Welcome Back Wild Choughs!

Welcome back wild choughs. After 50 years absence from Cornwall your race has finally returned.
Why did you ever leave? Some people say it was the loss of close-grazed heath and pastureland (with your associated invertebrate food) on your rugged coastal-cliff homelands as grazing livestock were removed or land was planted with arable crops. Others say you were persecuted because of your rarity value by humans who stole your eggs for their 'collection'. I guess only you know the real reasons why you left. But many of us are glad to see you return.
Three of you arrived in Cornwall in the summer of 2001. As the only choughs in England (with your nearest neighbours in Wales), you were all on quite an adventure.Two of you set up home together after finding a suitable place to nest and then (in early summer 2002) produced four new chicks (later sadly losing one) - a story to be told and imagined and remembered. You have now become quite famous, with local people and RSPB volunteers helping to protect your eggs and young. Now your three surviving chicks have successfully fledged. May they prosper and may your line continue. Good luck Cornish chough family!
Updates
Winter 2002 - The three young choughs have now left their parents but are still seen at coastal coves and on pastureland in the area.
Spring 2003 - The Cornish choughs have achieved local celebrity status with features on local TV news. The first pair parents are preparing a nest site to breed again this year so we may soon have more choughs on the way. A regular viewing point manned by RSPB volunteer wardens is open at the southernmost point on the Lizard.
I paid a visit to the Lizard at the end of March and was lucky enough to catch excellent views (through binoculars and telescope) of the breeding Cornwall chough pair. The male returned from a foraging trip late, and the female flew out of the cave where they are again nesting. Both flew together along the cliff top with fine wing-tip control and remarkable grace. They also spent some time probing grassy patches on the cliff top for food with their long scimiter-shaped red bills.
This year the choughs had another three chicks but only two survived - one was killed (possibly by a herring gull) within a few days of leaving the nest.

2004 - Latest news from Cornwall on the choughs:
This year the choughs had four young. Volunteers have named them Ralph, Orlando, Olive and Lily.
All the choughs are thought to be doing well but now (early autumn) the young have dispersed further afield, likely to other sites nearby. Below are pictures of the chough taken this summer by a friend of mine who lives in Cornwall and has regular sightings of the birds.

Puffin Protection Plan

Spring 2003
In a move to protect the locally endangered puffin colony, rats on Lundy Island are to be exterminated using traps laced with poisoned bait.
The Puffins on Lundy Island are a unique sight and delight in the South West. These colourful seafaring birds have used the island for many years as a nesting colony site. Recently their numbers have been in decline. Now one of the threats to their future is the Black Rat, another inhabitant of the island. They rats love to raid puffin burrows for eggs and, during the breeding season, they can consume many eggs and future young puffins to feed themselves and their own families.
The Black Rat originally colonised Lundy Island by boat. Like the island's sheep, it is a human-introduced animal and not a 'natural' inhabitant of the island. Removing the Black Rat from Lundy Island will undoubtedly be of great help to the local puffins and improve their breeding chances.
Footnote:
Puffin numbers on Lundy Island may have declined recently for many reasons. The Black Rat has become a threat now that puffin breeding numbers are so low. Each new puffin is now important in helping to ensure that the population survives.
Local puffin protection and conservation is sought for many reasons. For me, these colourful 'clowns + comedians' with their 'jester-joker' like costumes and antics are an important reminder for us of the need to 'live lightly, be cheerful, have a sense of humour' and understand alternatives. They are part of our own inner wildlife landscape + map. Not just a name on a species conservation index list. We all have our own particular identification with the Puffin. Yet little is known about the Puffin's life at sea. Much of its life remains a mystery to humans. An area yet to be discovered.

