falkirk biodiversity newsletter issue 11 | summer 2010 Its Summer... International Year the sun is shining, the trees are heavy of Biodiversity 2010 promises to be a great year for biodiversity in Scotland as the with blossom and United Nations have officially declared it the International Year of Biodiversity. It is your chance to learn more about the rich diversity of the birds are finally life that surrounds us and an opportunity to get involved in monitoring and conserving Falkirk’s local wildlife. How you ask? singing after a long • Buy or grow seasonal, local food – this is much better for biodiversity and reduces our carbon footprint! and cold winter. • Experience nature on your doorstep – Falkirk has over 80 designated nature conservation sites so get outdoors and discover Falkirk’s wonderful nature first hand! Since 2010 is the • Garden for life – there are lots of simple, easy things that you can do to help wildlife in your garden from planting a tree to clearing up International Year leaves later in the year. • Help with a wildlife survey – wildlife surveys are a fun and easy way of Biodiversity, to get involved with biodiversity in your local area so watch this space about possible opportunities in the Falkirk area. now is the time • Tell somebody about it – seen an exciting bird, animal or insect? Planted some wildlife-friendly flowers in your garden? Tell your family to get involved so and friends about it and get them involved! • Get others involved – why not get your employer, local community or read on for more school involved in biodiversity conservation? For more information on the International Year of Biodiversity visit local biodiversity www.biodiversityislife.net news and events! Skinflats Realignment Project Work is almost complete on an exciting new project that aims to champion sustainable flood management on the Forth and re-create a rare and vanishing habitat for wildlife. Entitled the Skinflats Tidal Exchange Project (or STEP Forth) a pipe has been inserted into the seawall at the RSPB’s Skinflats reserve, allowing the Forth to flood what was previously a grass field. The water creates saline pools and will, in the future, lead to saltmarsh colonising the field. Gravel topped islands within the saline pools create safe nesting sites for birds. At the back of the site a new flood embankment contains the water on the reserve and ensures that no other properties or land will be affected. It is the first time a Regulated Tidal Exchange has been implemented in Scotland and one of only a handful of examples in the UK. It will allow us to engage on the important subjects of climate change, sea level rise and flooding. This is also the first step in realising RSPB Scotland’s exciting vision of an extensive wetland complex around the Forth. RSPB Scotland’s reserve boundary extends outwith the seawall onto an area of mudflats, which are internationally important for wintering ducks, geese and waders, and designated as the Firth of Forth Special Protection Area (SPA) for these species. This project will create a safe feeding and breeding ground for birds of the SPA, as well as other wildlife such as otters. Within a few months of the works starting, we are already seeing an impressive list of birds using the site, including curlew, ringed plover, oystercatcher and three pairs of breeding lapwing. Plans for the future include building a hide on the reserve, allowing people to get close-up views of the resident and visiting wildlife. We are also working with local schools so that they can use the reserve as an area for outdoor learning. None of this would have been possible without the generous funding we have received from Forth Valley and Lomond LEADER, SEPA, SNH, and the Falkirk Environment Trust. Bugs, Creepy-Crawlies and Minibeasts... If I was to ask you to name an invertebrate you would probably think of something beautiful like a butterfly, or a bumblebee, or a dragonfly. Some of you might think of something you don’t like such as a worm, or a spider, or a fly. But there is more to invertebrates than just “aaaaah” or “yeuch”. Invertebrates play a vital role in our lives. Some are waste disposal specialists, breaking down organic matter, making minerals and organic material available to other plants and animals. Others are food providers. Many birds feed on invertebrates, whether as food for their chicks or as part of their adult diet. Mammals such as bats, badgers, voles and shrews also feed on invertebrates. In our freshwaters the diet of game fish such as the Atlantic salmon and Brown trout is comprised entirely of aquatic invertebrates. Birds such as the Dipper and Grey Wagtail also depend upon the aquatic invertebrates in our rivers and streams. Most