqués - El País)
A small group of monk seals survived in Cabo de Gata, Almeria until the 1960s.
See also
Balearics, Mammals, Spanish coast, Spanish sea mammals, Spanish seas | Tags: Cabo de Gata, Isla del Toro, Mallorca, Mauritania, Monachus monachus, monk seal|
A new draft of the Plan for the Recuperation of the Cantabrian brown bear (Plan para la Recuperación del Oso pardo Cantabrico) has been sent by the Castilla y León Environment Ministry to all the townhalls covering the affected areas within both the National and Regional Parks of the Picos de Europa, the Natural Park of Fuentes Carrionas y Fuente Cobre-Montaña Palentina as well as in all the areas which have been proven to be of vital importance for the bears such as the valleys Naranco and Lechada. Incorporated in the plan will be the monitoring of any possible communication corridors in order to join the two split bear populations and avoid the fragmentation of habitat. Any recreational activity within the protected area will be prohibited and forestry and agricultural use will be controlled. Hunting will be strictly monitored, being banned completely during critical feeding times (autumn) and in areas where bears are spotted by patrols. These new protection laws will be followed until said controlled areas come up with their own environmental management plans. All of which should effectively ensure the future survival of the Cantabrian brown bear and sound the death knell for the San Glorio ski resort project.
News from El Diario de León.
Read all about the San Glorio bears on the forum.
Watch a video of two young Cantabrian brown bears on elmundo.es.
Asturias, Cantabrian mountains, Castilla y León, Conservation, Mammals, Picos de Europa, bears | Tags: laws, new, Plan para la Recuperación del Oso pardo Cantabrico, protection, San Glorio|
Excellent and very worrying post by Peter of Spanishbirds on the forum
Greater Flamingo first colonised Fuente de Piedra back in 1963 and has since made the area a star attraction for many visitors. With a maximum count of some 34,000 birds being present in the past then it is not surprising why many people want to make this area a ‘must see’ site during their stay in Andalusia….
It is sad to report that the numbers of Flamingos present at Fuente de Piedra are now down to 4 individuals and that non-breeding has been drastically affected by abuses of self interest and the lack of managed water resources…. Read the full post on the forum
Andalucia, Wetlands, birds, iberianature forum | Tags: Flamingos, Fuente de Piedra, Greater Flamingo|
Work has begun on the first Iberian lynx breeding centre in Portugal, in Silves in the Algarve. When completed, the centre will have room for 16 Iberian Lynxes (lince-ibérico in Portuguese, note the hyphen) , donated by the Acebeche breeding centre in Doñana. According to these news articles, Doñana now has six young lynx available for transfer. Público (Portugues) Portugal Resident (English)
Iberian lynx, On Spain, Portugal | Tags: Iberian lynx in Portugal, Iberian lynx in the Algarve, Silves lynx breeding centre|
A bear cub was found dead on Sunday (8th of June) in the area of La Pernía, Palencia making it the first case of infanticide by a male Cantabrian brown bear to be registered in the eastern population of the Cantabrian mountains. Having been alerted to the incident by a private individual, the area was combed by members of the environmental services along with a patrol of the Fundación Oso Pardo (Brown bear foundation). Signs such as dens, droppings and tracks belonging to a female and her two cubs had previously been detected in the same area as have tracks of a large male with indications of intense activity which point to a fight. Infanticide is fairly common, natural behaviour among male bears in late spring/early summer as it can provoke sexual receptivity of a female thus allowing the male to dominate a territory through his genes, although the female will be fiercely protective of her cubs and will fight to save them. Evidence of the practice had previously only been found in the larger western population of Asturias, León and Galicia.
The partially eaten corpse has been taken to an animal recuperation centre in Burgos for an autopsy. It is hoped that the second cub survived the attack.
From terra.es
Discussion on the Cantabrian brown bears at Iberianature forum.
Cantabrian mountains, Castilla y León, bears | Tags: bear infanticide, Fundación Oso Pardo, Palencia|
Judge halts windpark in capercaillie territory
The Regional Government of Castilla y León ordered to explain why they authorised the works
The San Feliz windpark will have to wait. The heavy machinery belonging to the company Producciones Energéticas del Bierzo entered the León side of the Cantabrian Mountains in order to “pave the way” for the wind turbines. They don’t care that the area is one of the few remaining in which the Capercaillie still breeds. The alarm raised by the researchers specialising in this endangered species – there’s even a ringed female that they are monitoring on a daily basis – led the Spanish Ornithological Society (SEO) to request the courts to halt the works as an emergency measure. And even though judges are reluctant to take such steps, León’s Court No. 1 for Contentious Administrative Proceedings ruled that the works were to be halted. In his ruling, the judge stated that “the required urgency is crystal-clear”.
News originally found in El País and translated by Technopat on Iberianature forum.
Cantabrian mountains, León, On Spain, Renewable energy in Spain, birds, wind energy | Tags: Cantabrian capercaillie, Capercaillie, Producciones Energéticas del Bierzo, San Feliz windpark, SEO, wind farm|
The latest very tentative predictions by the US NOAA forecast group are forecasting a cooler than average summer this year for Spain with above average rainfall. Below variations from average temperatures, and here for rain map from the Catalan weather service.
Climate | Tags: NOAA|
According to Fapas, the Trubia valley in Asturias is seeing a slow but sure increase of reproductive female Cantabrian brown bears, the species having almost disappeared completely from this area. In 2004 one female of breeding age was detected. Of the sixteen individual bears identified here in 2007, two were females with cubs. In the next few months it is hoped to confirm the existence of either two or three females that could have produced cubs this year, the first having been photographed this spring by Fapas with her one cub. If their expansion continues at this rate, it is hoped that by 2010 the optimum number of ten breeding females will have been reached leading Fapas to comment that the name of the Trubia valley should be given plural status, Valle de los Osos. The conservation organisation sees this as the first important step towards the subsequent joining together of the two separate Cantabrian brown bear populations, dispersal among Brown bears as a species being a slow process due to the philopatry exhibited by female cubs who choose territory close to their mother’s when they reach reproductive age themselves.
See the Cantabrian brown bear topic at Iberianature forum.
Asturias, Cantabrian mountains, bears | Tags: cubs, expansion, Fapas, female bears, Trubia|
