No 9 - Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society

THE GIBRALTAR BIODIVERSITY PROJECT 

GONHS LAUNCHES MAJOR NEW INITIATIVE 

At the beginning of 2003, 

Gibraltar’s Tercentenary Year, 

GONHS launched a major new initiative 

– the Gibraltar Biodiversity Project 

(GBDP) – at a public meeting 

at the John Mackintosh Hall. 

This initiative, which will direct 

the Society’s activities for the next 

few years, aims at fulfilling 

Gibraltar’s obligations under the 

Biodiversity Convention as well as 

providing a basis for ensuring a 

rich, diverse and sustainable environment 

for Gibraltar for the future. 

The project aims at producing 

as full a catalogue as possible of 

Gibraltar’s living resources, together 

with a plan for their protection 

and for the re-establishment of 

populations of species that have 

been lost, and recreation of lost 

habitats. 

A great deal is known already 

about Gibraltar’s biodiversity – we 

have full lists of vascular plants, of 

terrestrial molluscs, butterflies, repti- 

les and birds. Work is progressing on isopods 

(woodlice and their relatives), moths, beetles 

and other invertebrate groups. But there are 

gaps in our knowledge of many other invertebrates, 

for example spiders, hymenoptera 

(bees, wasps and ants), and of lower plants – 

the mosses, lichens and liverworts – and fungi. 

The GBDP means to address these gaps by contacting 

experts in UK, Spain and elsewhere, 

and encouraging local naturalists to pay attention 

to these groups. 

A full inventory of species is of interest in 

itself, but it is also of great value in conservation 

and in planning. Trends throughout the world in 

recent decades have been to lose species diversity, 

as result of direct persecution but mainly due 

to environmental changes, mostly 

man-induced. Recognising this, 

the EU Heads of State and 

Government set themselves the 

objective at the Göteburg Summit 

of 2001 of 

halting the 

decline of 

biodiversity by 2010. This must 

be everyone’s objective for the 

future. It would be a sad society 

that is not able to plan accordingly. 

The GBDP will serve to 

provide the baseline for this aim. 

In addition, it is possible – 

and another objective enshrined in EU 

Directives, to achieve the restoration of biodiversity 

that has been lost. In Gibraltar a good 

example is the re-vegetation of the east side’s 

Great Sand Slopes, restoring a habitat and species 

that had been lost to Gibraltar for almost a 

hundred years. It is likely that this has played a 

part in the return to Gibraltar even of species 

such as the raven and eagle owl. Re-introductions 

are planned of spiny footed lizards and 

black wheatears, once a well-known feature in 

Gibraltar, and still remembered by some senior 

citizens from Catalan Bay. Other serious possibilities 

being studied are the return of the Ibex, 

and the establishment of a population of roe deer. 

GONHS is also strongly urging developers 

of new sites to play their part in bio-enhancement 

by including green roofs and, in areas of 

reclamation, setting aside areas of vegetation 

and lagoons for wildlife to become small nature 

reserves. 

As part of the 

Gibraltar Biodiversity 

project, GONHS has 

obtained funding from 

the UK Government’s 

Overseas Territories 

Environment Fund and 

will be preparing a 

Biodiversity Action Plan 

for Gibraltar, studying 

our biodiversity in 

depth and making proposals 

for preserving 

this for the future while 

allowing Gibraltar’s 

economic development 

to progress. 

Charles Perez has 

been employed as 

G O N H S 

Biodiversity Officer 

and will be working 

full time on 

this project for the 

next eighteen 

months. There have already been visits to 

experts in UK and Spain, seminars and the 

start of wide consultation. 

Projects such as the 

proposal for a funicular 

railway to the top of the 

Rock are clearly outdated 

and not synchronised with 

present-day thinking on 

development (see page 4). 

Such ideas must clearly 

not be allowed to go through as they will 

seriously prejudice plans for environmental progress 

and will damage our biodiversity just 

when we are at the point 

of making tremendous strides 

to lead the world in 

biodiversity enhancement.

GIBRALTAR NATURE NEWS 

2 

THE GIBRALTAR BIODIVERSITY PROJECT 1 

EDITORIAL: BACK AGAIN 2 

BUCKETS FULL OF TROUBLE 

GIBRALTAR- MOROCCO INTERREG 

2 

PROJECT GETS UNDERWAY 3 

EUROPA POINT COMES OF AGE 3 

FUNICULAR FAILURE 4 

GULL CONTROL CONTINUES 5 

MOD LAND RELEASES 

MACAQUE EXPERTS CONGREGATE 

5 

IN GIBRALTAR 6 

MACAQUES WELL LOOKED AT 

WESTERN BEACH AND 

7 

NEIGHBOURING AREA 8 

THE EAST SIDE SAND SLOPES 

THE CLEARING OF THE ROADSIDES 

10 

ON THE UPPER ROCK 

GONHS RAPTOR UNIT: 

11 

A SECTION WITH MANY FACETS 12 

TWO SHOT RAPTORS 12 

BIRDS IN EUROPE ON DIRECTIVE’S 25th 13 

NEW PUBLICATIONS 14 

THE ALAMEDA WILDLIFE PARK 15 

RETURN OF THE IBIS 16 

Published by the 

Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society 

Natural History Field Centre, Jews’ Gate, 

Upper Rock Nature Reserve, P.O.Box 843, Gibraltar 

Tel 72639 - Tel 74022 

e-mail: naturenews@gonhs.org - http//:www.gonhs.org 

Designed and printed by Roc-a-Graphics Ltd. Gibraltar 

21 Tuckeys Lane, Gibraltar. Tel. 00 350 57955 

One of the main thrusts of activity of the 

Environmental Safety Group (ESG) has been the 

bringing to Gibraltar of the Bucket Brigade. 

With its roots in the USA, but already active in 

many different parts of the world, the idea is 

promoted by Denny Larson, who was brought 

to Gibraltar in order to help create the Bay 

Bucket Brigade. 

Essentially, the work of the brigade is simple, 

but remarkably effective. A simple mechanism 

is used to suck in a bucketful of air from a 

location where pollutants are suspected to be 

found. The carefully sealed bag is sent to a 

laboratory and then the results are sent back. 

The Bay Bucket Brigade, which has representatives 

of environmental organisations from 

Gibraltar and Spain, has collected samples 

from Gibraltar and the Bay area. The first 

results released, in October 2004, were alarming, 

and the subject of a press conference and 

much coverage by the media, in the region and 

nationally in Spain. 

Editorial 

Gibraltar Nature News last appeared three 

years ago, in autumn 2001. Time has flown 

and ironically, during this time GONHS has in 

fact been more active than ever and has probably 

achieved more than in any similar period 

in its 28 year history. We are dedicating this 

issue to trying to catch up with the major items 

of news that will be of interest to members and 

to others who will read Gibraltar Nature News. 

It has been mainly due to the involvement of 

the team that puts Nature News together in a 

great deal of conservation and research work 

that the publication has not appeared. 

Fortunately many of the stories have been posted 

on our website or circulated to members on 

the e-mail list. Members resident in Gibraltar will 

also have picked up many of the stories in the 

media. That we are back now is largely thanks 

to the work of the contributors to this issue, in 

particular to Leslie Linares who is now dedicating 

a great deal of his time to GONHS work. 

So how can I summarise the last three years 

in just a few lines? Firstly GONHS has been successful 

in attracting EU funds for three projects 

and UK Government funds for a fourth. The 

increased activity of the Environmental Safety 

A sample collected on the 9th June 2004 

in the area of the CEPSA oil refinery on the 

north end of Gibraltar Bay was sent to a laboratory 

in the US run by Columbia Analytical 

Services Inc.. 

The table below (summarised from the BBB 

report) highlights just a few of the results. 

BACK AGAIN 

BUCKETS FULL OF TROUBLE 

Pollutant Some Legal Limits Levels measured Some health effects 

Benzene 5 µg/m3 (EU) 110 µg/m3 Leukaemia; irritation of eyes; 

Bone marrow depression; 

Carcinogen 

Carbon disulphide 3 µg/m3 (US) 7.4 µg/m3 Dizziness, headaches; 

Anxiety; anorexia; kidney, liver 

injury; coronary heart disease 

Toluene 188 µg/m3 (US) 270 µg/m3 Confusion; headache; 

dizziness, Anxiety; dermatitis 

Hydroden sulphide 1.0 µg/m3 (US) 6.49 µg/m3 Potent asphyxiate, 

As toxic as hydrogen cyanide 

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene 6.20 µg/m3 (US) 13 µg/m3 Irritation of skin & eyes, 

Lung irritation, bronchitis 

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 6.20 µg/m3 (US) 38 µg/m3 Changes in blood cells 

and clotting ability 

Group in matters of pollution and environmental 

health has allowed us to perform a supporting 

role in these areas while being able to concentrate 

resources more in nature conservation, 

research and education. We have seen our activities 

extending south into Morocco, and to the 

production of new publications. 

As predicted in our last issue, the pressure 

on our green areas has continued and in fact 

increased, and the release of MOD land has 

not reduced this pressure. To make things worse, 

even the integrity of the Upper Rock is under 

threat with proposals for a funicular train up to 

its most desolate heights. 

We have our work cut out. Fortunately we 

have a stronger team than ever, and a more firm 

research base for all we need to say. Our responsible 

positions in the past have gained us 

respect and made our opponents know we 

mean business when we make a stand. We rely 

on the support of members and friends to help 

us ensure that Gibraltar’s future is environmentally 

sound and biologically diverse as well as 

politically and economically stable. 

John Cortes - Editor 

Clearly, legal limits are arrived at by 

discussion and compromise, and are likely 

to be higher than is desirable in the interests 

of environmental or public health. 

Considering too that this system does not 

measure particulate pollution, nor can it provide 

an indication of the effects of the cocktail 

of ingredients in the air, the results are 

worrying indeed. 

