Coney Meadow and Adjoining Areas (6 Viewers)

Woodchat said:

Hi Mary,

Although the Glow-worm habitat isn't directly threatened at present, I am concerned that nearby housing developments (currently being built) could have adverse long-term effects on the future of this colony. When the developments are completed, there will undoubtedly be greater levels of artificial illumination as well as increased human disturbance (and antisocial activities) in the area. Just this Saturday afternoon there was an incident that I had to report to the police - a group of youths were riding motorbikes around Gorsey Bank - which, apart from anything else, presented a potential hazard to anyone walking in the area. They left a load of rubbish / beer cans in their wake. Sadly, I can't see this kind of thing reducing in frequency when 1000+ more people take up residence nearby.

I can only hope that the colony starts to spread to areas on the other side of the canal where it is generally quieter.[/QUOTE

Sounds like it's another all too frequent situation. :-C
Would the Canal Trust, assisted perhaps by Worcs WT, consider relocating some of them before it's too late?

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Mary said:

Woodchat said:

Hi Mary,

Although the Glow-worm habitat isn't directly threatened at present, I am concerned that nearby housing developments (currently being built) could have adverse long-term effects on the future of this colony. When the developments are completed, there will undoubtedly be greater levels of artificial illumination as well as increased human disturbance (and antisocial activities) in the area. Just this Saturday afternoon there was an incident that I had to report to the police - a group of youths were riding motorbikes around Gorsey Bank - which, apart from anything else, presented a potential hazard to anyone walking in the area. They left a load of rubbish / beer cans in their wake. Sadly, I can't see this kind of thing reducing in frequency when 1000+ more people take up residence nearby.

I can only hope that the colony starts to spread to areas on the other side of the canal where it is generally quieter.[/QUOTE

Sounds like it's another all too frequent situation. :-C
Would the Canal Trust, assisted perhaps by Worcs WT, consider relocating some of them before it's too late?

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Interesting point, I highlighted this in my objection letter to the Chawson Lane development. As follows:

Invertebrates - No appraisal of the potential invertebrate assemblage of the area has been undertaken and as such no assessment of impacts has been made. It is documented publicly that a colony of glow worms (Lampyris noctiluca), are present in the entrance area to Droitwich community woods a currently un-illuminated area close to the site entrance. Glow worms are limited in their distribution in the county and are reported to be in decline. The effect of artificial lighting on glow worm populations is not clearly understood but there is evidence that males are attracted to artificial lighting and therefore may become less efficient at detecting females. Females may not begin to glow if the background light levels are too high as they would consider it to still be ‘daylight’, or may decrease the amount of time they spend glowing and therefore decrease their chance of attracting a mate. These scenarios could decrease the population size due to decreased mating success/opportunities or make areas of otherwise suitable habitat unsuitable. No consideration has been given to invertebrates and impacts upon them.

The reality is that glowworms have no special status other than they are a bit more charismatic than a genuinely rare midge.

The key will be to get a number of sites in the locality in suitable condition and to manage them. My gut feel is that there are various areas that are suitable locally, maybe they are under recorded? or the population is just very localised.

As for translocation very little has been done on this in the past, however I was involved in a scheme in Buckinghamshire which is being monitored this year so watch this space for results. Females are easy to catch, they glow and they don't fly away, males however do not glow but the do fly. To ensure we caught males and females we cobbled together some green LED lights with some watch batteries (all from Maplins) to act as alluring females in a funnel trap (to the untrained eye this looks like a lemonade bottle), and yes, the male glowworm, when he is in the mood for love really does fall for this cunning plan.

We shall have an article on this in the next Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management magazine so i'll see if I can post a copy here. Until this is published the is no definitive guide on this process.

Triturus

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Triturus said:

Mary said:

Interesting point, I highlighted this in my objection letter to the Chawson Lane development. As follows:

Invertebrates - No appraisal of the potential invertebrate assemblage of the area has been undertaken and as such no assessment of impacts has been made. It is documented publicly that a colony of glow worms (Lampyris noctiluca), are present in the entrance area to Droitwich community woods a currently un-illuminated area close to the site entrance. Glow worms are limited in their distribution in the county and are reported to be in decline. The effect of artificial lighting on glow worm populations is not clearly understood but there is evidence that males are attracted to artificial lighting and therefore may become less efficient at detecting females. Females may not begin to glow if the background light levels are too high as they would consider it to still be ‘daylight’, or may decrease the amount of time they spend glowing and therefore decrease their chance of attracting a mate. These scenarios could decrease the population size due to decreased mating success/opportunities or make areas of otherwise suitable habitat unsuitable. No consideration has been given to invertebrates and impacts upon them.

The reality is that glowworms have no special status other than they are a bit more charismatic than a genuinely rare midge.

The key will be to get a number of sites in the locality in suitable condition and to manage them. My gut feel is that there are various areas that are suitable locally, maybe they are under recorded? or the population is just very localised.

As for translocation very little has been done on this in the past, however I was involved in a scheme in Buckinghamshire which is being monitored this year so watch this space for results. Females are easy to catch, they glow and they don't fly away, males however do not glow but the do fly. To ensure we caught males and females we cobbled together some green LED lights with some watch batteries (all from Maplins) to act as alluring females in a funnel trap (to the untrained eye this looks like a lemonade bottle), and yes, the male glowworm, when he is in the mood for love really does fall for this cunning plan.

We shall have an article on this in the next Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management magazine so i'll see if I can post a copy here. Until this is published the is no definitive guide on this process.

Triturus

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Many thanks for your reply, Triturus. Fascinating work! Would love to read the outcome when available.
It's the old story that the Tigers and Pandas etc, whilst very much in need of help, get all the headlines and the humble insects just get squashed. I say that because when we were outside Morrisons in Stratford yesterday, there was a trodden-on Hawk-moth on the path, too flat to id, but the colours of Poplar maybe. Education, education, education - from nursery school age.

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Woodchat said:

A Whimbrel just flew due west over Coney Meadow - calling.

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Phil Andrews said:

Patch tick Dave?

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Birder Gladys said:

sorry to the bearer of bad news but had 2 Mink yesterday by the overflow outlet just by the bridge at Salwarpe.

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Woodchat said:

Just had my best ever single count of Mistle Thrushes on the patch - at least 59 in a single loose flock!

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Mary said:

Strewth! I didn't know there were that many in the county! Were they on the move, do you think?

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