An Eagle Owl is captured -
an Indo copy-editor is let loose ..

The Irish Independent 01.04.2008

Dead sea eagles in Kerry were poisoned
Anne Lucey, The Irish Times 05 March 2008

The two white-tailed sea eagles found dead in sheep farming country in the foothills of the MacGillycuddy's Reeks in Co Kerry last month were poisoned. A third bird originally thought to have died of natural causes and found dead before Christmas has also tested positive for poison. The birds were among, a group of 15 eaglets brought from Norway last summer as part of an ambitious reintroduction programme of birds of prey to the State. They were released into the Killarney National Park last August.

Two types of poison were used to kill the birds found dead near a sheep carcass a fortnight ago. The poisons included the over-the-counter liver fluke killer Trodax, along with a poison which must be bought under licence. The first bird to have died has also shown small traces of the licensed poison Alphachloralose, Dr Allan Mee, the scientist in charge of the reintroduction project, said yesterday. Test results are awaited on the sheep carcass. Yesterday Dr Mee appealed to farmers to be careful when laying poison for foxes or vermin.

The regional veterinary laboratory in Cork had been asked to test for the Trodax liver fluke and worm infestation medicine for sheep and cattle after Dr Mee received a tip-off that farmers were dosing carcasses with it in order to kill off foxes in advance of the lambing season. It is not known if the poison was deliberately laid for the eagles, which had been in the Glencar area of the Reeks for some weeks.

Wexford Harbour SPA plans cause "uproar"
Conor Cullen, The Irish Times - 07 February 2008

Opposition is growing to plans to designate Wexford Harbour as a Special Protection Area (SPA). An Intention to Designate document for Wexford Harbour and Slobs was recently issued to a large number of landowners and it outlined a huge area for the proposed SPA, stretching to the bridge in Enniscorthy. "The European Union's birds directive requires member states to protect birds at their breeding, feeding, roosting and wintering areas," said a spokesman for the Department of the Environment. "It is on foot of the regulations that the Wexford Harbour and Slobs site was proposed for designation as it is considered to be a site of significant ornithological importance," he said.

The site is said to be one of the two most important in the world for Greenland white-fronted geese. It also has internationally important populations of mute swan, light-bellied Brent goose, bar-tailed godwit and black-tailed godwit.

According to the department, there are a large number of "operations likely to alter, damage, destroy or interfere with the integrity of the site" including harvesting marine species, leisure or sporting activities liable to cause disturbance to the birds, reclaiming land for agricultural purposes, the planting of trees and dredging, whether for fishing or other purposes.

Councillor Paddy Nolan said there is "uproar" over the plans among local people. "In the event that this goes ahead it will be the death knell of Wexford Harbour," he said. It would not only end fishing in the harbour, but possibly all swimming and boating activities. He said many farmers' use of their land will also be severely hampered. A public meeting is to be held next Tues (12/02), 3 days before the deadline for objections.

Red Kite survives Alphachloralose poison
www.sligobirding.com - 29 October 2007

Full story and a photo of the lucky bird are on the Sligo BirdWatch branch website at:
http://www.sligobirding.com/DromahairRedKite.html

One of the Red Kites which was released in Co. Wicklow in July by Minister for the Environment John Gormley was found in a comatose state a few weeks ago near Dromahair, Co. Leitrim. Local farmer Michael Torsney found the bird in a very weak condition on a road verge near his farm. He brought the bird home and put it under an infra-red heat lamp which he normally used for nursing weak or chilled new-born lambs, and contacted the Red Kite release scheme, via the phone numbers on the back of the bird's wing tags. Blood and faecal samples were taken from the bird by Sligo Regional Veterinary Laboratory, and tested at Cork institute of Technology, where evidence of alphachloralose (formerly marketed as "Kill-Crow") poisoning was detected. As this is the first record of Red Kite in Co. Leitrim in living memory, the species was undoubtedly not the target of whoever laid the poisoned bait. Nevertheless it shows the danger posed by the indiscriminate use of poisoned baits for 'vermin control' - poisons do not discriminate.

Alphachloralose is a legal poison which is used to kill crows and magpies, and is one of the biggest threats to the success of the Golden Eagle, White-tailed Sea Eagle and Red Kite re-introduction schemes in Ireland, as well as to indigenous birds of prey. Alphachloralose is a general anaesthetic which, if consumed, rapidly renders birds unconscious, and death follows quickly due to hypothermia. Mr Torsney's prompt decision to bring the bird into gentle warmth was the best possible course of action, and illustrates the crucial role that Irish farmers can play in the conservation of wildlife. They spend more time in the countryside than any other group of people, and generally have a warmth and deep respect for our natural heritage that comes from long familiarity.

