News and articles

Join our Pod!

Do you have a passion for nature and the skills to help our organisation flourish?

We are looking for a new committee member to join us on a voluntary basis.

The ideal candidate will be passionate about nature and biological recording and have experience in fundraising and/or serving as a charity governor.

The 8th Annual General Meeting of the Jersey Biodiversity Centre (JBC) will be held in accordance with the constitution of the JBC on Wednesday 10th July 2024 at 13:00 in the members room of the Société Jersiaise, 7 Pier Road, St Helier, Jersey.

The meeting is expected to last approximately 1 hour.

Tea and coffee will be provided.

Step free access is available via the Jersey Heritage Link Gallery.

Please consider your transport method, bicycle parking is available at Jersey Museum, and Liberation Bus Station is only a short distance from the venue.

The Jersey Biodiversity Centre has an exciting opportunity for an experienced and enthusiastic person to deliver biodiversity outreach, training, and communications.

The annual Jersey Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (JBMS) event returns in 2024.

Date and Time: Saturday May 18th, 10am - 3pm.

Location: Frances Le Sueur Centre, St Ouen.

Reserve your place via Eventbrite

The JBMS has been tracking the fortunes of butterflies at sites across the Island for the past 20 years!

The annual Reptilewatch training event returns in 2024.

Date and Time: Saturday, March 16th · 10am

Location: Frances Le Sueur Centre, St Ouen.

Reserve your place via Eventbrite

What is Reptilewatch JE?

Reptilewatch JE is a project that aims to gather sightings of Jersey’s reptiles to help assess their conservation status, distribution and habitat requirements.

The annual Pondwatch training event returns for its sixth year in 2024.

Date and Time: Saturday, February 17 · 10am - 4pm.

Location: Frances Le Sueur Centre, St Ouen.

Reserve your place via Eventbrite

What is Pondwatch JE?

Pondwatch JE is a project that aims to gather sightings of Jersey’s pond life to help assess their conservation status, distribution and habitat requirements.

We’d like to know what you think about the Jersey Biodiversity Centre and what you think our priorities should be.

We have developed the following survey and would be grateful if you could take a few minutes to complete it:

Jersey Biodiversity Centre - Customer Survey

The survey will be accepting responses until Sunday 18th February 2024.

Please only complete the survey once.

Thank you.

The Jersey Biodiversity Centre (JBC) is excited to share a fantastic free summer activity to spot wild reptiles across the island.  You need to spend 30minutes visually looking for reptiles and count what species you saw and how many. There are four native reptiles you could spot and by sharing your survey you can help in their conservation. 

Please send in your survey results, even if you didn't see any bats. This information is called absent data and is important for the Jersey Bat Group to identify areas to investigate further. 

Digital survey form can be found here. 

Join in a session of rock pooling searching for inspiration for live drawing. Working along close to shore this area of the bay is very accessible from town. Despite its looks, this area of rocky shore is a buzz for wildlife including sponges, fish, anemones and loads of crabs. Use guides to learn the animal names and help record wildlife for Jersey conservation.

Settle down along the shore with wildlife and enjoy the scenery whilst drawing and painting your rockpool finds. Equipment for drawing and watercolour is provided.

Please join the Jersey Bat Group and Jersey Biodiversity Centre for the fifth year of Great Garden Bat Watch.

We are asking if you could look for bats on an evening for 9th-11th June.  Head into your garden, or to an open space near your house or anywhere in the Island to look for bats. A perfect way to spend a summer evening!

Where: Any outside space (garden, park, lane, beach)

Ladybirds - here are 47 species of ladybird species that can be found in the UK and each one varies in size and colouring. Their bright colours are used to warn predators of their foul taste however, some species of ladybird lack this foul taste and instead rely on predators associating all ladybirds as being bad to eat. Ladybirds are often viewed as a pleasant visitor to gardens this is because they not only help pollinate plants, but they also help maintain aphid populations at bay helping to protect gardeners' plants. 

The 7th Annual General Meeting of the Jersey Biodiversity Centre will be held in accordance with the constitution of the JBC in the members room of the Société Jersiaise, 7 Pier Road, St Helier, Jersey on 17th July 2023.

We expect the meeting to last approximately 1 hour.

Tea and coffee will be provided.

Step free access is available from Jersey Heritage Link Gallery.

