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|Legacy of the Green Party |Wicklow Woodpecker Study Group |Trapping of Wild Birds |White-tailed Sea Eagle in Sligo |Amendments to Wildlife Acts |Centenary of Bird Ringing |Squirrels & bird feeders |Inland Brent survey |Colour-ringed Sanderling |Ireland's Seabirds |Spring Hunting - Malta |Natura 2000 failure |Eagle Owl |Dead Sea Eagles |Wexford Harbour SPA |Red Kite survives Alphachloralose poison |What's new? |Irish Squirrel Survey |Rogerstown Hide |Bald Eagles |A Golden Eagle hatches |Climate Change & Birds |Lazy Waders |Biodiversity Data Centre |Hedgerows |Dublin Bird Race |Italian Poachers |East Coast Sea Bird Deaths |John Kilbracken 1920-2006 |Wildlife Rangers |Don't call us, period |Avian Influenza .. BirdLife International |Poland .. see it while you can |Dalkey Tern Project |Hedgerows |Weasel Words in the Free State |France: October’s body count |Embankment to screen birds from garish golfers .. |King Carlos conveys his greetings to eastern European wildlife |Insect 'splats' at all time low |Great Spotted Woodpecker |Kish Oil Spill |Bull Embankment |Bull Oil Spill |Booterstown Planning shot down |Natural History Museum |Hugh in fox's den |Nest Boxes |Natura2000 |Glen Ding Wood |DLRCC Heritage Plan |Ruddy Duck Controversy |National Survey of breeding Hen Harriers |Brent count |Wagtail roost O'Connell St |National Geographic on Brent |DLRCC Coastal Plan |Blackcaps |Sun, Sea + Guns = Malta |Hedgerow Destruction |Green Party in Chain Saw Massacre |Eagle re-introduction |Bearded Seal |Cars on Dollymount Strand? |Satellite tracking of Brent |Oil Spill Workshop |Archaeology & wildlife |Breaching the Causeway at the Bull |Sparrows |House Martins| In brief ... Mossad's vulture Saudi Arabian security services have captured a vulture that is suspected of being a Mossad spy sent over by Israel to gather information. The large bird, which was carrying a GPS transmitter and a tag bearing an identification code from Tel Aviv University, strayed into rural Saudi Arabian territory last week, according to a Israeli newspaper report. Residents and local reporters said that the matter seemed to be linked to a "Zionist plot" and swiftly alerted security services. Irish Independent 06.01.2011 Legacy of the Green Party: Budget December 2010
NATIONAL PARKS & WILDLIFE SERVICE - 56% CUT TO €14M Yesterday, environmental trust An Taisce said it was 'extremely concerned' the cut in the service's funds could affect the amount of work park staff are able to carry out. Charles Stanley-Smith, An Taisce chairman, said Ireland already has a bad record for environmental protection and cannot afford to further reduce its investment in this area. He said: 'We are already bottom or near the bottom of the class in Europe in many aspects of protecting the environment and this could do even further damage. "The country is subject to a number of cases in front of the European Court of Justice for failing to deal with several European directives. The service is doing a great job with very little resources but any further cuts means we could end up being in breach of even more directives.'