The results are being used in support of 

the complaint on the pollution from industry 

around the Bay sent to the European 

Commission in 2003 by the Gibraltar legal 

firm Hassan & Partners, on behalf jointly of 

the ESG and GONHS. 

GONHS has supported the Bucket 

Brigade initiative, and contributed to the 

Press Conference where the analysis results 

were released and where a detailed report, 

prepared by the ESG was presented. It also 

publicly supported the successful public 

demonstration against pollution held in 

Campamento on 16th October 2004. 

Copies of the analysis results can be obtained 

on request.

GIBRALTAR- MOROCCO INTERREG PROJECT GETS UNDERWAY 

The Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural 

History Society is participating in the Gibraltar- 

Morocco Interreg IIIA programme with a collaborative 

programme with the Institut Scientifique 

of the University Mohammed V-Agdal in Rabat. 

The programme goes under the name of GIB- 

MANATUR, and fulfils one of the aims of 

Interreg, the developing of closer relations between 

the regions including those bordering the 

European Union. 

GIBMANATUR encompasses a wide range 

of activities. The first, which was successfully 

completed, was the Calpe 2003 Conference on 

the Barbary Macaque. The programme provides 

for exploring the possibility of returning 

excess macaques from Gibraltar to the wild in 

Morocco. Biological surveys in northern 

Morocco are also planned, with a view to preparing 

management plans for protected areas. 

There is also provision for developing eco-tourism 

in Morocco. 

The project is led on behalf of GONHS by 

Dr John Cortes, and by Professor Mohamed 

Mouna on the part of the Rabat Institut. A 

For decades birders have sea-watched 

from Europa Point in more or less comfort. 

Sunny afternoons were fine, but rainy days or 

easterly gales were not quite the 

same. Thanks to the help of 

Gibtelecom and its Managing 

Director Charlie Fortunato, permission 

was obtained to use a small building 

at the Point in which to shelter. 

A bid for European Union funds, with 

number of visits to Morocco have taken place, 

including one to Rabat in October 2004 

where a collaborative agreement was signed 

by John Cortes and Mohammed Saghi, 

Director of the Scientific Institute. 

In March 2004 a three day Seminar was 

held in Gibraltar to discuss aims and methodology. 

This was attended by Mohamed Mouna, 

Souad Benhalima, Abdeljebbar Qninba and 

Jalal Eloualidi from the Rabat Scientific Institute, 

and GONHS team 

members including 

Richard Banham, Ian 

Thompson, Eric Shaw, 

Albert Yome, Leslie 

Linares, Charles Perez, 

Keith Bensusan, Paul 

Acolina and Bob 

Wheeler. 

The part of the project that has been progressing 

ahead of schedule has been a birdringing 

programme in north Morocco. 

GONHS ringing co-ordinator Dr Richard 

Banham, a widely experienced ringer, organi- 

EUROPA POINT COMES OF AGE 

the support of the then Minister for Environment 

the Hon E M Britto was successful, and using 

these and matching funds from Government, 

Audouin’s Gull Larus audouinii 

(F.Barrios/GONHS) 

the building has been re-furnished, toilet facilities 

provided, and equipment purchased. 

Aquagib generously sponsored the connection 

of water to the building. Identification guides 

will be available as will panels for interpretation, 

and the observatory will be open to the 

sed three two-week field visits to the Smir marshes 

which are located on the east coast of the 

Tangier Peninsula, directly to the south of 

Gibraltar. Four teams of four visiting ringers, 

namely Richard Banham, Robin Springet, Julia 

Springet, Manolo Lobon, John Hale, Mike 

Jackson, Andrew Bielinski, Philip Davies, John 

McEachen, and David Ross ringed intensively 

on the site. Hamid Rquibi, an experienced 

Moroccan ringer has also taken part, and training 

has been provided for Mohamed 

Amezian, from Tetouan Univiersity. It is hoped 

that more Moroccan ringers will be trained as 

part of the project. 

During the six weeks spent in the field a 

total of 1586 birds of 69 species were ringed. 

Three more ringing 

expeditions are planned 

for spring 2005, this 

time led by Ian 

Thompson. 

In April 2005 an 

expedition to Jebel 

Musa and other sites in 

north Morocco will survey 

plants, invertebrates, 

reptiles and birds. 

Jebel Musa, the southern 

Pillar of Hercules, 

Mons Abyla to the Romans, will make an interesting 

comparative site to Gibraltar, the other 

Pillar, made of similar rock and with similar features. 

Results of all these surveys will be jointly 

published by GONHS and the Rabat Institut 

Scientifique. 

public whenever it is manned by GONHS 

volunteers and staff – which will be regularly 

throughout migration periods. In fact throug- 

hout 2004 there were observers 

daily at the site through the afternoon. 

So that the observatory is already 

very much in use, and an “official 

opening” is planned for late 

spring when the works are 

completed. 


3


4 

The controversy in Gibraltar about the proposals 

by a business consortium calling themselves 

21 st Century Rock should never have 

erupted. The mis-named group should have 

realised immediately they put the plans forward 

and were met with reasoned comments 

against, that, far from being a project for the 

future, it was an anachronistic throw-back to 

times when no-one cared about the environment 

and when Hanna-Barbera’s Jetsons cartoons 

were a serious aspiration for humanity. 

Today, when heads of Government internationally 

commit themselves formally to halting 

biodiversity loss within the decade, when 

in Gibraltar the planning process has made 

huge strides in ensuring the protection of green 

areas, these would-be developers have a mad 

idea to place their personal emblem at the top 

of the Rock and hope that the world has stood 

still for them. Their campaign of misinformation 

and telling half-truths has stunned 

Gibraltar which, fortunately, is mature enough 

to see through it. 

There is no doubt that the proposed funicular 

would have a serious impact on 

Gibraltar’s environment and on the integrity of 

the Upper Rock as a nature reserve and as an 

area of natural beauty, even leaving aside the 

illegal nature of the proposed works. 

The reason for this is clear: Gibraltar is 

small. Its wild areas are few, no more than 

200 hectares and therefore, by definition, 

every wild plant and animal is either rare, or 

at the very least susceptible. The scouring of 

some of our most undisturbed areas to make 

way for a railway track is a serious disturbance, 

and the effect, both of the works and of the 

continuing movement back and forth of the two 

trains, would be enduring. Barbary Partridge, 

Eagle Owl, Peregrine Falcon, Alpine Swift, 

Lesser Kestrel, Gibraltar Campion, Gibraltar 

Saxifrage, and many others are under threat. 

FUNICULAR FAILURE GIBRALTAR NOTES & NEWS 

Hundreds of trees and shrubs would need to 

be cut down. 

Sensitive wildlife in sensitive habitats 

would be threatened and, perhaps most important, 

the sanctuary of the Upper Rock would 

have been defiled, leaving it open to further 

development in the future – we can be certain 

of that. 

And all to provide a gimmick that 

Gibraltar does not want, let alone need. It is 

the egos of “21 st Century Rock” that need this 

funicular, and nobody else. 

The outrageous proposal for the top station 

needs no comment (although we couldn’t 

resist the photographs). It was probably a red 

herring, aimed at attracting the attention, only 

to be withdrawn when the going got tough in 

an attempt to disarm the opposition. In any 

“The works will not have any significant impact on the environment” 

case the artists’ impressions published by the 

consortium are very limited in scope and ignore 

so many views – like the ones from Catalan 

Bay and the rest of the East Side. 

But the top station is only one aspect that 

needs rejection. The whole concept of such 

severe damage to our only area of wilderness 

and to the very shape of the Rock, goes 

against everything that Gibraltar stands for. In 

the unlikely event that the project were to go 

through the negative publicity for Gibraltar 

would be tremendous. 

Three Global Landmarks: Macchu Pichu, Ayer’s 

Rock, and Gibraltar with forward-looking, 21 st 

Century ways of preserving heritage. 

Spineless Activities Re-launched 

The GONHS Invertebrate section has been 

reactivated in tandem with the launch of 

the Gibraltar Biodiversity Project. Current 

working groups include Coleoptera (Keith 

Bensusan & Charlie Perez), Lepidoptera 

(Charlie Perez), Molluscs (Alex Menez), 

Isopods (Jason Easter) and Odonata (Keith 

Bensusan, Charlie Perez & Paul Acolina). 

For more information on the section’s activities 

or how to become involved contact 

Keith Bensusan at 54001111 or kbensusan@gonhs.org. 

Beetle-mania 

A new initiative to catalogue the beetles of 

Gibraltar began in late 2002. The project, 

which is led by Charles Perez and Keith 

Bensusan of the Invertebrate section, aims 

to build as complete as possible a reference 

collection of the Coleoptera of 

Gibraltar, in order to have a comprehensive 

knowledge of the beetle fauna of 

Gibraltar, and to use this as an identification 

aid for further studies. Persons interested 

in participating should contact Keith 

Bensusan (contact details above). 

Isopods on the Rock 

Invertebrate section member Jason Easter 

has embarked on an initiative to catalogue 

the Isopods (locally known as Cochinitas) 

of Gibraltar. Jason aims not only to complete 

a checklist of species, but also to 

collect information on ecology and distribution 

for each species. Anybody wishing 

to assist in this project should contact Jason 

at ieaster@gibnet.gi. 

More Moths for Gibraltar 

Continued moth-trapping by Charlie Perez 

has resulted in several additions to the 

Lepidoptera fauna of the Rock. Recently 

captured species include The Alchemist 

(Catephia alchymista), Catocala elocata, 

Xenochlorodes olympiaria, Eupithecia gratiosata 

& Mythimna (Morphopoliana) languida. 

Charlie Perez can be contacted at 

cperez@gonhs.org. 

Undescribed Snail 

found on the Rock 

Mollusc expert Alex Menez of the GONHS 

Invertebrate section has discovered a new 

species of snail on Gibraltar. The species, 

which has yet to be named and described, 

is possibly endemic to Gibraltar. 