Written by Rafael Fernandes 

There are many benefits of getting outside and surrounding yourself in nature. You do not have to go far or walk miles to feel the benefits. If you have a garden, you can sit and watch the birds or the insects, feel the wind or the warm summer sun on your face, and take time to listen to the birds singing. So why is it good for your mental health? Well according to Mind Jersey, being out in nature can: 
- Improve your mood 
- Reduce stress levels 
- Can help you to meet new people 
- Helps you to take time out 

Bluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta

It is April, the clocks have changed, the weather is warming and there is now a real feel of Spring across our countryside accompanied by an explosion of wild flowers. For many bluebells are a charismatic and iconic flower of early Spring.

And we’re off – the first ‘Wildlife Warriors’ can start their trails from today! There are four trails to choose from and families can use them to:

Identify birds at Elizabeth Castle

Discover minibeasts at Hamptonne

Explore the trees at La Hougue Bie

Spot wall lizards at Mont Orgueil Castle

A fantastic start of the easter holidays with bee watching at Samares Manor. We've been seeing lots of queen Common carder bumblebees along slide the solitary hairy-footed flower bees. The Herb garden has been a buzz of activity and we're even spotted some tiny mining bees sunbathing on the leaves warming up.

The Early Career Scientists Internship Programme is being delivered through a partnership between the Government of Jersey and Earthwatch Europe. It is for students aged 18 and over, studying for a degree in science, geography, environment agriculture or a related field.

An eight-week paid internship programme for Islanders to carry out environmental research in Jersey is now open for applications.

One of the most beautiful and lively times of year is just around the corner. Longer evenings and warmer days mean spring is well on its way. Spring is one of the best times of year for any wildlife lover; flowers, insects, mammals, birds, and much more are starting to make their first appearances. Whether in your garden or out and about there is so much you can now look out for in the coming months.  

PondWatch is asking you this Valentine's week to look out for toads getting together in your garden. Spread the love for amphibians and watch as they head back to their ponds for the breeding season. 

PondWatch is a community science project where we're asking you to spot wildlife in your pond and share sightings to help pond conservation. Jersey has three native amphibian species, and a host of other wildlife for which ponds are a vital habitat for them to survive.   

Get a spring in your step by trying out a new wildlife activity as the weather start to change. Taking time outside can help with our wellbeing and all these activities can be done with little to no equipment, keeping the price down for any new wildlife watchers. 

Walk around the grasslands, woodlands, parks or gardens in early spring and you are very likely to come across large sprays of delicate white flowers, commonly known as snowdrops. They may be small but they come with a mysterious, complex history and have been used for centuries as a symbol of rebirth and renewal. 

A fantastic report showcasing the importance of your biological records to national conservation. The Channel Islands have contributed to this new Atlas for centipedes!

Including an interesting finding "Of the banded or variegated centipede, Lithobius variegatus with nearly 7,800 records in Britain, Ireland and the Channel Islands, but which is apparently absent or rare in parts of eastern England and Scotland as well as most of Europe, apart from Brittany, Pyrenees-Atlantiques and northern Iberia."

Are you going to be attracting Santa's reindeer to your garden this winter? Check your reindeer food is safe for our local wildlife before sprinkling it down. It may contain sweets, edible glitter and plastic that may harm our lovely local wildlife. Check out RSPCA suggestion for an alternative. 

You will need: 

• A mushroom fruiting body, preferably an older one. It can be any type of mushroom, but cap and stem mushrooms are easiest and work best.  - You can also use supermarket fungi! 

• Printer paper. Black or white will usually work some mushrooms have very light or dark spores so you may want to try on both.  

• A glass bowl or cup large enough to cover the mushroom.  

• A Ziploc bag for storage or some clear sticky back plastic. 

How often would you say you are mindful?  Do you know what being mindful involves, how to do it or what it actually means? 

Earthworms are not actually a type of scientific classification but instead is the common name used to describe the largest members of Oligochaeta which are found in the phylum Analidia. Currently there are 29 species of earthworms in the UK that are considered native. And they are typically split into 3 ecological groups Epigeic, Endogeic and Anecic although some people also consider compost worms to be an extra ecological group. 

Epigeic 

Many of us have likely walked by mushrooms in the past, maybe acknowledged them or had a quick look but probably never realised quite how complex and important the microscopic world of fungi is.  

Join our team by subscribing to our seasonal newsletter. There is always lots of up upcoming events and sightings guides to get you noticing islands wildlife as the seasons change.

The Biodiversity Centre has a huge legacy of wildlife sightings dating back to the 1800s and is one of the biggest ways our supporters can make a difference in future conservation.

Every wildlife sighting that is shared with us is stored safely for the future and is used to monitor population trends and support protected areas.

It's that time of year again when summer has slowly come to an end. The colder, damper air draws in and the days become shorter. For some this may be upsetting that the hot sun and balmy evenings have disappeared, however for many of our local species autumn is the best time of year. 