It seems likely that this bird was the same Red Kite as the one seen near Kinlough, Co Leitrim by Bob Birtwhistle on the 21st of September, as the poisoned bird had a broken tail feathers as Bob described in his field observation. The bird was cared for by a raptor rehabilitation expert in Donegal in co-operation with his local vet and made a full recovery. The lucky bird, bearing the wing tag 'N' was successfully released back into the wild in Co. Wicklow this week.

"We are very grateful to Michael Torsney for his decisive and quick response to this incident" said Damien Clarke, the Red Kite Reintroduction Scheme's project manager, "Michael undoubtedly saved this bird from a slow death"

Another of the 30 Red Kites released by the Minister was shot in Co. Wicklow last August, despite the fact that it is a protected species in Ireland.

The Red Kite is a bird of mixed lowland countryside. Its primary nesting habitat is woodland but it may spend a large amount of time feeding in farmland and hedgerow. The birds spend a part of each day soaring above the landscape in order to search for food. The birds are individually marked with numbered wing tags so that they can be relocated and their survival monitored. The first sign of breeding behaviour by these Red Kites in Ireland is expected to occur by 2010. . Although the birds are natural scavengers, they feed extensively on earthworms, small mammals such as rats and rabbits and birds such as magpies and other crows. The Red Kite does not present any threat to livestock and in parts of the UK they have become major tourist attractions as they perform spectacular aerial displays.

Good views of flying Red Kites can be expected at various locations in Co Wicklow over the next few months. Any information on sightings of the birds, including date, locality and identifying features should be sent to the Project Manager:

Damian Clarke,
Golden Eagle Trust.
Tel: 086 3284463
damianclarke [AT] goldeneagle [DOT] ie

Photo: Red Kite at Gigrin Farm, central Wales, 2005 - Terry Flanagan.

What's new?
from The Irish Times - 19 October 2007

Cuts in funding for the Environmental Protection Agency, the Irish Heritage Trust, the Heritage Council and services to promote community and social inclusion were outlined in the pre-Budget Outlook for the Department of the Environment yesterday.

Irish Squirrel Survey 2007
from www.coford.ie - 18 October 2007

Since its introduction at Castleforbes, Co Longford in 1911 the Grey Squirrel has expanded dramatically and is now present in 26 of the 32 counties. Seeds of broadleaf trees are the predominant food source of the Grey and it can out-compete the native Red Squirrel. In some counties the number of Greys has fallen and there is some evidence to suggest that this may be associated with the spread of the Pine Marten.

Ironically the much maligned new coniferous forests provide a favourable Red habitat.

The Irish Squirrel Survey 2007 can be downloaded from COFORD [4MB]

Rogerstown Hide
from Paul Lynch - 27 September 2007

As you know Rogerstown hide is open every weekend from September to March thanks to the help of a group of volunteers from Fingal and the surrounding area who open up the hide on the day and make themselves available to the public for much of that time.

I am looking for new volunteers to help continue this service into the future. Please pass this on to anyone who may be interested, even if it is just for one day during this period, it would be a big help.

I can be contacted at bwifingal [AT] gmail [DOT] com for more information.

The roster is posted at: http://www.bwifingal.ie/rogerstown_project.htm

The US government is to remove the iconic bald eagle from its list of threatened species
The Associated Press - 28 June 2007

Government biologists have counted nearly 10,000 mating pairs of bald eagles, including at least one pair in each of 48 contiguous states, giving assurance that the bird's survival is no longer in jeopardy.

Key moments:
• Pre-1776: The number of bald eagles in North America is believed to total more than 250,000; they inhabit virtually every large river, lake or estuary region on the continent.

• 1900-1940: Tens of thousands of bald eagles are killed as people view them as scavengers.

• 1963: The Interior Department documents only 417 eagle nesting pairs.

• 1967: The eagle is declared endangered.

• 1995: The eagle is moved from "endangered" to the less-protective "threatened" category.

• 1999: The Interior Department says the eagle has recovered sufficiently to be removed from the endangered-species list.

Golden Eagle hatches in Donegal
www.RTE.ie - 30 May 2007

A wild Golden Eagle chick has hatched in Co Donegal, for the first time in almost 100 years.