Update Spring 2004
Latest news from Lundy is that the blacks rats have now all gone. The cull last spring was not successful in killing them all but another trap + poison mission this spring has apparently removed the last remaining rats on the island. Personally, I suspect one or two may still remain somewhere! Nevertheless the main threat posed by the black rat to the puffin has now effectively gone.
Let's hope this will lead to improved breeding success for the puffins on Lundy Island ... I guess only time will tell.
I wonder if the 'vagaries of fortunes' for these puffins may also lie out at sea, as much as on land. Are puffins in trouble at sea?
If you come across any recent research or news about the life of puffins at sea, please let me know.

Popular City Peregrines

Traditionally at home on coast and mountain cliffs, the peregrine is increasingly taking up residence in more urban sites. The extensive coastline of the South West is still home to the majority of our local peregrines but many have chosen to set up home in our cities and towns. Exeter and Plymouth both have established resident peregrine pairs. In Plymouth, the peregrines have made their home in a quarry where they have recently become a major attraction with numbers of people visiting the site to catch a glimpse of these magnificent birds.
In Exeter, a long-established pair have lived and raised successive broods of young over the last several years on a church tower in the city centre. In Spring 2002 the pair achieved world-wide fame when a webcam was installed above their nest site allowing viewers from all over the world to look in on their lives. The picture accompanying this article was taken from the webcam.

Update Spring 2004
Thanks to the camera installed by Eco-Watch, we've had some excellent close-up views on the nest site over the last couple of years - and some memorable pictures of the young chicks growing daily.
Unfortunately the peregrine webcam is currently out of action this year with a cable fault - hopefully 'normal service' will be resumed for next spring 2005.
Meantime the following observations are taken from my own diary notes and viewing (I have a close view of the peregrines from my flat window, and through telescope):

The Exeter peregrine pair spent much of the late autumn and winter together. I saw them following each other in flights off into the distance (pursuing something unseen by me) and sitting on the church turrets, dozing in the sun, preening, observing the world go by, or on hunting lookout.
February was a little fraught for the peregrines with scaffolding and architectural repair work on the church causing some last minute concern - Peggy and Peter were beginning courtship around the nest site. But eventually the church restoration work was finished and the scaffolding was down, happily just in time for Valentine's Day on February 14th - a day for lovers to decare their love. The peregrines were then free to pursue their courtship without disturbance.
Latest news from the nest ledge (19th March) - Peggy has started sitting on a new clutch of eggs, laid within the last couple of days. Peter did a lovely display flight in front of the nest site this morning - hanging in the wind and singing keewick-keewick. Peggy is carefully tending her eggs. I saw her lying down in the nest - the top of her head just visible; later climbing into the nest - tidying a scrape with her foot and gently collecting her eggs together with her beak, or standing outside the nest looking at her eggs, tilting her head and gazing at them with a soft faraway look.
Chicks due to hatch in a month or so. Watch this space for more news.
Autumn 2004
Another four chicks successfully hatched and raised this year, two females and two males. One of the young males (following the traditional family pattern) crash-landed on first flight into a local garden and was later 'rescued' and put up on the low nave roof of the church. It was a hot June day and after a phone call from another peregrine observer, I went up to check on his welfare. He was sat looking up at his family on the tower, screeching occasionally and flapping his wings. I told him he should have the courage to fly. He looked at me then carried on as before. Peter (dad) was on a turret above calling occasionally to give him encouragment and reassurance. One of his big sisters was doing likewise, while the other sister looked on. He had now been there some hours. "You must fly" I said "It's the only way you can get up there. You can do it. I know you can. Please try". I then left for a few minutes and returned. He was gone and nowhere on the ground where I looked. I think he finally flew and next day I saw him flying.
The two sisters often sat together and flew together. Once I saw them together in the nest. One was feeding on the remains of some food. Her sister watched. The one eating then passed some scraps to her sister in her beak and fed her a few pieces. I think the food was now all gone. The peregrines walked over to perch on the edge of the nest and sat side by side looking out.
I have been 'treated' (?) to regular early morning screeching from hungry young peregrines throughout June, July and August (starting at around 5am and with regular bouts continuing thoughout the day till dusk and nightfall). The youngsters are being taught to become independent and how to hunt and kill to feed themselves. Now (September) they are spending much of the day away from the church, though still returning at night. The young are being encouraged to fend for themselves. Already they have successfully caught food for themselves. Now their parents will only share fresh food with them when they are desperately hungry; if they do not have a successful hunt and kill, they have to make do with picking over the scraps left by the rest of the family. One of the young males seems to be regularly in this situation and I have seen and heard him at nightfall screeching and complaining while picking over food scraps, making agitated circling flights, and occasionally trying to dive-bomb one of the local flock of swifts in a hopeless 'no chance' fashion.
For now, the young peregrines are doing well but their first winter alone will be a hard one.

