Japan saves humpback breeding grounds

March 2014: It's good news for humpbacks as Japan has designated the Kerama Islands and surrounding waters in Okinawa Prefecture as the country’s 31st national park and the first in three decades. These waters are also famed as a breeding ground for whales, including humpbacks who migrate to the tropical waters for mating between December and April every year. 

The designated area includes 30 islets and reefs, and covers 3,520 hectares of dry land and 94,750 hectares of ocean. It lies 35 kilometres west of Okinawa Main Island and is famous for its rich aquatic environment. It is home to 248 species of coral.

A report in the Japan Times says that the ministry will also designate surrounding waters shallower than 30 metres as a marine park and will strictly restrict development within them, such as the extraction of sand. It also plans to build coral restoration facilities to counter the damage done in the past.

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/japan-marine-park-014.html

Salamanders' Tunnel to Cotati Breeding Grounds a Success (California Tiger Salamander) – via Herp Digest

By Bob Norberg, The Press Democrat, 1/15/13

It seemed like an odd idea at the time, building tunnels under a busy road to help California tiger salamanders travel safely from their hillside homes to a nearby pond where the endangered species can breed.

The plan, however, appears to have worked, according to biologists who are studying the tunnels, built two years ago under Stony Point Road near Cotati.

"I haven't analyzed all the data. Everything is preliminary, but just a broad general conclusion is these crossing tunnels are working. They are functional, and salamanders are using them," said Tracy Bain, a graduate student at Sonoma State University.

The San Francisco resident is writing her thesis on the effectiveness of the tunnels for a masters degree in conservation biology.

"There are lots of things that fragment habitat of migrating animals," Bain said. "For these salamanders, who go from their upland habitat, where they are year-around, to the pond, the road is the problem."

The tunnels were constructed two years ago by Sonoma County, using a $150,000 grant from a Caltrans fund to offset environmental effects of roadwork.

It was an idea proposed four years ago by David Cook, a senior environmental specialist for the Sonoma County Water Agency who studies amphibians, such as frogs and salamanders.

California tiger salamanders are 8-inch amphibians with bright spots that live in gopher holes but come out during the first evening rains of winter, migrating as far as a half-mile to breed in ponds.

One such breeding area is near Cotati, where the tiger salamanders live in the uphill grasslands on one side of Stony Point Road. The breeding ponds, where they lay their eggs, is on the other side of the road.

"I was doing wildlife studies for a Water Agency proposed pipeline in the area and I found this major migration route that crosses Stony Point and a frequent mortality," Cook said.

The salamanders were listed as an endangered species in Sonoma County in 2003 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, becoming a lightning rod for criticism by developers and growth advocates, who complain the amphibians' protected status holds up projects.

Cook said, however, it is no different than protecting salmon, also on the endangered species list, and tunnels are no different than fish ladders.

Before the tunnels were built, the half-mile stretch of Stony Point Road was a "blood bath" as the salamanders were crushed by cars as they tried to cross the road, Cook said.

He said there could be several hundred salamanders that live in the area, although the number is difficult to estimate because they live underground.

"It is the only known breeding pond in the area. Salamanders living on the other side of the road have to cross to reproduce, and if they don't, the population will start to decline," Cook said.

The 10-inch steel pipes are about 35 feet long, with foot-high plastic fencing that acts as funnels to guide the salamanders in.

On recent rainy nights, Bain and some helpers have gathered at the road, picking up salamanders and putting them near the entrances of the pipes.

Sometimes it takes more than one attempt, but many of the 100 salamanders they found did make their way through the tunnels and back.

Even after they left, infrared cameras recorded salamanders using the tunnels without any help from the researchers.

"It doesn't mean the tunnels will save the species from extinction statewide, but in this area, it turned out to be a good idea," Cook said.

(You can reach Staff Writer Bob Norberg at 521-5206 or bob.norberg@pressdemocrat.com.)

Reds squirrels in Northumberland threatened by greys

Reds squirrels need your support

July 2012. Red Squirrels Northern England (RSNE) and Northumberland Wildlife Trust have launched a cash appeal to save red squirrels in the region.

Research undertaken during April and May by RSNE volunteers has identified an urgently pressing threat - three of the nine red squirrel reserves in Northumberland are becoming heavily populated by breeding grey squirrels, thereby putting the much smaller remaining red squirrels in danger by out-competing them for food and spreading the deadly squirrelpox virus.

The reserves all lie south of Hexham in the Slaley area and it is now clear that, without immediate action, the red squirrels in these three important reserves will probably be lost forever.

Grey squirrel controlThe aim of the appeal is to protect and increase red squirrel populations in the Slaley area over the next five years.  To achieve this, three full-time rangers will be employed to work in these reserves carrying out grey squirrel control and RSNE is asking for donations towards the cost of the project - no matter how small.

Nick Mason, RSNE Project Manager said: "Sadly red and grey squirrels cannot co-exist and without the efforts of land managers and local voluntary groups the red squirrel would already have disappeared.