The nest actually hatched two chicks, but as normally happens, the second chick died after five days. According to the Golden Eagle Trust, there will be a further wait of seven to eight weeks to see if the remaining chick can continue to grow and hopefully fledge in late July.

Golden Eagles last bred in Glenveagh, Co Donegal in 1910 and became extinct in Ireland after the last breeding attempt in Co Mayo in 1912.

Adult eagles were reintroduced into Glenveagh National Park as part of a Golden Eagle reintroduction programme in 2001, and despite eggs being laid in 2005 and 2006, this is the first year young have been produced. The exact location of the nest has not been revealed to the public in order to minimise disturbance to the birds. The breeding adults were collected as chicks from the Highlands of Scotland. The pair was first spotted together on 1 August 2006 and have been together since.

Golden Eagles can live up to 30 years and usually take four to six years to breed. They can produce young for up to 20 years. A total of 46 eagles have been released in the region since 2001 and Golden Eagles have since shown tentative signs of re-establishing themselves in Donegal.

The Golden Eagle Trust has confirmed that a second pair also laid eggs in 2007, while three other young pairs were seen in further locations. A single sighting of a pair of eagles in Connacht may also be the first putative sign of birds spreading outside of Co Donegal.

Expert warns of climate change threat to birds
The Irish Times - 25 April 2007

Early spring weather is threatening some Irish birds and other wildlife, according to a Clare based ornithologist. Clare biodiversity officer John Murphy, who also serves as chairman of the Clare branch of Birdwatch Ireland, said yesterday that the decreasing population numbers in some species of migratory birds can be directly linked to changing climates around the world.

"Most of the bird species coming back from Africa arrive at the same time," he said. "They are missing out when they get here, because the local species have already been nesting, earlier than they normally would".

Warmer temperatures earlier in the year have also created problems for species that depend on spring-hatching insects or later-blooming plants for food. The orange-tipped butterfly for example, typically emerges in early May to nest on a particular type of plant.

The warm temperatures this month however, prompted the butterfly to appear three weeks early and well ahead of the lifecycle of the plant it depends on. "Due to these changes, certain species will not flourish as before and will subsequently infer a reduction in population numbers." Mr Murphy said.

Biodiversity surveys have also indicated that the phenomenon of changing seasonal patterns and interrupted migration is not a one-time event. Mr Murphy said while some species have been able to adapt to climate change, others might disappear."This is a part of the global warming effect we're seeing on a national level," he said.

Lazy Waders
07 March 2007

In Britain, two lazy seabirds have become regular commuters on a Cornish ferry. The two turnstones, nicknamed Fred and Freda, choose not to fly the short distance from Falmouth to their feeding grounds across the estuary. Instead, every morning they hop on the 8:15 am ferry from Falmouth Pier. Every afternoon, they make the return journey on the 4:30 pm from St. Mawes. "They never miss the last ferry back," says ferry manager Garrick Royale. "They've become our most regular customers." These turnstones which are capable of flying thousands of miles, have arrived in the area each October for six years. They leave in April.

- Posted on IBN-L

National Biodiversity Data Centre
20 January 2007

The National Biodiversity Data Centre (NBDC) was officially opened at Waterford Institute of Technology on Thursday. Speaking at the opening, Prof Jeremy Greenwood, Director of the British Trust for Ornithology, said that the centre is long overdue but nonetheless very welcome. "Every country needs a place where everyone from wildlife managers to planning officials can access biological records. The collection of data on birds, bees, butterflies and so on highlights significant conservation issues which can eventually lead to policy change." Prof Greenwood told Horizons how data collection on the decline in birds on farms in Britain ultimately led to funds from the Common Agricultural Policy being diverted to environmental and social issues.

"The people who collect the data are important too. Volunteer data collection is part of the democratic process and doing work like this can have an impact at policy level." Fieldwork on a new bird atlas for Ireland and Britain also begins this year. Liam Lysaght, formerly of the Heritage Council, is the new director of the NBDC.

- from Horizons - Sylvia Thompson The Irish Times Saturday 20.01.07

DCC Biodiversity Plan Submissions to Dublin City Council before March 20th, 2007.

New Hedgerows
20 January 2007

More than 4,000km of Irish hedgerows will be planted and more than 2,500 hedgerows will be rejuvenated on farms throughout Ireland in the next few years. This, the largest planting of hedgerows in more than 200 years, will be managed by Teagasc under the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS). Whitethorn, holly, hazel, guilder rose and blackthorn will be planted.