Junior Activities 

Charlie Perez has recently begun to organise 

activities for juniors with an interest in 

Natural History. Anybody wishing to take 

part should contact Charlie at 

cperez@gonhs.org or 54021473.

The Gull Control Unit’s activities continue 

under contract to the Government of 

Gibraltar. The graphs show the number of 

gulls culled since the programme began in 

1997, with a total of over 25000 removed up 

to the end of July 2004. In addition, a total 

of 2166 gulls have been removed between 

1999 and 2004 by the Raptor Unit using 

falconry. 

A nesting gull survey carried out by the 

Royal Air Force Ornithological Society 

(RAFOS) in 2002 came up with an estimate of 

3653 breeding pairs or 7306 adult birds. 

Estimates of non-breeding birds suggested 

that there is about one non-breeding bird for 

every breeding pair, making a total of about 

11,000 birds present in Gibraltar in the 

spring. If all the 3653 breeding pairs were to 

successfully rear two young each to fledging, 

the total number of birds present in Gibraltar 

2004 saw the release of large areas of 

land from MOD hands. These sites have either 

already been passed to the Government of 

Gibraltar, or shall be in the near future. 

Released sites include the aerial farm at North 

Front, most of the Rock Gun and Middle Hill 

area and the MOD half of the Great Sand 

Slopes. These three sites are discussed below. 

The aerial farm at North Front constitutes 

an important remnant of the original habitat of 

the isthmus. Thus, some of the plant species 

found in this area are rare within Gibraltar. A 

preliminary survey in November 2004 located 

the locally rare Sea Daffodil (Pancratium maritimum), 

as well as other species of plants protected 

through their exclusion in Schedule 2 of 

the Nature Protection Ordinance. Also present 

were a number of stands of Succowia balearica, 

a plant that receives special protection 

under Schedule 3 of the Ordinance and which 

is found nowhere else other than the Rock in 

the area of western Andalucia and Gibraltar. 

GULL CONTROL CONTINUES 

at the end of the nesting period, would be: 

Adult nesting birds 7306 

Non-breeders 3653 

Fledged young 7306 

TOTAL 18265 

C.Perez/GONHS 

Table 1. Total numbers of gulls culled 

per year (excluding falconry) 

In addition, the aerial farm is known to be a 

location that is rich in invertebrate life. It is nodoubt 

for this reason that pairs of Common 

and Lesser Kestrels and Little Owls use the site 

as their hunting grounds. Developers have 

already earmarked this area as a prime site. 

Conservation of the site’s fauna and flora must 

remain a priority, particularly given that many 

of the species found here are protected by law. 

Rock Gun and Middle Hill comprise the 

largest area of land to be passed over to the 

Government of Gibraltar. This area is of 

indisputable importance to Gibraltar’s fauna 

and flora. Many of the special plants of the 

Rock grow well at this site; the area harbours 

important populations of all but one of the species 

listed under Schedule 3 of the Nature 

Protection Ordinance. One species, the 

Gibraltar Campion, grows nowhere else in the 

wild. This means that it is found nowhere else 

in the world. The site also hold breeding 

Barbary Partridge and the troop of Macaques 

If we assume these figures were similar 

in 2003, and we deduct the total number of 

eggs, chicks and juveniles culled (1648) 

from the “fledged young” total, we arrive at 

an estimate of 16,617. Previous estimates 

of gull numbers at Gibraltar have been 

based on less extensive surveys, but have 

placed the post-nesting population in 

Gibraltar at around 30,000. Based on 

these figures, the yellow-legged gull population 

in Gibraltar is now at about 55% of the 

1996 figure. 

Clearly, 16,000 gulls still create a lot of 

disturbance, but numbers are certainly 

down. Unfortunately the most efficient 

culling method employed, shooting with air 

rifles, is not allowed within built-up areas 

and so an increase in nesting success in 

these areas may be predicted. Ironically, 

while the gull population is expected to continue 

to drop, they may in fact become 

slightly more noticeable in the City and residential 

estates. In order to counter this the 

importance of reporting nests on buildings 

early will be stressed, so that the Gull Unit is 

able to tackle as many of these that are 

accessible as possible. These can be reported 

to the GONHS office number (72639). 

An extensive paper on the culling of 

gulls in Gibraltar will shortly be published in 

Almoraima, the Journal of the Instituto de 

Estudios Campogibraltareños. 

Table 2. Cumulative total number of gulls 

culled (excluding falconry) 

MOD LAND RELEASES that is popularly known as the ‘wild pack’. 

What makes the site particularly important to 

the conservation of Gibraltar’s flora and fauna 

is that it is the only area of the Upper Rock 

Nature Reserve that is virtually free of human 

disturbance. The proposed Funicular project, 

which would cut through the centre of this sensitive 

area, poses a worrying threat to the site’s 

importance, tranquillity and natural beauty. 

The final large expanse of land that has 

been released is the MOD-owned half of the 

recently restored Great Sand Slopes. The development 

of the habitat in this area is discussed 

elsewhere in this Nature News (p10), together 

with its importance to local wildlife conservation. 

This area, unlike the other two, is not 

currently threatened by development. 

Continuing plans regarding the development 

of these areas, all of which are sensitive 

and important to Gibraltar’s wildlife, will be 

closely followed and scrutinised by GONHS. 


5


6 

MACAQUE EXPERTS 

CONGREGATE IN GIBRALTAR 

The 2003 Conference in the “Calpe” series 

funded by the Government of Gibraltar’s Ministry 

for Heritage, was organised jointly by GONHS 

with the German Primate Centre and the Rabat 

Institut Scientifique of the University Mohamed V 

– Agdal, from 5th to 8th November 2003. With 

the title The Barbary 

Macaque: Comparative 

and Evolutionary Perspectives, 

it was co-funded by 

the European Union as 

part of GibMaNatur, an 

Interreg project of collaboration 

between Gibraltar 

and Morocco. 

Virtually all the leading 

macaque experts in 

world attended a thoroughly 

interesting conference 

with a total of 24 

presentations and two workshops, 

one on conservation management of 

the Barbary Macaque and another 

on the conservation of the Barbary 

Macaque in the Middle Atlas. The 

latter resulted in a letter addressed to 

His Majesty King Mohammed VI of 

Morocco encouraging the protection 

of the Macaques in his country and 

offering the assistance of the experts 

present in Calpe 2003 in achieving 

this. 

A great deal of new research was presented 

at the Conference on aspects of ecology, behaviour, 

conservation and management. On the 

conservation management front it was confirmed 

that the feeding regime provided to the Gibraltar 

macaques exceeds the requirements, and that 

there is a great need to control interaction with 

visitors. 

The proceedings of the Conference are 

currently being prepared for publication. 

The second part of the conference consisted 

of a trip to the Middle Atlas of Morocco to view 

Barbary Macaques in their natural habitat. Two 

mini-buses full of primatologists and natural history 

enthusiasts made their way from Ceuta to 

central Morocco in search of wild Macaques. 

The Atlantic Cedar forests of the Middle 

Atlas, which hold the largest population of 

Barbary Macaques remaining in the wild, proved 

to be a truly beautiful habitat. Fleeting glimpses 

of wild Macaques as they raced away across the 

forest or up trees in their 

efforts to elude us further 

enhanced this striking aesthetic 

appeal. Watching 

these animals behave as 

wild animals provided a 

welcome change to watching 

them clown for food 

rewards on the Rock. 

At one site close to 

Azrou, animals were fed 

in much the same way as 

occurs in Gibraltar, 

although only peanuts 

were handed to 

Macaques. Whilst this is 

unfortunate, it can be argued that this relieves 

other troops of Macaques in the area from tourist 

pressures. Some lessons may be learnt from this. 

The plight of the Barbary Macaque in its native 

stronghold was one of the issues highlighted. 

The forests on which 

these animals rely are still 

being logged, and patched 

of forest are becoming 

increasingly small 

and isolated. This endangers 

the survival of 

Macaque populations, 

which need contact and 

genetic interchange to 

ensure their continuing 

presence in the Area. 

Another very evident problem 

was that of overgrazing. 

Sheep and goats 

have done away with the 

understorey of large 

areas of forest, reducing the diversity of plants and 

invertebrates. It was evident in these areas that 

the density of songbirds was very low, no doubt 

as a result of the lack of their invertebrate food 

source. The lack of birds of prey was also evident, 

and is believed to be due to persecution. 

Apart from Macaques, the group was also 

able to sample Moroccan towns and cultures, 

with Fes, Meknes, Khenifra and Azrou all visited. 

In Khenifra, a public meeting was held in which 

Prof Mohamed Mouna and GONHS representatives 

explained the problems of conservation of 

the macaques in the Middle Atlas and gave 

details of ideas for future collaboration to achieve 

this in a sustainable manner. 

GIBRALTAR NOTES & NEWS 

Thorny Issues 

A conference entitled ‘The Wonderful Flora 

of South Africa including Succulent Plants’, 

organised by Brian Lamb of the Gibraltar 

Botanic Gardens, took place in Gibraltar 

from the 1st – 5th May 2004. The conference, 

which focussed on South African 

flora, including succulents, attracted participants 

from Gibraltar, South Africa, 

Portugal, Germany, Switzerland and the 

UK, and is deemed to have been a considerable 

success by the organisers. 

Records Officer 

Charlie Perez has once again taken on the 

role of Records Officer for the Society. He 

will be keeping the list of observations, and 

observers, updated. Records, particularly 

of birds, should be submitted to him at 

records@gonhs.org or if by mail, to the 

GONHS address at PO Box 843, 

Gibraltar. 

Observations of rarities may also be sent to 

that address or to Albert Yome 

(albert@gonhs.org) who is secretary of the 

Gibraltar Rarities Committee. 

Star Status for Swamped Hen 

A Purple Swamp Hen (Porphyrio porphyrio) 

found in a patio at Francis Flats on the 

11 August 2004 was the first record for 

Gibraltar of a bird that has recently seen 

an expansion in its numbers and range. 