Natures larder is full to the brim with berries and insects, perfect for one of our favourite little prickly mammals. The hedgehog. 

Hedgehogs are a native species in Jersey and the UK and have a lifespan of around 3-8 years. 

A lunch time talk on the secret lives of insects during the winter months and how we can prepare for their arrival in spring.

About this event

Bees are a beautiful animal to spot during our warmer months but understanding where they disappear off to is key in helping these animals thrive. Calling all gardeners and wildlife enthusiasts who always pondered where does the wildlife go?

Doors open at 13:00. Talk begins at 13:10 to finish at 13:45.

Join us for a spooky evening finding and identifying common spiders.

Biodiversity Couse: Jersey Spider Species

20th October @ 18:00-20:00

Location: Philip Mourant center, Trinity

A spooky evening course covering spider ID and field surveying techniques.

Participants will learn to identify common spider species by body shapes and webs. You will create a Spi-Pot for catching spiders and look for species around the buildings.

Get you and your pond ready for Spring with an evening on the pond life of Jersey.

Biodiversity Couse: Pond Life of Jersey

29th September @ 18:00-20:00

Location - Philip Mourant Centre, Trinity

A 2hour evening course covering amphibian and other pond life identification.

Participants will also learn how to implement safe and responsible pond-dipping techniques as well as identify and plan ways to improve pond habitats to help in conservation.

Help in bat conservation by taking photos, sharing your sightings and looking for indication of bats roosting. 

The top tips for looking for bats around homes, gardens and outbuildings include:

A message from Sam Napaul: 

I'm a JICAS masters student, working with the natural environment department, carrying out a small radio-tracking project on jerseys grass snakes. The aim of the project is to monitor the habitats the snakes use by tracking their ranges and daily habits. I have obtained all the licensing required, but now i need your help!

If you find a grass snake, please contact me directly on 07748595527.

What it looks like:

An adult looks shiny are about 6-7mm long and the outer shell has a metallic purple and green stripes this is over the wings cases and thorax. With their larvae they are a greyish-white and darker stripes run along their bodies and when they are fully grown, they are 8mm long. And for their eggs they look like sausage-shaped and may be found at the end of branches beneath leaves.

Habitat:

Where do we live? We live in the North Atlantic Ocean we are the biggest land mammal that can be found in the UK. Our Bodies?  We are like you we are warm- blooded we can control our body heat with our blubber you humans call it fat. But we don’t have hands or legs like you, we have flippers they help us swim in the sea faster than you! We also have a tail which helps us control where we end up. We also can hold our breaths for long periods of time not like you our skin is thicker than yours too.

2nd June to 5th June 2022. .

Please join the Jersey Bat Group for the fourth Great Garden Bat Watch!

This event combines the joy of (hopefully!) watching bats with citizen science based research that can help us better understand bats across Jersey.

We are particularly keen to receive sightings of bats from St Helier and other urban areas around the Island to help us with our research into Jersey's urban bat populations.

Terrapins (Trachemys scripta). Terrapins, also known as sliders, are reptiles that have historically been imported from the USA as pets and farmed for human consumption. There are several subspecies which include the red-eared slider, yellow-bellied slider, Cumberland slider and common slider. They are often bought young as pets, only a few centimetres in size, but soon grow to the size of a dinner plate.

Sour fig (Carpobrotus edulis) and Purple dew plant (Disphyma crassifolium)

Most people think of animals such as cats and rats when you mention invasive species, however plants can also be invasive. One plant that is particularly damaging in Jersey is Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica). Introduced in the late 1800s, this plant has become so deadly because not only does it penetrate walls, asphalt and drainage works, causing safety risks. But it also forms a dense canopy, which prevents other plants from growing, damaging the islands native plantlife. 

Join our team! We're looking for a digital design intern to help create videos and marketing materials for a summer placement.

If you love Jersey wildlife and telling stories of our amazing island this could be the summer placement for you.

15hrs a week and flexible working days.

As we say goodbye to Genny our first ever paid internship staff member she has kindly written an article on how this experience has helped her develop in conservation. 

Species: The Palmate newt scientifically known as (Lissotriton helveticus) are the only species of newt found on the island of Jersey. Approximately 6cm in length with a similar appearance to the common newt. Although there are a few records on the JBC database of common newts these are most likely to be misidentified as Palmate newts. Both male, and sometimes female is characterised by smooth brown skin with lines of spots along the sides (flanks) and tail (McLaren, 2009).