Teagasc is holding a number of walks in January and February. Contact Catherine Keena on 051-644536,
or e-mail catherine.keena[AT]teagasc[DOT]ie.

- from Horizons - Sylvia Thompson The Irish Times Saturday 20.01.07

Annual South Dublin Bird Race
15 January 2007

Now firmly established as an institution, this year's Dublin Birdrace took place on Saturday 6th January. 8 teams set out from Booterstown DART station car park at 8:15am, all with the aim of seeing as many different species of bird as possible before the 6:00pm deadline. The rules of the birdrace are quite simple: all the birds must be recorded from within the boundaries of Co. Dublin, three out of the four members of a team must see a species for it to count, and if a bird is heard but not seen then it counts as half a point.

Congratulations to this year's winning team, the Southside Swifts (Brian Porter, Hugh Delaney, Noel Keogh and Niall Keogh), who clocked up an impressive total of 105, The total number of species recorded on the day by all the teams combined was a staggering 120, which just goes to show how rich in birdlife Co. Dublin is. Notable sightings on the day included Red-throated Pipit, Lapland Bunting, Blue-winged Teal, Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Duck and Carrion Crow. Rarity counts for nothing on a birdrace, however - a Wren or a Blue Tit are worth exactly the same as an American Robin or a Great Auk .. . though if you do find a Great Auk on the birdrace, you'd probably get a special commendation or something. Just remember to take a photograph.

If this all sounds like fun to you, why not get a team together and take part yourself next January? It's a great way to kick off your year's birding and to get to know the birds of the county, and newcomers are always welcome. Potential first-timers often seem to be put off by misconceptions about elitism or fears of getting a low score, but there is no need to worry. Most of the species you will encounter are easy to identify, and the race is perhaps more about managing your time and planning a good route than about knowing all the birds. Everyone has to start somewhere, so why not make a New Year's resolution now to give it a go next year?

- Niall Hatch

Italian Poachers
27 October 2006

Munich/Milan: Song bird smugglers have been caught again in Germany. Customs officers at Munich’s Erding airport discovered 2,643 dead Meadow Pipits anthus pratensis in the luggage of an Italian travel group. According to the travellers the birds came from Romania and were destined be served up as delicacies in Italian restaurants. In 2004, another Italian was caught with 2,100 Meadow Pipits in his luggage. According to Alex Hirschfeld, spokesperson of the German Committee Against Bird Slaughter (Komitee gegen den Vogelmord) “birds are imported illegally from Eastern Europe to meet the demand of gourmets and chefs”. The Committee believes that more than 50 tonnes of dead birds are smuggled annually from the Balkans into North Italy.

At present some 40 people are supporting the Committee’s bird protection camp operations in Italy. Since the beginning of October 1,250 traps and nets were found and removed in the course of a major operation in the Southern Alps. In addition more than 200 birds were freed and 56 poachers arrested by the police. The operations continue until the end of November.

www.proact-campaigns.net

Un braconnier Italien a été pris en flagrant délit et arrêté par la police forestière le 19 novembre 2005, alors qu'il capturait des passereaux à l'aide de filets de 220 m (!) de long. Des membres d'une association allemande pour la protection des oiseaux avaient alerté la police après avoir découvert le site de capture.
Lors de la perquisition au domicile du braconnier, les Carabinieri découvrirent plusieurs armes et pièges illégaux, une cinquantaine de cadavres d'oiseaux et un congélateur rempli d'oiseaux. Au total plus de cent oiseaux ont été saisis (Rougegorges, Jaseurs, Pipits, Rougequeues), 120 kilos de viande d'oiseaux prête à la consommation ainsi que les cadavres de trois Aigles Royaux fraîchement abattus. Il y aurait 350 couples d'Aigles royaux en Italie et un spécimen naturalisé se vend au marché noir autour de € 5000.

- Walter Belis - obsmedit[AT]yahoogroupes[DOT]fr

.. and in Spain, the king is at it again ..
"Spain - the king kills a drugged bear":

Lu dans "La Provence" de ce jour, 20 octobre 2006:
Le roi d'Espagne, Juan Carlos, a tué un ours apprivoisé qui avait été saoulé à la vodka lors d'une partie de chasse truquée en Russie, a affirmé un responsable russe régional. L'animal, qui était "gentil et drôle", a été nourri avec une mixture de vodka et de miel et lâché dans les champs autour de la ville de Vologda, à quelque 500 km au nord de Moscou."