Formally known as Purple Gallinule, this 

species inhabits marshy areas, where it 

feeds on reeds and rushes. The Gibraltar 

record suggests that there may be some 

interchange between populations on opposite 

sides of the Strait. 

Transatlantic Bunting 

Another new bird for the Rock (and for the 

Iberian Peninsula) was a male Indigo 

Bunting that was trapped at Jews’ Gate bird 

ringing station on the 30/04/04. This species, 

a migrant that spends the summer in 

North America and winters in Central 

America, somehow found its way to 

Gibraltar. Although it is possible that adverse 

weather conditions blew the bird across 

the Atlantic, the most likely possibility is that 

this small bird’s considerable journey was 

ship-assisted. 

Mountain Chiffchaff 

A Mountain Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus sindianus 

sindianus) was trapped and ringed 

by Charlie Perez of the SGBO on the 27th 

November 2001. The bird, which was a 

first not only for Gibraltar, but also for the 

whole of Europe, breeds in the Himalayas 

and winters in the Indian subcontinent. 

Since the arrival of the bird followed a 

week of strong easterly winds across the 

Mediterranean, it is probable that this bird 

was blown off its migration course and 

ended up on the Rock.

MACAQUES WELL LOOKED AT 

Following the successful conference on the 

Barbary Macaque held in Gibraltar in 

November 2003, interest in the species has 

continued and a large number of researchers 

has been working on the Rock under the auspices 

of GONHS. 

Lara Modolo’s genetic work for the 

University of Zurich has continued with the 

analysis of samples collected by GONHS and 

the Gibraltar Veterinary Clinic (GVC). The 

German Primate Centre’s involvement in the 

Gibraltar Barbary Macaque Project has also 

continued under Prof Keith Hodges and Dr 

Julia Fischer. Katrin Brauhe and Dana Pfefferle 

have been collecting data in Gibraltar for 

many months for their respective projects on 

female reproductive strategies and vocalizations 

in mating. Vienna University’s contribution, 

under Prof John Dittami, has continued 

through Elisabeth Sablik and Ruth 

Sonnenweber, working on spatial distribution 

and behaviour and on hormones. 

Alison Carroll from Toronto University in 

Canada, a student of Prof Frances Burton, who 

herself carried out research in Gibraltar in the 

1970s, analysed old records of the monkeys 

in her study of demography. 

In 2004 also, Brian Gomila, from 

GONHS, who was originally employed as a 

research assistant, completed a year’s Master 

of Research course with the University of 

Roehampton working on the reasons for splitting 

of Barbary macaque groups. 

In July 2004 there was a visit from a team 

of researchers from Notre Dame University in 

Indiana, USA, led by Prof Agustin Fuentes. 

They gathered extensive data on macaquehuman 

interaction and also assisted another 

A Patriotic Barbary Macaque 

marks Gibraltar’s Tercentenary 

(E.Shaw/GONHS) 

visiting team. This was the world’s top macaque 

veterinarians, led by Dr Lisa Jones-Engel. 

Together with the team from GONHS led by 

Eric Shaw and from the GVC under Mark 

Pizarro, they caught and examined 40 macaques, 

analysing them on-the-spot for many of 

the major diseases or taking samples to send 

on for analysis in the United States. 

Lisa Jones-Engel and Mark Pizarro examining a 

Barbary macaque at the Laboratory at Bruce’s 

Farm Biological Station. 

Results from all these investigations will be 

published in due course in scientific journals, 

and Gibraltar Nature News will summarise all 

the major findings. One important observation 

is that, although many of our macaques 

are infested with lice, they carry none of the 

diseases that are frequent in other populations 

and so do not pose any danger to human 

health. 

All these research projects increase our 

knowledge of the biology of the macaques of 

Gibraltar, which assists the management team, 

made up of GONHS and GVC personnel, in 

improving their care. 


Westside White Wagtails 

The Westside area saw a pair of White 

Wagtails breeding on the Rock for the first 

time. The pair, which managed to raise 

five young, bred in the Safeway supermarket 

area and was regularly observed feeding 

on the lawns around Westview 

Promenade and Europort. 

Eagle Owls 

A male Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) was seen 

and heard in the Middle Hill Area of the 

Upper Rock during the late spring and 

early summer of 2004, possibly indicating 

breeding. An Eagle Owl was subsequently 

seen around Lathbury Barracks on separate 

occasions. A female that had been rehabilitated 

by the GONHS Raptor 

Rehabilitation Unit was trained and released 

at Middle Hill. It is hoped that, if the 

male was in fact alone, the birds will pair 

off and breed. 

Long-time Tits tail Bulls 

as Gibraltar sees influx 

of Northern Birds 

An influx of northern European birds noted 

in Northern Iberia was also felt on the 

Rock. During November 2004 a number 

of Bullfinches -a rare bird in these partswere 

recorded, with nine birds ringed. 

Even more unusual was the sighting of a 

party of Long-tailed Tits, a bird that had not 

been recorded on the Rock since 1934, 

not long after the Bullfinches were first 

seen. Five of these birds have been ringed 

so far, and some were still around during 

early January 2005, when they were seen 

showing off their rings in the Alameda 

Botanical Gardens and at Jews’ Gate. 

SGBO Members Soar to Italy 

for Raptor Workshop 

Paul Rocca and Keith Bensusan of the Strait 

of Gibraltar Bird Observatory represented 

GONHS at a workshop on raptors in 

Sirolo, Italy, in March 2003. Several 

topics relating to bird of prey migration 

were discussed, with conservation schemes 

and the development of a pan-European 

monitoring programme featuring prominently. 

Boat Sunk for More Treasure 

Eric Shaw, of GONHS and the Helping 

Hand Trust, continues in his effort to extend 

the artificial reef that lies off Camp Bay. 

Last September, the Burkana, a 300 ton 

vessel, was sunk in order to provide additional 

habitat for reef-loving species. Reef 

habitats have decreased in size during the 

last few decades due to development. 

Kew Surgeons on the Rock 

A team of tree surgeons from the Royal 

Botanic Gardens at Kew were in Gibraltar 

recently to shoot an episode of the BBC 

documentary ‘A Year at Kew’. Working at 

the Alameda Botanic Garden for a week, 

the team impressed all with their pruning, 

as well as climbing skills. Pines, olive and 

dragon trees (new to the team), were effectively 

tackled during their visit. They thoroughly 

enjoyed working in Gibraltar and 

the Alameda, and are planning another 

visit in the near future. 


7


8 


More Kew Contacts 

…and the Alameda Botanic Gardens together 

with GONHS have also been assisting 

Mr Tony Hall of Kew, who is currently developing 

the Mediterranean Bed at the Royal 

Botanic Gardens. Tony, who has visited 

the Rock twice, spends his time observing 

and photographing plants and habitats of 

Gibraltar and Southern Spain in order to 

paint as accurate a picture as possible 

when reproducing a small portion of the 

Mediterranean countryside in Britain. 

More visits are planned for the near future, 

and these will include seed collecting campaigns. 

New Plants for Gibraltar 

The Botanical Section continues in its effort 

to catalogue the entire vascular flora of 

Gibraltar. Although more than 600 species 

have already been recorded, new 

plants continue to be found. Recently 

recorded species include the Shrubby 

Glasswort Sarcocornia fruticosa, Sea 

Purslane Halimione portulacoides, White 

Mustard Sinapis alba, Evergreen Rose 

Rosa sempervirens, Coastal Plantain 

Plantago macrorhiza, White Snakeroot 

Eupatorium rugosum and Mediterranean 

needle-grass Stipa capensis. 

Natural History Museum Visit 

GONHS members Charlie Perez, John 

Cortes and Keith Bensusan visited the 

Natural History Museum in London last 

June. The visit was aimed mainly at establishing 

contacts with the Entomology 

department of the Museum. The afternoon 

proved extremely interesting and productive, 

with assistance in identification and 

exchanges of material discussed. 

Dependent Territories Meet 

In June last year Charlie Perez, John Cortes 

and Keith Bensusan also attended a meeting 

of the Dependent Territories 

Conservation Forum as GONHS representatives. 

Several issues relating to conservation 

on Dependent Territories were discussed. 

It was agreed that the newly launched 

Gibraltar Biodiversity Project (GBDP) 

is a positive step in determining adequate 

conservation measures for the Rock. 

Malta Talk 

John Cortes gave a talk at the Calpe 2002 

Conference on Gibraltar/Malta on the subject 

of Appreciating and Protecting Nature in 

our Unique Situation. The talk was openly 

critical of the Maltese obsession with hunting 

small birds, tracing its history and linking 

bird catching techniques in nearby Spain 

with the influx of Maltese workers to 

Gibraltar in the 19th Century. The talk was 

picked up in the Maltese written and on-line 

media with an article posted on Malta 

Media carrying the title: Gibraltar lobby 

group slams Maltese hunters 

The plant community found on 

Western Beach and in the surrounding 

area is quite unique in Gibraltar, and 

the significance of these areas to our 

natural heritage cannot be underestimated. 

Firstly, the small area of vegetated 

sand dune at the top of Western Beach 

is all that is left in Gibraltar of this type 

of habitat, which in the past would have 

been more common around Gibraltar’s 

coast, wherever there was a sandy shoreline. 

Obvious examples of this would 

have been Sandy Bay before the construction 

of the Both Worlds complex; 

Catalan Bay before the area was settled; 

Eastern Beach before the construction 

of the road and buildings; the whole 

coastline of the isthmus before construction 

and reclamation. Secondly, the sunken 

barge on the south side of the pontoon 

pier has generated a small marshy 

habitat of the type that is usually found 

in river estuaries, and which probably 

existed in Gibraltar around the 

Inundation. 

If we look at each area in detail, we 

can begin to see how important each is. 

A RELICT OF 

WESTERN BEACH AND 

The dune at the top of the beach contains 

the typical community of plants 

found growing on sand close to the sea. 

