I thought members maybe interested in this news release.  Although the site does not contain details of butterflies/moths yet it will do in the future.

It is one on the web sites I am responsible for, so I am keen to receive any comments (good or bad).

Cheers

Jayne

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14^th September 2004

Online Information About Cornwall’s Plants And Animals

Have you ever wondered how many different species of bird can be seen or heard in Cornwall, or what the call of a Meadow Grasshopper sounds like?  If so, you should pay a visit to the website of our local environmental records centre.

The Environmental Records Centre for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has recently expanded its website to include pages about some of the species found in and around Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.  The pages currently include information about birds, plants, mammals, grasshoppers and crickets, as well as hoverflies, amphibians and reptiles.  For many of these species groups you can obtain basic information, as well as downloading checklists of the various species found in our County.

Local naturalist, Malcolm Lee, says ‘The internet is a great tool for the rapid and free dissemination of information, and the Environmental Records Centre is to be congratulated on taking such a pro-active role to provide this resource for local and visiting naturalists.  I am delighted that, for the first time ever, those interested in our grasshoppers and bush-crickets can not only read about the distinctive sound each species makes, but hear my recordings as well.’

Information about other species groups, such as dragonflies will be added to the site and it will continually be developed and updated.

‘We aim to develop our website further so that it becomes a resource for everyone to access information about the County’s species and habitats’ states the Centre’s Manager, Sarah Board.  ‘I would like to acknowledge all the help the Centre receives from the extremely knowledgeable experts for the various species groups both within and outside the County.’

The website contains lots of information to help you to identify and note down the wildlife you see around the County, as well as details about the work of the Records Centre and the Wildlife Information Service.  Please visit the site at www.erccis.co.uk or www.cornwallwildliferecords.co.uk.