- Philippe Duvignaux - obsmedit[AT]yahoogroupes[DOT]fr

Sea Bird Deaths on the East Coast
SEAN MAC CONNELL, The Irish Times 14 September 2006

Scientists believe that dozens of young guillemot sea birds found dead recently on the east coast died from starvation. The public began reporting to a bird flu hotline and BirdWatch Ireland that birds were being found dead along the coast from Monday. The first discovery was made at Killiney beach, Co Dublin, where four birds were found, and later that day 12 birds were found dead at Dundalk, Co Louth.

According to Niall Hatch of BirdWatch Ireland, the number of dead birds being reported raised concerns over possible pollution at sea. "We were on to the Wildlife Service, the Department of Agriculture and the Coast Guard and no pollution was uncovered." He said between 12 and 17 dead birds turned up in Arklow yesterday as scientists continued their investigation. When the birds were identified as guillemots, it became clear they were all juvenile birds. There were no adults. Having ruled out pollution, and because the birds had no oil on their feathers, the scientists discovered the birds had died from hunger.

Mr Hatch said it was possible the young birds were from second broods and did not have the strength to survive the very tough life the guillemot leads. "They need plumage and they need it fast to survive the diving they have to do to catch fish when they feed far out at sea."

more ..

.. at Killegar 1997

John Kilbracken 1920-2006 Many members who took part in our field trips in the late 1990s will have been saddened to read in The Irish Times of 20th August 2006 of the passing of John Kilbracken. He was a genial and knowledgeable host to several very relaxed visits to his house and lands at Killegar, Co. Leitrim.

Spin Doctor? no problem: Wildlife Ranger? we'll call you..
May 2006
Just 90 wildlife rangers employed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service are covering the whole country and 12 positions are unfilled because of a ban on recruitment in the public sector

The Department of the Environment said that the hiring freeze has resulted in a number of vacancies, adding that some rangers are now confined to desk duties instead of being on the ground. "There is the same number of rangers as 2002, but less on the ground. However, we would be happy that the state is well covered."

A recruitment drive was held last year but none of the successful applicants were offered positions, instead they were placed on a 'panel' from which future vacancies will be filled.

South Dublin City & County was without a ranger for a year until recently which must be some sort of record for an EU capital city.

Don't call us, period - The Dept of Agriculture and Dúchas (NPWS)
29 April 2006
The Dept of Agriculture has said that it does not have the facilities to handle injured or sick wildbirds. They should be referred to welfare societies or local vets.
This statement was made after criticism of its effectiveness when it proved difficult to find anyone to deal with an injured swan in Mayo.
Dúchas, aka National Parks and Wildlife Service, refused to become involved as its staff had not been issued with protective clothing and disinfectant to deal with potentially infected birds.
Mainly from The Irish Times, 29/04/06

Waterbird culls and draining of wetlands could worsen spread of Avian Influenza - BirdLife International
20 October 2005
BirdLife International today warned that hasty responses to Avian Influenza based on incomplete or unsound data could do great damage to birds and other biodiversity, while actually raising the risk to people and to the economically important poultry industry.

In particular, BirdLife International strongly opposes any suggestion that wild birds should be culled in an attempt to control the spread of the disease, on grounds of practicality and effectiveness, as well as conservation. Any such attempts could spread the virus more widely, as survivors disperse to new places, and healthy birds become stressed and more prone to infection.

The World Health Organisation, Food and Agriculture Organisation and OIE (the World Organisation for Animal Health) agree that control of avian influenza in wild birds by culling is not feasible, and should not be attempted.

Similarly, attempts to drain wetlands would not only be disastrous for birds and other biodiversity, but would also be counterproductive, for the same reasons that culling is more likely to spread the Avian Influenza virus than control it. Birds will seek alternative staging places, and waterfowl forced to fly further and endure more crowded conditions along their migration route will become stressed and exhausted, and more prone to infection.

Apart from their extremely high conservation value, wetlands provide vital ecosystem services like flood control, water purification and nutrient recycling. The livelihoods of many communities, and a substantial though often unrecognised part of national economies, depend on wetlands.

Based on the most complete available evidence from recent outbreaks of H5N1, BirdLife asserts that the most efficient control techniques involve improved biosecurity, to reduce the likelihood of contact between poultry and wild birds or infected water sources, and restrictions on movements of domestic poultry and the trade in wild-caught birds.