Here we find Lotus creticus (Southern 

birdsfoot trefoil), Lotus arenarius (Sand 

birdsfoot trefoil), Medicago littoralis 

(Shore medick), Paronychia argentea 

(Silver Paronychia), Centaurea sonchifolia 

(Silver knapweed), and Lolium rigidum 

(Stiff rye-grass); all of these are 

quite common and widespread around 

our coast. Other common species are 

Sonchus tenerrimus (Slender sow-thistle), 

Chrysanthemum coronarium (Crown 

daisy), Andryala integrifolia (Rabbit’s 

bread), Crithmum maritimum (Rock samphire), 

and Solanum villosum (Hairy 

nightshade). We also find some exotics 

such as Carpobrotus edulis x acinaciformis 

(Hottentot fig), Aloe arborescens 

(Tree aloe), Aloe saponaria, (Soapy 

aloe) and Oxalis pes-caprae (Bermuda 

buttercup). But among these, we also 

find far less common species, all of 

which are protected as they are not 

covered by Schedule 2 of the Nature 

Protection Ordinance 1991: 

Reichardia gaditana (Sand Reichardia): Found in limited numbers on the 

East Side sand slopes. 

Salsola kali (Prickly saltwort): Quite rare, and only found on the East Side 

sand slopes. 

Pancratium maritimum (Sea daffodil): Found in limited numbers on the East Side sand 

slopes and on North Front Cemetery. 

Sporobulus pungens (Sporobulus): Rare, and only has one stand above 

Blackstrap Cove. 

Halimione portulacoides (Sea purslane): Very rare, with only one other stand on the sunken 

barge site to the south of the pontoon pier. 

Eryngium maritimum (Sea holly): Very rare, with only one plant growing on the 

East Side sand slopes. 

Western Beach could be improved as a habitat if it were cleaned 

up and Hottentot Fig Carpobrotus edulis x acinaciformis removed.

THE PAST.... 

NEIGHBOURING AREA 

The importance of this site not only lies 

with the rarity of the species found on it, but 

in the fact that these species are all growing 

together on the one site. 

Turning to the sunken barge site, here we 

find once again some common plants of the 

littoral: Lotus creticus, Lotus arenarius, 

Sonchus tenerrimus, Solanum villosum, 

Erodium chium (Greater soft storksbill), 

Chrysanthemum coronarium, Plantago coronopus 

(Buck’s-horn plantain), Lolium rigidum, 

and Medicago littoralis. But then we also find 

much rarer species, all of which are protected 

in the same manner as those listed above: 

Recently discovered plant community on sunken barge 

Taken together, these two areas constitute 

the last remnants of what used to be a much 

larger habitat on the isthmus. Many plants 

such as the sedges, rushes and reeds have 

completely disappeared from the area, due to 

the relentless drive of our urban sprawl. It 

would be unforgivable if we also lost these 

last vestiges of coastal plant community, even 

when we are fully aware of their existence, 

and of their need of protection. 

Atriplex patula (Common orache): Quite rare, with only a few plants found 

at Europa Flats 

Halimione portulacoides: Very rare, with only one other stand at the 

back of the beach. 

Sarcocornia fruticosa (Shrubby glasswort): Very rare, only found in Gibraltar on this site. 

The Sea Daffodil Pancratium maritimum 


Sea gulls and Pine trees 

GONHS presented two papers at the 

Jornadas de Flora, Fauna y Ecología organised 

by the Insituto de Estudios 

Campogibraltareños in Algeciras in 

October 2003. Keith Bensusan and 

Charles Perez spoke about the state of pine 

trees on the Upper Rock while John Cortes 

and Eric Shaw, with Mike Blair and 

George Candelin of the RAF 

Ornithological Society as co-authors, dealt 

with the status of the yellow-legged gull in 

Gibraltar and the methods employed in the 

gull culling effort. 

Photo exhibition 

In November 2004 GONHS hosted an 

exhibition of Birds in their Habitats by Jose 

Antonio Gil of GONHS and GOEs, the La 

Linea (Spain) based Grupo Ornitológico 

del Estrecho. It ran for two weeks at the 

John Mackintosh Hall. On show were photographs 

of birds in the context of their 

environment in the area around Gibraltar. 

Migrating Passerines not in Boxes 

Keith Bensusan is in his second year of a 

PhD research project with the University of 

Leeds studying the ecology of migratory 

passerines in the region of the Strait, with 

survey sites both in Gibraltar and Spain. 

Meanwhile John Cortes has recently begun 

a study of hole-nesting birds in woodland 

in the Parque Natural de los Alcornocales. 

Protection not that Strait forward 

Despite considerable protest from some 

groups in the area, the Junta de Andalucia 

declared the shore of the Strait of Gibraltar 

from Punta San Garcia, south of Algeciras, 

to Bolonia, a Parque Natural, with extensive 

measures of protection covering both 

the land and the sea, which includes a restriction 

on commercial fishing. Despite 

Gibraltar’s fishing laws being more than 

ten years older, recent abuse by Spanish 

fishermen of the informal local fishing agreement 

has ironically left Gibraltar’s waters 

the least protected in the Strait. 

Leeds trip on Rock 

Leeds University has been holding its 

undergraduate ecology field trip in 

Gibraltar for two years. Led by Dr Bill 

Kunin, a number of weeklong research projects 

have been conducted. Among the 

subjects covered have been bird migration, 

primate behaviour, and lizard ecology. A 

third trip is planned for 2005. 

Spanish Board Position Renewed 

Dr John Cortes, GONHS General 

Secretary, was elected onto the Board of 

Management of the Parque Natural de los 

Alcornocales in Cadiz, Spain, for the 

second successive term as an independent 

Miembro de Reconocido Prestigio. 


9


10 

Now that the removal of all corrugated iron 

sheets from the East Side sand slopes has been 

completed, and the re-seeding of the area very 

ably co-ordinated and executed by Eric Shaw, 

the resulting vegetation will require a few years 

in order to establish itself properly. 

Seeds for the re-seeding operation were 

collected from other vegetated parts of the sand 

slopes, and from similar coastal habitats in 

Spain. Care was taken not to introduce alien 

species, but an attempt was made to re-introduce 

species which had been lost, or greatly reduced 

in number, as a result of the slopes being 

covered over by the iron sheets early in the 20 th 

century. When the seeds which had been scattered 

germinated it was obvious to see that the 

balance of plants at the start was not quite right: 

for example there were many more snapdragon 

(Antirrhinum majus) and hoary mustard 

(Hirschfeldia incana), and 

less shore campion (Silene 

littorea) and silver sea 

stock (Malcolmia littorea) 

than are normally seen 

elsewhere on the slopes. 

This was to be expected 

since the seeds had been 

mixed in homogenous lots, 

and scattered randomly. 

One species which 

covered large areas at the 

beginning was the shrub 

tobacco (Nicotiana glauca). 

Seeds of this plant 

had not been deliberately 

scattered, and so it is presumed 

that the tiny windblown 

seeds must have 

found their way under the 

sheets and accumulated 

there for many years, lying 

dormant, germinating at 

the first opportunity. At first it was seen as a 

growing problem, but as time has passed, these 

plants have all but died out. 

The first systematic list of species growing 

on the re-seeded slopes was drawn up in May 

1998. On that first visit, the transformation from 

barren grey matting to the profusion of colourful 

plants covering the area came as a very pleasant 

shock. A total of 60 different species 

were recorded at the time. As expected, the 

majority of species were those that could be 

found elsewhere on the slopes, but a notable reintroduction 

was the sand kidney vetch 

(Anthyllis hamosa), which had been lost to the 

area. Also found there was the coastal restharrow 

(Ononis cossoniana). This is a species of 

sandy/coastal habitats, but the only stands 

found in Gibraltar up to now had been 

Alameda Gardens. Among the more common 

species found in fairly large numbers were 

snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus), crown daisy 

(Chrysanthemum coronarium), fat hen 

(Chenopodium album), aromatic goosefoot 

(Chenopodium ambrosoides), rough bugloss 

(Echium creticum coincyanum), Galactites 

(Galactities tomentosa), hoary mustard 

(Hirschfeldia incana), branched toadflax 

(Linaria pedunculata), sweet Alison (Lobularia 

maritima), shrub tobacco (Nicotiana glauca), 

THE EAST SIDE SAND SLOPES 

PLANT AND FAUNA STATUS 

Gibraltar restharrow (Ononis natrix ramosissima 

var. gibraltarica), four-leaved all-seed 

(Polycarpon tetraphyllum), sticky catchfly (Silene 

nicaeensis), hairy nightshade (Solanum villosum). 

The other species were less numerous at 

the time, but well scattered throughout the slopes. 

Subsequent visits every year after 1998 

have yielded interesting results, with the total 

number of species topping the 80 mark. One 

notable change has been the gradual increase 

in the number of species of grass that have 

colonised the area. At the beginning these were 

few in number, but over the years they have 

spread widely and now cover large areas, converting 

them into wonderful grassland. The 

main species that have become established and 

are abundant, are bearded wild oat (Avena 

barbata), spiky false-brome (Brachypodium dis- 

tachyon), stiff brome (Bromus rigidus), stiff darnel 

(Lolium rigidum) and slender piptatherum 

(Piptatherum milliaceum). Less abundant but 

widespread are compact brome (Bromus madritensis), 

cock’s foot (Dactylis gomerata), Wall 

barley (Hordeum leporinum), cane (Arundo 

donax), hare’s tail (Lagurus ovatus), sand fescue 

(Vulpia alopecuros), esparto grass, (Stipa tenacissima), 

lesser melick (Melica minuta), hyparrhenia 

(Hyparrhenia hirta). An increase in grass 

cover can lead to a decrease in other species, 

so perhaps some thought should be given to the 

possibility of having the grass cut every now 

and then. This would encourage the further 

spread of the species already found there, and 

the establishment of other species in the future. 

