This June 2020 video shows flowers, butterflies, other wildlife of La Palma, Canary islands.
Among the butterflies: Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus), a male of Monarch (Danaus plexippus), a female of Small White (Pieris rapae).
This 23 June 2019 video shows flowers, butterflies, birds, lizards and other wildlife on La Palma, one of the Canary islands.
This video from the Canary islands says about itself:
Three wild canaries eating birdseed in my garden in Tenerife.
From BirdLife:
Saving Macaronesia’s biodiversity, one species at a time
By Tânia Pipa, Mon, 12/10/2015 – 06:10
Macaronesia (no relation to the Micronesia archipelago in the Pacific Ocean), is a collection of four archipelagos in the North Atlantic Ocean off the coasts of Europe and Africa. They are the Azores and Madeira islands (Portugal), the Canary islands (Spain) and Cape Verde. BirdLife is one of the few international NGOs working at all these archipelagos, thanks to the work of SPEA (BirdLife in Portugal), SEO (Birdlife in Spain) and Biosfera (Cape Verde).
All four island groups are incredibly rich in biodiversity; despite representing only 0.2% of EU territory, Macaronesia hosts over a quarter of the plant species listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive. But teeming plant and animal life comes with its own set of problems, from the threat of extinction to invasive alien species and habitat destruction. This is a summary of the work carried out there by SPEA, both on land and in the open seas.
Working in the Laurel Forest
The Laurissilva, also known as the laurel forest, is a subtropical and humid type of forest that only survives in the Maraconesian archipelagos. It is home to an incredible number of endemic species and subspecies, and hosts some of the least-known and more threatened birds in Europe.
SPEA’s work began there in 2002 with a small passerine: the Azores Bullfinch (Pyrrhula murina), commonly known as Priolo. This bird, an endemic species which only lives in the Serra da Tronqueira (a Natura 2000 site on the eastern side of São Miguel Island) was Critically Endangered – only 200 breeding pairs existed. After years of conservation efforts and three LIFE Projects, the Bullfinch has been downlisted to Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The population is now estimated to be 1,300 individuals.
Today, SPEA’s work with laurel forest birds continues, and the latest example is the EU funded project LIFE Fura-bardos, which aims to study and protect the rarely seen Macaronesian Sparrowhawk subspecies (present only in Madeira and the Canaries). Using this species as an indicator for the forest’s wider biodiversity, SPEA will identify management measures that can be applied in similar forests.
Saving the seabirds
The Macaronesian islands are vital breeding areas for several species of seabirds, which are one of the most endangered groups of birds in the world. Seabirds are threatened by habitat destruction, invasive mammals, artificial lights, fisheries bycatch, overfishing and marine litter, among other things. In 2008, SPEA (together with SEO) was amongst the first in the EU to publish a detailed inventory of the marine IBA network, leading the way forward in marine conservation.
Both of Madeira’s threatened petrels, the Zino’s petrel (Pterodroma madeira) and the Desertas Petrel (Pterodoma deserta), have been a top priority for SPEA (in collaboration with the Madeiran Natural Park). SPEA has been working to control or eradicate invasive species such as cats, rabbits and mice, which has contributed decisively to the successful recovery of both species of petrel.
On the Azores’ smallest Island, Corvo, the LIFE project Safe Islands for Seabirds evaluated the impact of invasive rodents, feral cats, goats and sheep on one of the most emblematic seabird species in the Azores, Cory’s Shearwater (85% of the world population of Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris borealis breeds on the Azores and Madeira archipelagos).
This project found that cats caused the most harm, destroying 84% of all nests and eggs damaged by predators. Habitat restoration and the construction of Europe’s first predator-proof fence were among the measures used to mitigate the impact on seabirds.
Light pollution – a major threat to juvenile seabirds – is another area where SPEA is taking action in Macaronesia. Over the last 20 years in the Azores and 5 years in Madeira, a huge and successful campaign involving volunteers, local organisations, city halls and SPEA has helped regional governments rescue and release thousands of Cory’s Shearwater juveniles impacted by artificial lights.
This is proof that no conservation measure cannot be successful without local support: allowing local people to explore, be aware and participate in the preservation of natural heritage, which at the same time leads to sustainable development of their communities.
This video says about itself:
15 April 2015
School sharks, Galeorhinus galeus, in a Fuerteventura beach (Canary Islands).
There used to be quite some sharks around the Dutch Wadden Sea islands; mainly starry smooth-hound sharks and school sharks.
However, ever since the 1970s, their numbers declined.
Recently, some fishermen say the numbers are going up again.
To see whether that is true, some shrimp fishermen will tag sharks which they catch, and release them.
Today, 28 August 2015, was supposed to be the start of this. However, the young school shark caught today was too small to tag, so it was freed without having been tagged.
As this photo shows, Spanish authorities on Gran Canaria island, two days ago, transported sick African refugees in a garbage truck. I know that pigs, cattle and other animals are sometimes transported in horrible ways, with overcrowding, dirt, etc. However, so far I have not read about pigs or cattle being transported in a garbage truck.
These African refugees were ill. Transporting them in a garbage truck exposed them to pollution and worse illness.
According to British daily the Daily Mirror, after landing on Gran Canaria, nineteen African refugees, seventeen men, two women, had to wait for seven hours on the beach, before the dump truck came.
The inhuman treatment of these Africans had to do with Ebola panic. However, the local authorities soon confirmed that none of the Africans had Ebola.
Two migrants die as Morocco unleashes crackdown on behalf of Spain and the European Union: here.
This video says about itself:
19 March 2011
On the Canary islands nest approxymately 30 000 pairs of Cory´s shearwaters.
They spend their whole life on the sea and they are fascinating flying artists.
They are daily companions of the whale watching ship “Tina” in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of La Gomera where these photographic report arose.
Every year lots of the Cory´s shearwaters, mostly the young, meet with an accident. During the last six years Bruno Dittrich helped about 100 of them to regain their strength.
From Twitter today:
Isles of Scilly: WILSON’S STORM-PETREL 1, CORY’S SHEARWATER 1 & GREAT SHEARWATER 1 from Scilly Pelagics.
This video is called Vicious Beauties – The Secret World Of The Jelly Fish.
From daily The Independent in Britain:
David Cameron stung by jellyfish: PM hurt after ignoring advice of locals while on holiday
David Cameron is reportedly recovering today after being stung by a jellyfish as he relaxed on a luxury holiday on the Spanish island of Lanzarote.
According to reports the Prime Minister ignored warnings from locals after they spotted a number of the stinging marine animals at the island’s Arrieta beach.
The Daily Mirror reported that tourists saw him suddenly run from the water rubbing his arm and yelling: “Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!”
Tourists told the newspaper that Mr Cameron came running out of the water immediately in his blue swimming trunks and rubbing his arm.
Local ex-pat Wendy, 59, told the newspaper that one of her friends warned Mr Cameron the sea was full of jellyfish.
“Everyone got out of the water and his kids walked back with their minders around the pier,” she said.
“But then he decided to get back in then suddenly came out shouting in pain after getting stung.”
One Briton on Lanzarote remarked that the traditional cure for a jellyfish sting is to urinate on it. But a Downing Street source told the paper that the sting had not required treatment.
Texel island jellyfish: here.
This is a video of a Canary islands blue chaffinch.
From BirdLife:
Wild fires threaten biodiversity hotspot on Canary Islands
Wed, Aug 15, 2012
Whilst the wild fires in the Teno Rural Park on Tenerife have been stabilised, the Garajonay National Park in La Gomera, Canary Islands, is still in flames. These fires
Wildfires in themselves are natural disasters.
However, like other natural disasters, they become much worse by human economic, social and political causes. In Texas and elsewhere in the USA, cuts in the fire services by conservative politicians have made wildfires worse. Austerity policies in Greece have the same effect. And I would not be surprised at all if the Rajoy government’s austerity in Spain has contributed to the fire disasters in the Canary islands and elsewhere. As Mr Rajoy prefers spending money on his “bankster” friends, on the royal family, and on wars.
pose a serious hazard to people, their property and livelihoods and affect key sectors including agriculture, livestock and tourism. The forest of La Gomera is an important pillar in the local economy due to tourism (especially nature tourism).