BirdLife International’s Director of Science, Dr Leon Bennun, stressed the importance of informed and balanced judgement in responses to the threat of avian influenza, and in the public dissemination of information about it. “It is important that discussions of the issues relating to avian influenza should differentiate between the real problems caused by the spread of the disease within bird populations, especially within the poultry industry, and the theoretical risks of a human pandemic.”

Update from BirdLife International 13 January 2006
Bird Flu FAQ in PDF format 46KB.

Poland .. see it while there's still anything worth seeing ..
October 2005
A new Eurobarometer (wince!) survey carried out in the 25 EU member states shows broad citizen approval for the shift in EU farm policy from production support to protection and development of the rural economy and to direct support to farmers.

On the other hand, when asked if protection of the environment should be a priority of the CAP, most of the results from the new EU member states come out at much lower than the EU average. Only 8% of Lithuanians, 12% of Poles, and 17% of Hungarians think the environment is important in agricultural policy. The Danes (48%) and the French (46%) were the most concerned about environmental protection in the CAP.
http://www.euractiv.com

Dalkey Tern Project .. in the council chambers
8 September 2005
Thanks to everyone who came to Niall Hatch's talk on the Dalkey Tern Project which took place in the council chambers in the County Hall on Marine Road. Seated in very plush leather seats in a semi circle facing the talkers podium it was a very comfortable venue filled by an enthusiastic audience.

Niall as usual gave a splendid informative and entertaining talk which was very well received and prompted Heritage Officer Tim Carey to enthuse about Niall taking the talk to local schools and organisations.

Cutting of Vegetation and Hedgerows ..
March 2005
The Wildlife Act restricts the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction by other means of vegetation growing on uncultivated land or in hedges or ditches during the nesting and breeding season for birds and wildlife, from 1 March to 31 August.

In Ireland, where there is a low cover of native woodland, hedges are of exceptional importance as habitats, particularly for birds but also for wild flowers, shrubs and trees that provide food and shelter for birds and other wildlife and enhance the diversity of nature in our countryside.
Species and Regulations Unit, NPWS, Ely Place, Dublin. 6472404 or 6472412

Weasel Words in the Free State ..
November 2004
Following extensive damage to sand dunes due to a land grab by a golf club at Portnoo, Donegal, feebly contested by our NPWS of course, it appears that the local FF TD and one time Minister of State at the Department of the Environment Pat "The Cope" Gallagher has retreated in silence to his bunker despite the flowery, weasel words he spouted while a Minister of State ...

Last week, in another example of the natural talent for stand-up comedy that has been such a source of pleasure in recent Irish culture, Pat "The Cope" Gallagher, (at the time) Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, told the European Parliament in Brussels that "the environment is a key priority during the Irish Presidency of the EU over the next six months".
Speaking of the need for sustainable development, he stressed that "we are committed to growth and social progress throughout the enlarged Community, decoupled from environmental damage".
- Fintan O'Toole "Tearing up lessons on planning" Irish Times 13 Jan 2004.

France: October’s body count ..
October 2004
In a dismal month for French wildlife, Park Rangers shot two wolves in the Mercantour national park on the Italian border. This was part of a state sanctioned cull, which allows for four of the re-introduced species to be taken out, as a sop to already over subsidised paysans.

Meanwhile in the Pyrenees, the last native female Pyrenean bear was shot by sanglier (boar) hunters in the Vallée d'Aspe (Pyrénées-Atlantiques). The bear was accompanied by her few months old cub, which has since been located and food drops have been organised, but its chances must be slim. Croatian and Slovenian bears had been introduced into this area to boost the population.

In the same month in Languedoc Roussillon province alone, three sanlier hunters were shot dead by friendly fire.

Bull Island embankment ..
30 October 2004
An Taisce has lost its bid to stop the Royal Dublin Golf Club raising and extending the embankment along its north-west boundary on Bull Island in north Dublin Bay. An Taisce believes the works will disturb protected species and cause a deterioration in habitats. In its appeal to An Bord Pleanála, An Taisce says Dublin City Council's decision to grant permission for the works fails to take into proper account the concerns of an independent environmental impact assessment and of the city archaeologist's report, and does not "adequately address alternative, less damaging solutions to the flooding problem".