Conservation status: Amphibians are the most threatened taxa due to anthropogenic factors such as habitat destruction, environmental contamination and most importantly climate change. They are sensitive to climate change due to their permeable skin as they rely on optimal microclimatic conditions for osmoregulation and respiration (Combes et al., 2018). 

Species: The Agile frog (Rana dalmatina) is unique in Jersey and is found nowhere else in the British Isles. It is no surprise that these frogs get their name as they are slim, with unique long stripey hind legs. Adults can grow up to 9cm, snout to vent length (SVL) and can jump up to a staggering 2 meters. This is particularly important when escaping from predation such as domestic cats which is a huge problem for almost every island native species. Whereas frogspawn is at risk by waterfowl (ducks) and non-native fish.

Our learning programme for primary schools is back! With spring on the horizon now is the time to connect to nature and learn outside.

Sessions are FREE and can be booked for schools, community groups such as guides/scouts and holiday clubs. 

NEW for 2022! - Resource boxes 

We have a new resource box available to borrow focusing on Moths! You get a moth trap for over night use, sampling pots and trays and a range of ID guides. 

Thank you so much Waitrose for donating £250 towards the centre's work. Our first donation of 2022!  

Jersey is home to a wide variety of native wildlife that each play and important role in maintaining the biodiversity of jersey. However, there are some non-native species who can cause damage to environments and outcompete some native wildlife for recourses which causes a huge disruption in the ecosystem. Unfortunately, Jersey contains some of these organisms that damage the environment, these organisms have been named an invasive species. 

I have had the fantastic opportunity to volunteer with the Jersey Biodiversity Centre as part of my dissertation research project this summer. Although the dry and sunny days this summer have appeared few and far between, those days where the sun made an appearance have seen me wandering around the beautiful island of Jersey to complete Flower-insect timed (FIT) counts. With the difficult year we have had, and the subsequent disturbance to my formal University education, this was the first time I was truly able to experience field work.

When thinking about bees, the honey bee is the iconic bee species which comes to mind and the thought of bees is often followed by thoughts of nature, summer and picnics. However, there are over 20,000 bee species which are categorized into many different groups including; honey bees, bumblebees, mining bees and solitary bees. Bees belong to the Hymenoptera taxon order in the insecta class along with other familiar species including ants and wasps.   

During the last 6 weeks I have been on a full-time placement at the Jersey Biodiversity Centre. Throughout this placement I have had the opportunity to undertake a wide-variety of work, which includes conducting various surveys and writing articles for the public. Although there was a wide-variety of surveys to conduct while focusing on a wide-variety of species, biodiversity conservation is at the heart of everything at the Jersey Biodiversity Centre. 

In appreciation for ‘world snake day’, we are going to highlight the tremendous diversity of snakes and discuss Jersey’s native snake species, the barred grass snake (Natrix helvetica).  World snake day is an annual awareness day which takes place on 16th July, aiming to educate the public on the diversity and importance of snakes. Snakes have a negative connotation evoking fear and an uneasiness by many people.

Follow the AGM Chairman and Manager update here

In appreciation of ‘don’t step on a bee day’ we’re going to highlight bee diversity and the importance of bees. This awareness day is held annually on 10th July, which aims to educate the public and highlight the importance of bees and their contribution. When thinking about bees, the honey bee is the iconic bee species which comes to mind and the thought of bees is often followed by thoughts of nature, summer and picnics.

The oceans cover over 70% of our planet, providing many services ranging from the food that we eat to the air that we breathe.  The protection of our oceans and marine wildlife is extremely important, however human activity is severely impacting the health and stability of marine ecosystems globally.

When talking about bees there’s a species that comes to everyone’s mind, the honey bee. Not only is this only one species of the breadth of bees we have, it is also a farmed animal. Originating from Africa, honey bees are farmed all around the world. Yet we have huge diversity of wild bees that don’t get a mention when the ‘bee’ word is called. We’re going to introduce you to some of the wild bees you can spot in our island and hopefully get you out spotting them on a sunny day.

Now the weather is better it is time to get counting the pollinators!   

As patches are flowering across the island, either as a dedicated pollinator patch or as a wild garden from no mow may, it is time to see what animals are using these spaces. You will need good weather to complete the survey. If the sky is clear a minimum of 13°C is needed to complete the survey or if the sky is cloudy then a minimum temperature for a count is 15°C

Jersey’s exceptional landscapes and seascapes are the inspiration behind a new visitor centre at Jersey Museum & Art Gallery that opens to the public this Saturday (29th). The Aspiring Jersey Island Geopark Visitor Centre, sponsored by Saltgate, introduces the story of Jersey’s geological heritage. It aims to encourage Islanders and visitors to go out and explore Jersey and see first-hand how geology has shaped and influenced the Island we know today. The Visitor Centre is in the John de Veulle Gallery on the ground floor of the Museum and entry is free.

