I can’t quite believe that this is the last task before you volunteers take a well-deserved summer break!
The details
Join the National Trust Rangers at Hamptonne meadow on Sunday to undertake wet meadow restoration management. The flora in the meadow has responded well to management since the Trust acquired it in 2011. That said, hemlock water dropwort is still abundant. This native plant is invasive in many of Jersey’s wet meadows, especially those that have suffered from a lack of management in the past. This task will entail walking through the meadow and selectively cutting and removing hemlock water dropwort in order to speed up the restoration of the meadow to a favourable condition.
A note of caution, as hemlock water dropwort is the most toxic plant in Britain please ensure that you wear long-sleeved clothing regardless of the weather. The roots are the most toxic part of the plant so we will only be handling the stems and leaves. We will provide protective gloves as well as hand washing facilities and ask that all attendees kindly use them.
The site We will meet in the Hamptonne Country Life Museum car park at 10:20 for a 10:30 start. Work will finish by 1pm when cake and refreshments will be served
Parking There is parking available at Hamptonne Country Life Museum.
The task Wet meadow restoration management.
Tools needed Tools will be provided but if you have a sickle/scythe it would be helpful if you could bring it along with you.
Clothing needed . Please check the weather forecast and wear suitable clothing (including wellington boots and long-sleeved tops).
Children All are welcome, young or old. Children under 16 must be supervised by a parent or guardian during the task.
Finally, and some would say most importantly, Kim the Kake will supply us with hot drinks and her yummy homemade cakes.
This year’s Wild About Jersey event is themed around becoming involved in wildlife monitoring projects around the Island and will take place on the weekend of 23rd and 24th of April 2016, at Highland’s College, St Saviour.
This event is open to everyone so whether you are interested in learning more about local wildlife; you are an existing volunteer or would like to learn about becoming a volunteer for the first time we hope you can join us.
There is no cost for the weekend and lunch and refreshments are included (however, do let us know if you have any special dietary requirements). You can attend as little or as much as you would like to, however, as places are limited booking is essential and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
Please fill in the booking form here, clearly stating the names of those attending and return it to Julia Meldrum at J.Meldrum@gov.je no later than Friday 15th April.
Programme – Saturday 23rd April 2016
09:00 – 09:15 Steve Luce, Minister for the Environment – ‘Welcome / Introduction’.
09:15 – 09:30 Key Note speaker – TBC
09:30 – 10:00 Dr Tim Wright – Botany Section Société Jersiaise – Plants Count – recording plant diversity in Jersey
10:00 – 10:30 Julia Meldrum & Allison Caldeira – Jersey Conservation Volunteers – Mud, sweat and cake – what it takes to be a conservation volunteer.
Break 10:30-11:00
11:00 – 11:30 Dr Glyn Young & Tony Paintin – Durrell & Société Jersiaise – Why do we count birds? Bird monitoring projects in Jersey
11:30 – 12:00 Kevin Mcllwee – Jersey Seasearch – Polka on the Rocks.
12:00 – 12:30 Helen Miler – Bat Conservation Trust – An Introduction to Bats.
Lunch 12:30-13:30
Workshops (choose one)
13:30 – 15:30 – Jersey Bird Monitoring – Dr Glyn Young & Tony Paintin
Basic techniques in bird monitoring methods and instruction on how to carry out a bird survey transect. There will be a field element to this workshop by carrying out a transect.
or
13:30 – 15:30 – Bat Conservation Trust – Helen Miler The Importance for Woodland for Jersey Bats.
Identifying the importance of Jersey’s woodlands for bats including the opportunities for roosting, foraging and commuting and how different species use woodland and why. Sensitive woodland management for bats will also be explored. There will be a field element to this workshop visiting a local woodland, to put into practice what has been discussed and to look for potential roost features in trees.
Programme – Sunday 24th April 2016
09:00- 09:30 Dr Richard Comont – Bumblebee Conservation – Monitoring the plight of the bumblebee
09:30 – 10:00 Bob Tompkins – Barn Owl Conservation Network Jersey – Talons all about it – helping local barn owls
10:00 – 10:30 Dr Paul Chambers – Natural Environment Officer States of Jersey – Winging it: the Jersey’s Butterfly Monitoring Scheme.
