Lopping trees

Last week during our duty walk Jenny and I came across park workers trimming pine trees and using a machine to make them into pulp. The whole area looked much tidier, but we wondered if it mught encourage curious passers-by to stroll down to the water's edge, now that it's so visible!

Update on nesting boxes

This morning at La Mata Park the volunteers took down the Great Tit nest boxes, cleaned them out and returned them to the trees.  

There are 12 boxes, each with a number at the base, to help with the monitoring of the birds.  We have also recorded the co-ordinates of the boxes for ease of location.

Update to meeting information

Please note we no longer meet in the Wine Growers' Association headquarters, mainly because it has been demolished!
We meet at 10.00am on the first Saturday of every month at the Park Headquarters: the white building called the Casa Forestal situated by the car park at the Park entrance.We look forward to meeting new volunteers as well as anyone interested in the work we do to help preserve this beautiful natural environment.

Gull ringing

Audouin gull ringing 2017

At 0830 on 15 June 2017 five members of the volunteers met at the Torrevieja Salinas to assist in the ringing of the Audouin gull chicks.  The Audouin gull is still a relatively rare species and we are lucky to have an important population of them in our area.

The format for the ringing was much the same as last year. We were divided into four groups each containing a qualified birdringer, a person to write down ring numbers, a person in charge of rings and two people to find the chicks. In addition, and new this year, there was a team of veterinarians attached to each group. Their function was to take blood samples from a random selection of chicks in order to measure the level of heavy metals in the chick which acts as a possible marker of marine pollution.

As well as placing a metal ring with its unique number on one leg and a Darvic ring on the other, the ringer took feather samples from some birds to measure the level of mercury (a significant poison to man and animals and another marker of possible marine pollution). The crown to tip of beak and tarsus (lower leg) was also measured in these chicks so that if we are fortunate to catch any of these birds in the future we can relate size to possible poisoning with mercury or heavy metals.

Two hundred birds were ringed in under two hours (just as well, it was getting rather hot!) and following a gift of salt from the manager of the saltworks we retired to a local hostelry for some welcome refreshment.

Park concert photos

Thanks to Ana for sending these delightful photos of the children's choir

Photos by Antonio Ruiz Hurtado

Habaneras in the Park

A heartwarming event took place at the Natural Park of La Mata on Sunday 4th June when a concert was given by the children of the Colegio Cuba, the Inmaculada Concepción school, the Conservatorio Municipal and the Consejaría Medio Ambiente..  In the setting of the Park and in the open air it was the culmination of a year’s work by the school and the staff of the Park in leaning about the natural environment and the heritage of the habanera.  These two elements are the two treasures of Torrevieja which have been emphasized in other events this week.  Some of the children dressed as pirates spoke in unison of the history of the boats which went to and from Cuba, when the sailors who could not read or write instead sang songs telling of the town they had been to and what they found in Torrevieja, notably the pink lake.

The other half of the group then sang several habaneras and ended with the brand new one which has been written specially for this event and is called Laguna Bella.   It’s the first habanera ever to have the words artemia and flamenco in the wording!  First the children sang it accompanied by a small group of musicians and then copies of the words were handed out and the whole audience took part in singing this new addition to the collection of habaneras of Torrevieja.

We all enjoyed this opportunity, not just the proud parents of all the children who took part. 

The large crowd of parents and several of the volunteers of La Mata were present at this lovely event.  Some of the Volunteers had also attended on the Saturday when a large number of the public took part in an extended visit to the Park, learning about it and its significance in our landscape.

It is hoped by all these means that a greater number of people know about the Park and its treasures and appreciate that we look after it as best we can.

Vandalised nestbox

After months of hard work and having only been sited a few weeks ago, one of our nestboxes has already been vandalised. Culprit unknown-woodpecker, rat, squirrel all in the frame at present. 

Activity with CIAJ (Centro de Información y Animación Juvenil) Saturday 18 March 2017

On Saturday 18 March the volunteers entertained a group of Spanish students to help them practice their English. Following a short presentation about the history and function of the Parque and the work of the volunteers we took them on a short walk around the Parque to point out some of the features. We split into small groups to allow all the students the opportunity to practice their English. Conversations (all in English) between the volunteers and the students were wide ranging and not always directly related to Parque issues. Many of the students had never visited the Parque despite living in Torrevieja and surrounding areas.

Both students and volunteers enjoyed the morning and feedback from the students was extremely positive. In fact, they requested that we make this a regular event.

Stephen

Visit to El Hondo North Gate 11 March 2017

On a slightly chilly (for Spain) Saturday morning fourteen volunteers met at the North Gate of El Hondo for three hours of birdwatching. Once again we were ably led by Stephan and Els from the Costa Blanca Bird Club.

