Wednesday, February 23, 2011

The world in the Bugs eyes

As part of activities in conjunction with the "Science Club" of the School of Corvo, today held a presentation relating to invertebrates from the Azores.


Curiosities about the different groups of insects were disclosed and the students also had the opportunity to view several species under the microscope, in the island of Corvo.

The activity was attended by 43 students, now aware of the importance of invertebrates.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Azores Blueberry plantation

The firsts 147 Azores Blueberrys ( Vaccinium cylindraceum ) were planted in the altitude reserve.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Luis Ferreira is the new team support

Hello, my name is Luis Ferreira. I arrived on February 09 in Corvo Island to support the SPEA team, to make new project videos and photographs. I am Nature photographer and my work looks for the people sensitization of Portuguese Nature conservation. With this new experience i hope to represent the Corvo's best Biodiversity and Landscape. I was well received by all the colleagues and for the Corvínos people, to who i am thankful. See you soon…

Looking for invertebrates

This year began with a lot of work. One of the activities that we realize is the identification of invertebrates. For it, we move up to the Biological Reserve where there are distributed 12 squared plots of 2x2 m2, in which there is placed a trap Pit-Fall in each one.


First, an inventory and identification in situ of the invertebrates for 1x1 m is realized which should be done in the same day. Secondly, the traps Pit-Fall are refilled by liquid Turkin, which allows the attraction and capture of invertebrate and preserving them. After 5 nights, his content is collected and will be analyzed.

This process should be realized every 3 months, on every station of the year, being the near sampling in the spring.

Alazne and Silvia

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Great news from the Islet

Our team visited Vila Franca do Campo islet and verify the success of the October plantations with Fire tree and Azorean Heather.


The exotic species continue to elapse control actions to recoup the natural habitat. The good results distinguished, fruit of very arduous work.


The team also recover fifty artificial nests of Cory's Shearwater, as form to increase the breeding habitat for this year.

Monday, February 7, 2011

The artificial nests of Cory's Shearwater are ready to be occupied

To ensure the success of artificial nest occupation, this new breeding season:


- To improve thermal conditions and prevent water infiltration inside the nest, we built a formwork cement casing around the hole, and a plywood lid lined with waterproof fabric was placed over it.
- To attract Cagarros by smell, we put feathers and droppings, collected last year from natural nests.
- Was also installed the sound system, with the vocalizations of this species.



Now Cagarros can come in!!!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

World Wetlands Day

Hello!


On World Wetlands Day the project team collaborated on a field trip with the students of the Mouzinho da Silveira Basic Education School, organized by the Corvo Island Natural Park.

By 3 pm more than 40 students filled the fantastic view of the Caldeirão. Desiring to reach the foot of the majestic lake, they went down at high speed. We stop for a picnic lunch on the banks of the largest wetland in the island and then we took a walk around the East side of the lake.


In the evening a big climb awaited them. They reached the top with great effort, but their happy faces made us think that it had been worth the effort!