Break 10:30-11:00
11:00 – 11:30 Dr John Wilkinson – Amphibian and Reptile Conservation – Here Toady Gone Tomorrow? An update on Toadwatch and NARRS
11:30 – 12:00 Rob Ward – University of Kent – Ghosts in the grass: the secret lives of grass snakes and slow-worms
12:00 – 12:30 Nick Aubin – Biodiversity Officer – Jersey Biodiversity Centre (JBC) – Dolphins to dung beetles – role of the JBC.
Lunch 12:30-13:30
Workshops (choose one)
13:30 – 15:30 – National Amphibian Monitoring Group – Dr John Wilkinson & Rob Ward
Training in amphibian and reptile identification, habitat assessment, survey methods, recording, health & safety. Including advanced skills for grass snake surveys: highlighting the issues in detecting grass snakes in Jersey and how to improve your chances of finding them. We will provide guidance on what data should be collected if you find one, and training on how to do so.
or
13:30 – 15:30 – Jersey Butterfly Monitoring Scheme – Dr Paul Chambers & Richard Perchard
Basic techniques for the identification and monitoring of Jersey’s butterflies and bumblebees. Attendees will learn how to spot and identify common species and how to count them when walking along one of our transects. These are simple biological monitoring techniques that are used across the world and which will allow people to enjoy nature while also contributing to our understanding of it.
This report is based on an article first published in the National Trust for Jersey’s magazine Discover and is republished here by kind permission.
The more we begin to accept just how much pleasure we receive from the Island’s coastline, the more we are likely to appreciate its true intrinsic value. To many of us, it is clearly imperative that we express our extreme gratitude towards its many attributes in the most positive way we can.
This strong appreciation of the coastline received official acknowledgement during the early part of 2009 when, following much discussion and public consultation, the States of Jersey agreed to pursue the creation of a Jersey Coastal National Park (now Jersey National Park). The prime aims and objectives behind this concept were clear and simple:
To robustly protect, conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the National Park
To further encourage public appreciation, understanding and enjoyment of the many special qualities existing within the National Park.
It was also recognised that this protected landscape embraces a living, working environment and, therefore, the need to cultivate economic and social benefits within its boundaries must be regarded as of paramount importance.
Covering some 1,900 hectares – 16% of the Island’s land mass – The Jersey National Park received official States designation in 2011 and is now a major planning factor within the Island Plan.
The park currently includes the south-facing headlands of Noirmont, Portelet, Beauport and La Corbiere and extensive areas along the dramatic north coast. In the east, the JNP includes exclusive sections of St Catherine’s and ecologically important parts of the Grouville Bay coastline. By far the largest area of ‘park’ is almost the entire length and breadth of St Ouen’s Bay. Also included are the offshore reefs of Les Ecréhous, Les Minquiers and the Paternosters
Having recognised the protective justification of a National Park, the States of Jersey held a series of three one-day ‘stakeholder’ workshops during the early part of 2014. Emerging from these workshops was an Interim Working Group. This small group of experienced volunteers comprise representatives from the local business community, parish authorities, heritage, environment, agriculture, sport and tourism together with further representation from the departments of Environment and Infrastructure (TTS). Birds On The Edge is represented on the IWG by Glyn Young.
With this wide diversity of expertise and interests, the working group has been keen to ensure that the final implementation will result in maximum benefit for minimal outlay for everyone living and working within the park boundaries.
It has also been recognised that the JNP acts as an important conduit for tourism, recreation and education whereby the prime intentions are to deliver each of these themes in a sustainable yet economically beneficial way. Tourism and recreation within the JNP undoubtedly add considerable value to the local economy as well as contributing maximum benefits towards retaining a healthy community.
Prior to an official JNP launch, on 3rd May 2016 (see launch information and timetable here), the Interim Working Group completed the main objectives as instructed by the States of Jersey.These included the preparation of a Business/Governance Plan, an Action Plan, the creation of a logo/brand and website by Freedom Media and, finally, arrangements for the official launch itself. The latter were achieved courtesy of two modest grants from States of Jersey grant schemes.
The National Park
There are four main components to the National Park as recognized by the States of Jersey, the stakeholders and the Interim Working Group. These clearly defined ‘park’ categories are – the natural environment, the historic environment, commercial operations and recreational pursuits.
Natural Environment
Range of habitats
Key natural features
Flagship wildlife species
Sites of Special Interest
Areas of high conservation value such as La Mare au Seigneur.
The Working Group firmly believes that bringing together each of these ‘themes’ under the umbrella of a National Park ‘brand’ will ensure maximum ‘promotional’ opportunities for everyone living, working or simply enjoying the park’s many qualities.
