http://www.wsbrc.org.uk/News/News.aspx Keeping you up to date with news from the Wiltshire and Swindon Biological Records Centre en-gb Sat, 31 Jul 2010 15:07:59 GMT Copyright: (C) Wiltshire and Swindon Biological Records Centre http://www.wsbrc.org.uk 1440 http://www.wsbrc.org.uk/images/WSBRC.gif http://www.wsbrc.org.uk/Default.aspx Three years ago our volunteer River Monitoring Co-ordinator, Susan Allen, placed a bird box and camera in her back garden, praying for something to nest. She has not been disappointed, as Great Tits have nested every year.

This year as the box and the nests have been fairly successful, she chose to record what happened to the young family of Great Tits. http://www.wsbrc.org.uk/seQBPesOhkagEtW5lbyRZw%3d%3d/NewsArticle.aspx http://www.wsbrc.org.uk/seQBPesOhkagEtW5lbyRZw%3d%3d/NewsArticle.aspx Tue, 29 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT The Common Swift isn’t soaring like it should be, in fact their numbers have dived by 30% in recent years. They have now landed on the Amber list as birds of Conservation Concern, and need our help.

A destruction of nest sites is the suspected cause of the decline, in the form of demolitions, renovations and roof repairs. It is estimated that 16% of nest sites are currently under threat. An analysis of current known nesting sites show them to be present in half of houses built before 1919, 25% of houses built 1919 to 1944, and 24% of public buildings (such as schools). http://www.wsbrc.org.uk/5Zu6sS1l20aTjbl6ALCwQQ%3d%3d/NewsArticle.aspx http://www.wsbrc.org.uk/5Zu6sS1l20aTjbl6ALCwQQ%3d%3d/NewsArticle.aspx Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT A new set of Great Bustard chicks has hatched in Wiltshire, only the second wild set since the species was reintroduced to this country. The Great Bustard, which became extinct in Britain as a nesting bird in 1832, successfully nested last year, when two pairs fledged two chicks on Salisbury Plain, in Wiltshire. This year though there have been four nests with young so hopes for their survival are high. http://www.wsbrc.org.uk/%2b8_skBTSrkq%2bubpyMS1edQ%3d%3d/NewsArticle.aspx http://www.wsbrc.org.uk/%2b8_skBTSrkq%2bubpyMS1edQ%3d%3d/NewsArticle.aspx Tue, 15 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT The Calne Watch Group visited Langford Lakes on the 24th of April 2010 to observe bird ringing in action. This was under the expert guidance of Rob Turner and two of his colleagues from the Wiltshire Ornithological Society in conjunction with the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. Plenty of birds were ringed and there were some surprises as well. http://www.wsbrc.org.uk/_lC6OL4Njk%2brIZ5cKyiTSQ%3d%3d/NewsArticle.aspx http://www.wsbrc.org.uk/_lC6OL4Njk%2brIZ5cKyiTSQ%3d%3d/NewsArticle.aspx Thu, 03 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT Want to have some fun raising money for bats and threatened species and habitats?

The Bat Conservation Trust has teamed up with the BBC Wildlife Fund to support their new exciting Wild campaign including a Wild Night In on the 20 June to raise money for threatened species and habitats. If you want to have fun with fundraising there are lots of activities you could do to raise money http://www.wsbrc.org.uk/GY%2biHIG0TEiDc_WQat_yNg%3d%3d/NewsArticle.aspx http://www.wsbrc.org.uk/GY%2biHIG0TEiDc_WQat_yNg%3d%3d/NewsArticle.aspx Tue, 25 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT Get involved with the International Year of Biodiversity events on 22nd May that the Wiltshire and Swindon Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) partnership is running on some of the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Reserves.

Events for all the family include dawn chorus walks, dragonfly walks, guided walks, moth trapping and local food to enjoy. http://www.wsbrc.org.uk/oBht_tpAmE6oL_UZKlJtvw%3d%3d/NewsArticle.aspx http://www.wsbrc.org.uk/oBht_tpAmE6oL_UZKlJtvw%3d%3d/NewsArticle.aspx Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT Toads are only seen close to water during the breeding season, they start their journey to their breeding ponds once they have emerged from hibernation in February and March; many are killed as they cross roads to reach the ponds that they return to each year.

Paul Darby, the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust’s North Wilts Rebuilding Biodiversity Project Officer, oversees a number of Toad Patrols in Great Somerford to help move toads across the roads to save them from being killed as they make their way to their breeding grounds. http://www.wsbrc.org.uk/CzB%2bOiSpsUCxpxnVQhu7Xw%3d%3d/NewsArticle.aspx http://www.wsbrc.org.uk/CzB%2bOiSpsUCxpxnVQhu7Xw%3d%3d/NewsArticle.aspx Thu, 22 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT One of our many recorders has sent in this report about a visit to Stanton Park and spotted some of the signs of early spring.
It is the 8th of April; spring has finally arrived with glorious sunshine with just a hint of a breeze. I have visited Stanton Park near Swindon with my children remembering that at this time last year large numbers of toads (Bufo bufo) were breeding in the lake. They are back again this year and getting friendly (amplexus) as the photo shows although not as many as previously; perhaps the harsh winter has had an effect on the population. There was also some frog spawn in the lake which was close to hatching, the unhatched tadpoles looking like little Cs. http://www.wsbrc.org.uk/VCuukxSSL0eplOmhdjjckQ%3d%3d/NewsArticle.aspx http://www.wsbrc.org.uk/VCuukxSSL0eplOmhdjjckQ%3d%3d/NewsArticle.aspx Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT The Common Swift has taken the title for the fastest bird recorded in level flight reaching speeds of 111.6km/h a report in the Journal of Avian Biology has reported. Other birds, such as the Peregrine Falcon, fly faster when in a dive, but the Swift is the fastest recorded flying under its own power. http://www.wsbrc.org.uk/hhDnhDTGQUmwxOFsnkXgFg%3d%3d/NewsArticle.aspx http://www.wsbrc.org.uk/hhDnhDTGQUmwxOFsnkXgFg%3d%3d/NewsArticle.aspx Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT 2010 has been declared the International Year of Biodiversity by the United Nations – the year that celebrates the diversity of life on Earth, including every plant, animal and micro-organism.

Human activity is causing the diversity of life on Earth to be lost at a greatly accelerated rate. These losses damage the life support systems we rely on everyday, remember that wildlife and biodiversity can do quite happily without us, we cannot survive without it. But we can prevent these losses.

This year is your chance to learn more about the rich tapestry of life around you, discover why it’s important for a healthy environment and get involved in monitoring and conserving your local wildlife. http://www.wsbrc.org.uk/AxgQRRt6qE%2brVJmzw9r3MQ%3d%3d/NewsArticle.aspx http://www.wsbrc.org.uk/AxgQRRt6qE%2brVJmzw9r3MQ%3d%3d/NewsArticle.aspx Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT