Saving Devon's Precious Pearls

One of the UK's most threatened butterflies is being given a helping hand to expand its range through targeted conservation in Devon.

Work is underway at three Forestry Commission sites in the Haldon Forest, Kennford, to improve habitat for the Pearl-bordered Fritillary.The butterfly has been declining dramatically across Britain - two thirds of colonies have become extinct over the last 25 years. But their fortunes have been given a boost through a Butterfly Conservation-led project, in partnership with the Forestry Commission, to expand the area of suitable habitat.Pearl-bordered Fritillaries, with their striking orange and black chequered markings and kaleidoscopic underwings have fallen dramatically due to a decline in traditional woodland management.

The butterfly can be found along woodland rides and clearings, feeding on spring flowering plants like bugle, and lays its eggs near wild violets - the caterpillar's foodplant.The project aims to expand the areas already occupied by the Pearl-bordered Fritillary and link sites where it is already thriving to other sites of suitable habitat - helping the species spread more effectively.

Around 1.5 hectares of scrub control is being carried out across three sites, along with coppicing and conifer clear-felling. This 'linking' work is also underway at the nearby site of North Wood, where half a hectare of conifer has been clear-felled providing a direct link to connect two excellent areas of breeding habitat. Further scrub control has taken place at North Wood by the Forestry Commission, who are supporting efforts to improve habitat by undertaking bracken management in key areas.

Ben Phillips, Area Forester for the Forestry Commission, said "Modern forest management is about a lot more than just producing timber. "These are working forests, producing around 10,000 tonnes of timber every year, but it is also managed to provide excellent recreation opportunities to the public and sympathetically to look after the many different species that live within it.

"We have a long standing relationship with Butterfly Conservation, and we are so pleased to have been able to work with them on this important project to improve habitats for the Pearl-bordered Fritillary."

Volunteers have been involved in habitat assessments, butterfly monitoring and practical management at the three sites. Last summer volunteers collected wild violet seeds which have been sent to a violet specialist nursery for propagation.Young plug plants will be planted in the spring at Great Plantation and North Wood to provide an immediate food source in the newly managed areas. Butterfly Conservation's Project Officer, Jenny Plackett, said: "It's fantastic to see the management work getting underway, and we are hopeful that the habitat improvements will soon show a positive impact on butterfly numbers - the Pearl-bordered Fritillary tends to respond very quickly to management."Funding was granted by the SITA Trust last April, which will support management over three years until 2014.

http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/article/9/273/saving_devons_precious_pearls.html

Peregrine poisoned by pesticides near Buckfastleigh

The poisoning of a bird of prey using a banned pesticide is being investigated in Devon.

The young female peregrine falcon was found at Whitecleaves Quarry near Buckfastleigh in July, but toxicology results have just been released.

It is the third such incident within a matter of weeks involving the banned pesticide carbofuran, the RSPB said.

Two peregrines were found in Cornwall just weeks after four goshawks and a buzzard died near Exeter.

Toxicology tests showed the Buckfastleigh peregrine also had aldicarb in its system - another banned pesticide.

The RSPB believes the poisoning was deliberate.

'Live bait'
All three cases are being investigated by Devon and Cornwall Police and the RSPB.

Peregrines at the Whitecleaves Quarry site have been targeted previously, with dead birds found in 1992, 2004 and 2005. On each occasion, the birds had been poisoned.

Wildlife conservationists have expressed concern over the presence of banned chemicals in the countryside.

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Rare striped dolphin washed up on beach

A RARE dolphin which washed up dead on Saunton Sands had starved to death, according to a post mortem.

The female striped dolphin was discovered by Bill Hibbs, who was walking along the beach during the bank holiday weekend when he saw the animal lying motionless on the sand.

The Swansea Coastguard was alerted and a team moved the dolphin above the high water mark, so it would not be dragged away by the sea.

The animal was then picked up by marine biologist Rob Deaville from the Institute of Zoology who carried out a post mortem in London.

Mr Deaville is the project manager for the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme, which is funded by Defra.

He said: "The dolphin was a juvenile female which measured 1.6 metres long. She was found to be in a moderate to poor state with parasites in her stomach and externally on her fin and body, which are similar to barnacles.

"A Striped Dolphin is a relatively rare sighting with them usually being found in warmer waters such as the Mediterranean.

"Seven have been found in the UK over the last 12 months with most being in the South West."

Mr Deaville said it was difficult to determine whether the parasites were the cause of the dolphin's starvation or whether the parasites increased after little food was being eaten.

The carcass of the dolphin has since been incinerated while some of its bones have been kept for further analysis.

UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme has dealt with 20,000 strandings in its 20-year existence.

The programme is designed to discover the causes of death and disease and acts as a monitor of marine life.
http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/Striped-dolphin-washed-North-Devon-beach/story-13289020-detail/story.html