However, An Bord Pleanála has ruled that the development will "not seriously injure, the natural, cultural, visual amenities of the area, or of property in the vicinity". It stipulated in its conditions of planning permission, however, that the golf club must obtain a licence under Section 21 of the Wildlife Acts 1976-2000 and that construction of the embankment extension is limited to a three-month period. The golf course originally constructed the embankment in the 1960s to protect the back nine holes of the course which are below spring tide level. An Taisce contend the environmental impact statement submitted by the applicant is "inadequate", and says that it is unlikely that floral species will colonise the new embankment "and it is probable that invasive or weed species will colonise the new embankment". It also deemed it "unlikely" that any existing ground nesting birds will adopt the glacial soils as a nesting area.
Edel Morgan
© The Irish Times
The birds at least will be protected from the garish pullovers and check trousers!

King Carlos conveys his greetings to eastern European wildlife ...
30 October 2004
On 10th of October 2004, during a visit to Romania, King Juan Carlos of Spain shot and killed 9 Brown Bears (including a pregnant female), 3 Wild boars and a Eurasian Wolf. He also visited Poland recently to hunt the European Bison.
King Juan Carlos is a well-known hunter and bullfight aficionado and this is not the first time that he has hunted protected species in these countries.
http://www.proactnow.org

Insect 'splats' at all time low
03 September 2004
Nearly 40,000 conservation-minded drivers counted the bugs splattered on their vehicle number plates this summer, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has announced. The motorists were helping the world's first mass survey into possible insect decline, a UK-wide Big Bug Count held throughout June, and the initial results appear to confirm suspicions that insect numbers have fallen, the RSPB said.

Using a cardboard counting-grid dubbed the "splatometer", they recorded 324,814 "splats", an average of only one squashed insect every five miles. In the summers of 30-odd years ago, car bonnets and windscreens would quickly become encrusted with tiny bodies. "Many people were astonished by how few insects they splatted," the survey's co-ordinator Richard Bashford, said. People were asked to wash their number plates, drive for between 20 and 80 miles, and count the insects on the plate, using the grid to make counting easier. The study was prompted by fears that a decrease in insect populations could cause problems for birds which rely on them for food.
(c) Belfast Telegraph

Re-introduction of the Great Spotted Woodpecker
28 April 2004
Conor Kelleher, Irish Wildlife Trust, to Nature Ireland list.
The IWT believes that the reintroduction of this species would be a major pro-active conservation move for a number of different wildlife species e.g. pied flycatcher, redstart, red squirrel, pine marten and several tree-dwelling bat species as woodpeckers are the architects and landlords of the woodlands - providing homes for numerous creatures and as such are an essential keystone species. Bats, in particular, would benefit greatly and the return of this bird would greatly enhance our woodlands for these ever decreasing animals. Pied flycatcher and redstart are surviving only on the east coast of Ireland and their future is gravely uncertain. The IWT therefore proposes this project as one to benefit a number of mammal and bird species and not simply as a restoration of a single, lost species.

The presence of the great-spotted woodpecker also enhances the environment by introducing wood-rotting fungus to dead wood which helps crevices and hollows to develop. There is a mystery surrounding the absence from Ireland of the Noctule bat. This species is abundant in Britain and should occur here and may well have done so in the past. However, it may have become extinct along with the woodpecker due to the absence of hollows in which to roost. Old woodpecker holes are known to represent 85% of chosen roost sites of the noctule bat in Europe.

As we all know, Irish forests were decimated. There was 0.1% cover by the 19th century. The last of the woodpeckers (lesser-spotted) were shot out around 1802.

As we would hope to receive birds from the Welsh population - being the closest to our shores - a woodpecker expert from the Countryside Council for Wales has been contacted and asked to visit Ireland to assess the available habitat for the species. Initially, prime locations would be: Killarney, Wicklow and Glenveigh National Parks, the Avoca Valley in Wicklow and the Lee Valley in Cork. All these sites hold substantial woodland cover. The general availability of dead wood is growing as it is now being left in-situ by Coillte etc.

The CCW is awaiting the publication of a study into the population of woodland birds in the UK by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the British Trust for Ornithology due at the end of 2004 or early 2005. Based on the findings, they will be in a better position to assess the impacts of removal of nestlings of local birds as donor stock for the IWT Woodpecker Project. Numbers of nestlings required will be decided if and when the project progresses to this stage.