In 2011, Jersey produced the first red list of bird species for any of the Channel Islands*. A red list is an internationally recognised document aimed at highlighting those species most threatened with local or global extinction.

Author: Kevin McIlwee

Blitz is a name that has featured 3 times in my life (excluding Santa's Reindeer Blitzen of course). As a youngster in the early 50's, I played on one of Birmingham’s Blitzkrieg bomb sites. There I witnessed first hand the destruction of war, although at the time I was too young to appreciate the power we had harnessed, capable of eliminating not just each other but 99% of all the other species as well.

Bumblebees are a charismatic group of insects as they are recognised for their important ecological role in pollination of both wild and agricultural plants. Unfortunately, after the Second World War, their numbers and geographic range declined. Whilst this is likely due to a combination of possible explanations, the leading cause is currently thought to be the intensification of farming (2–4).

 Author: Dr Amy Hall

Tree protection in Jersey is non-existent.  Even the protected trees are not protected.  Some worrying facts below:

1) There have been 30 applications to fell protected trees since 2008.

2) NONE of these 30 applications were refused

Beaulieu Convent School are studying daffodil species in Jersey and need our help. Please use this survey form they've created to submit your records and there is a handy species guide on there for ID help.  Their project title is: The mapping of daffodils within Jersey for the potential sequencing of their plastomes. Very exciting project that will need lots of records – let’s get out walking and find some!

Botanists are becoming a rare species!  In Victorian times most school children could name wildflowers such as Foxgloves, Forget-me-nots, Poppies and Red Campion and distinguish between a Dandelion and a Buttercup.  Victorian schoolchildren walked along the lanes and could see the changes in the seasons by the flowers in the hedgerows.  Children and adults today travel in cars and are no longer so connected to nature.  Many adults struggle to identify even common wildflowers.  There are no British universities offering a Botany degree any more.&nbsp

Wildlife recording can take place at any time of day or night and is a great way to appreciate nature around you. Nature is everywhere and taking notice can help with our mental wellbeing. We asked our local wildlife recorders what top tip they would give to someone starting their journey of wildlife recording for the New Year. 

We’ve had an interesting year for wildlife recording and whilst many citizen science recording schemes have been put on hold this year we’ve still seen records flowing through our website. During lockdown we didn’t need to do much adapting with the management of the JBC, we are lucky that our wildlife database system can be viewed online. We’ve have over 16,800 records inputted this year, with December still to go!

We want to inspire people to take an interest in natural history and nature through the arts and we are looking for people willing to share their skills through craft evenings. Any crafts from flower pressing, willow weaving, painting and drawing, we are completely open to all types of crafts.

Written by Kevin McIlwee         December 2020 

It is a great honour to be asked to join the Jersey Biodiversity Centre Committee and to be given the opportunity to introduce members and supporters to our island’s amazing marine environment. This article provides a bit of background on the importance of marine species data.

Written by Alli Singleton

Towards the end of October and setting out in torrential rain, the Societe Jersiase Botany Section headed down to Bouley Bay in search of wildflowers. The challenge being, to find wildflowers still in bloom and submit as many records as possible to the “Wildflower Society”  last day hunt.

With Jersey Liberation celebrating 75 years it seems fitting that a butterfly that arrived during the occupation but since became locally extinct has returned to the island. A wonderful example of how Jersey’s natural history is influenced by historic events and how the return of a species of butterfly can be a sign of hope and renewal in difficult times.

If you have been walking in the countryside recently you will probably have noticed that many fungi are starting to appear now that we have entered autumn and the rain has started.  Identification of fungi can be problematic as, there are perhaps 6 times as many fungal species as there are flowering plants and the mushroom or toadstool we see is just the fruiting body of the fungus and is usually only short lived which doesn’t help.  However, some species are easily identified and a few of these are illustrated below, if you find any of these species

As part of Ogier's funding towards the Pollinator Project educational activities we've run this year they came as a team of eight to the Biodiversity Centre. The afternoon was spent planting pollinator plants and building bug and bee hotels to make the Societe Jersiaise's urban garden at Pier Road a better habitat for wildlife. This work was to improve the garden to reflect the work that the Societe Jersiaise and the Biodiversity Centre does in supporting wildlife conservation. The area will be looked after by the Biodiversity Centre's volunteers.

Almost everything we do has an impact on the world around us. When we think about pollution, we will often think about vehicle exhaust fumes or plastics contaminating beaches. You may not realise that noise and light can also be a form a pollution if they become harmful to wildlife.