Although the Interim Working Group has no official legal status, it is important to recognize that the Jersey National Park is officially designated under the Policy of the Island Plan 2011, a document required under the Planning & Building (Jersey) Law 2002.
A great deal of hard work has been necessary prior to reaching these final stages which, with ideal timing, sit well with this year’s 10th Anniversary celebrations of the National Trust for Jersey’s Coastline Campaign.
In approaching these final preparations, the voluntary working group has produced the following required positioning statement:
‘The Jersey National Park – An Island to Cherish’
The Jersey National Park will provide residents and visitors with a unique opportunity to preserve, enjoy and take pride in a coastal environment steeped in history, rich in agriculture and natural diversity and bustling with activities that appeal to every interest, age and ability.
While every beach, bay and coastal walk can be reached within minutes of each other, miles of unspoiled beaches and headlands, excellent restaurants and eating houses plus a wide choice of recreational activities, both sporting and passive, constantly ensure boundless opportunities and untold benefits.
Wherever they happen to be in the world, National Parks are primarily created because of a strong sense of local pride, a commodity that, despite its modest size, Jersey has in abundance.
Please visit the Jersey National Park’s website here
Gardeners, birdwatchers, sportspeople and anglers are being called on to help protect the UK from the threat of invasive non-native species (INNS) at the launch of Invasive Species Week.
INNS cost the British economy £1.7 billion a year. To help stop INNS arriving and spreading, Defra and the GB Non-native Species Secretariat are holding a special week to raise awareness of the issue. See details of Jersey’s invasive species here and here.
It will bring together organisations from across Britain who can help stop INNS damaging our landscapes and harming our native wildlife. While the majority of animals and plants introduced to Britain are harmless, around 10-15% become ‘invasive’.
This year Invasive Species Week coincides with the fifth anniversary of Check, Clean, Dry – a campaign launched by Defra and the Welsh and Scottish Governments in March 2011. The campaign is supported by the Angling Trust and Royal Yachting Association, to provide simple biosecurity advice for recreational water users, particularly anglers, and boat and kayak users.
The campaign was launched after the success of Be Plant Wise, a campaign run with the support of the Ornamental and Aquatic Trade Association and the Horticultural Trade Association. This initiative keeps gardeners and pond owners informed of the dangers caused by invasive aquatic plants and to reduce the risk of them dumping aquatic plants in the wild.
Niall Moore, Chief Non-native Species Officer and Head of the GB Non-native Species Secretariat, said: “Invasive non-native species are one of the key threats to our wildlife and natural environment, and can be extremely costly and difficult to manage if allowed to establish. Help to prevent this from happening by getting involved and spreading the message during Invasive Species Week”.
So how do INNS get here? There are several ways but, just think, right now you could be drinking coffee from South America while wearing clothes made in South East Asia, and reading this on a device made in the USA or China. Your lifestyle is only possible due to the thousands of container ships ploughing across our oceans on a daily basis, taking products around the world from one port to another.
Each day some 3,000 species are transported in ship ballast or on ships’ hulls. Ballast water is taken onboard ship when the ship is empty, and emptied usually in ports when the ship is filled. This water can contain millions of creatures and pathogens, including, for example, cholera. Although most perish en route those that survive may find the waters where they are discharged to their advantage and thrive to the detriment of native species.
Of the 54 invasive non-native invertebrate species identified by Buglife as currently posing the greatest threat to biodiversity in Britain, 23 (43%) may have been or could in future be introduced via ballast water.
Shipping patterns are undergoing changes, and are expanding in volume, frequency and coverage. Specifically, the opening of new, northern shipping routes with the reduction of Arctic ice cover will raise the threat of ballast water introductions from previously blocked geographical areas, augmenting the continuing arrival of species along established commercial shipping routes.
Yet our knowledge of marine invasive non-native species is extremely limited and there are few marine species specific risk assessments. It is practically impossible to eradicate marine and aquatic invasive non-native species once they have established. It is thus imperative that we do our utmost to prevent their arrival and export in the first place to avoid their potential large scale negative impact on native biodiversity and the economy.
We need strict controls in place to limit the spread of invasive non-native species by ballast water, not only into British waters but our responsibility to avoid transfer from British waters elsewhere. We have the mechanism to do this through the International Maritime Organisation Ballast Water Management Convention (not yet ratified by the UK). Many of Europe’s large maritime economies have ratified this convention, including Holland, Germany, France and Denmark.
