Welcome Notes For New Employee

treated in Session 7 (11/26/2009)

Revolcadores Departure (Moratalla), 22/11/2009.
La Sierra Revolcadores, SCI (Site of Community Importance) since 2000, is a landscape and a species that is well worth a visit. Placed in a high mountain scenery in the region of Murcia, is privileged if we appreciate the differences.

From Puerto Alto, moved by their small agricultural plots, and then boarded Murcia summit, "Revolcadores."

griffon vultures as Cazorla, Cadiz and Navarra, small passerine large forests such as Coal Tit, agate or the nuthatch, all unknown on the coast of Cartagena, where we came.

Cold

can only live in the most resistant trees as white pine (Pinus nigra ssp. clusiana) or shrubs well protected, "chamaephytes pulvinulares" calling botanists, when referring to plants that adopt forms of "cushion", or bearing creeping round to withstand wind, snow and cold.

If all of this, we add the condition of wintering area Capiblanco Blackbird, or more sporadic presence of the Alpine Accentor and the even rarer Greenfinch Serrano (José Pedro Portillo saw a flock of a dozen individuals, on 14 November), is a mixture with enough symbolism for the naturalist, as to just stroll along the steep trails worthwhile.

Unfortunately, we had a meeting with the corpse of a Marten, with no apparent signs of predation, we think of a shot or poison as a possible cause of his death. But it is only a guess.

With greater wealth, was the sighting of the queen of the mountains, the Golden Eagle. One copy we flew close enough to show its dark plumage and absence of white spots, a sign that we were dealing with an adult.

more humble, Black Redstart, met us at the top of Revolcadores. Only in winter on the coast, here finds an appropriate home for the entire year.

Among mammals, no luck with herbivores, but the trails, and rooting of feral pigs allowed us to imagine the kind of highway that Puerto High could mean for their deslazamientos.

Abundant Black Sabina (Juniperus phoenicea ), poor (Amelanchier rotundifolia) or the thorny Barberry (Berberis hispanica) were part of a wide range plant at a time when hard and cold, we still allowed to watch our most rupicola Fern, the Doradilla (Ceterach officinarum).

Monograph: Armand Delille and myxomatosis.

If Armand Delille, a famous French physician (a member of the French Academy of Medicine) had not been a vineyard, what would be the Lynx and Iberian Imperial Eagle today?.

This, and any other questions, was addressed in this special issue dedicated to one of the most terrible diseases for Mediterranean ecosystems: rabbit myxomatosis.

Armand, in 1952, tired of the rabbit eat its vineyards, inoculate the virus of myxomatosis a few loose and hoping they infect the rest. And what if they did, this disease spreads rapidly (Imported from South America) and Europe. A year later entered our country and is a real catastrophe for predators.

Especially for the two aforementioned rabbit superspecialists.

Random Hearts "or absolute irresponsibility?, Seeing the picture of our rivers and wetlands as well as other ecosystems, it seems clear that Spain did not learn from mistakes and our environmental managers seem more concerned with hunting and fishing conservation of nature. And if not tell that to the quail, crayfish, not to mention the catfish or the Rabbit. Examples abound where looking for, a "bunch".

And finally we saw a presentation on " modern Noah's Ark ", located on the Norwegian island of Svalbard.

Here has built a silo full plant seeds in Norwegian Arctic.

will store seeds from all known varieties of plants, a "backup", that will preserve from extinction.

Blisters And Mouthwash

Nature Workshop Results Revolcadores Departure (Moratalla) 22/11/2009

this Sunday (11/22/2009) eight participants in the workshop of Nature's People's University Catagena / ANSE, were in Revolcadores (Moratalla .)
The visit was primarily aimed at observing the Capiblanco Blackbird (Turdus torquatus) wintering species, found in the high mountains of Murcia. No luck, but we have other attractions of this cold and harsh place. The day, meteorologically speaking, we got cold and foggy, a circumstance that allowed us to enjoy, at least 15 Griffon Vultures (Gyps fulvus) flying low, very close to us.

Throughout the day we climbed to the peak Revolcadores, with 2,027 m is the highest mountain in the region.

The afternoon gave us a little sun we knew to watch the birds take advantage of the farm near the spring, water point and watering hole for the fauna.
We saw a total of 22 species, among which 1 Golden Eagle, much crossbill and Chaffinch, and the typical big tits forests (Coal Tit and tit.)

broader

will treat information in Thursday's workshop.