Wild Cat Enigma

The pursuit of the wild puma/ panther (or is it a lynx?) continues in the South West. After numerous 'anecdotal' sightings, the evidence seems to be accumulating beyond doubt. Some big cats are at large in the vicinity. Discounting dubious-doubtful half-hazy sightings and wonderful-wishful fantasies, enough apparently reliable witnesses have now come forward to make you think that this story definitely has an element of truth. Most tales describe a large cat-like creature, sometimes black, more often tan or fawn in colour, about the size of a large fox. Judging by the different descriptions and sightings, it seems that more than one animal is concerned. Most descriptions seem to closely match the profile of a puma. Where these animals came from and how many are now surviving (and perhaps breeding?) in the 'wild lands' of the South West remains a mystery. Watch this space - as they say!

Update August 2003 - Local BBC television news ran a video film shot in Cornwall of what looked to be like a puma cross with something fluffy! I thought it looked vaguely Snow Leopard but that is quite big. The director of Newquay Zoo thinks probably a puma-wildcat cross. The nearest known wildcats to SW are small populations in Wales, otherwise in the highlands of Scotland. This is the first film footage I have see that shows an animal clearly identifiable as a big cat. In size about the same as a labrador/retriever dog.
I've received an email and had conversation with a couple of people who know of many authentic reports of big cat sightings in the SW and elsewhere. Now when I'm out on my 'wild' walks, I'll be looking out for the footprints!

If you see a big wild cat on your travels in the South West, please let me know. email 'news@wildnet.info'.

Otters Abound

Deep in the heart of Tarka country, otters abound . . but remain elusive. Recent surveys on otter populations being conducted across Devon by volunteers for the Devon Wildlife Trust show that otters are thriving and extending their range across rivers in the South West. Good news for otter fans! These endearing playful animals are very much a part of our local wildlife. But just how difficult is it to actually see one? These charismatic creatures remain quite elusive in terms of sightings, although their spraints (territory-marker droppings) and tracks can often be found along river banks. The largely nocturnal otter remains mostly shy around humans. Perhaps their race has still to forget the years of persecution and hunting that humans subjected it to early last century and before. Yet I have heard of individuals who have played in full view of humans and come close without showing any fear. So perhaps the otter is naturally open and trusting in nature. Certainly some individuals seem willing to accept the presence of humans, likely those who offer friendship and show them no ill-feeling. Let's hope that the shy otter can learn to trust us more and that we will catch more glimpses of these endearing animals in the future.
Updates - 2003
Across the UK sightings of otters on waterways in towns and cities have increasingly been reported over the last year. Otters can live with humans it seems. But I doubt you'll see one at the fish counter in the local supermarket! Wild otters remain independent and untamed, living free wherever they can be.
Spring 2004
Perhaps I should eat my last words ...
An article about the Dorset Otter Group ran in the Dorset Wildlife Trust Winter 2003 magazine reported that 'several lucky visitors reported sightings of the elusive otter'. The final line of the article reads: 'There has also been a report of an otter caught on video making its way through the fish counter at East Stoke on the Frome'. (?!)
I was only joking about the otter visiting the fish counter! But I'm sure there are wild place 'supermarkets' for fish that the otter probably knows about and takes advantage of like any wise 'shopper'.