The RSPB, National Parks and Wildlife Service, The Heritage Council, Coillte, The Woodland Trust, Woodlands of Ireland, Native Woodland Trust, Forest Friends Ireland, Crann, BirdWatch Ireland and Bat Conservation Ireland are some of the organisations contacted so far to gauge opinion on the reintroduction plans. Feedback so far has been very positive. However, an official reply is still awaited from BirdWatch Ireland. Gordon D'Arcy, who has researched and published the history of the lost birds of Ireland, has agreed to come on-board as the historical advisor on the past status of the bird in Ireland. Representatives from some of the aforementioned organisations will be invited to partake in a Steering Committee to take the project forward should the initial baseline studies prove positive.

There is no chance that this species will re-establish itself of its own accord as it is sedentary. The few specimens we receive occasionally, from Scandinavia, occur in autumn and so cannot breed - they are also genetically different from the British population and so are probably also different from the birds that used to reside in Ireland on a genetic level.

Kish Oil Spill
02 April 2004
from Pauline Beades Secretary Irish Seal Sanctuary
Just to let you know an oil spill has been reported near the Kish lighthouse. We have received 4 oiled guillimots and a razor bill at the Irish Seal Sanctuary, 3 brought in by Irish Lights helicopter from the Kish, one from Sandymount and one from north of Drogheda. This would suggest either a larger spill or the birds are travelling quite a distance. They are all covered in thick crude oil of some description but luckly we seem to have gotten them in in time as they are still strong. The razor bill is very heavly oiled, but he is strong and eating well so hopefully will survive the washing process well. We will not be washing them for a few days till they have recovered a little from their experience.

If you are near the beach, keep a close eye out for oiled birds, if you find one put it into a cardboard box (beware of sharp beaks cover them with a towel or cloth to handle) Beware of handling without gloves as the oil is carcinogenic and an irritant. Keep them in a warm quiet area and call the ISS at 8354370 DO NOT ATTEMPT TO WASH IT, it could actully kill it. If you find any dead ones, please let me know also.

Pauline Beades, Secretary Irish Seal Sanctuary.ie

Bull Island Embankment appealed to An Bord Pleanala.
02 April 2004
An Taisce has challenged plans by the Royal Dublin Golf Club to raise and extend the embankment along its north-west boundary (between the Wooden Bridge and the Causeway) on Bull Island in north Dublin Bay which it believes will disturb protected species and cause a deterioration in habitats. In an appeal to An Bord Pleanala, An Taisce says Dublin City Council's decision to grant permission for the works fails to take into proper account the concerns of an independent Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and of the city archaeologist's report and does not "adequately address alternative, less damaging solutions to the flooding problem".

Describing the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) submitted by the applicant as "inadequate", An Taisce says it has insufficient information to assess the potential impacts on flora and fauna "of importing large amounts of glacial deposits naturally unknown on the island". It says that it is unlikely that floral species will colonise the new embankment "and it is probable that invasive or weed species will colonise the new embankment". It also deemed it "unlikely" that any existing ground nesting birds will adopt the glacial soils as a nesting area.

An independent assessment carried out by Natura Environmental Consultants commissioned by Dublin City Council says that a statement in the EIS that "there are no new plants included in the Flora Protection Order 1999" is not justified by the information presented and says that four rare species were found on the site.
by Edel Morgan, The Irish Times 01.04.2004

Bull Island Oil Spill.
02 Feb. 2004
A diesel spillage of unknown origin occured into the stream north of the causeway on Friday 30th. There are no reports of casualties among the wintering geese and waders. A boom was erected by a rapid response unit of DCC at the mouth of the stream 18 hours after the spill was first reported, just in time for World Wetlands Day on February 2nd, see http://www.ramsar.org

Booterstown Planning shot down
11.11.2003
An Bord Pleanála has refused planning permission for the Ashcastle apartment scheme adjoining Booterstown marsh. The Bord stated that the scheme would contravene the open space and recreational amenity zoning of the site. Secondly it stated that the proposal was premature pending the determination of a route for the Eastern Bypass which would run through the area.

Birds take wing at the Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum has a long association with birds, acquiring its first collections in 1792. There are approximately 2000 stuffed examples on display and a further 10,000 study skins in storage. This collection is currently being catalogued in a joint project between the museum and staff of the Department of Zoology in University College Dublin. See http://www.ucd.ie/zoology/museum/ for details.

The collections include a dodo skeleton and many other extinct or endangered rarities. It is a great training ground for people to learn how to recognise their birds, with all Irish species included in the exhibitions. You can get close to our birds and it is much warmer than bird watching!
See previous trips ..
The Museum on Merrion Street, Dublin 2 is open at the following times:
Tuesday- Saturday l0am to 5pm
Sundays 2pm to 5pm
Mondays Closed