Why are they harmful to wildlife?

For educators who want to advance their knowledge and practical skills for pond environments and pond dipping. Tickets available here 

About this Event

This training is for educators in Primary schools, activity clubs, or in other areas of education.

By Liz Corry. 

On the 15th and 16th we invited India Wedge over to run a two day training course on pollinator identification. The Sponsorship for the Countryside enhancement scheme allowed the JBC to run this course at a huge discount to the attendees. Held at Jersey Zoo classroom and grounds we spent two days surveying their pollinator patches.

As summer is drawing to a close there is still a lot we can do to support pollinators over winter. Autumn is the perfect time to start planting your pollinator patches, as the weather gets wetter the ground is ideal for the seeds.  To start your pollinator patch you need a dedicated patch of ground, whether that’s in a lawn, window box, pot or flower bed, any size will do. You can purchase a Jersey wildflower mix from Normans suitable for urban areas, gardens and schools.

Author: Elodie Crepin 

Maybe you like to look at the insects around you. But do you really know them? Here are some facts about the main insects you are probably used to seeing.

Diptera (Flies) 

The Channel Island Pollinator Project are delighted to introduce a new tool which allows you to record and view areas that have been set aside as Pollinator Friendly Areas.

Information is provided by the Natural Environment team at the Government of Jersey. 

With our usual activities on hold we have been working in different and exciting new ways to enable you to continue to discover and be inspired by the outdoor world.

Virtual worm lessons: Our education officer, Sarah, has been hosting interactive live sessions on worm biology learning why worms are important and how they navigate a dangerous world. 

Michelle will be joining the JBC as the centre's Manager. 

Michelle joins the JBC from the Jersey General Hospital pathology department. She has a lifelong interest in wildlife and the environment, completing an BSc in environmental protection before moving to Jersey. 

Spring is the perfect time to start your wildlife recording journey. Whether you are watching wildlife from your window or out for a walk there is always plenty to see if we slow down. 

Wildflowers are showing up all along the lanes in Jersey. Whilst social distancing doesn't mean you can't get outside to enjoy the fresh air. There are plenty of walks to enjoy out in the countryside. 

Reindeer Food:
The reindeer food, commonly made or bought by islanders, is made to throw outside Christmas eve may contain sweets, edible glitter and plastic that may harm our lovely local wildlife. 
Therefore, I have provided an alternative that is animal friendly and safe, that is linked HERE. 

Animals to watch for this winter are the hedgehog, red squirrels and toads.  

**Tickets have sold out **

Thursday 21st & Friday 22nd November

Theme - Biodiversity Losses and Gains: Are we on target?

The Convention on Biological Diversity was ratified by the United Kingdom on 3rd June 1994.  At the same time, the treaty was extended to the Bailiwick of Jersey alongside other crown dependencies and overseas territories. This conference will be based around the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 goals, including Aichi Biodiversity Targets

Introduction on Sense Organs:

As part of the Jersey Biodiversity Centre’s role in the Pollinator Project, a number of articles have been penned with the aim of comparing and contrasting certain of Jersey’s native insect orders and species, focussing on those most frequently mistaken for one another.

The Jersey Biodiversity Centre is working with our partners at the Pollinator Project JE and Jersey Trees for Life to publicise the importance of Ivy in Jersey's environment.

Mature ivy can provide a roosting site for bats, it's autumn flowers provide an important source of food for insects at this otherwise barren time of year and later in the season it's berries are a food resource for many different species of birds. 

This article contrasts two of the world’s most beautiful insects, namely the moth and the butterfly, both belonging to the insect Order Lepidoptera. Although somewhat similar in appearance, there are many physical as well as behavioural characteristics that differentiate moths and butterflies.

Violet carpenter bee (Xylocopa violacea) 

Our first record of the violet carpenter bee has been recorded in two days. This species distribution extends from Europe across Asia can reach as far as central China. It is a very large bee, reaching 2.5cm, with a black body and violet coloured wings.  

Our two records are from Trinity, 01/06/19 and 02/06/19 and have been verified as correct by a UK verifier. 

By James Moody

Beetles and True Bugs are both hexapod invertebrates, though what is frequently overlooked is that the two are in fact differentiated as separate and distinct orders of insect, each comprised of many thousands of species.

The species comprising each order of insect share certain behavioural and physiological traits, which distinguish them as being of either the Order Hemiptera (True Bugs) or the Order Coleoptera (Beetles), there being approximately 400,000 species of Beetle and approximately 75,000 species of True Bug.