One introduced and ivasive species that 

has to be carefully monitored is the red-eye acacia 

(Acacia cyclops). This Australian shrub has 

already established itself very well in the area 

above the Caleta Hotel, forming a dense cover. 

This species produces innumerable seeds, and 

it is gradually spreading south. Isolated specimens 

can be seen at regular intervals along the 

slopes, and in some places there are stands of 

several plants. The dense cover produced by 

these clumps prevents the growth of other species, 

and so the spread of Acacia cyclops is a 

real threat to the species of this habitat. It would 

be a good idea to remove all the plants of this 

species that are growing south of the Caleta 

Hotel, and keeping them contained to the area 

above the hotel. 

The fauna of the sand slopes seems to be 

developing at a healthy rate as well. Sweepnetting 

of vegetation has revealed that phytophagous 

insects, i.e., insects that feed on plants 

already abound. Froghoppers and grasshoppers 

in various larval stages have been found to 

be particularly abundant, with beetles and bugs 

proving to be plentiful too. One can only predict 

that the diversity of invertebrates in this 

area can only increase as the habitat develops 

and plant diversity increases. 

Some birds have also colonised the sand 

slopes. The Sardinian warbler, a species that is 

common to all habitats on the Rock, has been 

quick to occupy this new habitat, where it is 

now its most common resi- 

The Great Sand dent. Other birds that breed 

Slopes as they 

commonly in Gibraltar such as 

started to regain 

the blackbird have also 

the lost vegetation. 

moved in. The Zitting 

Cisticola, or Fan-tailed 

Warbler as it was formally 

known, also seems to have 

colonised this large expanse 

of grassland, a habitat that is 

ideal for this species. This 

bird has a restricted range 

within Gibraltar, and breeding 

has only been confirmed 

on Windmill Hill Flats and possibly 

Devil’s Tower aerial farm. 

Most importantly, Barbary 

Partridges have been recorded 

on the restored habitat 

consistently. This, our ‘national’ 

bird, must find this new, 

expansive habitat a welcome 

relief given the increasingly 

bushy character of what were once open areas 

on the Upper Rock; habitats on which this species 

relies. 

As has already been mentioned, some control 

of the development of grasses is required to 

maintain floral diversity, and the subsequent 

invertebrate and vertebrate diversity that this 

supports, in this new habitat. It would seem that 

grazing mammals would be the best solution. 

However, large herbivores may perhaps cause 

landslides due to the loose, sandy nature of the 

ground. Similarly, Rabbit warrens may destabilise 

the sand. In this sense, it might make the 

most sense to consider the introduction of grazing 

rodents such as voles. Similarly, the reintroduction 

of species that were formally found 

on the sand slopes and isthmus such as the 

Spiny-footed Lizard is being considered. 

It is also hoped that Gibraltar’s dwindling 

Lesser Kestrel population will begin to use the 

slopes as a new feeding ground, having lost 

much of their original feeding grounds on the 

isthmus. Some habitat management of the type 

described above would benefit these animals 

considerably. 

The Great Sand Slopes restoration project 

is clearly going very well. We must however 

ensure that steps are taken to guarantee that 

these are restored to their full potential.

THE CLEARING OF THE ROADSIDES ON THE UPPER ROCK 

The climax vegetation of the Upper Rock 

is what is known as maquis. This consists of a 

dense, often impenetrable growth of small 

trees, shrubs and climbing plants. This creates 

a canopy which blocks and cuts down light 

penetration to the ground cover resulting in a 

limited growth of annuals. Only certain species 

can grow successfully under this cover. 

The majority of plant species, requiring a higher 

level of sunlight, will establish themselves 

in clearings, on rocky outcrops, along roadsides 

and footpaths, and on cliff faces. About 

88% of the over 600 different species of 

plants found on the Rock come under this latter 

category. As most of 

the western side of the 

Rock consists of maquis, it 

is clear that these types of 

plants will have a hard 

time establishing themselves 

in the few clearings 

available. Any disturbance 

to, or interference with 

their habitat can result in 

a significant reduction in 

their number and variety. 

The regular clearing 

of firebreaks, in the 

correct manner and at the 

right time of the year, 

would offer large areas of 

very suitable habitat. 

However, most firebreaks, 

especially the largest one 

around Bruce’s Farm, 

have not been cleared for 

Roadsides scraped 

clear of all 

interesting plants. 

quite some time, and they have become so 

overgrown that it has resulted in a sharp 

decline in the number of plant species found 

growing in them. Apart from the southern 

parts of the Rock, including Windmill Hill Flats 

and Europa Flats, the only other large “area” 

now available for these plants are the roadsides. 

And what happens to them there? They 

are subjected to an unnecessary and unjustified, 

mindless, annual onslaught of clearing 

that is not only decimating the type and number 

of species growing there, but also disturbing 

the natural balance between them. And 

all this is taking place in a so called “Nature 

Reserve”! 

It is quite common to see workers clearing 

roadsides from the initial spurt of new growth 

after the first rains, right through to the height 

of the flowering season, and this cannot be 

justified on any grounds. Whereas the cutting 

back of trees and shrubs is very desirable, the 

removal of other types of vegetation most certainly 

is not, especially in a Nature Reserve 

where one expects the native plants to receive 

an element of protection, and where one 

expects to be able to enjoy the sight of the 

colourful profusion of flowers which can grow 

along the side of the roads. Instead we are 

met by the depressing sight of whole stretches 

of barren rock face and scraped soil at the 

height of spring! 

The timing and manner in which any clearing 

is done are both very important. At present 

two forms of clearing take place. The first 

is carried out by workers simply sweeping the 

gutters and roadsides, removing leaf litter etc. 

At first sight this practice may seem quite 

harmless and acceptable, but look closer and 

you will notice that apart from removing leaf 

litter, which forms the natural fertilizer of the 

Upper Rock, seeds are also being swept up. 

And all this wonderful mixture of compost and 

seeds is just swept into black bin liners and 

thrown away just as so much “rubbish”! I am 

sure that this wasteful and, in my opinion, 

totally unnecessary practice would not be 

found in any nature reserve in the world. 

The second manner in which clearing is 

done is much more harmful. This involves the 

removing of virtually all plant life up to one 

metre above the road surface, by 

scraping them away with spades 

and rakes, and by uprooting them 

manually, rather than cutting or trimming 

them. The same method of scraping 

away is also applied to the 

angle between the road and the low 

walls running down the side of the 

road. This practice results in three 

things: firstly it causes much damage 

to the balance of plant species on 

the Upper Rock, bringing some close 

to extinction locally; secondly it 

removes valuable top soil, and 

thirdly the removal of the plants exposes the 

soil and increases the action of erosion by 

rain. This will result in soil being washed 

away into the gutters and other water channels, 

clogging them up. As far as timing is 

concerned, any justified clearing must not 

take place until after the plants have set seed, 

and this means that no clearing should be 

carried out from the first rains in autumn to the 

end of spring/early summer. 

The persistent clearing at the wrong time 

and in the wrong manner, not only removes 

plants physically, but also gives way to other 

more aggressive and invasive species which 

establish themselves with greater vigour, allowing 

them to spread further and faster than 

they would otherwise do. Two such species 

are bears breech (Acanthus mollis) and 

Bermuda buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae). These 

can be clearly seen spreading along cleared 

roadsides at an astonishing pace; often completely 

covering whole stretches of roadside at 

By Leslie Linares 

the expense of other species. 

If we get down to some details of particular 

plant species, it has to be pointed out that 

during these clearing operations the workers 

are involved in actions which contravene the 

Nature Protection Ordinance of 1991. Ladies 

tresses orchids (Spiranthes spiralis), brown 

bee orchids (Ophrys fusca), yellow bee 

orchids (Ophrys lutea), and small flowered 

tongue orchids (Serapias parviflora) have 

often been seen growing along the roadsides. 

However none have now been seen for years 

as a result of their having being scraped 

away repeatedly. These species are all found 

in Schedule 3 of the 

Ordinance, i.e. they are fully 

protected and must not be 

interfered with. Also in 

Schedule 3 are the giant tangier 

fennel (Ferula tingitana), 

the Gibraltar saxifrage 

(Saxifrage globulifera var. 

gibraltarica) and the Gibraltar 

thyme (Thymus willdenowii), all 

of which are repeatedly removed 

from the roadsides where 

they are principally found. In 

particular I must record the 

wiping out by clearing, of one 

important stand of the 

Gibraltar saxifrage from the 

roadside leading up to the 

Great Siege Tunnels. This 

variety of the species is unique 

to Gibraltar! So much for our Nature Reserve! 

I have never understood what motivates 

this programme of roadside clearing. Some 

say that cleared roadsides are less of a fire 

hazard. While this may be true for the summer 

months it certainly does not justify the clearing 

at the height of spring! I have also 

heard it said that some have complained that 

their cars get scratched by overgrown plants. 

Since this could only be due to shrubby perennials, 

the solution to this “problem” would be 

to trim the shrubs back. It certainly does not 

justify removing all species, including soft 

annuals which would hardly scratch anything! 

Whatever the reasons for the practice of 

roadside clearing, I feel that the time and 

energy of the workers carrying out this work 

would be better spent in trimming back roadside 

trees and shrubs, clearing the firebreaks 

regularly, and certainly in the removal of all 

the real rubbish which litters many parts of the 

Upper Rock. 


11


12 

Know your Society… 

GONHS RAPTOR UNIT 

A SECTION WITH MANY FACETS 

The GONHS Raptor Unit is based at 

Windmill Hill, in premises provided under licence 

by the Ministry of Defence. Indeed, the original 

enclosures at the present site were constructed 

by a voluntary force of officers of the 

Garrison about 12 years ago. The unit is run 

by Vincent Robba and Stanley Olivero assisted 

by Denis Federico and other occasional helpers. 

