Some fascinating studies such as white stork chicks being fed from waste tips, prey size for eagle owls and how to control the overabundance of certain wildlife species in national and natural parks?
Iberia Nature Forum
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Colomera, the female loggerhead sea turtle that spent some time recuperating in the ARCA del Mar aquarium after being rescued by Stranding Network (the University of Valencia and the Oceanogràfic Foundation seems to be on his way home again.
Loggerhead sea turtle with satelite tracker
The turtle was released at the beach of Bellver de Oropesa (Valencia) on June 25 2020 with a satellite tracking emitter attached and after passing the Columbretes Islands she continued her journey to the Balearic Islands. After spending a few weeks exploring the coasts of Palma de Mallorca in mid-July she was in already the Sicilian Channel between the coasts of Tunisia and Sicily. Her route then continued towards Greece, specifically towards the Gulf of Ciparisia, on the western coast of the Peloponnese peninsula, near the Ionian Sea, where she remained for six months.
Colomera now seems to be heading back towards the Sicilian Channel and the last location is in the area of the island of Malta.
Is she on her way home to Spain? Time will tell.
The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), is a species of oceanic turtle distributed throughout the world. It is a marine reptile, belonging to the family Cheloniidae. The average loggerhead measures around 90 cm (35 in) in carapace length when fully grown. The adult loggerhead sea turtle weighs approximately 135 kg (298 lb), with the largest specimens weighing in at more than 450 kg (1,000 lb). The skin ranges from yellow to brown in color, and the shell is typically reddish brown. No external differences in sex are seen until the turtle becomes an adult, the most obvious difference being the adult males have thicker tails and shorter plastrons (lower shells) than the females. More on wikipedia
The Oceanogràfic Foundation in Valencia is the largest aquarium in Europe and are involved in many marine conservation activities. If you are in the area its well worth a visit.
Satellite follow-up of marine turtles
Thanks to the latest technology in following up wild fauna via satellite, we are able to know the survival rates. adaptation, use of habitat and the dynamics of marine turtles’ movements at the end of their recovery process at the Oceanogràfic or of those from other conservation projects, such as “head-starting” or breeding in captivity. All this information allows us to assess their recovery success and the feasibility of the specimens bred in the Sea Ark, and also generates very important information about the marine environment to manage and protect these species.
Lets start by saying that Cutting wild flowers in Spain is illegal. Not only illegal, it is selfish and a very stupid thing to do.
Such a shame that a beautiful giant orchid that my children have been watching grow with fascination over the last few weeks has been cut and removed by someone who presumably wanted a “pretty flower” in a vase on their kitchen table. Sigh!
The Giant orchid flowers as early as January in Spain. This is the before picture.
The same giant orchid with the flower removed
If we could just fix the small ignorant and selfish things like cutting wild flowers in Spain that the human race does then imagine what the bigger picture would look like?
Iberia Nature Forum
Struggling with identifying those bugs and beasties? Why not check out the Iberia nature Forum!
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The bearded vulture ‘”Aquilón” who is part of the recovery project in the Picos de Europa has been re released this Tuesday, March 2 in Cantabria by the Foundation for the Conservation of the Bearded Vulture (FCQ)
Almost three years old, this young male has now been returned to his natural habitat in the vicinity of the town of Espinama, in Camaleño after spending the last few months in rehabilitation.
He was found in a badly injured state after an impact with power lines and although his foot was so badly damaged that it had to be amputated, it was deemed that he still had a very high percentage of survival in the wild.
Aquilon the bearded vulture with his amputated foot
Struggling with identifying those bugs and beasties? Why not check out the Iberia nature Forum!
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Take a trip on the Wildside! Discover the wildlife and nature of Spain, its Natural and National Parks and find the top wildlife, activity and walking holiday companies in Spain.