"Hopefully this appeal will give the red squirrels some breathing space whilst we secure longer term funding to ensure a solution to the situation.

Nick concluded: "We really do appreciate whatever people can give in these times of economic uncertainty, but even though times are hard, we know that if we do not act now, something truly precious will be lost forever." 

People can donate in a number of ways:

online: by credit or debit card at: www.nwt.org.uk/red-sqirrel-appeal-2012

by post: by sending a cheque (with Red Squirrel Appeal marked on the back) made payable to Northumberland Wildlife Trust Ltd, and sending it to Freepost NT89, Garden House, St Nicholas Park, Newcastle, NE3 3XT

by telephone: on 0191 284 6884 where staff will take credit/debit payments.

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/northumberland-squirrel.html

RSPB says heavy rain has been disastrous for birds

Heavy rain and flooding has had a disastrous impact on many of the RSPB's nature reserves, the charity has said.

Nests and breeding grounds have been destroyed by rising water levels, the bird protection group added.

The BBC's rural affairs correspondent Jeremy Cooke said the recent deluge of rain had come in the wake of acute water shortages.

Among the worst affected is the Ouse washes in Cambridgeshire, which is an important wetland habitat.

The reserve is used as part of a flood relief system for the Great Ouse river and the Environment Agency was forced to open sluice gates which prevented flooding upstream, but meant the nesting grounds of many wading birds were washed away.

Redshank, lapwing and rare black-tailed godwits were among the victims.

Jon Reeves, RSPB's site manager at the Ouse Washes, said: "Following centuries of land drainage across the UK, the Ouse Washes is now the most important stronghold for these birds after they have been largely forced out of other sites.

Continued: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17966324

Rare bird sanctuaries battered by floods

SOME of Britain’s most threatened wildlife has been ‘catastrophically’ affected by the recent flooding.

Several of the RSPB’s 211 nature reserves have been battered with heavy rainfall, including the internationally-important Ouse Washes in East Anglia, which is now under two metres of water.

The rising flood waters have drowned the nests and breeding attempts of an estimated 600 wading birds, including 37 per of the lowland snipe population of England and Wales.

Other waders affected include large numbers of redshank, lapwing and the internationally-important black-tailed godwits.

RSPB’s Ouse Washes site manager Jon Reeves said: “Following centuries of land drainage across the UK, the Ouse Washes is now the most important stronghold for these birds, after they have been largely forced out of other sites.

“Literally, we have all our eggs in one basket and we’ve lost them. It’s devastating to watch the nests succumb to the rising waters without being able to do anything to prevent it.”

Other reserves to have suffered flooding include Minsmere, on the Suffolk coast, where avocet and black-headed gull nests have been washed away. Fairburn Ings, near Leeds, and Pulborough Brooks, in West Sussex, have also been affected. Waterbird nests, including waders, such as lapwing, have been destroyed at these two sites.

http://www.farmersguardian.com/rare-bird-sanctuaries-battered-by-floods/46764.article

Minsmere, Ouse Washes & Fairburn Ings amongst RSPB reserves flooded

Hundreds of threatened birds' nests drowned in flood

May 2012. The ongoing floods are having a catastrophic impact on some of Britain's already-threatened wildlife, says the RSPB.

Redshank, snipe, lapwing and black-tailed godwits.
Several of the Society's 211 nature reserves have suffered severe flooding, including the internationally-important Ouse Washes in East Anglia. The reserve, which is home to the largest concentration of nesting wading birds in lowland England, is now two metres under water. The rising flood waters have drowned the nests and breeding attempts of an estimated 600 wading birds, including 37 per of the lowland snipe population of England and Wales. Other waders affected include large numbers of redshank, lapwing and, most importantly of all, internationally-important black-tailed godwits.

Jon Reeves is the RSPB's Ouse Washes site manager. He said: "Following centuries of land drainage across the UK, The Ouse Washes is now the most important stronghold for these birds, after they have been largely forced out of other sites. Literally, we have all our eggs in one basket and we've lost them. It's devastating to watch the nests succumb to the rising waters without being able to do anything to prevent it."

Flood plain
The Ouse Washes is used by the Environment Agency as part of the flood relief system for the River Great Ouse, which flows from Northamptonshire, through Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Cambridgeshire to the sea, near Kings Lynn, in Norfolk. In summer, the Ouse Washes nature reserve is grazed by cattle to create the ideal conditions for ground-nesting birds. The RSPB manages the site to keep the water levels at an optimum height for wading birds to create damp grassland and wet features without flooding. However, the Environment Agency has to open sluices to allow water onto the washes to prevent flooding elsewhere in the 150 mile catchment of The Great River Ouse. Jon Reeves added: "The Environment Agency is working hard to identify replacement land for the birds to nest to take the pressure off the Ouse Washes. Until this replacement land is in place, the birds will continue to face an uncertain future."

Continued:  http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/rspb-floods.html