Preparing for Opening Day

Thanks to our band of willing helpers for coming to scrub walls, direct, fill tanks, drill holes and a host of other things today. Hopefully we'll be ready for Monday - grand opening day!
Becky

And the Natural History Trust is........

........staying where it is!

The Trust's lease with the Scottish Youth Hostels Association (SYHA) for its Natural History Centre in Port Charlotte ended last summer. The very generous terms of £25/annum for 21 years has greatly helped the Trust over the years, but all good things come to an end, and although the SYHA were prepared for us to stay on for at least two more years, they wanted a much more realistic rent of £1000 a year. The Trustees and Committee reluctantly decided we could not afford this and so announced to our members that we would be closing the Centre and would continue to look for another building (which we have been doing for the last two years without success), or perhaps have a mobile centre - a trailer which could also be a classroom.

Anyway, last week, discussions took place with Bruichladdich Distillery who have offered to sponsor the Trust for a period of two years, thus enabling the Trust to continue to operate its Centre instead of having to pack up and leave. SYHA have agreed to draw up a new lease for the Trust covering the next two years, during which negotiations will take place between them and Bruichladdich Distillery.  The latter have some as yet unformed ideas about a public display area, possibly relating to the history of distillation on Islay, and/or possibly relating to The Botanist, the distillery’s Islay dry gin. The use of so many native Islay wild flowers in the gin makes an obvious synergy with the Trust’s work on displaying information about Islay’s fauna and flora and its maintenance of a database of natural history records. There is at this point no commitment by either party beyond the two-year sponsorship. 

The Natural History Trust are extremely grateful to Bruichladdich Distillery for their sponsorship. Details of this summer’s opening period and hours, and also of other activities, like natural history rambles and family activities, will appear in due course.

Wildlife Explorer of the Year 2013

A broken PC and wet weather has meant no postings from me for a while, but I was determined to get this on the blog as it is so well-deserved (and overdue!)  Congratulations to Ellen Bielinski of Dumfries-shire who is this year's Wildlife Explorer of the year. Here she is sporting her new T-shirt. To earn this place, Ellen completed many taxing quizzes at the Visitor Centre this summer. Her name was put into a draw with the others who took part and she was the fortunate winner. Well done to all who entered - and a special well done to Ellen!
Becky

The Centre Lobster

lobster 2013_2 a video by Odd Wellies on Flickr.

Watch our lobster having a mussel meal!

Record breakers at the centre!

I am writing today feeling enthralled after another busy afternoon at the Visitor Centre yesterday. The animals had the busiest feeding time EVER with 20+ people crowding round the tanks as they helped drop the frozen prawns. The lobster wasn't his usual shy self either, putting on a show as he sped to his lunch before gracing us with claws and antennae, peering at us as he munched. Once again, I was amazed by the creative genius of one of our younger visitors who having discovered a lack of pipecleaners to make a lobster, took matters into his own hands, creating a fabulous Oystercatcher (the very first in INHT craft records)!

All hands on deck for the Touch tank feeding! I couldn't fit everyone in the photo.

The very first INHT Oystercatcher!

Lorna

Busy Centre!

I am pleased to report that the visitor centre has been bustling with people the past 2 weeks. There has been many a touch tank demonstration and make your own lobsters, as well as lots of sightings being added to our map. It's always a delight to see the support of not just holiday makers, but locals too. If you are planning a visit soon, please bring along your milk bottle lids -  so many caterpillars have been made we have ran out!

One of the busiest days ever, last week.

Our first ever green lobster, complete with purple tail!

This year we have 3 Butterfish living in the touch tank, one of which has taken up residence in this old dog whelk shell.

Lorna

Butterfly Fun Day - at the Centre

The Centre was full of caterpillars and butterflies yesterday, some living, some edible and some eaten! Don't panic, the 'eaten' variety were the butterfly cakes and the edible variety were the much healthier carrot and cucumber caterpillars which, for some reason, were easier to resist! Fraser won the caterpillar competition. It was a fun-filled day. Niall Oliver took folk out for the big butterfly count and Amory found some Cinnabar moth caterpillars which are now resident in the centre. Thanks to Niall, Jane and Lorna for their time and to Lynda for providing materials for the butterfly cakes - and to everyone who came for making it such a fun day.
Becky

Icing butterfly cakes

Cucumber and carrot caterpillars

Isi with her carrot caterpillar

icing butterfly cakes

Keira with her painted face

Face painting

Charlotte with her butterfly cake

Cinnabar moth caterpillars in the centre

Islay with her lobster (a diversion from butterflies!)

Fraser the champion caterpillar maker with his prize!

Visitor Centre News

Outside the office, I was serenaded by a robin as it burst into tuneful singing between showers!

The lobster (whose name will soon be revealed) was also very active, and was struggling to break into a rather large mussel before I left. When we first got the lobster, it rarely ventured outside its favourite pipe, but now can be seen patrolling the tank at any time of day.

Today was also the first time I have fed Benny the Blenny who suprised me by racing after everyone elses' meal!

Finally, we once again have 13 (I think) chrysalises, a mix of Peacocks and Tortoiseshells.

Lorna

Next event at the Natural History Centre

This will be Mick Durham's third presentation here and well worth seeing. Check out his website at
http://wildlife-photographer.net
Malcolm

Fifteen-spined or Sea Stickleback

Caught in a shrimp net in the shallow water just off the beach outside the Centre in Port Charlotte, we think this is a Sea stickleback (Spinachia spinachia), although its spines are not really visible.

Final stage of Chrysalis

We are in our final stage of  the whole cycle of a butterfly and waiting for the great day when these chrysalis splits and butterflies begins to emerge .

We are in the midst of a Happy Event

I have just returned from the Centre where our Poplar Hawk Moth eggs are hatching.  Much excitement.  We have given them willow to eat - just hope they take to it...
Carl

First Chrysalis forms in the Centre

Rukmini found the first chrysalis hanging from the top of the butterfly pavillion in the Centre this morning.  We are not sure whether it is a Small Tortoiseshell or a Peacock as yet - we will keep you informed!!

The Natural History Centre opens on Monday, 23rd May