The birds that arrive at the centre are often 

casualties of attacks by resident gulls or 

Peregrines, which attack large birds of prey 

especially during the breeding season. Many 

of these birds have severe wounds, especially 

around the head or wings. Another source of 

birds is young resident birds of prey around the 

time of fledging. Most years little owls, common 

and lesser kestrels and peregrines come in as 

casualties. GONHS is well known in Gibraltar, 

and calls come in directly from the public or 

often through the Police. 

On occasion birds rehabilitated in the 

United Kingdom have been sent to Gibraltar for 

temporary care and release. This has been the 

case in recent years with the release of three 

hobbies and a honey buzzard. 

Adult birds that have been previously in the 

wild are kept for as short a time as possible. 

Some can be released after just a few days. If 

they have injuries that need treatment or more 

time, they have to rebuild their stamina but do 

not need to learn how to hunt. Once rested or 

recovered from any injuries they are flown daily 

to artificial lures using traditional falconry 

methods. Once fit they are ringed with British 

Trust for Ornithology metal rings and released. 

Satellite tracking of two Short-toed Eagles proved 

the success of the centre, with one clearly 

surviving for at least six 

months and the other for 

over a year. A Bonelli’s 

Eagle released after several 

years in captivity was 

seen hunting gulls regularly 

over the Rock for two 

months before it moved 

on. 

Young birds are more 

difficult and require more 

time as they need to be 

taught to fly and hunt. 

This is done successfully 

at the centre. Young birds 

released in 2004 included 

a Perergine that fell 

into the sea soon after 

fledging on the east side 

cliffs, and another reared in captivity following 

artificial insemination of the mother. 

The centre has successfully bred Peregine, 

of the local subspecies Falco peregrinus brookei, 

and the vulnerable Lesser Kestrel. Also bred 

in the past have been Lanner and Saker Falcons 

and Harris Hawks. These species are not native 

but are used by the Unit in the control of the 

yellow-legged gull. They are also available to 

foster young of native species. 

Gull control activities include harassment of 

nesting colonies in an attempt to reduce nesting 

success, and direct culling of birds. A successful 

gull-control trial was carried out in 2001 at 

Gibraltar airfield, but the Royal Air Force has 

not yet authorised the formalisation of the arrangement. 

The total number of native birds of prey 

by species processed through the centre between1988 

and 2004 is given in the table 

below. Of the 204 birds that have been 

through the centre, 23 have died, 9 have 

been kept due to the extent of injuries, and 

172 have been released. 

Birds processed by the GONHS RAPTOR UNIT, 

1999-2004 

SPECIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .No. 

Long-eared owl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 

Barn owl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 

Scops owl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 

Eagle owl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 

Little owl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 

Griffon vulture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 

Bonelli’s eagle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 

Booted eagle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 

Short-toed eagle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 

Black kite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 

Honey buzzard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 

Montagu’s harrier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 

Common buzzard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 

Goshawk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 

Sparrowhawk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 

Peregrine falcon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 

Eleonora’s falcon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 

Hobby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 

Common kestrel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 

Lesser kestrel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .204 

TWO SHOT 

RAPTORS 

The Montagu’s Harrier is a small bird of 

prey listed as of conservation concern by 

BirdLife International that nests in open fields 

and moorland throughout Europe. In August 

and September these attractive birds migrate 

over Gibraltar, often in family parties. 

On 21 st September 2004 a juvenile 

Montagu’s Harrier, was found injured, with a 

broken wing, at the entrance to William’s Way 

tunnel, above Catalan Bay. Despite the best 

efforts by the Gibraltar Veterinary Clinic, the 

bird died shortly after. 

An X-ray revealed that it had been shot by 

a shot gun, with numerous pellets embedded in 

its body, including in the vicinity of the broken 

bones in the wing. 

It is highly unlikely that the bird would have 

been able to make it to Gibraltar after being 

shot in Spain, which led to the alarming conclusion 

that it was most likely shot in Gibraltar. 

Two weeks later, an injured Peregrine falcon 

was found on the airfield. X-rays revealed 

that this also had been recently shot with a shotgun. 

In this case the bird survived and is being 

cared for by the GONHS Raptor Unit. It was 

not one of the local breeding birds and this 

time the injuries were such that it may have 

made its way from Spain after having been 

shot. 

These incidents represent the first time ever 

that birds of prey have been recorded shot in 

Gibraltar. Although the incidents are hopefully 

a one-off, GONHS asked all members of the 

public to remain vigilant. 

Gibraltar has traditionally, among all the 

European bottlenecks of bird of prey migration, 

been one where migrating birds of prey are 

safe. We must ensure that this remains the case.

BIRDS IN EUROPE ON DIRECTIVE’S 25 th 

In November 2004, the BirdLife 

International European Partnership published 

Birds in Europe, a 373 page volume containing 

a summary of the status of all of Europe’s birds, 

particularly of the trends in their populations between 

1990 and 2000. Edited by Ian Burfield 

and Frans van Bommel it updates the 1994 edition 

by Graham Tucker and Melanie Heath. 

It is a landmark publication. As well as 

general overviews there are species by species 

accounts and population data presented by 

country. Very importantly, it was prepared 

using the unique nature of the BirdLife 

Partnership – which includes GONHS. 

Ornithologists and birders throughout Europe 

contributed to it by supplying data from their 

own publications and observations, so that the 

book is the work of thousands of people. 

Birds in Europe will be a valuable source of 

information for many, from birders and scientists 

to planners and Governments. It comes at the 

time of the 25th Anniversary of the European 

Union Birds Directive, which required European 

Governments to take steps to protect birds and 

their habitats. – and in fact was one of the sources 

of inspiration for Gibraltar’s Nature 

Protection Ordinance. 

Several of the main conclusions of note are: 

• 43% of Europe’s 526 bird species are 

now in trouble (4%more than in 1994) 

•in the last ten years 45 species have 

declined in status, but only 14 have 

improved 

•farmland species have continued to 

decline significantly especially in 

countries with intense agriculture 

•more than 50% of wader species are 

now in difficulty 

•long-distance migrants have declined 

significantly: some 60% of the 161 

species wintering south of the Sahara or 

in Asia are now in trouble 

A separate, smaller publication provides a 

status assessment of birds in the European 

Union, with a brief summary of the status of 

Europe’s birds after 25 years of the Birds 

Directive also published. 

GONHS contributed the data for Gibraltar. 

Interestingly enough, during the period under 

study, most species in Gibraltar either remained 

stable or increased. Hopefully future improvements 

in the quality of habitat, the creation of 

new habitats and a sensible approach to landuse 

will ensure further improvements in our bird 

community, always an important indication of 

the state of the natural environment. 

Copies of all these publications are kept in 

the Gibraltar Natural History Library run jointly 

by GONHS and the Botanic Gardens. 


Monkey Cull Controversy 

The cull of 27 Barbary Macaques in July 

2003, ordered by the Ministry for Tourism 

following complaints from the public, proved 

controversial. Prof Bob Martin, a long-time 

friend of GONHS in the Barbary Macaque 

Project, withdrew from the Macaque conference 

in Gibraltar and scores of e-mails of 

complaint were received from around the 

world. GONHS maintained that culling is 

necessary as a last resort in cases where 

excessive numbers of macaques may make 

them a public danger, but that this must be 

carried out in a controlled manner with individuals 

carefully selected. It was the fact that 

the affected group was part of a long-term 

study that caused the greatest concerns 

among researchers. It is not envisaged that 

this problem will be repeated. 

Biosphere Reserve not so Strait? 

Spain announced in summer 2003 that it 

proposed, jointly with Morocco, to declare 

a Biosphere Reserve encompassing both shores 

of the Strait of Gibraltar. This would 

exclude Gibraltar’s protected areas. 

GONHS approached Salvador de la Encina 

Ortega of the Diputación de Cádiz urging 

inclusion of Gibraltar (no reply received over 

a year later) and at the same time alerted the 

Gibraltar Government. Developments are 

awaited. 

Jews’ Gate Ringing 

Ringing has continued at Jews’ Gate throughout 

migration periods. Dr Richard Banham 

has co-ordinated ringing activities with Jill 

Yeoman adding logistical support. Ian 

Thompson has been resident ringer at the 

observatory for two years running with further 

season-long visits planned for 2005 and 

2006. Ringers interested in helping to man 

the observatory should contact gonhs at ringing@gonhs.org. 

Cats a problem 

The large number of feral cats in Gibraltar is 

causing concern, with the effects of their 

predation becoming an increasing worry. In 

areas where well-wishing cat-lovers feed 

them regularly the impact of these predators 

is beginning to show. At the north entrance 

to the Botanic Gardens, for example, robins 

and chaffinches disappeared a few weeks 

after they arrived in autumn. Cats were seen 

hunting both species. Cat Welfare Society 

vets have spayed a number of cats, but these 

are released and continue to hunt for years. 

Cable Car Monkeys 

M.H. Bland, the management company of 

the Cable Car which ascends to the top of 

the Rock, recently refurbished the top station 

and added a climbing frame, pond and 

covered feeding area for the macaques that 

frequent the site. Together with their active 

discouraging of visitors from feeding the 

monkeys, this has begun to show results in 

reducing bites and similar incidents . 


13


14 

NEW PUBLICATIONS 

In 2003 the first issue of a much-needed 

publication was produced by GONHS. The 

Gibraltar Bird Report, expertly edited by Dr 

Ernest Garcia, and covering the birds seen in 

Gibraltar in 2001 appeared, and was well 

received in ornithological circles, especially in 

Spain and the United Kingdom. The second 

issue, covering 2002 was produced in late 

2004. As well as the systematic list of birds 

seen in the year under review, the Report carries 

a bird ringing summary and short papers of 

interest. These have included a note on the 

migration of the Iberian Chiffchaff, an article on 

the identification of Long-legged Buzzards, and 

a report on a field excursion to the Middle Atlas 

of Morocco. 

Just published in January 2005 is another 

new publication. Going under the name of 

Iberis, it will be the Scientific Journal of the 

Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History 

Society. The first issue carries papers on the first 

European record of the Mountain Chiffchaff, as 

well as others on invertebrates, a group that is 

currently seeing a surge of interest in Gibraltar. 