The Heritage Council - 47% CUT TO €4.5M Yesterday, a spokesman admitted that the funding cut would have a huge impact on its work. The spokesman said: 'We are very concerned about the cut of 47 per cent announced to the Heritage Council's budget for 2011. 'This latest cut follows a cut of over 30 per cent this year. The Heritage Council, is evaluating the implications for all its programmes.' Update from the Wicklow Woodpecker Study Group 08.06.2010 After last year's successful breeding season of Great Spotted Woodpeckers in Co. Wicklow as reported in 'Wings', a series of unanswered questions remained, principally where had these birds come from and were they all related. It was then decided to try and investigate this a bit further using genetics and a literature review found that studies conducted on species such as eider have found that it is possible to use old feathers, egg shells and other materials retrieved from nests for DNA analysis. Once the birds had fledged last year we managed to retrieve material (several small body feathers and some prey remains) from those empty nests that were accessible from a tall ladder. These were then stored in a freezer for future potential genetic analysis but in order to do this we (Faith Wilson, Dick Coombes and Christian Osthoff with help from many others) needed more genetic material, a genetics expert and some money. Faith applied for and got some funding from the Heritage Council to try and answer these questions. Prior to the breeding season in 2010 an adult bird was trapped and a feather taken from it under licence from National Parks and Wildlife Service. This and the feathers collected in 2009 have all been tested by the team geneticist Dr Alan McDevitt and the good news is that they have produced viable DNA. We had also hoped to be able to sample some of the specimens stored in the various natural history museums but it has proven tricky to extract clean DNA from such old materials and thus this work has at present been put on hold until a more specialised DNA extraction method has been developed. One of this year's nests has unfortunately failed, apparently due to the loss of one of the adults to predation by a Sparrowhawk, but it did give us the opportunity to retrieve some substantial material in the form of 5 dead chicks. The main unforeseen problem now is that very little genetic work has been done on Great Spots in Britain or Europe and thus we have little material to compare the Irish samples to. We have found an unlikely partner in Poland, who it seems are the only people to have done much genetic work on this species to date. The retrieval of material from nests and trapping of woodpeckers will resume after the breeding season has ended although the necessity to trap birds is much reduced due to the successful extraction of DNA from downy feathers which we hope to again retrieve from those nests which are safely accessible. Ringers across Britain and Europe have been informed of the project and have been asked to gather suitable material for us and which we hope to be able to compare our Irish GSW DNA with. We have also been in contact with a number of GSW experts across the UK and on the continent who have trapped GSW for over 30 years and found them to be very resilient to trapping and handling. Now some results of this year's field work. As was commented on before, the season started off with few sightings but there were many indirect signs that they had survived the winter well. During April and May, birds and pairs began to be seen but mostly heard in the old sites and some new ones were also uncovered. So far 11 occupied nests have been found this year in Wicklow and based on some other bird sightings and signs we think that there are probably between 15 and 20 pairs /nests in Wicklow and north Wexford. From reports and signs, we suspect that overall there is a small number of birds/pairs scattered along the entire east coast - potentially linking with the Northern Irish populations. There appears to be no real movement inland as yet but based on the current increase, that is only a matter of time as six ten kilometre squares are currently occupied in Wicklow/Wexford to date - will look interesting in the next Atlas! With something in the region of 500 hours of field work done, these birds don't give up their secrets lightly. Many many thanks to those named above and many others who have helped directly in the project or have reported their sightings/observations indirectly via BWI allowing us to slowly build up the picture of what is happening with these birds. The ultimate question of the origin of this new population to Ireland will of course be down to genetics, a lab in Poland and how differentiated the DNA is amongst the various races across Europe. It is not as simple as CSI Miami would have you believe.... Finally, can we plead with all who see, hear or spot signs of woodpeckers to continue to report them confidentially to BirdWatch Ireland or any of the above mentioned. All results will be made public in due course. Regards, Christian, Dick and Faith (IBN-L) Trapping of wild birds at Loughlinstown Park We got a disturbing call from Parks supervisor Jim Ellis in mid February. He'd just come across a man trapping wild birds in Loughlinstown Park. The guy had already trapped two male Bullfinches and a Goldfinch. Jim had phoned the Gardai and was ringing us to find out the legal status regarding trapping wild birds. We were able to confirm that it is an arrestable offence and we tried to get in touch with a NPWS ranger. Our South County Dublin