Dear Deer?

In the SW we are lucky enough to have at least 3 species of wild deer.
Red deer, our largest native species, can be seen on Exmoor, and in some other local woodland areas.
Roe deer (a reintroduced former native species) are abundant in woodland throughout the SW ... not that the SW is abundant in swathes of woodland, but what patches there are, well you'll invariably find roe deer are somewhere nearby - (Picture opposite of female roe deer). But you'll be lucky to see one.
I once disturbed one in a thicket of woodland and was rewarded with glimpses of fox-red fur, loud crashing undergrowth noises and occasional glimpses of a face as the deer (a young male), bounded away then circled around me.
We also have an exotic escapee from park collections, the Muntjac - a strange tiny deer about the size of a large dog and it barks a bit like one! This has now established itself in the wild and is heading west. I have twice caught glimpses of a lone muntjac feeding in pasture adjacent to woodland along the main north Devon-Cornwall road.
Roe deer (and muntjac) are 'one-pair' and family deer rather than 'harem-herd' deer, so rarely seen in large groups like Red deer, more often alone or in small family groups.

I think deer are beautiful creatures. My personal favourite is probably the fallow deer, one I have had special encounters with elsewhere in SE England (there are only a few herds in the SW). But I also like our local wild deer, the Red Deer and Roe Deer.
Unfortunately ... how do I say this .. ?
"Dear Deer,
Here in the SW, some might say you are just 'too successful for your own good'. You are often roaming beyond the small patches of 'wild' moorland and woodland where you might be tolerated, into forestry plantations and grazing pastures and even arable crop land where your activities cause damage to crops. And because of this you are now considered by some to be an occasional pest, and by others to be 'fair game', by which I mean 'dinner on a plate'.
You have good reason to be cautious by nature. I expect you may perhaps recognise the difference between someone who 'hunts' you out of curiosity and friendship and someone who hunts you to kill and eat you. I expect you have some insight. But I don't blame you for being generally wary - out of survival instinct and learning.
Dear Deer, I think you are gentle and non-judgemental by nature, so perhaps you may allow us some 'game' if we honour your kind none the less and help to protect you where we can?"

Questions:

Are deer beautiful creatures that we should preserve and protect in the landscape?
Are deer beautiful food and meat (hide, bones etc)?
Perhaps both?
What do you think? What do you eat?
Have you ever been close to a deer?
How much land should we 'give' to deer?
Do you have land for deer?

Dolphin Death Deadline

Dolphin deaths are on the increase in South West coastal waters. Time may be running out for these charming delightful denizens of the deep if we do not act to save them soon. Present numbers and distribution of bottlenose dolphins in Cornish waters indicate that the population is only half that of 10 years ago. Work out for yourself how long that means before it's 'bye-bye now'!
Our European fishing industry is the key problem with hundreds of animals accidentally caught each year in fishing nets. The only way to prevent this death and destruction is to radically change fishing methods and areas so as to allow conservation of our dolphins and other threatened marine life, including sharks and porpoises.
Many wildlife organizations and concerned individuals are now calling on our government and the European parliament for immediate action and new marine legislation.
If you would like to support their cause, please write to your MP expressing your views, or contact one of the following organizations for further information:

• The Wildlife Trusts - Cornwall - 01872 881691, Devon - 01392 279244, Dorset - 01305 264620, Somerset - 01823 451587 (see Wildnet Directory for email + website links to some local SW Wildlife Trusts)
• The Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society - 01249 449500
  

Update
Spring 2003 - Already this Spring, a new high in dolphin deaths is being recorded as bodies are washed up on the SW coast. These individuals being found are likely only a fraction of the number really killed. Many more dolphins are 'lost in the sea'.
If ever urgent action was needed, now is the time.
The Wildlife Trusts have started a petition to help save the dolphins. Please contact your local Wildlife Trust for more information or to sign up and give your support.