The journal will be fully refereed and its Editorial 

Board includes University professors from three 

continents. They are Prof Mohamed Mouna 

from Rabat Mohamed V-Agdal University, Prof 

Antonio Galan de Mera from San Panlo CEU 

University in Madrid, and Prof Agustin Fuentes 

from Notre Dame University in Indiana, USA. 

This leaves GONHS with three major journals: 

The Bird Report concentrating on reviewing 

birds; Iberis as a scientific journal, and 

Alectoris, edited by Dr Terence Ocaña, which 

should see another issue out soon, fulfilling its 

new role as a magazine more accessible to the 

less scientifically-based membership. 

These, and the return of Gibraltar Nature 

News and a number of one-off publications 

planned as part of EU-funded projects, should 

ensure promotion of GONHS activities and 

aims both in Gibraltar and internationally. 

IMPORTANT NOTE TO MEMBERS: 

Members are entitled to receive all GONHS 

publications free of charge and will automatically 

receive Gibraltar Nature News and 

Alectoris. In view of the more specialist nature 

of the Bird Reports and of Iberis, however, 

some members may prefer not to receive 

these. Members who do wish to receive 

these should contact GONHS either on 

Telephone (00 350) 72639 or by e-mail on 

publications@gonhs.org.

THE ALAMEDA WILDLIFE PARK by Rose Garcia 

The Alameda Wildlife Park started in 

1994 as a collection of parrots, land tortoises 

and monkeys all confiscated from illegal traders 

who were passing through Gibraltar. The 

local Customs authorities handed these animals 

to the Gibraltar Ornithological and 

Natural History Society (GONHS), who did 

their best to help. 

At first there weren’t enclosures to house 

them all but, with help from GONHS volunteers 

and with the permission of Wildlife 

(Gibraltar) Ltd, a number of cages were built 

at the Alameda Gardens. 

Soon there was concern about not being 

able to take care of future confiscated animals 

through lack of space, so, what used to be the 

Alameda Miniature Golf Course was cleared 

up after many years of neglect and modified 

into a small conservation park, again, through 

volunteer help. 

Although the main purpose of the Wildlife 

Park was to house confiscated animals, it 

became apparent that, if finished properly, it 

could also be open to the public to make people 

aware not only about 

the illegal animal trade 

but also about local wildlife 

conservation. So this 

park also became important 

for the care of species 

that are considered 

for future re-introduction 

to Gibraltar, like for instance, 

the red fox or the 

raven. 

The opening to the public also meant that 

any income from entrance fees would all go 

towards the care of these animals, that is, 

food, medicines and building materials for 

enclosures. 

Work to finish this park has been slow. 

Lack of funding has meant that most of the 

cages and plant beds have been done by a 

few dedicated volunteers who have spent 

many hours of their spare time trying to make 

this park worth a visit. Nevertheless we still 

believed in our work and planned to open this 

great park for all to see. Adoption as a co- 

funded project by Gibraltar Government and 

the European Union Regional Development 

Fund provided a much needed impetus and 

the park was eventually opened to the public 

on Saturday 11 th December 2004. The opening 

hours are from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm 

winter hours, and from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm 

summer hours. The entrance fee will be £2 per 

adult, and £1.50 per child (up to the age of 

16) and for senior citizens. All profits will go 

towards the care of the animals in the park. 

With dedication and help from volunteers 

and sponsors, we can help these animals live 

a full interesting life and also help our local 

wildlife. 


Natural History Library 

The joint GONHS/Botanic Gardens Library 

at the Cottage in the Alameda Gardens continues 

to increase its collection of books. 

Arrangements for access can be made via 

the Garden’s administration either on Tel. 

72639 or 41235. Volunteers are needed to 

keep the catalogue of books and journals up 

to date, and anyone interested in helping 

should also call these numbers. 

Lttle Bay Cliffs 

The cliffs at Little Bay underwent extensive 

stabilisation works in 2003. These were 

carried out by UK firm Golders for the 

Government’s Technical Services 

Department. There was a great deal of liaison 

between the Department, Golders and 

GONHS, through the Cliffs and Caves 

Section, which carried out a preliminary survey 

and then visited the site daily. The 

amount of disturbance was reduced, nest 

boxes for kestrels and swifts were placed in 

areas where ledges had been concreted 

over. Sections of a cliff habitat unique in 

Europe, dominated by Aeonium haworthii 

were nevertheless damaged, highlighting 

once more the problems that any cliff work 

presents to wildlife. 

More cliff works 

Swift work by GONHS Cliff and Caves 

Section and the Raptor Unit in spring 2004 

managed to achieve the postponement of 

work on cliffs above Governor’s Beach to 

after the fledging of the pair of peregrines 

that were nesting on the site. The Ministry of 

Defence had commissioned the work, which 

was due to start at a crucial time just as the 

Peregrines were starting to nest. Sense prevailed 

and the delay in the works meant that 

four peregrines flew from the nest, after which 

the works were successfully completed. 

PHOTO CREDITS 

Photographs in this issue are by Fernando 

Barrios, Keith Bensusan, John Cortes, Rose 

Garcia, Leslie Linares, Charlie Perez, Eric 

Shaw, Albert Yome, and courtesy of Jose 

Manuel Lopez Vasquez (Proyecto Eremita). 

SOURCES 

In addition to original material, the following 

sources have been used in this issue: 

Informe final, Proyecto Eremita (Junta de 

Andalucia), Birds in Europe; Europe’s Birds 

after 25 years of the Birds Directive; Natura 

2000 Newsletter. 

TO JOIN…and support our work 

send your subscription to 

GONHS, PO Box 843, Gibraltar 

with your name and address, or 

fill in the on-line form at 

www.gonhs.org. 


15


16 

The Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita is considered 

to be one of the most threatened birds in the 

world, in critical danger of extinction, according 

to IUCN The World Conservation Union. Its 

range formerly extended from the Atlantic to the 

Middle East, with populations in Morocco, 

central Europe, including the Alps, eastwards to 

Turkey and Syria. 

A number of factors, among which were probably 

persecution, disturbance, and habitat loss 

especially through the intensification of agricultu- 

re, progressively led to a decrease 

in both range and population. 

By the end of the 1980s 

there were only two populations 

known, one in Morocco and 

another, migratory population, in 

Turkey. The Turkish birds disappeared 

soon after, while in 2002 

seven adult birds, including three 

breeding pairs, were found in 

Syria. While it is possible that 

other groups still exist in the 

Middle East, including Syria and 

the Yemen, the only known population 

of any size is in Morocco. 

Here there are two nesting colonies, in Souss 

Massa National Park, and in Tamri, with around 

fifty nesting pairs in each. While these are now 

protected by the Moroccan authorities, disasters 

can happen, as evidenced by the loss of 40 individuals 

in nine days in May 1996, apparently 

due to disease. Therefore steps are necessary to 

p r e v e n t 

extinction. 

The Bald Ibis is essentially a bird of open 

ground, from semi-desert to cultivation, feeding 

on invertebrates and small vertebrates, while 

nesting on cliffs. 

Fortunately, the species breeds well in captivity, 

so re-introduction is a possibility. Sadly, past 

attempts have failed. Between 1983 and 1986, 

RETURN OF THE IBIS 

150 captive-bred bald ibises were released in 

four batches by Tel Aviv Zoo. None survived. 

In 1997 the Konrad Lorenz Institute in 

Grunau, Austria, began another project combining 

release and captive 

breeding with careful husbandry 

providing protection 

during adverse weather. 

This project continues and 

currently involves around 30 

birds. 

For years there has 

been a captive colony of 

Photos courtesy of 

Proyecto Eremita 

Bald Ibis in Jerez Zoo, and it is these birds that 

are part of the Proyecto Eremita, run by a group 

of organisations led by the Junta de Andalucia 

and the Zoobotanico de Jerez, with the involvement 

among others of the Asociacion para el 

Desarrollo Rural del Litoral de La Janda, all under 

the supervision of Jose Manuel Lopez Vasquez of 

the Junta de Andalucia’s Delegación de Medio 

Ambiente. Ibises were reared in Jerez Zoo, and 

later in specially built flights in the Sierra del Retin, 

in the company of Cattle Egrets. The chicks were 

hand-reared by keepers wearing hats resembling 

the head of an adult ibis to prevent imprinting. 

Over 21 young birds were then allowed to fly 

free throughout the spring of 2004. Accustomed 

to the company of Cattle Egrets, they would 

follow wild ones which abound in the area to feeding 

sites. In order to prevent undue dispersal 

they were taken back into captivity and finally 

released, ostensibly for four years (until they 

reach breeding age) on 4th December 2004. 

The Sierra del Retín area was chosen due to 

the suitability of the habitat – open fields, farmland, 

with cliffs in the area, and the presence of 

suitable food species. Sadly within weeks six 

birds were injured by power lines, two of which 

subsequently died. The power line in question is 

being altered to prevent similar incidents happening 

again. 

The main aim of the 

project is to study the success 

of the adaptation of 

the birds to the wild with a 

view to using these methods 

elsewhere. 

The intention, however, 

at present, is not to allow 

the birds to become esta- 

blished in the wild so as not to introduce a species 

not known to have nested in Spain. 

Recent developments in Gibraltar, however, 

may lead to a change in plan. The discovery of 

Bald Ibis remains in excavations at Gorham’s 

Cave, Gibraltar by a team from the Gibraltar 

Museum, seems to indicate the presence of the 

species, possibly nesting in remote times on the 

cliffs of the Rock. 

Now that there are free-flying Bald Ibises in 

the area, it would not be beyond the realms of 

possibility to see some over Gibraltar. The species 

can range regularly range up to 70km 

during the non-nesting season. The Rock is 45km 

from the Sierra del Retín – as the ibis flies.

No 9 - Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society

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