HISTORY
During 1982, a group of enthusiastic naturalists, who were especially
interested in birds of the Campo de Gibraltar ,headed by Alfonso
González Carbonell, decided to make a commitment to the environment,
united in the defense of the unquestionable value of nature. Previously,
it was enough to go out into the field to observe birds and to be, often
by chance, with other colleagues, but in future the objective would be
the conservation and popularisation of nature ,using birds as the
standard bearer
After several meetings held in the houses of some of the founders, on
the 3rd.August 1982 in La Linea de la Concepcion, with 8 members, the
Ornithological Group of the Strait (GOES) was formed. The group was
registered in Cadiz on 14th. October 1982 with number 1280, and has
become the oldest ornithological and conservational association in the
region of the Campo de Gibraltar ,and since then, has been developing
important environmental work, centering its action in this region and
the surrounding areas.
As was reflected in our statutes, we thought that the first intention
had to be the conservation of the natural environment and its
popularisation. We concentrated on these activities , and continue to do
so, and also in the study and the protection of wild birds and their
habitats, especially the more vulnerable areas such as wetland zones
using the study of birds to carry out this work. In this sense, from its
beginnings the scientific ringing of birds has a crucial relevance
within our association as a fundamental tool in the attainment of the
objectives that concern us. From 1983 , within GOES, the scientific
ringing section called Milvus-GOES has,in 23 years ringed over 90,000
birds, which puts us as one of the more active groups at a national level.
During this time many have joined and left, but a few remain from the
beginnings in 1982.. Those that left perhaps did not find in the group
what they had hoped. Perhaps the combination of early morning starts on
a Saturday to ring in the Campo and the thought that to become a ringer
was too difficult,persuaded them to leave.The ideological disagreement
also has been and is the cause of conflicts in any group, and we are not
an exception although always we tried to avoid arguments. However,
during 1986 G.O.ES was on the verge of disappearing because of the
differing points of view between a radical “ecological” section and “ringing ” section. The split did take place, the radicals dispersed but
the ringing section continued looking forward to the future,when at the
same time, Javier Espinosa,being one of the founder members,chose to
keep safely all the relevant documents of the group , and was sworn in
as the president, remaining so up until today.
The fruits of our work has reaped much reward, so I will try to be
brief. Numerous publications on the birds of the Campo de Gibraltar such
as the Griffon Vulture, ornithological information of the Strait and the
Black Kite have been produced. Many times the schools of the area have
been visited giving informal talks to them thus targeting the future
generations. Also the group regularly organises courses of initiation on
the scientific ringing or the observation of birds. We have obtained,
supported essentially by the Nature Protection Section of the Guardia
Civil, an effective control of illegal activities related to birds and
the environment. In particular, we have denounced numerous illegal
activities against the nature of our region, preventing destruction of
many zones of great value.In 1989,thanks to data produced by G.O.ES, we
made a decisive contribution to the inclusion of three more important
wetland sites of the Campo de Gibraltar into the Network of Protected
Natural areas of Andalusia with the titles of Paraje Natural:Los Lances
beach in Tarifa, the River Guadiaro estuary in San Roque and the salt
marshes of the River Palmones estuary in Algeciras.
With respect to projects in which we have been involved, we can include:
ringing of White Stork pulli in the province of Cadiz,monitoring of bird
populations in the P.N. Sierra de Grazalema and Sierra de las Nieves,
programme Calidris (ringing of waders), Euring programme (ringing of
Barn Swallows), Passer programme (study of common species by ringing),
programme tarsus (determination of the correct sizes of rings used on
birds) and the study of the populations of the three species of Wheatear
in the Serrania de Ronda. Amongst other things,at the same time, we
ringed birds for more than 20 years in several areas, some as important
as Palmones and Guadiaro - especially during post-nuptial migration and
wintertime and in estates such as Guadacorte and Almoraima. Also we
collaborated with other associations of the same kind, although some
less than what we have in the past, such as Colectivo Ornitológico
Cigüeña Negra (COCN), Verdemar, Agaden, the Cadiz Natural History
Society (SGHN) ,the Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society
(GONHS), with the town halls of La Línea and Algeciras and the
provincial environmental office of the Junta de Andalucia and with
companies such as the Harbour Authority for the Bay of Algeciras (APBA),
Ornitour S.L.,or the recently created Fundacion Migres.
Finally, we do not want to forget that, despite what we have achieved so
far, we still have much to do. We are open to any contribution,every
little helps.We ask that anyone who is interested in the conservation of
birds and the environment, and especially the citizens of La Linea and
the Campo de Gibraltar, to participate with us.
