Nature Survey at Nelson's Spring this year
This year, 2024, I was requested by Miriam Knorr of NHCS (Nevis Historical and Conservation Society) to go iNatting at Nelson's Spring to create a similar survey to the one I carried out at Fort Ashby in 2022. These surveys are designed to help NHCS by gathering information that is relevant to their work on Nevis.
Here is the Fort Ashby report:
https://www.inaturalist.org/posts/64478
Nelson's Spring is a large freshwater spring on the eastern coast of Nevis in the Cotton Ground area. The spring created a fairly large freshwater pond which, surprisingly, backs right up against the beach on the east side. Admiral Lord Nelson, the great British naval hero, while he was stationed on Nevis, used to use the Spring to provision all British ships with freshwater as they were sailing past.
I first saw Nelson's Spring more than 20 years ago when it was shown to me by the late Jim Johnson. It was one of the most glorious natural areas I have ever seen in my life. Breath-takingly beautiful, and extremely rich in species.
Unfortunately, many years after I saw it, for some unknown reason, earth-moving equipment was brought in and all the trees and bushes were cleared from the entire area. Then, after that, cattle were brought in to graze the grasses. This resulted in the entire area becoming very degraded, trampled, and disturbed. What a shame. Also invasive cattails were introduced somehow, and spread like crazy through the entire area.
Finally, just a few years ago, NHSC decided to do what they could to try to rescue the area and restore some of its natural beautify and richness. It is my job to try to help out with this process.
This morning Nikki and I went into town to go to The Market to buy fruit and veggies for our meals for the last 10 days that Ed and I are here on Nevis. Then we went over to the beach at the RestHaven ruins to see if there were any interesting shells there now, After that we drove south on the main road until we came to Nelson's Spring. The pond is clearly visible from the main road. We parked the car on the southeastern side, and got out and started to walk around the edge of the area, making observations of all various organisms as we went. I got tired and hungry after an hour or two and my foot started to hurt a lot, so then we drove back to the hotel at Oualie.
Today I was only able to survey a small part of the Nelson's Spring area. I hope to do at least one more visit before we leave Nevis on May 12th.
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RESULTS OF THE SURVEY:
ANIMALIA:
BIRDS:
Gallinule --one adult and three chicks
Mammals:
Domestic Sheep -- droppings
Domestic Cattle -- droppings
Fish
Fish in the small streams
INSECTS:
Western Honeybee
Flies (very small)
Beetles:
Omophoita albicolis I saw at least two of them
LEPIDOPTERA/BUTTEFLIES:
White Peacocks -- many
Small yellows -- many
Cloudless Sulphurs -- several
Blues -- several
Green and yellow caterpillar on unknown plant
ODONATA
Banded Dragonets -- several
Other clear-winged dragonflies
Damselflies;
Rambur's Forktail
CRABS:
Land Crabs -- burrows seen
MOLLUSCA:
GASTROPODA:
Physidae -- in the pond right under the duckweed
PLANTAE
TREES:
Country Almond
Neem
Indian Mango
White Cedar
Coconut Palm
Royal Palm -- planted
BUSHES/SMALL TREES
Twisted Acacia
White Leadtree
Turkey Berry
Sea Grape
Castor Bean
SOFT PLANTS AND WEEDS
Coral Vine
Trailing Daisy
Tridax Daisy
Bellyache Bush
Herb of Grace
Creeping Tick trefoil
Turkey Tangle Frogfruit
Little Ironweed
Goatweed
Marsh Fleabane
Teasel Gourd
Asian Spiderflower
Giant Milkweed -- a few very young plants
Cuban Jute
Nodeweed
Dayflowers
FRESHWATER PLANTS
Duckweed
Water Lettuce
Water Lily
Southern Cattail
GRASSES
Brownseed Paspalum