Lizard Guide
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wildlife<br />
Goonhilly nature reserve<br />
has awealth of interesting<br />
flora and fauna.<br />
The<strong>Lizard</strong>: Home of the chough<br />
After along decline because of habitat<br />
loss and persecution, the last chough<br />
disappeared from Cornwall (and<br />
England) in 1973. They had last<br />
successfully bred in 1947.<br />
In 2001, there was asmall influx of wild<br />
choughs to southern England and three<br />
birds stayed on The <strong>Lizard</strong> in Cornwall. Since<br />
2002, the now famous pioneering pair has<br />
nested every year at Southerly Point raising<br />
atotal of 32 young so far. Many survive and<br />
some have raised their own young.<br />
Choughs are vulnerable to disturbance<br />
and egg collectors. RSPB staff and<br />
volunteers protect nests night and day, and<br />
closely monitor the expanding population.<br />
Historically, the southwest of the UK,<br />
especially Cornwall, was astronghold<br />
for choughs. Their return isamilestone<br />
in terms of UK range recovery for this<br />
captivating crow.<br />
The Cornwall Chough Project ensures<br />
the future for the birds by working with<br />
landowners torestore grassland and<br />
heathland habitats along the coastal fringe.<br />
Grazing by suitable stock provides achoughfriendly<br />
mosaic of open, short grasslands<br />
where they can forage for invertebrates.<br />
Choughs are quite confiding birds. If<br />
you see choughs on your walk, do not<br />
deliberately approach them, just stand or<br />
sit quietly and they may even come closer<br />
giving you the best chance to enjoy these<br />
captivating crows.<br />
If you have adog or dogs with you, please<br />
remember that wildlife, including choughs<br />
are vulnerable to disturbance and your<br />
dog could even surprise and kill achough,<br />
especially ajuvenile chough. Please keep<br />
your dog on alead where there are choughs<br />
around. If you are taking photographs,<br />
please don’t try to approach too closely and<br />
disturb them, the coastal footpath is abusy<br />
place and they should be allowed to feed<br />
undisturbed wherever possible.<br />
The <strong>Lizard</strong> chough watchpoint at the<br />
most southerly point on The <strong>Lizard</strong> will be<br />
open from March 29 to early June 11am<br />
-4pm weather permitting. That’s the best<br />
place to see them. Send in their sightings<br />
to cornishchoughs@rspb.org.uk or to go the<br />
blog at www.cornishchoughs.org and follow<br />
the link.<br />
32 www.visitlizardcornwall.co.uk
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