We are currently carrying out surveys to look into the biodiversity found in hedgerows in Jersey. We will compare what we find before and after the branchage happens. Hopefully we will be able to carry out these surveys over the next few years to have a better idea of how the branchage might be affecting our biodiversity.

By James Moody.

There is often confusion between wasps and bees, exacerbated by there being numerous genera and sub-species of each insect. 
Despite their numerous similarities, particularly when viewed from a distance (or over one’s shoulder whilst running in the opposite direction), the differences are both numerous and fascinating, as we shall explore below:
 
The Honey Bee (top photo by Louise)

The earthworms in Jersey had never been systematically studied until the winter of 2016/17 when the Earthworm Society of Britain was invited to Jersey to train volunteers in the collection and identification of earthworms.  This project was funded by the Jersey Biodiversity Centre and the States of Jersey Eco-active fund.  The project involved an initial survey on the island to make a start at identifying the local fauna, training workshops for the local recorders and preparation of a reference collection so volunteers could access this to aid in future identifications.  The

As the spring weather warms, a recent addition to Jersey’s biodiversity begins to rouse. Asian Hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax, also known as yellow legged hornet) queens emerge from hibernation to create new nests.

 
Asian Hornets were accidentally introduced to France in 2004 and have since spread throughout France, Spain and into Portugal and Italy. Being so close to the Cotentin Peninsular it was only a matter of time before it arrived in Jersey. The first Jersey sighting was in August 2016.

The Big Garden Bird Watch  and the Jersey's Great Garden Birdwatch have taken place, so let’s get to know some of the common birds that you may find in your garden.

We are going to start off with tits: small birds that are social with stout legs and triangular bills. Different species can be found feeding together over the winter. We are going to look 3 species: blue tit, great tit and long-tailed tit.

The Jersey toad (Bufo spinosus, known locally as the Crapaud) has an iconic status and was once a familiar sight in island ponds and waterways. Recently numbers have declined and so, since 2005, conservationists have been using toad sightings to create an island wide picture of the toad’s distribution, abundance and breeding patterns.

What do we know already -  

The toad breeding season has begun for 2019 with the first sighting of breeding toads spotted on the 16th January, 2 days earlier than last year. It was spotted in St Brelade parish in the same pond as last year.

#newyearnewme

We asked our local wildlife recorders what top tip they would give to someone starting their journey of wildlife recording for the New Year

1. Start off simple. Learn a few new species at a time and get to grips with them for a few weeks or months before moving on to others. You don’t want to overwhelm yourself with too much information to remember at the start. 

Where do butterflies go in the winter?

Some species hibernate as butterflies, while other survive the winter as eggs (ova), larvae (caterpillars) or chrysalis (pupae). Species that are known to hibernate in the UK are: Peacock, Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral.

Butterflies can hibernate in sheds, buildings, small structures such as bird boxes. Naturally they use hollows in trees, caves, rock crevices in stone walls getting them out of the cold for a few months.

Did you know the JSPCA Animals' Shelter collects dead red squirrels for research?

You can drop them at the Reception in anything from a bag to a jumper. This is so that the bodies of squirrels can be collected and post mortem examinations can be performed. It is important to have bodies that have not been frozen. This is a long term programme researching the prevalence of disease in Jersey’s red squirrel population.

What is meant by urban? In Jersey we think of urban areas as the large sections of buildings making up St Helier and Les Quennevais areas. I too have said that I live in the countryside, but do I really? Looking at the Urban Map created by Jersey Mapping (2007) our island’s urbans areas are all over the place, reaching out into our countryside habitats.

Amazing find by Tina Hull, who spotted and recorded Red Goosefoot (Chenopodium rubrum) for the first time in 37 years. Found near Simon Sands with a good number of plants recorded.

Tina says "C.rubrum is in the top 30 British species for length of seed viability - so who knows how long the seeds have been buried there."

Myth Busting Monday – Do all bees die after they sting humans?
 To begin, not all bees sting, males across species cannot sting. Those species which can sting, the honey bee is the one that is likely to die after stinging. It’s because of this that it is assumed that all bee species follow the same rule. MYTH BUSTED – False

We've had a very exciting week! Sarah was awarded conservationist of the year and was also awarded the Peter Walpole people's choice award for the centers BioBlitz schools project. Thank you for everyone who voted for our project and we can't wait to get started!

Myth Busting Monday: Can centipedes bite humans?

Myth Busting Monday - Are Bats Blind?

If we got £1 for every time we heard someone say this ........ This saying has developed because of bats amazing ability to use sonar to navigate through dark areas and avoid obstacles, called echolocation. Their eyes, although small, are completely functional. Fruit bats, that do not use echolocation, have sharp vision and some can see ultraviolet light. MYTH VERDICT: FALSE

Species in photo: Nathusius pipistrelle

Myth Busting Monday - Do earwigs burrow into humans ears?