ranger was on leave but I got through to Niall Harmey who is wildlife ranger for the Fingal district. Niall was in Ballymun but was very concerned to hear about the incident. He rang back a few minutes later to say he'd got permission from his superiors to leave his district and was on his way. Meanwhile the Gardai had arrived at the park but unfortunately the offender had cleared off with the birds. There is a legitimate trade in caged birds which are born and bred in captivity but sadly there are still people who take birds from the wild. These birds are sold or traded at markets and would be kept in cages for the rest of their lives. Goldfinches and Linnets are trapped for their song whereas birds like Bullfinches are taken for their colourful plumage. Niall Harmey told me that a lot of the bullfinches caught this way, either in traps, nets or getting stuck in bird lime which is applied to branches or perches, can suffer extreme stress, which can cause them to have a stroke and die. Another sad aspect is when you see Bullfinches they are nearly always in pairs so taking single birds separates them from their mates who they would normally pair with for life. It was very sad for the birds but thanks to everyone who did their best to try and save them. - Michael Ryan Flightlines 02.03.2010
 Michael Ryan features on this spread in The Sun, 12.01.2010 White-tailed Sea Eagle in Sligo .. suspected poisoning A rare young white-tailed sea eagle named after a member of the Kerry GAA squad has been saved from almost certain starvation following suspected poisoning. The five-month-old male eagle called Star, the nickname of footballer Kieran Donaghy, was rescued by a pensioner at the roadside near Skreen, Co Sligo, last week and taken first to the Irish Raptor Research Centre in nearby Ballymote and later to the Golden Eagle Trust at Glenveagh National Park in Co Donegal, where it is currently being cared for in its own pen. Dr Allan Mee, the scientist in charge of the white-tailed sea eagle project at Killarney National Park said yesterday that it is expected Star will be returned to the wild next weekend following laboratory blood tests to establish the nature of the poisoning. The rescue of the bird comes soon after the PSNI launched an investigation into the shooting dead of another white-tailed female sea eagle from the Co Kerry project which was found floating on Lough Neagh in the North. Nine eagles are suspected of having been killed by human intervention, mainly poisoning, since they were reintroduced to the Republic two years ago. Lothar Muschketat, director of the Irish Raptor Research Centre, also known as Eagles Flying, said: “He was a local man who found the bird standing soaked on a roadside. He could pick up the bird like a wet cloth. It was not able to fly away. The bird was in a very apathetic stage and didn’t defend itself. When that bird arrived it was suffering from hypothermia. It was soaked and its plumage was covered by a kind of grease. It was dehydrated. We gave the bird fluid and put it into a warm place and fed it.” Dr Mee was contacted mid-week and he travelled to Ballymote to oversee the transfer of Star to Glenveagh where there is a golden eagle project backed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Dr Mee said: “I commend the rescuer highly. Star is a very lucky bird. One more day in the condition he was found in and he would have been dead.” Star is one of two eagles which have been fitted with transmitters beaming back data to the Kerry project via satellite. He was released into the wild at the age of just two months in early August. Scientists were able to tell from the transmitted data that it had settled around Mullaghmore and Lissadell in Co Sligo. Dr Mee said: “He was doing very well, feeding on gulls and dead seals.” Since the Kerry project was started in 2007, 55 white-tailed sea eagles have been released into the wild and there are plans to double that number. The birds were last recorded in Ireland off the coasts of Kerry and Mayo in 1898. It is illegal to poison or shoot birds of prey but Lothar Muschketat said: “Most farmers are open minded and are willing to learn. The problem is some people still believe in old wives’ tales handed down over generations that eagles carry away children, kill lambs and all these stupid stories, none of which is right. Eagles don’t carry children away whatever size and they only feed on lambs they find dead in the field. They are scavengers. They feed on dead animals.” - The Irish Times 23 Nov 2009 Amendments to Wildlife Acts to benefit SPAs and birds CABINET HAS approved heads of a Bill which will make deer-hunting with hounds an offence, Minister for the Environment John Gormley has confirmed. The Minister will get new powers to make regulations to prohibit or regulate the use of jet-skis, quad bikes, scramblers and off-road 4x4 vehicles in environmentally sensitive locations. He said he was amending the legislation to address issues “in relation to which Ireland is at present under pressure from the European Commission on foot of judgments of the European Court of Justice”. Mr Gormley said Ireland had failed to address the impact of recreational activities that were detrimental to Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protected Areas (SPAs) across the country. “We wanted to make sure that we are not disturbing birds or harming protected flora and fauna,” Mr Gormley said. Controversies around such activities have arisen in locations such as Lough Derravaragh in Co Westmeath, Mount Leinster and the Slieve Bloom