Invite To Attend Death Anniversary

Contents covered in the session 6 (11/19/2009) Nature Workshop

Invasive alien species (I).
Invasive alien species (IAS) are the second leading cause of loss of biodiversity on our planet today, after the loss and alteration of habitats. In this situation, little known to our society, we will perform a simulated trip to learn about the characters, causes and consequences, starting this way today, and we will return at different times in the workshop soon.
With historical perspective, we reviewed records of introductions as the genet (Genetta Genetta) with many centuries old, so many that we have almost forgotten and treat it as one among us, the law of conservation, as scholars of the species. Sure, we may argue, if we go back far enough, all species are at some point in the territories. And it is true, but we can counter-saying that, while the Phoenicians, while the Arabs, were responsible for its introduction, not the future of the natural history of spaces and species.

Perhaps the best example is that of Xenicus lyalli, the only flightless passerine. This bird lived in New Zealand's Stephen Island, and the keeper's cat ended up with all their global population in 1894.

And along with the islands of Guam (Indonesia), which after World War II were introduced by accident a few specimens of brown arboreal snake (Boiga irregularis) that have caused the extinction of each and every one of the twelve species of native forest birds. As a result, other species of flora and fauna become extinct in cascade by altering the ecosystem to be altered the distribution and abundance of tree seeds were dispersed by the birds disappeared.

And the problem is compounded saw what triggers the current situation, focusing on the four most important and exemplifying with a particular species:
- global trade, which involves the transport of goods from distant countries, for example the red palm weevil beetle that was introduced following the massive importation of palm without phytosanitary controls, and that caused a plague and death of the attacked palms.

- farming of exotic species, causing leakage or deliberate releases of these species, for example the case of American mink. This has led to dire consequences for the European mink, becoming in the second mammal, after the Iberian Lynx, in greater danger of extinction.

- the pets to make many of these species, which are then released or escaped, may be naturalized, eg: the Cotorrita Grey Argentina.

- lack of control in the transport of water (ballast, canals, fishermen, ...), which has allowed the expansion of species such as mussel problem zebra.

Monograph: first record for Spain (and southern Europe) of Giant American Martin.
This past week, on 16 November saw the first meeting in Spain of a kingfisher American Megaceryle alcyon, called by Españñola Ornithological Society (SEO) and Martín Gigante Americano. The place where the meeting was the mouth of the wadi Albujón (Mar Menor).

And finally we saw a small video report on fisheries, Pirate fishing boats and large fishing the coast of Kenya. Issue, unfortunately, is very timely, very political hands, which we intend to give another perspective, more "green" about this problem.

Is Milena Velba Pregnant

The output of this order week (22/11/2009)

Hi, this Sunday (November 22) we go on tour to wallow in the Sierra de Moratalla. We know the landscape of the highest mountain in Murcia, and especially try to see the Capiblanco Blackbird (Turdus torquatus), a winter season of the great mountains of Murcia.


This time, due to the remoteness of our goal, we have been at 08:00 h at the door of the People's University, in Cartagena.

According to the Institute of Meteorology, on Sunday, the sun will Moratalla timidly, behind the clouds on Friday / Saturday. Anyway, is medium-high mountains and that means we must go with clothes (and shoes) suitable. Stay all day (remember the food and water), enjoying the mountain scenery, in good company.

until Sunday.

Biblical Quotes For House Warming

laid out from 2009 to 1910

Hello, logistical issues, this year we have to plan all exits from the beginning of the workshop. This presents some advantages and disadvantages.
Anyway, this forecast may be subject to minor adjustments for needs or other weather, so we should all follow informed when each output is "just in case."

November 22. Revolcadores output (Moratalla)
December, 20 (*). NOCTUA exit (1 st). Rambla del Canar, Cuesta Blanca (Cartagena)
January, 10. Output Winter Waterfowl Census (CIAA), Salinas de San Pedro del Pinatar
January, 23 and 24. Output 23-24/Enero: Sorbas / Cabo de Gata (Almería)
February, 7. Output gaps
Albacete February, 14. Departure ICAO, La Manga (Mar Menor)
February, 14. Census output Cotorrita (Cartagena-La Manga)
March, 28. NOCTUA exit (2 nd). Rambla del Cane, Cuesta Blanca (Cartagena)
March, 27 to 31. Doñana output
April 18. Montealegre del Castillo Output: Courtship Bustard / SPA Yecla Steppes
April 25. Output: SACRE
May 23. NOCTUA output (3rd)
May 30. Output Tabarca Island, Alicante





(*) approximately depends on meteorological factors.