You can help to slow down invasive species by making sure you know what you grow in your garden, especially if you have a pond, and by making sure you clean, check, dry fishing and boating equipment etc. you use around water.
Details of Jersey’s invasive species can be seen here.
The Inter-Island Environment Meeting (IIEM) 2016 Organising Team cordially invite you to the 2016 Inter-Island Environment Meeting.
This year’s IIEM is being held at Castle Cornet, Guernsey on 22nd – 23rd September. The Meeting is being organised by La Société Guernesiaise in partnership with the States of Guernsey, with sponsorship from Insurance Corporation. This year we plan to incorporate a field trip within the programme itself, over to Herm, to look at the newly designated Ramsar site.
The theme of the this year’s Inter-Island will focus on Designations which recognise the importance of a particular area, species, habitat, or policy and how we can make them work in the most effective way in the context of island jurisdictions.
Further details about Guernsey IIEM 2016, including the programme and booking arrangements, will be circulated in due course and available through Birds On The Edge. In the meantime we wanted to, firstly, flag the meeting as early as possible for your diaries and secondly, to gauge the level of interest at this stage and garner people’s views about what they’d like to see and hear at this year’s meeting. We are also looking for contributors and if you would like to present a paper or provide a poster for the event we would love to hear from you as soon as possible.
Attendees of previous meetings will have received notification from the organising committee. If the Inter-Island is new to you or you missed recent meetings please email BOTE at birdsote@gmail.com to join in.
You can see details of previous meetings here 2015, 2014 and 2013.
Guernsey’s Environment Department is pleased to announce that Herm, Jethou and The Humps have been formally designated as a Ramsar site under The Convention on Wetlands. The announcement coincides with the run up to World Wetlands Day (2nd February) which is marked each year to promote the importance of wetlands not only for wildlife but for local economies as well.
Minister for the Environment Department, Deputy Yvonne Burford said “Herm has always been a favourite place for residents and visitors alike and I am delighted that the island’s treasure trove of wildlife and flora has been recognised at an international level”.
The management of Herm Island said “We are really pleased that Ramsar designation has been achieved for such a beautiful area and would like to thank everyone who has contributed to making it possible”
Jessi Jennings from the Marine Section of La Société Guernesiaise said: “What a great opportunity for community involvement! This project has also highlighted the necessity of better understanding the environment around us, and the importance of data collection and contribution. I look forward to seeing how the management of this Ramsar site progresses.”
Anthony Ford Parker, owner of Outdoor Guernsey said: “It is great to see this wonderful place recognised. One of the best ways to help preserve a special place is to understand more about it and show others how important it is. We are looking forward to having a role to play in educating visitors to the area and helping promote Herm as special place in the world.
A set of stamps to mark the designation has been commissioned by Guernsey Post using artwork being prepared by artist Wendy Bramall and which reflects the wildlife, history and use of the site. The stamps are due for issue later this year on 27th July and the issue will complete the set of Ramsar stamps which have already been done for Guernsey, Alderney and Sark.
It is hoped to hold a reception in Herm in July to officially celebrate designation. The help and support of Defra, Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the RSPB (in particular their Project Manager, Paul Fisher), in achieving designation is gratefully acknowledged.
What is Ramsar Designation?
Designating a site as a “Ramsar site” gives international recognition of the special environmental, cultural and heritage characteristics of a particular area. In particular designation lays the foundation to develop a management plan, in full consultation with those who manage, live and use the area, to ensure the conservation of key species & habitats.
Ramsar designation has as its core principles the wise and sustainable use of the resources of a given site through the development and implementation of the management plan.
Why Designate Herm?
The recognition and management of ecologically important areas such as Herm is consistent with the aims and aspirations of Guernsey’s Biodiversity Strategy which was recently adopted by the States of Guernsey at its December meeting.
The various marine and land habitats on and around Herm support a rich diversity of flora and fauna including important breeding areas for sea bird species such as lesser black-backed gull, puffin and shag. In addition, Herm Common has an excellent cultural heritage, with numerous archaeological remains.
Whilst Ramsar status does not confer any legislative protection, recognition of an area contributes to the long-term conservation and wise use of an area. This recognition can provide a positive focal point for new education, tourism and environmental initiatives. Evidence of this is provided by Alderney which has promoted their Ramsar site heavily using ideas such as “Puffincam” and “Gannetcam” (see cameras site here) and has led to the development of the Living Islands initiative.