Mountains. Meanwhile, financial penalties for Wildlife Acts breaches will be increased for the first time in almost a decade, having last been amended in the 2000 Act. A breach which would have incurred a fine of €500 will result in a €1,000 penalty, for instance. The Minister will have powers to prohibit and regulate importation, transport and sale of what he called “invasive” species – African pond weed, wild rhododendron, zebra mussel and grey squirrel. Abbreviated from Mary Minihan in The Irish Times - November 21, 2009 Centenary of bird ringing in Britain and Ireland 1909-2009 This year marks the 100th anniversary of the start of bird ringing in Britain and Ireland, according to the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). Since the first lapwing was ringed in Aberdeen in 1909, over 35 million birds have been ringed by BTO volunteers. European Longevity Records .. Bird ringing provides much valuable information on survival rates and average life expectancies within bird populations. It also allows us to find out the maximum ages to which wild birds can live. An updated list of longevity records recorded through European bird ringing has been produced by Roland Staav of the Swedish Museum of Natural History in Stockholm. The record is held by a Manx Shearwater recaptured by a ringer 49 years and 8 months after being ringed as full-grown. This individual was clearly over 50 years. Two other species, Fulmar and Oystercatcher, also have records over 40 years. The oldest record of a passerine is a Starling found dead 22 years and 11 months after ringing. Squirrels and bird feeders Fed up with filling your bird feeder and seeing a cheeky grey squirrel help itself? Well the RSPB has a spicy answer to your problem. Chilli powder is a safe and effective way of ensuring that only the intended recipients of bird seed get the food. The RSPB is suggesting that gardeners dust a small amount of the pungent powder over seed and suet mixes in feeders and on tables as it will deter thieving squirrels whilst not affecting birds’ feeding habits.
Looking for Brent Geese away from the coast ..
- from Lorraine Benson: There is already some important research on this subject going back to 1991 in Ireland ( O'Brian and Healy), on Geese in the Netherlands (1995) and in the UK ( Norfolk) in 2005. I want to map the inland feeding sites of the geese around Dublin this season so I would appreciate if you could let me know as soon as you observe Brent away from their usual favoured haunts on the North Bull and Merrion Strand. If you could tell me the time and date of your sightings and whether you see family groups, juveniles on their own or adults on their own all the better. Please email my special goose address: brentgeese [AT] gmail [DOT] com
Colour-ringed Sanderling at Dublin
Stewart Holohan has asked me to circulate a request that those of you who
may be out looking for ringed Brent look out for colour-marked Sanderling at
Dublin. He has been carrying out a long-standing constant-effort study of
waders at North Bull, and is interested in gathering as much data on the
source of these birds as possible. He tells me that there are several around
at the moment. I think they generally have a coloured flag and coloured rings.
Ireland's Seabirds. BIRDWATCH IRELAND, the country’s largest wildlife conservation organisation, has called for a thorough study of the country’s important seabird populations amid fears that the decline seen in seabird numbers in Scottish colonies may be occurring here. Last year, most of the puffins on the Great Skellig or Skellig Michael off Co Kerry did not rear young, according to Siobhán Egan, BirdWatch policy officer. Skellig Michael and other locations in Kerry including neighbouring Puffin Island account for about half the total population of 21,000 pairs of puffins counted in the BirdWatch Ireland Seabird Survey between 1998 and 2002. The most likely cause for the decline was starvation. Birdwatchers were alarmed at reports the puffins were bringing snake pipefish to nests to feed their young instead of the regular sand eels and sprats, she said. Pipefish, bony and difficult to digest, are not as valuable a food source. Ms Egan said it might be that the pipefish are more abundant in our waters due to changes in climate or other factors, but it is also not known for certain whether the preferred prey of sand eels and sprats are less available. “We know very little about the habitat requirements of these prey species apart from their need for sand banks as nursery beds,” she said. There was pressure to use sandbanks as offshore windfarms. This country hosts a significant proportion of Europe’s seabird populations, including some 10 per cent of manx shearwaters, 70 per cent of European storm petrels and 12 per cent of gannets. Other countries such as Norway have large puffin populations. In recent years colonies of kittiwakes and arctic terns on the Shetland and Orkney Islands have shown significant declines, and increasingly snake pipefish were being brought in by adults to feed their young, it has emerged. Anecdotal evidence so far this year suggests the puffins have been rearing their young in 2008, according to Ms Egan, but there is a need for a new assessment of seabird activity to monitor health, population numbers and diet. The body is lobbying the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Environment for funding for a programme of works including a monitoring project on the most critical seabird Special Protection Areas. Ideally this should be in place by the 2009 breeding season.