The wives tale that earwigs burrowed into human ears to lay their eggs in our brain is false. The reason they are called earwigs is the from the Old English ēare, which means "ear", and wicga, which means "insect".

Our education officer, Sarah, was out with the Capturing Our Coast team today for training in rocky shore surveying and also learning about marine invasive surveys.

The invasive species survey can be conducted by anyone and we will follow this post with information of how to run the survey.
 The rocky shore survey requires training but we will be speaking to the CoCoast team to see if the training can be run again later this year. Happy surveying!

Thank you to Jersey Sea Search for funding this training day and the CoCoast team traveling to Jersey.

Written by Sally 

Improve Your Health with Wildlife Monitoring

 
Spring is finally here!

Not only is the weather getting warmer and the days getting longer but we are starting to get our first butterfly records in.

Slow Worm Anguis fragilis

Looking very much like a snake these reptiles are actually legless lizards.

Biodiversity in Jersey draws people from around the world. We are a unique island with a rich marine ecosystem, a hot spot for bird spotters and have flora and fauna species that are not found in the UK.

Many locals and tourists when the weather is bright and sunny make their way to the wilder areas of the island for walks in biodiversity hot spots such as the North Coast and St Catherine’s Woods.

Now is the time of year you can witness tadpoles if your lucky enough to have pond in your garden or at school. We recently went pond dipping at D’Auvergne school where we found loads of tadpoles in the first stage of their development - without any legs.

Over time you get to see them change as they undergo metamorphosis, which is the process where they grow legs, absorb their tail and eventually turn into adult toads.

Did you know that when an animal undergoes metamorphosis their DNA doesn’t change even though they completely change their appearance.

The Jersey toad (Bufo spinosus, known locally as the Crapaud) has an iconic status and was once a familiar sight in island ponds and waterways. Recently numbers have declined and so, since 2005, conservationists have been using information from Jersey residents to create an island-wide picture of the toad’s distribution, abundance and breeding patterns.

Come along to a celebration of Spring with Jersey Heritage.

Spring is full of new possibilities. Jersey Heritage will be welcoming the season of renewal with a mini-festival, celebrating nature with music, dancing, food, artists and local producers.

Heritage spring festival 

This year we will be joining the festivities and make insect hotels and seed starter pots which you can take home for your garden or school. 

Come learn about worms and what wildlife you can spot this spring! 

The Marine Biology section of the Société Jersiaise are holding a low-water walk and seagrass survey with Dr Unsworth.

Dr Unsworth will also be holding a lecture on seagrass whilst he is over in Jersey.

Join us for this years Simply Spring event where we will be hosting a wildlife themed craft workshop. 

10:30-11:30 Caterpillar bookmarks and leaf art

11:30-12:30 Make an insect hotel

13:30 -14:30 Origami agile frogs

14:30-15:30 Bird nest creation 

The Société Jersiaise Marine Biology Section is holding their annual public lecture on Tuesday 28th March, 7.30pm, no.7 Pier Road.

Entry is free 

The talk is held by Dr Richard Unsworth who is an eminent scientist in the world of seagrass, marine ecology and ecosystem services.

He will be presenting a talk about seagrass meadows in Jersey.

Come see us at Wild About Jersey where we will be looking at earthworms with UK experts Emma and Kerry from the Earth Worm Society of Britain.  

Throughout the day we will have earthworms on the show so you can your practice measuring skills and learn about their biology and life underground.

At 12:30-13:00 on Saturday and Sunday you can join in with an earthworm survey. Which involves digging and checking which of the three groups they belong to, checking soil types so be prepared for muddy hands (but gloves will be provided!).

The JSPCA Animals' Shelter would like islander's assistance with a project that is helping to conserve Jersey's red squirrel population. For more details click on the link below:
JSPCA Red Squirrel Study

Join the earthworm survey at: http://earthwormwatch.org/content/welcome-earthworm-watch

Please also send any records into the Jersey Biodiversity Centre

Andrena agilissima, female (Photo S Woodward & H Ikin)

This is the first Channel Islands record of the fly Tachina lurida, Trinity 2014, (photo copyright T Ransome)

The solitary bee Halicitus confusus has been recorded for the first time in the Channel Islands on Portelet Common by Tim Ransome, (photo copywright T Ransome)

The fungi Volvariella bombycina was discovered in a lane in St Lawrence.

A new leaflet describing the work of the JBC has been produced.