marine habitats are dominated by invertebrates. In some cases, such as Gaping file shell reefs (Limaria hians) and Northern Sea fan (Swiftia pallida) and sponge communities, the entire habitat is based on invertebrates. Birds and fish rely on these invertebrates for food and the abundance and diversity of marine plankton is a useful indicator of healthy marine ecosystems. One of the most important services provided by invertebrates is pollination. Many plants rely on insects to pollinate their flowers and so complete their reproductive cycle. Well-known pollinators include Action for Barn Owls bumblebees, honeybees, butterflies and hoverflies, less well known ones include moths, thrips, beetles and solitary bees. A lot of work has been going on in 2009/10 to move forward Falkirk’s barn owl nest The Falkirk area has some amazing invertebrates. Perhaps the box scheme. Earlier in the season a local largest invertebrate to be found here is the Common hawker consultant visited existing barn owl box sites dragonfly (Aeshna juncea) with a wing span of 95mm.They can to give advice on how best to locate boxes, be found on moorland with acidic pools, such as those around and on the back of these recommendations Slamannan and Avonbridge. Woodlands are also good habitats for we began to make a few changes and invertebrates. Over 280 insects are associated with Oak trees such relocate some of the boxes. With permission as those found at Wallacebank Wood near Larbert. One of the most from landowners, additional boxes have secretive is the Purple hairstreak butterfly (Neozephyrus quercus). been put up, and to date we have 17 boxes This attractive purple butterfly lives high up in the tree tops and in situ -10 internal boxes and 7 external is often overlooked. Urban areas in the Falkirk area are also very boxes. We have also found many sites where important for invertebrates. With the loss of natural habitats in the barn owls have been roosting, allowing us to wider countryside, these wild areas in the towns have become crucial build up a bigger picture of the distribution to the survival of many increasingly rare invertebrates. It is known of the birds over the Falkirk area. that some brownfield sites can support as many rare and endangered invertebrate species as high quality ancient woodland. Brownfield This winter has been particularly hard on sites in the Falkirk area support species such as the scorpion fly the barn owl population in Scotland. In (Panorpa communis), the Grayling butterfly (Hipparchia semele) and the Falkirk area we received a call from the strawberry snail (Trichia striolata). Bonnybridge reporting a dead barn owl which had died from starvation. Luckily Buglife is the only organisation in Europe committed to the the bird was ringed, providing us with conservation of all invertebrates. If you would like to find out more information that it was a young bird from about Buglife’s work visit our website www.buglife.org.uk or a brood of four chicks that fledged in the contact Craig Macadam on 01786 447504 or by email at: Carron Valley area in 2009. Many however, [email protected] do not survive their first year of life. On a happier note, this year we have 3 confirmed barn owl nests and a kestrel nest in the boxes. We have been very lucky to have a local bird ringer Phil May on board and he has visited all the barn owl boxes with us and ringed 11 barn owl chicks and a kestrel chick. This has been very exciting as it is the first time chicks have been ringed in the Falkirk area. Our resident warden Lesley Sweeny (who penned this article) has received training to be able to ring chicks herself in the future. Common darter © Craig Macadam. Purple Hairstreak © Roger Key What’s On... Nature Detectives Welcome to All events and activities should C.S.I Falkirk Night Watch! be booked in advance to avoid Discover and investigate animal tracks and Dusk is a magical time to be out in the disappointment. Please take note of prints. Look for signs of mammals and woodland. Join the rangers for a quiet insects and find out what they have been walk at dusk through the woodland to clothing suggestions and items to up to. Make plaster casts of wild woodland discover creatures that venture out at bring along to each event. animal footprints! Suitable for children 8+. night. Bring a torch and wear stout boots Wear stout footwear and waterproofs. and waterproofs. Suitable for adults and families with older children. Callender House (front entrance) Beautiful Butterflies Fankerton Car Park Thursday 5th August • 10am – 1pm Come along and find out about some Carron Glen Nature Reserve Entrance of the common species to be seen and Contact the Falkirk Ranger Service: learn how they feed and grow.