Seasonal variation of cat activity around the Cory's Shearwater colonies

"Does feral cat activity explain variation in nest survival of Cory’s Shearwaters on Corvo?" is the study provided by Cowen Honor student, as part of her master's thesis at the University of Cambridge, UK, coordinated by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

The data set of cat activity, using automatic cameras and transect to detect feces around the Cory's Shearwater colonies were analyzed during one reproductive cycle. Preliminary results indicate that the current methodology can not be used to explain variations in nest survival. In order to explain the observed variation in nesting success, probably, the cameras should be placed for a period longer than 2 weeks, at the same local. The study is available for download in PDF format on the official website of the project (life-corvo.spea.pt).

On behalf of the entire team, we'd like to sincerely thank to our volunteers who give their time day after day, processing thousands of photographs, without which this work would not have been possible.

Common Snipe nest (Gallinago gallinago) at Caldeirão

SPEA team increased!

On last May 4, the "Science Club" students joined the SPEA team. They learned about the field work development by the "Save Islands for Seabirds" project.

The activity held at Corvo Biological Reserve, where they could learn about the artificial nests monitoring, of Cory's Shearwater, Manx Shearwater, Storm Petrel and Little Shearwater. Learned also to use materials and techniques for rodents catching. Concluding with the various endemic species planting process.

After the well studied lesson, groups of eleven students explained to the camera what they were doing in SPEA team. The video from the activity will be displayed in the future.

Pedro Coelho visits Corvo

The chairman of SPEA General Assembly, Pedro Coelho, visited the project installations on the Corvo island and had a guided tour to the Cauldron, last weekend.

Peter was surprised by the amount of Cory's Shearwater that he observe when approached to the island. We are all grateful for your visit.

See you soon...

Endemic flora shows up!

And with spring – endemics plants, lots of them! We came across this little fellow called “(Azorean) forget-me-not” Myosotis maritima during this week’s fieldwork. It’s an Azorean endemism protected under the Berne Convention and the Habitat Directive.

The work continues

Hi folks. Today I want to tell you how our working week went. We spent an important part of our time in the greenhouse, where production of heather required transplanting a large number of plants. On the other hand, we also worked in the Biological Reserve Corvo with a great team, planting Azorean Heather. The plantation required a good job to ensure the survival of plants. Thus, we were careful to ensure that everything was fine. The work of mapping the island continued, which is taking us to travel to all corners of the Corvo island. Later and at the office, all the information regarding the species of interest is recorded in a GIS database.

The control of invasive species is important and that’s why we carry a spray herbicide on the African Tamrisk in the natural reserve. Our goal was to prevent the growth of saplings of invasive species and promote conditions for growth of plants placed there.

Besides the rain that has elapsed, we fished our first mackerel. One of it decided to fish the fishing rod of our work manager. It flew towards the sea and was never seen again until the next day when it was caught by another fisherman.

See you next time.

Sónia Serrano

We already have Azorian Picconia!

New volunteers

Hello. We are Sonia and Angel and we arrive from Spain last 31st March.

We will help SPEA on mapping alien plants species and managing the plant nursery.

We are enjoying and hope to develop a good job.

Adios

Sonia e Angel.

Fourth Project Public Meeting

The fourth project public meeting took place on March 22 and had an audience of around 10% of the population. We show a video about the construction of anti-predator fence, which will be built in the Biological Reserve, and we give people the opportunity to clarify doubts about

To appeal to young public, the students of the Mouzinho da Silveira School took part in "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" competition, and they answered questions about the project.

Forest International Year

Last Monday we celebrate the Forest International Year. We join about 70 people and we began to plant endemics in Corvo Biological Reserve. Apart from the curious Corvo inhabitants, were there SPEA staff, the mayor of Corvo City Hall and students of the Mouzinho da Silveira School. The Director Affairs of the Sea was also there.

Everyone had the opportunity to plant a endemic species. The sums of all plants were 170 endemic plants. Many of these plants were produced by students in the project greenhouse.
This action was part of executive committee programme.

The project has already good outputs and some of them are recorded in Jose Serra Documentary (RTP Açores). You can check it out HERE.

WEBMAP

It´s online the LIFE Project webmap. Check it out HERE.
ID/Password: spea/spea

This site is under construction and will be dynamic. Every week new information will be uploaded:
- location of rodent trapping
- location of Cory's Shearwater nests monitoring
- density of invasive mammals
- location of plantation of endemic species

In the end of the year will be available the habitat maps and the maps of the invasive plants from Corvo Island.
The Vila Franca do Campo Islet wasn't forgotten and the webmap will be available very soon.

Any suggestion or commentary should be submitted to carlos.silva@spea.pt

A one year study of the abundance of rodents is completed

We completed the annual monitoring of rodents last February. The objective was to know its monthly abundance in four study areas at two different altitudes. We used the "capture-recapture" technique to estimate the index of abundance, seasonal variations and vital areas.

The results indicate that the density of rodents in Corvo may be influenced by the altitude, in general, higher densities were obtained at low altitudes. The highest abundance was observed in November in all areas for both captured species domestic mouse Mus musculus and black rat Rattus rattus.

Based on these first results, we aim to continue the captures at different habitats during the autumn and early winter in 2011, to obtain a sample of the most pronounced variations.

We'll continue to give updates on this work.

Suitable Habitat for Cory's Shearwater Breeding

Eva Immler is an investigator from Van Hall Larenstein, University of Applied Sciences. She was last year in Corvo mapping and characterizing the suitable habitat of the Bird of the Year - Cory´s Shearwater. The investigator approach was image capture and GIS processing.

The new innovative method was tested in April and we already have the first results.

The most suitable habitat for the Cory's Shearwater is characterized by: steep inclination, no tree cover, scarce cover vegetation, broken rock and shallow soil.

We hope in a near future this technique will be tested in all the cliffs of Corvo Island.

Her work can be downloaded HERE.

Thank you Eva

Plantation in Vila Franca Islet

In the Islet the work continues...

During the last days were planted about 3440 trees. The sum of plants on Vila Franca Islet are 7950 plants.

This year let contribute to a greener year. Plant a tree.
Year 2011 - International Year of Forests

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.

Azores Blueberry plantation

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

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

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.

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!!!

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!