Wildtalk archives

Wildtalk Spain # 102: Formentera blues

Wildtalk Spain, an email newsletter from www.wild-spain.com
20 November, 2006 - Issue 102

Marine biologist Alex Martin is warden of Formentera's famed marine reserve.
Not a bad place to work, judging from his pictures of azure waters and
equally colourful wildlife...
http://www.wild-spain.com/pictures.php?order=&pid=50

------- News Briefs

. Autumn guided walks in La Pedriza -
Guided nature walks are currently being run by the park authorities in La
Pedriza, in the Cuenca Alta del Manzanares regional park of the Guadarrama
mountains, north of Madrid. The free guided walks start at 10.30 and 12.15
from Collado de Quebrantaherraduras, on the road to Cantocochino. The area,
with spectacular granite rock formations, is home to Griffon vultures,
Golden eagles, Eagle owls, roe deer, ibex, wild boar and foxes. Reservations
tel. 918036572. Date: November 20, 2006 Source: Madridpress

. Griffon is Spain's top vulture -
Spain's most sociable vulture, the Griffon, has doubled in numbers in the
last 20 years with a current population of 16,000 pairs according to the
last census conducted by national ornithological association SEO/Birdlife.
The increase is in contrast with evolution of Spain's other vulture
populations during the same period: Lammergeyer (increased from 50 to 80
pairs only), Egyptian vulture (15,000 pairs, but down 30%) and rarer Black
vulture. The reason for the relative health of the Griffon vulture
population, says biologist José Antonio Donazar, is that these birds are
very sociable and tend to search for food in "teams" of up to 200 birds
whilst other species tend to be loners. Griffon vultures also have huge
scavenging territories, of up to 170 km. This is also in contrast with
Egyptian vultures which rarely fly more than 8 km away from their nest,
Black vultures, 20 km, or Lammergeyers, 60 km. Date: November 20, 2006
Source: El Mundo

. Mayor gets 3 years for damage to Pego-Oliva marsh -
The ex mayor of Pego (Alicante) has been given a 3 year prison sentence for
destroying part of the Pego-Oliva marsh natural park. Carlos Pascual was
accused in 1996 of depleting the water levels in the park and burning
vegetation in order to plant rice and thus increase the value of
neighbouring estates.The sentence sets a record-breaking precedent and is
the most severe ever given to an official in Spain for an environmental
crime. Date: November 20, 2006 Source: e-valencia / El Pais

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------- Latest questions [ Check out answers and/or share your knowledge ]

Cross country skiing in Guadarrama mountains
http://www.wild-spain.com/noticeboard.php?tid=1872


------- Field Reports

Latest...
- Vultures, fires and first snow in Lecrín Valley, Granada (Ken Sumner)
- Bedbugs on the Camino de Santiago (Ralph Alcorn, Shepherd Canyon Books)
http://www.wild-spain.com/wsfieldreports.php

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