SEO/BirdLife, (Spanish Partner) is concerned about the serious environmental damage caused by the fires in Garajonay National Park – one of Europe’s biodiversity hotspots.
The fires have already destroyed more than 700 ha of the National Park and are still spreading, which could endanger some populations of species that are unique to the island. The park has the largest continuous expanse of laurel forest on the Canary Islands, located in the central area of La Gomera. Other habitats include heath, scrub and exotic coniferous woodland.
In the Teno Rural Park, located in the northwest of Tenerife, the fires have been intensive but seem to be under control for now. The habitat in this protected area is one of the best preserved laurel forests in the archipelago.
The National Parks are strongholds for typical laurel forest bird species, such as the Dark- and Light- tailed Laurel Pigeon Columba bollii and C. junoniae respectively, which are both endemic to the Canary Islands. Smaller Canary Island species like the Island Canary Serinus canaria, and on Tenerife the Blue Chaffinch Fringilla teydea, may also be affected.
The bird species richness and uniqueness means these areas have been declared Special Protection Areas for Birds (SPAs) by the Spanish government and the European Union and are inventoried as Important Bird Areas (IBAs) by SEO/BirdLife.
SEO/BirdLife expresses sympathy to the victims and gratitude to all the people and institutions working to extinguish the fires on the Canary Islands.
Britain: ‘PUBLIC AND FIREFIGHTERS’ SAFETY NEEDLESSLY PUT AT RISK’ says East Sussex FBU: here.
USA: Severe weather conditions led to a string of massive wildfires late last week, primarily in the Ventura, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, all of which are adjacent to the Los Angeles area. Strong winds, low humidity, high temperatures and a build-up of old vegetation resulted in the scorching of over 30,000 acres of land: here.
This video is called The Canary Islands under the sea.
By Michelle Cassidy:
Canary Islands Threatened by Oil Prospecting Plans
Thu, Aug 2, 2012
The Canary Islands are in the oil industry’s crosshairs, and that spells danger for the area’s marine habitats and wildlife.
In a new report, Oceana has denounced oil prospecting plans in the Canary Islands, highlighting the dangerous impact of these activities on cold-water coral reefs, deep sponge fields, hydrothermal vents, and nearly 100 protected species.
Spanish oil company Repsol is planning to prospect in the Canary Islands Channel, located off the northwest coast of Africa. The channel contains gas-based habitats that are protected under the Habitats Directive. These habitats support coral and sponge communities that would be destroyed by oil prospecting activity.
A total of 25 protected areas and 82 endangered species would be threatened by Repsol’s prospecting activities. These include sea turtles, short finned pilot whales, angel sharks, bottlenose dolphins, and a variety of fish.
The International Maritime Organization has declared the Canary Islands a Particularly Sensitive Area for its biological wealth and its economic dependence. This status affords the islands’ strict protection in terms of waste and pollution.
The Canary Islands is an archipelago supported by fishing and tourism. Both of these industries rely on the islands’ high biodiversity—more than 600 species and 350 communities and habitats. Oil prospecting would interfere with fishing and tourism, and reduce the biodiversity of the area.
We’ll be sure to keep you posted!
Conservationists call for Canary Islands whale sanctuary instead of oil scheme: here.
This BBC video is about the Antarctic; especially Weddell seals.
Palynomorphs from a sediment core reveal a sudden remarkably warm Antarctica during the middle Miocene: here.
Antarctic expedition studies survival strategies of Weddell seals: here.
Three new species of deep-sea Gromia (Protista, Rhizaria) from the bathyal and abyssal Weddell Sea, Antarctica: here.
Video footage, shot by the Oceana marine group, of the aquatic wildlife resident on the Sahara seamounts – an underwater mountain range near the Canary Islands: here.
Dear Kitty. Some blog 