CONSERVATION ISSUES - MAY 2006

Darwin was a great scientist and thinker, but he was not a conservationist, he killed many species from around the world and packed them off to London for study. On his Beagle voyage of the 1830s when he visited the Galapagos Islands he made a close study of the finches and sent many back to The Natural History Museum, where I understand there are several drawers full of dead finches, and to this day scientists are still studying them, for these finches hold a unique place in the history of science. Sadly today these iconic birds are facing a new and grave threat to their existence.

There are 14 species of finch known as Darwin’s Finches, thirteen of which are found on the Galapagos Islands, and each species has evolved a highly characteristic beak shape, which reflect the birds specialisations, their habitats, and feeding behaviour. Many of these finches on the Galapagos are being attacked by the larvae of parasitic flies and scientists are deeply concerned for the birds long-term welfare. The flies were accidentally introduced to the islands and it is not known whether the finches will be able to cope with their arrival. The fly larvae hide in the nest bedding during the day and come out at night to suck on the blood of the young birds, and in some cases burrow deep into their bodies and even their brains. Concern about the birds was raised by an Austrian study team from Konrad Lorenz Institute and BirdLife International, a global alliance of bird organisations, has written to the Equadorian Government, alerting it to the issue, and asking that further research be given a priority. The Austrian team said that it may be possible in some cases, to sterilise the nests which could be reached , by removing the chicks for a few minutes and then disinfect the nest with insecticide. A little study they did, worked very well for it reduced the parasite load by 80-90%. It’s a lot of work, but if nothing is done scientists say that these birds are serious candidates for extinction.

Darwin said of the Marine Iguanas on the Galapagos, they are ugly and Black, but take a look at this individual, what a splendid creature it is!   

There were 11 reported sightings of Bottlenose Dolphins during April, probably all the same group, which was in and around Mounts Bay the early part of the month and off the north coast from about the 10th of the month onward. Most reports mentioned 10 animals. 3 reports of Common Dolphins included 17 off the Lizard, and unusually, a single off Land’s End and 3 off The Runnelstone. 8 Harbour Porpoise sightings were all from around Penwith again, from Mousehole to Botallack. Four sightings of Grey Seals were singles on different days. There was a Basking Shark seen off Maenporth and a Minke Whale off Carn Gloose. 

 Conservation Officer Raymond Dennis

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