We were immediately guided to the first boardwalk where we were treated to excellent views of a Greater Spotted Eagle which posed in a palm tree for quite a long time and then graced us by landing at the water's edge even closer to where we were standing. Further stops were made at the other hides and viewing platforms

Altogether, some thirty two species were identified including marsh harrier, booted eagle, little bittern, glossy ibis, white headed duck, pintail and blue throat. In addition we were treated to an impressive display of jumping fish (identity unknown, no fish experts present!).

After thanking Stephan and Els we departed the park at 1130h.

Stephen

New system of planting to help restore the ecology of El Parque Natural

On 23 February 2017 a group of volunteers assisted at the planting of a number of shrubs (Lentisco Espino Negro) in an area of the Parque at risk of erosion. The area had been cultivated in the past and this had reduced the number of stones and indigenous plants so that there was no natural protection for the soil. This had resulted in significant erosion not only due to rain and wind but also by cyclists crossing the area. The eroded soil is gradually silting up the lake.

Using a system of planting originally developed in the semi-desert areas of North Africa, we planted 27 plants around the periphery of the field. These will hopefully grow to about 3metres in height and provide a natural barrier allowing the growth of native flora and fauna in addition to reducing erosion.

A hole was dug about 40cm in depth and a vertical plastic tube inserted which was filled with stones. The hole was then filled with organic matter from the surrounding conifer trees and the plant inserted. The plastic tube was removed leaving the stones to provide a route for rainwater to the roots. A plastic mesh was placed over the plant the plant and the the area covered with large stones, to stop rabbits attacking the plants and reducing evaporation, and then surrounded with acacia twigs to act as a windbreak. Finally, channels were made radiating from the plant to direct rainwater.

We look forward to monitoring the progress of this venture.

Pictures courtesy of the Parque.

Stephen

At work planting

Thanks to Ana Melendez for these photos

Siting of nestboxes

On a somewhat chilly Thursday morning a group of intrepid volunteers ably assisted by the staff of Parque La Mata set out to site the nestboxes which had been restored over the preceding few months by other members of the volunteers.

First there was a preliminary talk by Justo explaining how the aim of the project is to encourage Carbonero común (Parus major, Great tit), a natural predator of the procesionario caterpillar, to nest among the pine trees in the Parque and then we set off into the Parque.

With the aid of members of the Parque work force to clear any obstructing branches from the selected sites, all twelve nest boxes were successfully sited. The position of each box was recorded using GPS.

Over the breeding season the volunteers will monitor the nestboxes for signs of nesting activity.

More photos are available on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Lagunas-de-Torrevieja-y-La-MataVoluntarios-368312283377134/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED)

Stephen

The Day of the Wetlands

As a celebration of the Day of the Wetlands a guided walk in  the Parque Natural of La Mata attracted a group of 40 people, which included 5 of the Volunteers of La Mata, and several children.  We set off along the official route and the guide explained to us what the signs on the side of the path indicate.  We are asked to stay on the official route, not to pick the plants, and above all to keep dogs on leads as there are nesting birds on the ground at present.

The lake water is particularly high at present due to the exceptional rain which has fallen recently and it is hoped the nesting birds were able to move further up the banks and not be washed away.

We saw how new vines are propagated by using a cutting from an old vine which is then dug deep into a hole so as to put out new roots.  At one time all the land from the Park down to the sea was vines until buildings took over.

Our guide explained the different plants and birds and at the end of the walk we had all learned things we had not previously realized.   A most interesting morning in spite of the fierce wind and one we all enjoyed.

Jenny Dodd, Press Secretary

Nesting boxes

An important event was held on the 9th of February when new nest boxes were installed in trees in the Natural Park of La Mata.  These nest boxes are intended to encourage the Great Tit to nest and breed in the future.  These little birds like to eat the grubs of processionary caterpillars which are such a danger to animals and humans alike.  This year they have started moving early and their nests can be seen in the pine trees. They look like a loose ball of cotton wool. When they come down from the trees they line up nose to tail and process, hence the name.  A small group of the Volunteers of La Mata has been busy renovating old nest boxes and making new ones which were ready to be installed.  A crowd of 14 of the volunteers followed the Park employees into the woods where the nest boxes had to be hung in a specific way.  First of all they had to be quite high up.  Secondly surrounding branches had to be cut away so that rats cannot get into the nest boxes.  To further stop rats gnawing away the wood round the small opening where the birds will enter, a metal plate has been fixed.

The Volunteers will have the task of monitoring the success of this project and GPS positions have been noted so as to locate them all.  A most successful project; now we await the birds.

Thanks to Jenny Dodd for the article and photos

Birthday party!

Thanks to Ana Melendez for these photos

Processionary nest!

Watch out! Processionary nest spotted in the park today....keep your dogs away from trees, too!