Fowl Play - Malta's annual slaughter of migrating birds must be halted.
Key migration routes across the southern Mediterranean have long posed the greatest threat to some of the rarest and loveliest species as marksmen in Italy, Cyprus and Lebanon compete each spring to bag the greatest number of migrating birds. Ornithologists and environmentalists have gradually succeeded in tightening European Union laws to force a halt to this pointless sport, though resistance in France and Italy remains strong. But Malta, one of the newest EU members, remains a blackspot. With more than 16,000 registered hunters out of a population of 400,000, the spring shoot is so ingrained that Malta pressed, disgracefully, for an opt-out in 2004. This is now being challenged in the European Court of Justice on the ground that hunters still shoot birds in the autumn on their way back from breeding — when not only quails but also swallows, warblers, osprey, purple herons and bitterns stand a chance of being gunned down. A total ban is essential. Whatever the national culture, the fowls of the air belong to all nations. Urbanisation, loss of habitat and modern farming threaten millions of birds. Diversity must not be reduced further by gratuitous gunfire.
Ireland bottom of the SPA league
An Eagle Owl is captured -
Dead sea eagles in Kerry were poisoned 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" 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
Full story and a photo of the lucky bird are on the Sligo BirdWatch branch website at:
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, Photo: Red Kite at Gigrin Farm, central Wales, 2005 - Terry Flanagan.
What's new? 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 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 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 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: • 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 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 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 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 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 National Biodiversity Data Centre DCC Biodiversity Plan Submissions to Dublin City Council before March 20th, 2007.
New Hedgerows 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, - from Horizons - Sylvia Thompson The Irish Times Saturday 20.01.07
Annual South Dublin Bird Race 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 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.
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. - Walter Belis - obsmedit[AT]yahoogroupes[DOT]fr
.. and in Spain, the king is at it again ..
Lu dans "La Provence" de ce jour, 20 octobre 2006: - Philippe Duvignaux - obsmedit[AT]yahoogroupes[DOT]fr
Sea Bird Deaths on the East Coast 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."
Spin Doctor? no problem: Wildlife Ranger? we'll call you..
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
Waterbird culls and draining of wetlands could worsen
spread of Avian Influenza 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
Poland .. see it while there's still anything worth seeing ..
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.
Dalkey Tern Project .. in the council chambers 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 .. 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.
Weasel Words in the Free 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".
France: October’s body count .. 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 ..
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.
King Carlos conveys his greetings to eastern European wildlife ...
Insect 'splats' at all time low
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.
Re-introduction of the Great Spotted Woodpecker
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
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.
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.
Bull Island Oil Spill.
Booterstown Planning shot down Birds take wing at the Natural History Museum NOTE: The Natural History Museum re-opened in May 2010 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!
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The ritual massacre claims thousands every year; finches, quails and turtle doves,
as well as kestrels, owls, marsh harriers and lesser spotted eagles — rare birds
whose feathered beauty enchants millions in their native habitats. Each spring, as
they undertake the long migration to their northern nesting places, they fly into
the merciless gunfire of men who kill for sport — "hunters" who claim the slaughter
as cultural observance.