Sharks out of the Soup?

Welcome news that the European Union has announced new legislation to ban the practice of shark 'finning' in EU waters and on EU registered vessels worldwide. Many wildlife and environment-concerned people have long campaigned for this.
Shark 'finning' is cruel and wasteful. The dorsal fin is cut off a shark whose body (usually still alive) is thrown back into the sea as 'waste'. The shark fins fetch fabulous prices on the world market. They are prized for making shark soup - a dish popular in the Far East, and increasingly in Europe. The sharks undoubtedly suffer - both as individuals experiencing an agonizing death and as a 'society'. Shark populations are being depleted by the excessive catch and kill currently occurring. Conservationists are worried about their future.
These animals are important apex predators balancing the needs of many others. Sustainable humane fishing is needed to give them a future and to accord to them the dignity and respect they deserve. The new EU legislative ban on shark finning is a small candle lit for the future.
However many feel that it does not go far enough. The Shark Trust is warning us of weakness in the legislation which permits shark fins and bodies to be separately landed. Without whole bodies to prove 'ownership', finning may still be carried out surreptitiously.
Let's hope that future amendments will improve the new legislation and close this loophole.

Update
May 2003
Despite continuing pressure from conservationists, forthcoming new amendments to fishing regulations by the European Commission will be compromised in a way that will still allow the practice of shark finning to continue. A 'special fishing permit' will enable removal of fins on board, the only check being a fin:body weight ratio for the total catch (which can never be accurate as shark build varies). Separate landing of fins and bodies will still be allowed. Vessel log books must be kept but accuracy of records will be hard to verify. Spain insisted against landing only whole sharks and other European countries have gone along with commercial pressure groups in turning down this option.
Recent research shows that some shark populations in the NW Atlantic have declined by as much as 90% in the last 15 years. This pattern of decline is now a familiar one all over the world for sharks.
The UN Food & Agriculture Organisation sees sharks declines not only as a threat to ecosystems but as a 'major food security problem' threatening coastal communities around the world that depend on sharks as food. They have recommended 'minimising waste' but this argument has also been ignored by the EU.
Sarah Fowler, a reknowned shark specialist, commented 'The EU is effectively handing over the keys of the hen-coop to the foxes. How they can call this a 'regulation' is beyond me'. 'If this compromise is agreed, the so-called regulations will be no more than a licence for unscrupulous fishermen to continue to fin millions of sharks'.

For more information contact the Shark Trust (see Wildnet Directory + Links).

Applauding Ancient Trees

The ancient wildwoods of Dartmoor, Devon and elsewhere in the SW, have long since gone over many centuries to be replaced by a patchwork-quilt landscape of farmland. But here and there a few pockets of ancient woodland remain. And here and there the occasional ancient tree. Such trees provide abundant food and shelter for a wealth of wildlife including lichen and fungi, insects, birds and mammals. They are true 'guardians of life' in the landscape.

"An oak tree taught me the difference one life can make. Isaw how this oak and its brethren warmed the cold winter and made the summer's heat more pleasant; how the forest animals came to the tree for shelter, food and comfort" (from Joseph Cornell's book 'Listening to Nature', 1987)

Pockets of ancient trees and woodland protect and shelter many animals - a huge array of species - that enrich our landscape and can enrich our lives. Take a walk in the woods again and take a closer look. There are whole communities of life co-existing and co-operating here (and occasionally competing too!)

Several local organizations are working to map existing ancient trees and to restore 'native species' woodland from seed stock in favourable areas.
Silvanus Trust is currently mapping ancient trees in the Tamar Valley (for further info email: jan.phillips@silvanus.cornwall.ac.uk)
Moor Trees are gathering seed and growing trees for new native woodland planting on Dartmoor (for further info email: moor.trees@ukonline.co.uk).