Mtd Snowblower Belt Problems

Nature Workshop This Thursday, November 12 there

Hello, waiting until the last minute that antibiotics improved and allow me to attend the Workshop, I give up and stop this workshop (Thursday, 12 November) due to illness.
see you next Thursday.

Driving Manual After Heal Fracture

Workshop Contents covered in the session 5 (05/11/2009) Workshop Nature Photography and Espuña

2009-1 th October News
first heard addressed was the celebration of the European Shark Week, between 10 and 18 of October/2009, organized by the Shark Alliance.

Shark Alliance is a global coalition of nonprofit organizations, dedicated to restoring and conserving shark populations by improving policies to preserve these animals.
After pressing and get the current "Plan for Sharks", new European Commission plan that includes the prohibition of finning (slicing off a shark's fins and discarding the rest of the body at sea), this year has turned to ask governments to ensure compliance with the measures contained in the Plan, particularly the strengthening of ban on "finning" and zero quotas for species under serious threat. Spain is the European country most sharks are caught.
Finally, we commented that Spain will be the first European country, from January 1, 2010, prohibits fishing for hammerhead shark and thresher sharks, both endangered species.

The second story we saw were the images of a great white shark which, apparently, entered one of the great stock-red (cages) that host the large tuna, which are greased for marketing. The place of the Mediterranean where the images were taken after an initial confusion we still do not know.

On a stunning picture of a great white released devouring a tuna, which appears on the website of GEO (http://www.mundo-geo.es/) discussed the contents of this interesting web of travel and nature, with high quality images. If you still do not know no miss you and transport you to some of the fantastic places you visit with your items. For some time we know the quality of GEO on paper.

The second story was the "Wildlife Photographer of the Year, 2009." Competition is a property of the Natural History Museum London and BBC Wildlife Magazine publication, considered an international leader in natural world images.

From their website: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/whats-on/temporary-exhibitions/wpy/ can enjoy the best Images that have been a prize this year, highlighting the first award given to our photographer José Luis Rodríguez by a magnificent image of the Wolf.

Finally, we were on the website of photographer Chris Jordan (http://www.chrisjordan.com/) to impress us with the images you've got at Midway Island and whose protagonists Albatross chicks.

Even

now hard to believe that what you see in these images is the work exclusively of nature, without the photographer's hand contribute to them. Either way, get "the creeps" and speaks of the damage we are inflicting the Environment with the theme, so now, as is pollution from plastics.

Monograph: The stars, the origin and formation.
A historical tour of the stars on this tour discovering the origin of our own stuff, because as Carl Sagan said "we stardust. " Giants
red, blue or neutron stars, pulsars or black holes, life stages of stars. The life of stars that, like all of us have a birth, followed by development and eventually die with the consolation that the end is just the beginning in the cycle of matter.

Monograph: Espuña Route (Course photography), 11/10/2009. material
The last comment was on our itinerary Espuña, 11 October. In the best known and famous among the Sierras Murcia, we went to practice the knowledge acquired during the talk of Alfonso Samper earlier Thursday as we discussed in a previous post.

We also want to know better the "mother" of our mountains in protection, recalling its origins and included in the National Catalogue of Natural Areas, 1917, and being declared a Natural Site of Natural Interest in 1931. Even if we talk about this mountain we can not stop mentioning, however briefly, that is the result of afforestation carried out between 1891 and 1902, and directed by the forester Cartagena D. Ricardo Codorniu and Staříč, when Sierra had a desolate look very different to today, without forests and intensive processes of erosion. Do not visit this time, but the snow pits, 26 buildings located more than 1,300 meters above sea level dating back to the second half S. XVI, are a clear demonstration of changes in climate. Today no one would build with light snow falling on their summits.

The superb presentation by Encarna, our partner Workshop, with images of departure and background music soundtrack, put the "snap" to the session # 5.