See details of Guernsey’s first Ramsar site (Lihou Island and L’Erée Headland) here and Alderney’s Ramsar site (Alderney west coast and the Burhou Islands) here
World Wetlands Day is celebrated every year on 2nd February. This day marks the date that the Convention on Wetlands was adopted on 2nd February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea. Since 1997, the Ramsar Secretariat has provided outreach materials to help raise public awareness about the importance and value of wetlands. The Ramsar network today includes 2,225 sites in 169 countries covering 214,569,564 ha of fantastic wetlands including the Danube Delta, Pantanal, Okavango and St Ouen’s Pond (see all the sites here).
As World Wetlands Day is on a Tuesday this year, the National Trust for Jersey, custodians of St Ouen’s Pond, will be holding an open day at the Wetlands Centre on Sunday 7th of February in celebration.
Events on the day will include:
A unique opportunity to hone your bird-watching skills with help and guidance from local bird-watching experts Mike Stentiford MBE, Bob Tompkins and Cristina Sellares who will be on-hand throughout the afternoon
Fun crafts and games for children run by the Trust’s Education Officer in the bunker classroom
Guided walks setting off from the centre (weather permitting) giving an insight into the natural history of St Ouen’s Pond and surrounding meadows
Taking time to marvel at our resident population of marsh harriers and trying to spot the rare and secretive bittern.
Entry and activities are all free of charge but donations will be welcomed. For more information check here
There is growing concern that our widespread amphibian and reptile species are in national decline. NARRS aims to tell us more about the status of the widespread species across the British Isles, using standardised methods in a systematic way. Ecological data on these species are collected over a six-year cycle in order to (a) generate sufficient records on which to base an assessment of conservation status and (b) investigate changes in species’ occupancy over a realistic timescale. The use of established survey protocols is intended to provide a robust basis for conservation decision-making.
Jersey NARRS uses trained volunteers to carry out surveys within an allocated 1 km survey square. The scheme is currently looking for 2016 volunteer survey recorders.
There are two types of surveys available:
Amphibian Survey
Ponds nearest the south-west corner of an allocated survey square are identified and, where necessary, permission to survey from the landowner and/or tenant is obtained. Letters of introduction are provided if required. Up to four (sometimes more) visits are carried out using (i) visual searching, (ii) netting, (iii) night torching and (iv) – where appropriate and if the surveyor is confident – bottle-trapping in order to detect the amphibian species present. Volunteers will be recording survey conditions (weather etc.), species present, habitat characteristics and any changes in the pond between surveys.
Reptile Survey
Reptile surveyors use maps or aerial photographs to identify potential reptile habitat in their survey square and obtain permission to visit promising areas as necessary. Up to four (sometimes more) visits are carried out using (i) visual searching, (ii) checking existing refugia and (iii) checking artificial refugia (where it has been possible to lay these) in order to detect all reptile species present. The use of refugia is particularly important in finding slow-worms and grass snakes and they are also used by green lizards. Survey conditions, species present and habitat characteristics are recorded. It is particularly important for reptile surveys to be conducted during appropriate conditions (e.g. in good weather) to maximise detection probability.
If you have not done anything like this before, don’t worry as full training will be given in April (details to follow), but if you want to be involved in 2016 surveys please get in touch with Nina now at n.cornish@gov.je or by phone at 441624
The Birds of Guernsey by Tony Bisson, Roy Carré and Mike Cunningham went on sale on 21st October selling 1,000 copies very quickly. A further 1,500 copies were ordered to ensure that there would be enough stocks leading up to Christmas.
Tony Bisson has been recording birds since the 1950’s and has produced a printed list approximately every 13 years. Mike and Roy were looking for an outlet for their extraordinary photographs, taken within the Bailiwick, and so managed to talk Tony into helping them produce this book as they felt sure the list of recorded sightings would provide a more scientific and authoritative publication.
Tony became interested in Guernsey’s birdlife as a teenager back in the 1950s little knowing then that it would become a lifetime passion. His first A List of the Birds of Guernsey was published In 1976 and updated versions were published in 1989 and 2002. He hopes that this latest comprehensive list of the Island’s birds will be a useful source of information for people who already enjoy this wonderful hobby and perhaps more importantly stimulate an interest in others to become involved.
Tony believes that, as human activity in the island intensifies, it is essential that more of us become aware of the detrimental effect it has on our birds and do our utmost to protect them and their precarious environment. It is important that we as birdwatchers and photographers set a good example to others in this respect and it is, therefore, considered appropriate to include a code of conduct for birdwatchers and photographers in this book.
