Wildlife September - November 2012

[Lesley Cox]

I wondered had you seen the "Sunday" item about the lizard poaching Anthony. I could hardly keep from weeping. Those filthy b......s taking them in such numbers and coming back again and again, mostly from Germany, to plunder our beautiful geckos and other lizards. Transporting them in tiny pouches and even in their underpants for God's sake. The penalties at this end for such crimes are pitiful and pathetic.

[ronm]

Does this "Sunday" have a web page Lesley?

I must admit I had a quick peep,  . This ( maybe different?) newspaper certainly seems to cover the environmental stories well. More in one week than we see all year!

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10808400

Certainly added to my bookmarks. Well done NZ Herald 

And from the leads there, this amazing page!
http://species.asu.edu/Top10     

[Anthony Darby]

I wondered had you seen the "Sunday" item about the lizard poaching Anthony. I could hardly keep from weeping. Those filthy b......s taking them in such numbers and coming back again and again, mostly from Germany, to plunder our beautiful geckos and other lizards. Transporting them in tiny pouches and even in their underpants for God's sake. The penalties at this end for such crimes are pitiful and pathetic.

Yes Lesley, it is very sad. The jewelled gecko must be New Zealand's finest species. All bar one of the native lizards (geckos and skinks) produce live young, maximum two per year, so they are slow breeders. I used to get 8 eggs per year from my Madagascar green (and blue) day geckos (Phelsuma madagascariensis grandis and P. standingi). I am so pleased that my geckos are breeding and that there is a thriving captive breeding programme.

[Stephenb]

Who am I? :

[Anthony Darby]

I would suggest poplar hawk moth (Laothoe populi) caterpillar? They feed on poplar, willow and sallow.

[Stephenb]

Thanks, Anthony! Picture taken in Chelsea Physic Garden in London.

[Natalia]

This summer we were on an expedition to the area of Lake Baikal - this is one of the inhabitants of the Baikal Forest - Tamias sibiricus - these funny animals are very curious

[Paul T]

Natalia,

I had to go and look that one up.  The Siberian Chipmunk..... an invasive species in places.  Cute little tykes, aren't they?

[Natalia]

No, Paul, Tamias sibiriсus - the indigenous inhabitants of Siberia and the Urals. Spread from the north-east of the European part Russia to Kamchatka. Differs from the American species - it is often identified as a separate genus - Eutamias.

  I agree, very cute cookie thief and pine cones. 

[Paul T]

Natalia,

I realised it came from Siberia etc...... that I assume is why it has the common name of Siberian Chipmunk.  Apparently the only chipmunk species outside of North America.

 Or are you saying that Tamias sibiritsus is different to Tamias sibiricus?  I can only find T. sibiricus on the Net, if I try sibiritsus it redirects me to sibiricus?

[Natalia]

I'm sorry Paul - my typo  correctly - Tamias sibiricus
I meant that the Siberian species differs from its American counterparts and often isolated in a separate genus. But this is a case of zoologists, here I can not judge.

[mark smyth]

mass exodus of chaffinches and bramnblings out of Sweden after a beech mast failure.

Over 2000 blue tits ringed in one day http://www.falsterbofagelstation.se/index_e.html

[Anthony Darby]

Where are they heading?

[mark smyth]

Out of Sweden I assume. It could be a great year for Bramblings in the UK and Ireland and I get a chance to see one for the first time

[mark smyth]

Falsterbo Lighthouse, where the video and ringing took place,  is on the southern tip of Sweden and beside Denmark so these Blue tits, Chaffies and Bramblings are heading to Denmark and Germany