This new book’s list, a revision and update of the 2002 list, includes records to 30th September 2015. It has relied heavily on the ornithological reports published in the Société Guernesiaise’s annual Transactions by Mark Lawlor (2002–2014). Further information came from Guernsey Birds, the invaluable website maintained by Phil Atkinson, Mark Lawlor and Jamie Hooper, on behalf of the Ornithological Section of La Société.
The book lists species recorded in the geographical area of Guernsey, including Lihou, Herm, Jethou and the associated islets, rocks and waters. The status of each of the species has been indicated with reference to the main island of Guernsey unless stated otherwise in the text. All species which have been recorded in an apparently natural state, plus species which although introduced or escaped have developed a self-sustaining population, are included (exceptions are red-legged and grey partridge as there is doubt they have ever had self-supporting populations). A total of 322 species are listed, although 91 have been noted on ten or fewer occasions and are considered vagrants. There are currently probably 73 breeding species in Guernsey and at least 104 species have been recorded as breeding at one time or another.
The Birds of Guernsey is illustrated with 175 stunning colour photographs, all taken locally by Roy and Mike. Jersey readers will be pleased to be reminded what snowy owl and desert wheatear look like!
The new book is now available at selective outlets at a price of £12.50. The authors are hoping to raise a substantial sum of money for bird conservancy projects and you can help maximise this by purchasing your copy direct from one of them rather than through the retail outlets. All enquiries should initially be directed to Mike (details can be foundhere).
Note details of forthcoming Birds On The Edge walks below.
It’s that time of the year again, when suddenly it seems the summer went by too fast and the cold and the rain arrived too soon. But here at Birds On The Edge we like to be prepared, which is why we started planning this winter’s bird crops back in December 2014.
Once again Birds On The Edge and a dozen of our farmer friends got together to discuss where the so-called ‘winter bird crops’ would be planted, with sites, crops and timing with everybody’s approval. The seed was provided by Birds On The Edge and most of the fields were planted between May and July, slowly growing to form the mixture of flowers and other plants that have started to become a familiar landmark in Jersey.
We hope that you have recognized our crops as you drive by or go for a stroll; those large sunflowers and purple phacelia are not easy to miss, but if you look closely you’ll also notice mustard, barley, millet and quinoa amongst others – this mixture will feed the widest range of birds with different beak shapes and sizes. When in full bloom the crops indeed look spectacular, and feed hundreds of bees, butterflies and beetles, but it is now, when they are dried up, looking dull and brown, that they are most appetizing for the birds, for now the seeds have matured and are ready to be eaten. These crops are particularly aimed to help farmland birds make it through the winter, which is the time of the year in which they are most vulnerable. It has been shown that the decline of birds associated with farmland seen across Europe and in the UK is caused by the lack of food available in modern farming habitats, with less stubble fields, weeds and spilt cereals. These crops help birds like linnet, meadow pipit, skylark, reed bunting, cirl bunting, brambling, stonechat, and even chaffinch and greenfinch, to survive the coldest months until the spring, when insects and other invertebrates become more abundant.
The winter bird crops have also become more prominent as the scheme has grown from 14 fields at five sites in 2013 to this year’s 47 fields at 12 different sites across the Island. Some of the fields are ‘out in the sticks’ and quite difficult to find, whilst others are near footpaths or areas with public access; in those we have placed signs encouraging walkers to enjoy the birds without disturbing them from feeding.
The success of these crops has also increased each year, with 74% more farmland birds per hectare planted out and as much as a 414% increase at the best performing site. New species are often found on the crops, with serin, little bunting and Dartford warbler seen at the crops last winter, and Cetti’s warbler added to our list at one of the sites already this autumn.
We have been lucky to receive generous donations and grants to plants the crops every year. The birds are enjoying this winter’s crops thanks to a private donation from a local ornithologist, whilst the monitoring work will be carried out with grants from the Co-Operative Society Eco-Fund and the Howard Davis Farm Trust. And, we already have good news for next year’s crops, as Jersey’s Action For Wildlife have kindly offered to cover half of next year’s expenses.
If you would like to see the crops and learn a bit more about them come join us this month at one of our Birds On The Edge walks:
Saturday 7th November at Sorel. 10am, meeting at Devil’s Hole car park
Sunday 15th November at St Ouen’s Pond. 2.30pm, meeting at Kempt Tower car park.
Sunday 8th May 2016 – Hamptonne Country Life Museum, St Lawrence – 10:30-13.00
